Travel and Timeshare Insurance

[riverdees05 Platinum Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close riverdees05]

Do you have a criteria on when you take out travel or timeshare insurance?

So far I have only taken out insurance on cruise trips, but after the two airline went under this week, I am wondering if I should be taking out more. We have used the insurance twice on cruises, but with timeshares, we haven't taken the insurance and have had only one case where we had to cancel at the last minute and lost money (and it was a week that we owned).

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

In all my years of traveling I have never bought it. I only needed it once with Katrina. I still feel it should have been up to the exchange company to provide another exchange at no cost simply because I was not able to use the week they gave me. I got my week back and was able to go to Aruba but I lost my exchange fee and had to pay to exchange again.

[BoardGirl Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close BoardGirl]

Do you have a criteria on when you take out travel or timeshare insurance?

So far I have only taken out insurance on cruise trips, but after the two airline went under this week, I am wondering if I should be taking out more. We have used the insurance twice on cruises, but with timeshares, we haven't taken the insurance and have had only one case where we had to cancel at the last minute and lost money (and it was a week that we owned).

I'm having the same nagging doubt with the airlines failing. I'm not overly concerned with losing the exchange fee + week (el cheapo week thru DAE) but would sure like to get there!!!

Having already bought the airfare to Cabo (Frontier) I'm thinking of looking for insurance that will cover that specific aspect and Get Me To Mexico! I would either want to recover the lost airfare or have another carrier take me.

Have never otherwise bought trip insurance and have never needed it.

[jericap Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close jericap]

I usually buy travel insurance if I am traveling in the winter. Because I live in the Northeast, you never know when a blizzard will hit, thereby delaying flights to or from a destination. We got stuck one time for 2 nights due to a situation like that, the insurance would have paid at least for the hotel expenses.
Since then, I buy insurance for all my winter trips.

You have to read the policies carefully to see what they cover, some do not cover bankruptcies, so read carefully.

I use InsureMyTrip, it lets you compare and read about 20 different policies.

[vintner Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close vintner]

I have never used trip insurance, but when NW Airlines was having strike problems a couple years ago, I was seriously thinking it may be worth the purchase. I agree, with the airlines canceling flights, insurance may not be a bad idea for the future.

[somerville Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close somerville]

I have never bought it until this year. Festiva offered it for $59 for the year, and it is supposed to cover all my timeshare travel.

[aliikai2 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close aliikai2]

We started buying it

when we traveled to Mexico. More for the medical and extended coverage for repatriation of our remains in the event of our deaths.

We have used it once when Joyce came down with a lung problem, they paid all but the $250 deductable of a $1500 hospital visit and medications.

I think I will start buying it now on most of the trips, just for the added life insurance and the travel protection( from the airlines ) .

jmho,

Greg

[BILL_B Member Find all posts View Profile Close BILL_B]

Interesting article on Tripso.com today about this very subject.
Here’s the scoop on travel insurance | tripso.com - International travel news and commentary
There are a lot of different coverages available and like most insurance policies a lot of fine print that excludes payment. Worse than having a travel problem without insurance, to cover the loss or extra expenses, is to pay for insurance and then to find out that you're not as protected as you thought.

Bill

[Guest Close monaco]

Valuable Travel Insurance

IMHO, the greatest need and value is insurance that will pay for local medical treatment and emergency transportation home. Loss of airline tickets, baggage, hotel deposits, etc are small potatoes compared to doctor, hospital and private jet costs. An emergency air ambulance flight from Cayman Island to the States can cost $25,000.00. Also, our current medical insurance doesn't cover costs incurred while out of the country. AmEx has a policy for about $35 that covers us for a month. Super cheap considering the risks.

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

AmEx has a policy for about $35 that covers us for a month. Super cheap considering the risks.

Thats good to know, So what do you do just call them a month beforth your flight and tell them you want this medical insurance or is it better to get a year plan?

[Guest Close monaco]

Travel Medical Insurance

In reply to Big Frank's query.
Most recently, I bought the insurance online. Here's a link.

https://www.globaltravelshield.com/gts/GTS3004.jsp

[taffy19 Gold Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close taffy19]

IMHO, the greatest need and value is insurance that will pay for local medical treatment and emergency transportation home. Loss of airline tickets, baggage, hotel deposits, etc are small potatoes compared to doctor, hospital and private jet costs. An emergency air ambulance flight from Cayman Island to the States can cost $25,000.00. Also, our current medical insurance doesn't cover costs incurred while out of the country. AmEx has a policy for about $35 that covers us for a month. Super cheap considering the risks.

So true as we experienced this last November. My SO had a stroke when we arrived in Maui. We only had booked a short stay of four nights here but we ended up being here over three weeks. We had lots of help from this forum, Trading Places and TUG for accommodations but we had to pay our own transportation home with a nurse, etc. Many costs were involved.

When you are older, air ambulance insurance is well worth it. A travel policy with medical air transportation will not send you home but will send you to the nearest hospital instead where you can be treated. I just learned this recently when I was shopping for insurance for this trip. We are in Maui now.

[Guest Close monaco]

Medical Insurance Coverage

...A travel policy with medical air transportation will not send you home but will send you to the nearest hospital instead where you can be treated...

Here's what the AmEx policy says:
"If we evacuate you to a medical facility, we will pay your transportation costs from that facility to your return destination. "

Haven't had to test this(thank god) but I interpret it to mean that after the emergency medical treatment, they'll pay your way home. This may or may not be practical on commercial flights. I'm mostly protecting us for a medical treatment that necessitates an emergency flight to the states. For example, even a good hospital like the one on Grand Cayman Island, may not be able to do open heart surgery (something we know about). Bottom line is it's probably $40 well spent.

[dale7 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close dale7]

Diamond Resorts International has Sky Med which covers most of north America that will take you home.

[Guest Close monaco]

Diamond Sky Med

Diamond Resorts International has Sky Med which covers most of north America that will take you home.

Not to be too picky, but Diamond is "offering" insurance - acting as an agent. The reliability of a policy is dependent on the "underwriter". I trust American Express - probably more than I would trust Diamond at this point. Read iconnections posting above. Their insurance came up short. Maybe they missed the point in some fine print or maybe they were just "had". My guess is that AmEx insurance is cheaper than that from an intermediary like Diamond - for the same benefits. And, no I'm not getting a cut from AmEX, but I am a shareholder (a hairy ride recently).