If you are traveling overseas, the medical coverage , Medvac payments and lost baggage reimbursement

The travel industry makes travel insurance policies from companies like Allianz Global Assistance los angeles metro link and Travel Guard out to be the only guardrail between you and financial disaster. Buy coverage or regret you ever planned to spend a week in Orlando. In many circumstances, they are right to recommend this specialty product; in fact, it s not unusual for many suppliers to automatically include insurance in their quote, motivated by the for your own good philosophy.
To start, look at your cancellation penalty charges. If you are taking a cruise, a package vacation like Walt Disney World or an escorted trip to Italy, there is a sliding scale on penalties you may lose your deposit with any cancellation, and you usually risk 50% of the final payment if you cancel within 30 days. At some point before the trip begins, you cross the point of no return where the company is very sympathetic about your troubles, but does not refund the dollars.
However, if the trip consists of an airline los angeles metro link ticket, rental car and hotel room, the penalties vary. Most rental car companies los angeles metro link do not impose any fees. Some hotel cancellation policies give you until 6 p.m. on the day of check-in to back out without penalty. Others los angeles metro link only charge one night s stay if you cancel. And if you cancel with the airlines, they will apply a $150 to $200 change los angeles metro link fee per ticket (this can be as much as $250 for international destinations), but hold the remainder in an account to use with them in the next 12 months. If you fly frequently and your ticket is with a domestic airline like United or Delta, you may not think the $150 potential loss is worth covering. Know, too, that many airlines will waive re-booking fees when Mother Nature is involved, like Hurricane Isaac.
If you are traveling overseas, the medical coverage , Medvac payments los angeles metro link and lost baggage reimbursement features may become more important to  you than when you are vacationing stateside. And it s not uncommon for the cost exposure overall to be higher, which makes the cancellation features more important to many Americans. Any time the numbers scare you, buy the travel insurance.
Julie Sturgeon is a serial entrepreneur, successfully working as a self-employed business journalist for 25 years. Today she owns Curing los angeles metro link Cold Feet travel agency, and has been featured as a travel expert los angeles metro link in Time magazine. She also runs social media management company CEOMarketer , where she has increased sales for companies los angeles metro link that range from independent hotels to online los angeles metro link retailers selling aftermarket parts for Nissans. Lastly, she works behind the scenes as a development los angeles metro link editor los angeles metro link at Crimson Romance . Julie doesn't sleep much, but she will drop work when IU is playing basketball. She owns and operates Indianapolis On The Cheap.
Who We Are Living On The Cheap is owned by a group of frugalistas, los angeles metro link journalists and consumer advocates. Our goal is to help readers find ways to not merely survive tough economic times, but to enjoy themselves. Read about our experts here. Contact us at editors@livingonthecheap.com