Do I really need trip insurance?

[Aliceacc]

We always get it. With all the costs associated with a WDW vacation, it seems like a small price to pay for peace of mind.

In 2008, Tropical Storm Faye was not even on the radar when we left NY. A week later, it was barreling straight towards Florida. The warnings were coming in hot and heavy. (Which is why I also always include a map of FL by counties-- the warnings are by county, and it was frustrating not knowing how close they were.)

I sent a fax to my travel agent (AAA at that time) and asked what we were to do should our return flight be cancelled because of Faye. Then we went to the parks. When we returned, there was a voice mail waiting for us, with step by step instructions.

(As luck would have it, we got off without a hitch that night, and I think the bulk of the storm missed Orlando anyway.)

As a PS, my father in law died about a month after our trip. Another reason that insurance could have come in handy.

 

[ChadsGirl]

August and September are 'big' hurricane months - that would be reasons for getting it then, but it's a personal decision. We've never gotten the insurance and never (thankfully) needed it - usually don't visit WDW those months.

I don't think you need trip insurance in relation to hurricanes. Several years ago we were scheduled to fly down to WDW in early September, on the same day that Hurricane Frances was going to hit. The airline (not Southwest) allowed rebooking with no change fee due to the weather situation and we had no problem rescheduling with WDW. We simply rebooked for later in the month. Luckily we had flexibility with our dates.

Agree with others who say it's not a bad idea for family emergencies, etc. That said we've never bought insurance--just took our chances!

 

[kmb584]

I don't think you need trip insurance in relation to hurricanes. Several years ago we were scheduled to fly down to WDW in early September, on the same day that Hurricane Frances was going to hit. The airline (not Southwest) allowed rebooking with no change fee due to the weather situation and we had no problem rescheduling with WDW. We simply rebooked for later in the month. Luckily we had flexibility with our dates.

Agree with others who say it's not a bad idea for family emergencies, etc. That said we've never bought insurance--just took our chances!

The flipside of that coin is if you're already in WDW and a hurricane or storm prevents you from going home. We encountered that in October '12 when Sandy hit the east coast and the earliest flight we could book home was 3 days after our original departure. US Air didn't charge for changing the flight, but I was now looking at an extra 3 nights of hotel fare (about $1500 as we were staying at the GF) but our trip insurance paid for that instead.

 

[foreverdis]

We are 31 days out, is it too late to add trip insurance?

 

[ArwenMarie]

We never do. We usually book room only so we have the option to cancel 5 days prior. If we didn't show up we would only lose one night's hotel fee. As far as airlines, we can usually bank the costs at minimum if we need to cancel. So not enough to justify the insurance costs. And our healthcare would work anywhere in the US, so that's not an issue either. WDW has a fair hurricane policy, as do most airlines where you would just be dealing with cancellations anyway. My two cents.

 

[merina888]

We generally do for big trips and we have used it on several occasions. Generally it is because of an airline screw-up. We once got stuck in Philadelphia due to an airline issue on our way to Ireland for our honeymoon. Our hotel was not covered and we still had to pay for our accommodations and rental car in Ireland. Travel insurance picked up the tab. We also like to go to WDW during hurricane season. We've never had to use it then, but I'd prefer to be safe since we travel with young children. We don't need to lose the $4000 we are spending on this Disney trip.

 

[DisUniversal]

For a cruise, would never be without it.

For a trip to WDW, would never waste money on it. Of course, I'm less than an hours drive from the parks so doesn't make much sense to insure a couple gallons of gas.

 

[mom2AidanAndEli]

We've never done it and never needed it. We, too, always fly Southwest and find it's so easy to deal with changes if necessary.

A few years ago, we were set for our usual end-of-August vacation, leaving on a Sunday morning. Then along came Hurricane Irene. She was scheduled to hit our area on Sunday. So we knew our chances of getting out were slim to none! I called Southwest and asked about changing at that late time. They were able to put us on a Saturday afternoon flight instead, no problem. They didn't even charge us the difference in price. We had gotten a good deal booking our flights early, but by 2 days before the trip, the prices were sky high! I know usually when you rebook you're at the mercy of whatever the current price is, but they waived it for us because of the weather.

We then called Disney and added a one-night room only to our package. We had free dining and it didn't start until our original check in date. They were even able to keep us in the same room for both reservations, even though we knew it wasn't a guarantee. We were staying at AS Sports. So for the cost of one night's stay at AS, we were able to change everything and get out before the storm hit. And who's going to argue with an extra night at Disney?

 

[larryz]

My sister got sick on a Mediterranean cruise after leaving Italy and was PUT OFF THE SHIP in Dubrovnik. Without trip insurance, she and her husband would have been out of pocket with little cash in CROATIA*, struggling to pay the hospital and for aeromedical evacuation back to the 'States.

With trip insurance, it was all covered, and the company even coordinated and paid for the medevac for both of them.

So when anyone asks me if getting the trip insurance is a good idea, I relate her story, and almost everyone decides "it's a good idea."

For a cruise, would never be without it.

For a trip to WDW, would never waste money on it. Of course, I'm less than an hours drive from the parks so doesn't make much sense to insure a couple gallons of gas.

For someone crossing two time zones and plunking down a house payment for airfare, and three house payments for lodging, I think it's a small price to pay to avoid having to eat any sunk costs.


* For the record, there's nothing at all wrong with Croatia, but being stuck there without having planned for it, sick and unable to care for yourself, is not a "good time"...

 

[maxaroni]

We have gotten travel insurance in the past due my mom being very ill. However, used it last year due to falling and breaking my wrist and needing surgery. Yes, my health insurance would cover BUT I have a $5,000.00 deductible per person. Therefore, whatever out of pocket expenses I had, Travelguard paid for. No questions asked.