Have you booked an expensive trip and cannot start it? As if that weren't enough punishment, the next hammer immediately follows: high cancellation costs. We show when and for whom travel cancellation insurance is worthwhile.
- Travel cancellation insurance protects against high cancellation costs if vacationers cannot start their trip.
- The reasons for resignation are illness, deaths in the family and accidents.
- Travel cancellation insurance covers the extra costs if you have to cancel your vacation prematurely due to illness, for example.
The countdown to the start of the holiday has started and right now a nasty virus strikes you down, your house burns down, the child has fallen from the tree or you are invited to the court as a witness: there are risks that prevent a booked trip from starting there are many. But nobody likes to think about these negative events in life when they book a vacation with anticipation. The travel price quickly grows beyond the budget, which is why additional costs such as travel cancellation insurance are often rejected. We show when a policy makes sense and what alternatives there are.
1. What is travel cancellation insurance?
Cancellation insurance covers cancellation costs if a trip is canceled – and thus protects against high fees. Because the closer you are to the travel date, the higher they are – shortly before the start of the trip, they are usually 100 percent of the travel price.
2. What reasons for cancellation are insured?
- unpredictable serious illness
- bad accident
- Victim of a serious crime
- major damage to property due to burglary, fire, storm, flood
- Family death
- Complications in pregnancy
- Vaccination intolerance or defective prosthesis
- Subpoena in court as a witness
- Missed plane if public transport arrives at the airport at least two hours late
Danger: Delayed examination dates, job loss, unexpected job offers or separation from the travel partner are not valid reasons for cancellation with many cancellation insurance policies and are therefore not included. Political unrest is only considered a reason for resignation if there is a travel warning from the Federal Foreign Office.
3. When is travel cancellation insurance worthwhile?
- for trips booked well in advance
- on very expensive trips
- when traveling with children or the elderly
4. Do I have to take out travel cancellation insurance when booking?
No there:
- completion up to 14 days before the start date is possible
- this is inevitably pointed out when booking in a travel agency
- a degree is offered immediately for online bookings
5. Tips on travel cancellation insurance
- Check policies of booking portals and airline websites well, as they are often expensive and suggest deductibles
- However, experts do not recommend deductibles
- Anyone who travels several times a year is better off with an annual contract
- Couples and families can save money with family rates
- only choose insurers who participate in the insurance ombudsman's arbitration procedure, as the arbitration will then be free of charge
- Combined packages with travel interruption insurance often make sense and are cheaper
6. What is travel cancellation insurance?
It pays for costs if the vacation cannot be ended as planned – whether due to an early return trip or an involuntarily extended stay. Therefore, the demolition insurance is an additional protection for the travel cancellation insurance. It can be taken out separately as an additional policy for the cancellation insurance or as part of a travel insurance package.
7. What is the difference to travel cancellation insurance?
The travel cancellation insurance ends with the start of the trip. The travel interruption insurance applies from the start of the trip.
8. When is travel cancellation insurance worthwhile?
- for longer trips
- for traveling with children or the elderly
9. When does the protection of the travel interruption insurance take effect?
- in the event of an accident
- with serious illness
- in the event of death
- in the event of damage to property due to burglary, fire, storm, flood
10th What does travel cancellation insurance do?
It covers additional costs if the trip ends prematurely for a recognized reason, including:
- Rebooking fees
- additional accommodation and meals costs
- Transport costs to get back to the tour group like after a break in a tour or cruise