Do you get travel insuance? Cover earthquakes?

[2boysmom1998]

Just wondering if you get travel insurance for your vacations? The last two vacations I have taken, I have purchased insurance, however I did not purchase insurance for the one we are taking next month. Now I'm thinking maybe I should have just because it offers me some peace of mind. I tend to be a nervous person who over thinks everything.

I'm sure it's a long shot but since California is prone to earthquake what if there is a large one that causes a fair amount of damage and your trip needs to be interrupted or canceled because of it? Not only that, I know that you can get insurance for lost luggage (which is covered by a lot credit cards). Or, if there is an injury or illness during your trip (which should be covered by your health insurance).

Just wondering if you feel that travel insurance is necessary and if you usually purchase it for your trips?

 

[GrandBob]

I tend to only buy travel insurance for international trips (if that). If you're travelling with old or infirm folks, it could be a good idea. But my thinking is that if everyone on the trip is relatively young, in good health, and you're sure about your plans, then travel insurance is a waste of money.

YMMV.

 

[lk2500]

I always buy insurance on our flights because it's fairly cheap.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

I tend to only buy travel insurance for international trips (if that). If you're travelling with old or infirm folks, it could be a good idea. But my thinking is that if everyone on the trip is relatively young, in good health, and you're sure about your plans, then travel insurance is a waste of money.

YMMV.

I think for cruises its a must too. But always read the fine print carefully, it necessarily doesn't cover everything you may need it for.

 

[Isatricia]

I have only purchased insurance for cruises. We did have to use the insurance once because of a death of a member of the family. Although it took a lot of paperwork and going to management, we did finally get reimbursed for our expenses.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

I have only purchased insurance for cruises. We did have to use the insurance once because of a death of a member of the family. Although it took a lot of paperwork and going to management, we did finally get reimbursed for our expenses.

A lot of policies will cover death/illness of those traveling but not of other family members. Also there is a lot of "loop holes" to get them out of covering (was the family member sick at time of purchase? how sick? etc....)

 

[CalvaryMike]

Earthquakes?! In Califonia?! Most of us here don't even have earthquake insurance. The big one is coming, but we aren't scared. Bring it!!

 

[blackjackdelta]

No..with all the flying around the world, etc never ever had the need.

Jack

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

Earthquakes?! In Califonia?! Most of us here don't even have earthquake insurance. The big one is coming, but we aren't scared. Bring it!!

<---the closest I could find to an earthquake smilie

 

[DSNY4ever]

We have never gotten insurance. We got stuck in the UK during that huge volcanic Ash cloud incident in 2010. We had to stay an extra week. I was thinking that I wished we had gotten it, but everyone else we talked to there said that theirs was not covering it anyway and no one in our hotel was getting anything from their insurance...so then I was glad we hadn't wasted the money .

If it gives you peace of mind just make sure you read all the fine print and understand exactly what it covers and what it excludes so that whatever you are worried about is covered.

 

[KittyKat1978]

Since I am from Canada, I do get medical insurance (for the whole year it cost me $55) not travel insurance.

I will get cancellation insurance when I go to WDW since the weather there is so unpredicatable. But I think your pretty safe with DL.

Although if it will give you piece of mind, buy it. No one wants to worry on their vacation

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

We have never gotten insurance. We got stuck in the UK during that huge volcanic Ash cloud incident in 2010. We had to stay an extra week. I was thinking that I wished we had gotten it, but everyone else we talked to there said that theirs was not covering it anyway and no one in our hotel was getting anything from their insurance...so then I was glad we hadn't wasted the money .

If it gives you peace of mind just make sure you read all the fine print and understand exactly what it covers and what it excludes so that whatever you are worried about is covered.

I bet if you did have insurance you wouldn't have been making sure "volcanic ash clouds" were covered. LOL But seriously, and extra week is insane!!

 

[DSNY4ever]

I bet if you did have insurance you wouldn't have been making sure "volcanic ash clouds" were covered. LOL But seriously, and extra week is insane!!

Haha, exactly- it would have never crossed my mind! It was a crazy week and at one point they were saying our only way to get home was trains and busses to Spain and then buying new flights from there, and they priced it out at just over $6,000!!! I have never seen my husband break out into a sweat like that before. We decided to stay put and hope for the best and we were able to fly home at the end of the week, but we had already been there for 3 weeks so that made for a month long trip!

 

[kylie71]

We we're once at DLR during an earthquake, it was the early 90's, right before they took out the Skyway... we we're on the Skyway, heading from Fantasyland to Tomorrowland, and the whole thing stopped.... of course we had no idea why... until the ride re-started, and we got off and we're told.

Never have bought any insurence, just for a cruise....
Do not worry! You will have a BLAST!
Lori

 

[Isatricia]

A lot of policies will cover death/illness of those traveling but not of other family members. Also there is a lot of "loop holes" to get them out of covering (was the family member sick at time of purchase? how sick? etc....)

Our insurance did cover the death of family members. Our problem was that we had already begun our trip (found out when we arrived in Fort Lauderdale but before boarding the cruise) when we found out about FIL's death, so we had to get expensive flights to return home. They didn't want to cover those flights and the 1 night hotel room we required. These were covered expenses according to the fine print but I still had to escalate the claim to get reimbursed. This was 7 years ago on Thanksgiving day ~ ploicies could be different now.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

Haha, exactly- it would have never crossed my mind! It was a crazy week and at one point they were saying our only way to get home was trains and busses to Spain and then buying new flights from there, and they priced it out at just over $6,000!!! I have never seen my husband break out into a sweat like that before. We decided to stay put and hope for the best and we were able to fly home at the end of the week, but we had already been there for 3 weeks so that made for a month long trip!

My in laws are flying to London on Sunday for a land tour through the UK and Ireland, than a river cruise out of Paris. They'll be done for 40 days!

 

[SomeDude78]

I've never purchased "travel health insurance" or "travel trip insurance" for any trips, domestic or international. Have never required it while on travel either ... however, that doesn't mean it's a bad idea in the event you're traveling with someone who is chronically ill, elderly, etc. My little boy (only 2 years old so we haven't done any "real" travel with him yet) has health issues, so when we travel abroad next time around, I'll probably buy travel health insurance for him, but still leave out the rest of my family and just chance it.

As for earthquakes, they're pretty frequent all over CA and it would take a pretty big one to actually shut down DLR I wouldn't worry about it. As CalvaryMike says, most folks here don't even bother buying earthquake coverage for their homes (due to the high deductible and multitude of limitations on coverage). At the risk of jinxing us, CA literally rolls with the punches during all but the biggest earthquakes, so unless you win the reverse jackpot and happen to arrive during the so-called Big One, I don't think there's much there that will affect your trip. The last series of biggish quakes we had were Loma Prieta in Nor Cal in the late 80's, and Landers plus Northridge in So Cal in the early 90's, so we've probably got another good couple years before things start rockin' and rollin' again If memory serves, DLR did shut down for 1-2 days following the Northridge quake, but that was only to inspect rides because that quake was felt very strongly over the metro areas of So Cal. Since then, there have been a number of moderate quakes or biggish ones but in remote areas (i.e., not felt very strongly in the metro areas), but to my knowledge the worst they've done is cause DLR to pause operations for a few hours while they conduct routine safety inspections, after which normal operations resume.

And hey, don't worry, if one hits while you're here, either DLR or on the plane will probably be the safest places to be, and it'll even save you a visit to Universal Studios where people wait in line to experience fake earthquakes

 

[2boysmom1998]

As for earthquakes, they're pretty frequent all over CA and it would take a pretty big one to actually shut down DLR I wouldn't worry about it. As CalvaryMike says, most folks here don't even bother buying earthquake coverage for their homes (due to the high deductible and multitude of limitations on coverage). At the risk of jinxing us, CA literally rolls with the punches during all but the biggest earthquakes, so unless you win the reverse jackpot and happen to arrive during the so-called Big One, I don't think there's much there that will affect your trip. The last series of biggish quakes we had were Loma Prieta in Nor Cal in the late 80's, and Landers plus Northridge in So Cal in the early 90's, so we've probably got another good couple years before things start rockin' and rollin' again If memory serves, DLR did shut down for 1-2 days following the Northridge quake, but that was only to inspect rides because that quake was felt very strongly over the metro areas of So Cal. Since then, there have been a number of moderate quakes or biggish ones but in remote areas (i.e., not felt very strongly in the metro areas), but to my knowledge the worst they've done is cause DLR to pause operations for a few hours while they conduct routine safety inspections, after which normal operations resume.

And hey, don't worry, if one hits while you're here, either DLR or on the plane will probably be the safest places to be, and it'll even save you a visit to Universal Studios where people wait in line to experience fake earthquakes

Thank you. Well, I didn't get the insurance, hopefully everything will be fine. This will be my third trip to So Cal, earthquakes have been in the back of my mind while I'm there but, it seems like they are happening more frequently so, I'm thinking about them more.

 

[dleyel]

Thank you. Well, I didn't get the insurance, hopefully everything will be fine. This will be my third trip to So Cal, earthquakes have been in the back of my mind while I'm there but, it seems like they are happening more frequently so, I'm thinking about them more.

I live about 10 miles from DLR and I think it's been a couple years since I've even felt an earthquake. They happen every day, but are usually very small and/or centered far away. Usually if you are walking around or driving you don't notice them. I don't think they are happening any more frequently than in the past, maybe you are just hearing about them more. If it will make you feel better, get the insurance. Were you able to find a policy to cover earthquakes? Once you arrive, don't worry and have a magical time!

 

[jilld11]

I'm from Canada, so my take on insurance may be different and I would never travel w/o insurance. I have taken 2 - 3 trips a year for the last 12 years and have spent alot on insurance. I almost never need it, but for the couple times I have needed it, it has paid for itself.

The cancellation/interruption is so important. If you have kids, what if your child falls at the playground, breaks his leg and can't go 2days before you were leaving. Bye bye money.

The medical insurance usually only covers non preexisting conditions, so if you have a chronically ill person, it most likely won't cover anything related to that condition. However, my husband got an incredible earache that we now know was swimmer's ear in Mexico and we had to go to the hospital for 1 1/2 hours and that was an $800 bill. If we had been in the states, the bill would have been much higher.

I think it is crazy to go w/o insurance. You never know when something is going to happen and it feels like a waste of money if you don't use, but like I said, if you have to use it you will be happy you had it. And I'm cheap.lol