As a seasoned traveler, I never travel without travel insurance! It’s not only for trip interruptions and delays, but also for coverage of medical treatment, including evacuation costs to get you to where you can receive treatment. Luckily, I’ve never had to make a medical claim, but my recent trip to Roatan was impacted three different times–and Travelex has earned the prize for best travel insurance in my book!
Delays:
First: Imagine this… you are in the San Pedro Suala airport on the mainland of Honduras waiting to board your flight to the island of Roatan. Your Intermediate level Spanish has served you well so far and you’ve experienced your first baleada and Salva Vida beer. It’s raining. And raining. And still raining. Your flight is delayed… then delayed again. You’ve given up on trying to understand the announcements on the PA and other English speaking passengers are translating for you. And finally–your flight is cancelled.
$$$
- Uber to and from hotel: $50
- Hotel in San Pedro: $120
- Dinner: $40
- Unrefundable cost of Roatan hotel: $100
Second: You are departing Roatan after a wonderful 10 day stay. You are just about ready to be home again. You get to the Roatan airport, happy that the weather is clear and there will be no rain issues. And yet…your plane is delayed. And delayed again. An agent comes to tell you that they have no communications in their tower (?!) and that the flight will not be going out until 2:30 that afternoon. This will cause you to miss your Delta connection on the Honduras mainland.
$$$
- Delta flight change: Free
- Extra night at Roatan hotel: $120
- Shuttle to and from airport: $40
- Meals: $30
Third: You are at One Flew South in the Atlanta airport enjoying your sushi. You are seriously ready to be home!! Everything in your suitcase is wet and has been packed for two days. Your flight from Honduras was delayed in landing so you have been rebooked on the last flight home. And then…an unexpected hailstorm hits Atlanta and wreaks havoc on the airport. Hundreds of flights are cancelled. Available hotel rooms are being booked so fast that they disappear before you can finalize payment. You end up luckier than most and actually find a room.
$$$
- Atlanta hotel $180
- Airport meal $40
- Uber to and from airport: $70
Grand Total: $790😭
Travel Insurance Claim
I purchased an On-Trip Only policy which means that coverage does not start until the trip begins. On-trip will not pay if you get sick or injured prior to your trip and are unable to go. You can get on-trip insurance up to the day that you leave. If you want coverage that includes cancellation prior to your trip, you will need to purchase that ahead of time–sometimes within 21 days of making your first deposit. Make sure you read the fine print and understand your coverage and limitations, such as daily maximums on payouts.
Like most insurance companies, Travelex required very specific documentation to file a claim, including:
- Cancelled or delayed flights: Upon request, the airline will provide you with an email stating the reason for the flight disruption.
- Meals: Keep both your itemized receipt and proof of payment, such as a credit card receipt or your credit card statement. Don’t pay cash!
- Hotels and transportation: You’ll need both an invoice (or the detailed receipt for Uber) and proof of payment. Again, do not pay cash!
One of the things that make Travelex the best travel insurance, is that their customer support is very easy to reach and helpful. I felt they were helping me to get reimbursed, not trying to avoid a payout. The claims process is handled through an online portal and they will let you know if you are missing information and give you a chance to resubmit.
Net Result
My On-Trip policy, including an upgrade on medical coverage was $45. Travelex sent me a reimbursement check for $650, thus reducing my out-of-pocket unplanned expenses from $790 to $140. Worth it??? By my calculations, that’s $605 in my pocket–which I plan to use chasing my next adventure! Thanks, Travelex, I’m not leaving home without the best travel insurance!!
Do you have a trip delay or travel insurance story to share? Please drop it in the comments below!
Such great info! I’ve been delayed 3 different times on a trip home from a cruise. Luckily I didn’t have to stay overnight but it did make for a very long 24 hour trip home.