5 advantages of taking a travel protection plan

Taking a break from your busy schedule and travelling to new places is a wonderful way to ease stress and spend quality time with your loved ones. However, considering the many travel-related uncertainties, it is wise to take travel protection or travel insurance online and save yourself from trip-related hassles. While travel insurance is provided by insurance companies, a travel protection plan is offered by online tour operators, travel agencies, and travel companies.

Reasons you need a travel protection plan?

A travel protection plan is an important tool that saves you from financial stress and other issues during business and leisure trips. Here are 5 reasons why you must take a travel protection plan before going on a vacation.

1. To cover trip cancellation charges:

If you plan a trip, but have to cancel it later due to some unforeseen circumstances, you will have to pay for flight ticket cancellation and other expenses. However, when you have a travel protection plan, the service provider will take care of your trip cancellation-related expenses and prevent associated financial loss.

2. To cover trip interruption costs:

In case your trip gets interrupted due to sickness, injury or death of a family member, your travel protection plan will reimburse the unused trip cost. Other reasons for trip interruption can be flight cancellation due to bad weather, theft of passport or visa, or unrest in the city you are travelling to. The service provider will also take care of the additional transportation charges you incur to get back home.

3. To cover travel delay:

If your travel plan gets delayed by 12 hours or more due to injury, sickness, carrier delay, loss of money or travel documents, natural disaster or any other reason covered by your travel protection plan, the service provider will reimburse the amount you spend in the meantime. This includes accommodation expenses in a reasonable hotel and travelling costs.

4. For assistance in case of missed flight connections:

 Did you miss a flight connection due to bad weather or mechanical issues in the flight? Worry not if you have a travel protection plan. Your insurer will cover the expenses you incur for hotel accommodation, meals and to arrange alternate travel arrangements.

5. To cover baggage loss and associated hassles: 

It is a nightmare to lose baggage during a trip. In case you lose your checked-in baggage or it gets delayed by more than 12 hours, your travel protection plan will cover the loss or damage. The service provider will also reimburse the cost of the essentials you buy in the meantime, such as clothes, toiletries and more as per the policy terms and conditions.

Some travel protection plans may also cover your medical expenses during the trip. This includes emergency dental treatment, ambulance charges in case of emergency transport to a nearby hospital, cost of transport to your home, and medical and body repatriation in case of a death. A travel protection plan also comes in handy in case you lose your passport, visa or any other important travel documents.

Should you take travel protection or travel insurance?

When you are going on a business or sightseeing trip and are looking to cover the uncertainties, such as flight delays and baggage loss, you can opt for a simple travel protection plan. It is inexpensive and perfect for short trips.

However, if you are planning an adventure trip that involves trekking and other sporting activities, you must choose a comprehensive travel insurance plan that will cover your travel and medical costs. Also, if you are travelling with the elderly, travel insurance is a better option.

Conclusion:

A travel protection plan offers a plethora of trip-related benefits to policyholders. It covers many uncertainties related to travel and helps you set aside your worries and embark on a carefree trip. However, if you prefer a policy that covers travel uncertainties as well as medical costs, you can take travel insurance online or through an agent in your region. A comprehensive travel insurance policy covers medical, baggage and journey-related expenses and saves you from financial woes and other hassles in a foreign country.

Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purpose only. For more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.