Options for Insuring Trip?

[Mrs. Goofy]

Hello! I'd like advice on travel insurance.

We (husband, son and I) are planning to book a Garden View Inn Room for five nights at Vero Beach in April for my parents. We're going too, but will stay in another room.

Please bear with me while I take a few sentences to set up my question:

If we should have to cancel their room at the last minute (less than 31 days out), the points would go into a holding account and we'd have to use 'em or lose 'em before 5/31/07 (that would be the end of the current use year.) Considering school and work, I don't think we could go at that time and we'd lose the points.

So, I looked into Travel Guard insurance. The policy's payout would only be $375. That wouldn't even come close to covering the value of our lost points...we certainly couldn't book five nights at a later date for $375!

Finally, my question: are there any other insurance options? What would you all suggest that I do in this scenario?

Sorry if this has already been disccussed to death. I searched for a thread on this topic, but couldn't find one.

Thanks for any help you all might be able to provide!

 

[Deb & Bill]

All I have ever heard is $5 a point to pay out for loss of vacation.

 

[JimMIA]

Before you buy any type of travel insurance, be sure you understand what they cover and what they don't. They'll pay only for some unforeseen and unavoidable loss, caused by something like a serious medical situation or a hurricane. If your parents just change their minds, the insurance will not pay.

The insurance by Travel Guard is the only one I know of that will pay anything at all on points -- but even then, only for a covered situation. And I'm not sure they'd pay anything at all if you retained the points, no matter what their status. You should certainly check that question with Travel Guard before you buy travel insurance.

Another option would be to pay cash for your parents' room and get travel insurance that would pay the full amount of your loss.

BTW, I've used Travel Guard numerous times for non-DVC vacations, and they are an excellent company.

 

[Mrs. Goofy]

Deb & Bill and JimMIA: thanks for your help!

JimMIA: thanks for suggesting a cash reservation for my parents' room, so the insurance would be more feasible. I hadn't thought of that.

Does anyone have any idea what the DVC cash rate for a Garden View Inn Room at VB would be during the first week of April? (If it's even available, that is!)

 

[Plutofan]

This website shows the rates at Vero. Be sure to call MS to see if you can get the 25% DCV member discount available through DVC.

http://www.atlastravelweb.com/disneyverobeachresort.shtml

 

[DisDaydreamer]

Before you buy any type of travel insurance, be sure you understand what they cover and what they don't. They'll pay only for some unforeseen and unavoidable loss, caused by something like a serious medical situation or a hurricane. If your parents just change their minds, the insurance will not pay.

The insurance by Travel Guard is the only one I know of that will pay anything at all on points -- but even then, only for a covered situation. And I'm not sure they'd pay anything at all if you retained the points, no matter what their status. You should certainly check that question with Travel Guard before you buy travel insurance.

Another option would be to pay cash for your parents' room and get travel insurance that would pay the full amount of your loss.

BTW, I've used Travel Guard numerous times for non-DVC vacations, and they are an excellent company.

Excellent advice. The only time we have taken insurance is for the cruise, but if you think the likelyhood of a trip being cancelled (for the right reasons) is remotely possible, then do as JimMIA suggests.

 

[SuzanneSLO]

If you are using your points for accomodations for your parents, then you can rent the points to them at a reasonable price and make the rental nonrefundable. Your parents should then be able to get Travel Insurance that will cover this nonrefundable travel expense. I think JimMIA posted info on TravelGuard insuring rental of points about a year ago. Good luck -- Suzanne

 

[JimMIA]

JimMIA: thanks for suggesting a cash reservation for my parents' room, so the insurance would be more feasible. I hadn't thought of that.

Just keep in mind that they'll only pay in pretty narrow circumstances. Travel insurance is mostly to cover the possibility of medical cancellations.

It might also cover a hurricane situation...or not. You'd have to check with Travel Guard and be sure you understand their storm-related coverage. That's academic anyway, because we held a vote earlier this year and decided not to host any hurricanes in Florida this year. Six in two years was plenty!

 

[Mrs. Goofy]

Just keep in mind that they'll only pay in pretty narrow circumstances. Travel insurance is mostly to cover the possibility of medical cancellations.

It might also cover a hurricane situation...or not. You'd have to check with Travel Guard and be sure you understand their storm-related coverage. That's academic anyway, because we held a vote earlier this year and decided not to host any hurricanes in Florida this year. Six in two years was plenty!

Thanks to everyone for your input!

Glad to know how that vote came out! I had forgotten to get my out-of-state ballot!

 

[bab31]

If you rent points from someone are you able to get trip insurance covering that?

 

[bab31]

I called travel guard - they do not cover time shares.