Travel Tips - Travel Insurance
By Byron Smith 
Most likely, your vacation plans will go down without incident and you will have a memorable, exciting experience. However, many people now choose to have a backup plan in place just in case the unexpected happens and their travel plans are disrupted. This is why more and more individuals and families are taking advantage of travel insurance. In general, travel insurance has you covered in case your trip is cancelled, delayed, or interrupted. Each aspect of your trip can be insured, including the cost of your plane tickets, hotel reservations, and even tours that you have prepaid for. In addition, travel insurance can also cover medical emergencies or the loss of your luggage.
Trip Cancellation Insurance
One of the most popular types of insurance, trip cancellation insurance covers all of your travel expenses that are not refundable. Your airfare, hotel costs, and any other items that you cannot get your money back for will be fully reimbursed. This is the most complete type of travel insurance and is the best way to make sure that you won't be out any money in the event of a change or cancellation.
When you sign up for trip cancellation insurance, make sure that your insurance will cover your canceled trip for any reason. For example, some types of insurance will only cover you in the event of an emergency. But the best policies will cover you no matter what -- even if you just happen to change your mind. You can also choose the terms of your travel cancellation coverage. You can get insurance for just one trip, more than one trip, or sign up for annual travel insurance coverage. The best type of travel cancellation insurance for your needs will depend most on your frequency of travel.
Airline Ticket Insurance
Another option to cover one of the most expensive aspects of travel is airline ticket insurance. Of course, this insurance will reimburse the cost or your airfare in the event of a cancellation. While airline ticket insurance will not cover the cost of any other travel related expense, it is often cheaper to purchase this insurance instead of simply paying the money to cancel your ticket.
Cruise Insurance
Did you know that getting medical help while aboard a cruise ship can be tens of thousands of dollars more expensive than getting medical help while on land? That is just one reason why cruise insurance could be a sound investment for you. Most individual cruise lines offer their own cruise insurance, but often this is more expensive than getting coverage from an independent agency. In addition, the insurance offered through the cruise lines often has limited benefits. Shop around for insurance that will give you the most coverage -- this way you know you will be taken care of in the event of an emergency.
Flight Accident Insurance
Like its name implies, flight accident insurance covers you in the event of accidental death or dismemberment on an airplane. This type of insurance can be thought of like a life insurance policy that will pay out in event of a major disaster. Most flight accident insurance policies will cover you if you are injured while you are a passenger on an airplane or are injured while using airline provided transportation to the airplane.
Rental Car Insurance
Each rental car agency has their own additional insurance policies. These polices are fairly cheap, but may be unnecessary. Before you pay any money for rental car insurance, consult with your own auto insurance agency. Many policies include coverage for rental cars, so there is no need to double insure yourself. However, if you only have basic insurance on your own car, you will most likely need to pay for rental insurance - just to be safe.
Do You Need It?
Of course, having an accident or unlikely event while traveling is not the norm, so you must consider this when weighing the benefits of travel insurance. Of course, most people choose to be safe than sorry. So if you have the means, travel insurance is probably a good idea.