Do You Really Need Travel Insurance? What It Covers & When to Buy It.
By SM Travel Co
Let’s be honest — no one gets excited about buying travel insurance. Most people don’t plan a trip thinking it’s going to go wrong. And neither do we.
At SM Travel Co, we plan every trip like it’s our own. That means thinking ahead, but not pushing unnecessary extras. Travel insurance is one of those “maybe” items people ask us about a lot — so here’s our honest take.
What Travel Insurance Actually Covers
Travel insurance isn’t just one blanket policy. Depending on the plan and provider, it usually includes things like:
Lost, stolen, or delayed baggage
Medical emergencies while you’re abroad
Trip cancellations or interruptions
Delays due to weather, airline issues, or strikes
Reimbursement for non-refundable trip costs
Some plans also offer CFAR (Cancel For Any Reason) coverage. That means exactly what it sounds like — more flexibility to cancel, but it comes with stricter rules and higher costs.
What It Costs
On average, travel insurance costs about 6–8% of your total trip cost. If you’re looking for full cancellation protection, especially CFAR, you may end up paying around 50% more.
For example:
A $2,000 trip will usually cost $120–160 to insure.
With full cancellation flexibility, it might rise to $240 or more.
So it’s not cheap — but in certain cases, it’s well worth it.
When You Should Get Travel Insurance
You’re traveling internationally (especially outside North America)
You’re doing adventurous or high-risk activities (like skiing, diving, hiking)
You’ve booked expensive, non-refundable hotels, flights, or tours
You or someone you’re traveling with has a medical condition
You’re traveling during storm season, or to a destination prone to delays
When You Can Probably Skip It
It’s a short domestic trip, like a weekend getaway to Boston
Your flights and hotels are all refundable
Your credit card already includes travel protections
You’re not doing anything particularly risky or remote
You don’t expect to cancel — you’re confident in your plans
We say this with love: if you think you’re going to cancel the trip, why book it at all?
We believe in traveling with confidence, not fear.
Our Take (And What We Tell Our Clients)
At SM Travel Co, we usually don’t recommend insurance for short, local trips. For quick weekends, it often adds unnecessary cost and complexity. But if you’re going international — especially somewhere off the beaten path — insurance is worth thinking about.
Still unsure? That’s why we’re here. We’ll help you figure out if you actually need it, and if so, what kind of coverage makes sense.
Reliable Travel Insurance Providers
Here are some reliable companies to check out if you’re shopping for travel insurance:
Allianz Travel
World Nomads (especially good for adventure travel)
Travel Guard by AIG
InsureMyTrip.com (lets you compare multiple options)
We don’t sell insurance, but we do care about making your trip as smooth as possible.
Want to Talk It Through?
We’re happy to help. Send us a message or reach out via our contact page. We’ll never push something you don’t need — that’s just not how we do things.
