Travel Insurance

[Dani314]

Is having travel insurance when booking the only way you can cancel a trip for a full refund? I don't mind paying the extra for it, but was just curious. I'm planning for next year (November), but we don't know what this virus is going to do between now and then, so I'd like the option to cancel in the event we're just uncomfortable going. I know a lot of people have cancelled or rescheduled their trips, but was just curious what the stipulations were for doing so.

 

[zoo2tycoon]

Is having travel insurance when booking the only way you can cancel a trip for a full refund? I don't mind paying the extra for it, but was just curious. I'm planning for next year (November), but we don't know what this virus is going to do between now and then, so I'd like the option to cancel in the event we're just uncomfortable going. I know a lot of people have cancelled or rescheduled their trips, but was just curious what the stipulations were for doing so.

Most travel insurance excludes pandemic as a reason to cancel. You need to carefully read the terms of any insurance you are looking at to see if it does cover a pandemic. Even cancel for any reason has terms. Each policy is different.

We had a cruise/trip planned that we were to be on now (Rome/Mediterranean cruise). We had purchased good travel insurance but it like most clearly excluded pandemic. We thankfully at no charge were able to rebook for November and insurance carried over. We are hoping we can go. Go look at https://www.elliott.org
Lots of great and informative information on travel, cancellation and COVID-19 related issues.

 

[lanejudy]

WDW vacations are pretty easy to cancel for a full refund. Book a "package" which includes room+tickets(+dining), and you have until 30 days prior to arrival to cancel for a full refund.

Airfare and other transportation may have different cancellation policies.

Be careful with travel insurance to be sure it will cover what you want as coverage. Many plans don't cover "pandemic" related cancellations.

 

[CastAStone]

Airfare and other transportation may have different cancellation policies.

I'll point out that the poster won't even be able to book airfare for November 2021 until December of this year on American, United, or Delta, and until sometime next Spring on Southwest, Frontier, and Spirit (and somewhere in between on JetBlue). Hopefully by then a lot more will be clear.

 

[Dani314]

WDW vacations are pretty easy to cancel for a full refund. Book a "package" which includes room+tickets(+dining), and you have until 30 days prior to arrival to cancel for a full refund.

Airfare and other transportation may have different cancellation policies.

Be careful with travel insurance to be sure it will cover what you want as coverage. Many plans don't cover "pandemic" related cancellations.

Oh that's awesome! We will be driving from Louisiana, but doing the whole package deal as far as room, tickets and dining. I was just curious if cancellation was only an option if you had the travel insurance. Thank you! So glad I stumbled across this Disney community. Yall have been more than helpful!

 

[LNMom]

To clarify PPs: You don’t need travel insurance to cancel a Disney package. You can cancel 30 days prior to arrival for a full refund. Within 30 days is a different story.
Travel insurance covers pre-paid costs when you cancel for very specific reasons (outlined in the insurance plan; “I don’t feel comfortable traveling” is never a reason unless you have a special policy). This special policy is known as ”cancel for any reason” insurance. Most of these special policies allow you to cancel a certain number of days out from your trip (48 hours seems to be standard) and you will be refunded 75% of your prepaid costs(% depends on plan, 75% seems to be standard). “Cancel for any reason” insurance is pricey.
High end credit cards offer travel insurance as a perk of card membership. This is what my family uses. The annual cost of the card pays for itself between all the perks offered.