Travel Insurance? General Booking/travel questions?

[lovedcookie]

What is travel insurance? Who sells it? Can you get travel insurance even if you make the reservations yourself (not through a travel agent)?
Sorry if my questions are a bit silly. This will be each of our first trips as adults, without our families (We're only 19). So we're a bit inexperienced with travel in general. . . .
Thanks soo much.
Erica

 

[Andy B]

I am speaking from a UK perspective but the general principles apply.

Travel insurance has a number of elements, for us we need healthcare insurance when in the US and so a major part of our coverage is for that. Baggage cover for loss or damage to items taken.

The part which may be of more interest to a US traveller may be the trip cancellation insurance, which once taken out would cover the need to cancel a trip if something happened to prevent a trip such as the illness or death of one of the traveller or someone close to them, it also may cover delay caused by outside influences and also if a trip had to be called off part way through.

You do not have to take it out through a travel agent or tour operator, in fact it is usually cheaper to take it out independantly. Do check the web for good deals.

 

[Dedejf]

What is travel insurance? Who sells it? Can you get travel insurance even if you make the reservations yourself (not through a travel agent)?
Sorry if my questions are a bit silly. This will be each of our first trips as adults, without our families (We're only 19). So we're a bit inexperienced with travel in general. . . .
Thanks soo much.
Erica

Hi Erica and how exciting to be planning your first trip without your family's guidance! Try this link insuremytrip.com. I've read on the boards that it offers what you might want. Good luck with the planning!