The COVID-19 pandemic has changed a lot about many things in our lives, from how we work, to how our kids learn, to how we shop, to what we do and where we go for fun. And it’s changed a lot about how we travel. In fact, it’s stopped a lot of us from traveling – or at least has changed our travel plans, in many cases, significantly.
Still, we love to travel – to have the excitement of having an adventure to look forward to, to see new places, and experience new things. So, while we are still in the middle of this pandemic, many folks are starting to – cautiously – look ahead to post-pandemic days and plan a vacation. Having something to look forward to not only feels great, but it also is proven to improve our mood significantly. And I don’t know about you but having something to improve my mood sounds like a great idea!
If this sounds like a great idea to you as well but you’re hesitant because things are just SO uncertain right now, then let’s chat about one of the biggest questions you might have about booking your vacation now:
What are my options if I need to change or cancel my trip?
The fact is that you have more options than you might realize, and understanding those options can make the idea of booking a vacation now, during these uncertain times, something that actually makes a lot of sense. Knowing that you have protection in case your plans change, can give you peace of mind to plan a getaway.
Let’s take a look at 3 ways that you are protected if your travel plans change.
Generous Cancellation Policies – One thing that has come out of the travel challenges of this year, is that most destinations are being quite generous with cancellation policies. Whether it is full and complete refunds without penalties – in some cases as late as 24 hours in advance – or travel credits that are good for several YEARS, destinations recognize that planning travel, and the challenges that that entails at the moment, requires flexibility and they are diligently working with their clients to help. Not every destination offers the same type of cancellation flexibility though, so it is important to read that fine print and/or have your travel agent explain your options before you book so that you understand exactly what options you have if you need to cancel or change, and that you are comfortable with them.
Buy travel insurance – Travel insurance is something that I’ve always recommended to my clients, even before anyone had ever heard of coronavirus. This is because vacations are a sizeable investment in many cases – and life happens. Things like your flight getting cancelled due to weather (blizzards, thunderstorms, hurricanes etc.), or you missing your connection, can rapidly add unexpected costs to your trip. To say nothing of expenses due to an accident or illness outside of the U.S. (where many American health insurance plans don’t cover claims). So, travel insurance is something that you always want to get, pandemic or not. Now whether insurance companies will cover COVID related claims varies by company and policy. It is, admittedly tricky at the moment, since COVID-19 became a “named event” back in March, so most insurance companies consider it a known and foreseen event and will not cover claims due to this coronavirus. That being said, for companies that offer “Cancel For Any Reason” (CFAR) policies, it is possible that *some* claims related to the current pandemic *might* be covered, but it’s not a guarantee. While CFAR policies generally need to be purchased at or shortly after the trip is booked, are more expensive – and don’t typically reimburse 100% – in some cases this may be your best option if available. It is super important to compare the different policies that are available, read the fine print, and ask the carrier for clarification on any coverage questions you have. No matter what, travel insurance should always be part of any vacation you book, so that you can have protect your vacation investment as much as possible.
Use a Travel Professional – Booking a trip right now can often seem daunting especially with so many things changing regularly. It can be hard to keep up with everything, and it’s stressful thinking about all of the details that you’ll need to think about. While having a trusted travel agent to help has always been beneficial, as travel becomes more complicated, the value of an experienced travel professional is immeasurable. Whether it’s sifting through available destinations and options to find the right one for you, making sure you get the best possible price, working with you to ensure you have all the correct paperwork you’ll need, answering questions – and most importantly yes, being there to help if you need to change or reschedule – at no time has working with an experienced travel agent been more valuable.
With these 3 layers of protection in place for travelers, this is actually a great time to plan and book your next vacation. Even if you are not ready to travel right now (which is understandable) planning a vacation for spring or summer or fall of next year – or even 2022 – will give you that important “something to look forward to”. (Plus you will have longer to pay off your trip!) And most importantly, you can plan with confidence, knowing that if something happens and you need to change, you can easily do so.
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