It doesn’t matter how young or healthy you are, traveling without travel protection is a bigger risk than most people realize.
We’ve seen it firsthand.
For years, we vacationed, even booking at higher risk times like the middle of winter without giving it a second thought about cancelled flights or anything like that. But after a lot of vacationing, witnessing medical situations abroad, hearing real stories, and seeing the high cost of care, it became clear just how much it is needed.
Another reason people put it off. Travel protection can feel confusing. There are a lot of options, and it’s not always clear what actually matters. After doing the research, we chose an annual travel protection plan that covers us across all our trips, cruises, vacations, globally and everything in between. It starts 100 miles from home.
Travel protection isn’t just an add-on, it’s what protects your trip investment and your health when things don’t go as planned. The right policy depends on how often you travel, how much you’re spending, and how much protection you want.
Our goal is to help you better understand your options, cut through the confusion, and feel confident choosing coverage that truly fits your travel style so you can focus on what really matters: enjoying the trip.
Travel protection (often called travel insurance) is one of those things you don’t think about until you really need it.
It’s designed to protect your investment in your trip and help cover unexpected situations like cancellations, delays, medical emergencies, or lost luggage. Whether you're heading on a cruise, flying to a resort, or planning a big family vacation, things can happen that are completely out of your control.
Usually not fully. Most health insurance doesn’t cover international care or evacuations, and credit cards only provide limited protection. You may still face large out-of-pocket costs without a dedicated travel insurance policy.
Cruise line insurance is easy and convenient but often limited—especially for medical coverage and flexibility. Third-party plans usually offer broader protection, including better medical coverage, evacuation, and coverage beyond just the cruise (like flights and hotels).
When it comes to coverage, there are two main options: per-trip protection and annual protection plans. A per-trip plan covers a single vacation from start to finish and is usually based on the cost of that specific trip. This is a great option if you only travel once or twice a year or have a particularly expensive trip you want to protect. On the other hand, an annual plan covers multiple trips within a 12-month period for one flat price. These plans are ideal for frequent travelers, cruisers, or families who take several vacations a year. Instead of purchasing insurance every time you travel, you’re covered year-round—often including benefits like emergency medical coverage and travel delay protection for every trip you take.
The best option really comes down to how often you travel and what kind of coverage you need. If you’re traveling more than a couple of times a year, an annual plan can often save you money and simplify your planning. If you’re taking a once-in-a-while, high-value trip, a per-trip plan may offer more tailored coverage for that specific vacation. Either way, having the right protection in place means you can focus on enjoying your trip—while knowing you’re covered if the unexpected happens.
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