Travel: 5 Good Reasons To Buy Cancellation Insurance

Because no traveler is safe from an unforeseen event just before his departure, it is generally recommended to take out an optional guarantee called 'cancellation insurance'. In the current sanitary context, where epidemic waves of Covid-19 follow one another, caution is still required. We have listed for you 5 good reasons to take out a travel cancellation insurance.

1- When you book a trip well in advance

There are trips that we have been dreaming about for a long time and that we book several months in advance in order to benefit from better rates or because the date of the stay is linked to a specific event (a reunion with friends or a birthday).

Unfortunately, the earlier one books a trip, the more likely it is that an unforeseen event will occur between the booking date and the departure date.

This long time lapse is the first of 5 good reasons to purchase travel cancellation insurance. This is because this coverage covers you in the event of a serious and unforeseeable event such as illness, death of a loved one or an accident that could prevent you from leaving.

2- When travel is expensive

Of course, it's always very disappointing to have to cancel a long-scheduled trip due to an unforeseen event. But your annoyance will be increased tenfold if this cancellation causes you to lose money, even a lot of money!

The second good reason to buy cancellation insurance is to avoid this setback. Logically, the more expensive a trip is, the more you have to lose if you have to cancel your vacation at the last minute.

When you break your piggy bank to treat yourself to a dream vacation for two or to a faraway destination, you should always consider purchasing this coverage so you don't lose out twice if something unexpected happens.

Moreover, for a trip costing several thousands of euros, taking out this insurance is a minimal expense compared to the money it will allow you to recover in case of a problem.

3- When your situation is uncertain

Sometimes we need a vacation so badly that we decide to book a stay even in an uncertain professional or personal situation.

If you choose to go away despite an uncertain situation (a possible call-up for a make-up exam, a risk of economic redundancy or a loved one in poor health), you have an excellent reason to buy cancellation insurance.

In this particular case, this coverage allows you to make your reservation with more peace of mind. If an unforeseen business or personal event should occur, you know you'll be covered and won't lose all your money.

4- When the health situation is worrying

When you book a trip several months in advance, you can't anticipate how the global health situation will evolve.

The Covid-19 pandemic has changed the habits of travelers and tourism professionals. Now we all know that our reservations are more uncertain because it is possible to get sick or be a case contact before departure.

Moreover, some travel restrictions can be decided from one day to another by your destination country. In this context, taking out cancellation insurance covering Covid risks is more useful than ever.

5- When your bank card does not protect you enough

You've probably heard that bank cards include travel insurance and that it's not always useful to purchase duplicate coverage.

But beware, cancellation insurance is only included with high-end cards such as Visa Premier, Gold MasterCard or American Express Gold. In addition, in order to be reimbursed in case of cancellation, you must have paid for the trip with that bank card.

You should also carefully read the contract linked to your bank card because:
- the reasons for cancellation covered are limited
- there are compensation ceilings that are sometimes insufficient in relation to the price of your trip.

Having a bank card with insufficient guarantees should encourage you to take out travel cancellation insurance offering better coverage.