Don’t let travel anxiety derail your spring break plans
As the spring travel season kicks into high gear, American travelers have more on their minds than just sunshine and beaches. While nearly all consumers (91%) have plans to travel domestically this year, concerns about severe weather, natural disasters and illness disrupting their trip remain top of mind, according to a new survey by Nationwide Travel Insurance.
It’s no surprise that in today’s world of unprecedented travel challenges, consumers have major concerns about disruptions. In fact, most (51%) say they are still concerned about a resurgence of COVID-19, as well as weather-related delays or cancellations (54%), technology issues (38%) and unruly fellow travelers (37%) derailing their travel.
So, what’s a worried consumer to do as we head into spring break season amid increasingly unpredictable weather and the lingering tail end of cold and flu season?
“The past few years have taught us to plan for the unexpected, and with so many factors out there that can disrupt travel, it’s important for consumers to invest in travel insurance that will protect their peace of mind and finances as we head into the spring travel season,” said Syed Rizvi, leader of Nationwide’s travel insurance business. “Our survey found consumers have neglected to pay for travel insurance in the past because of misconceptions that are preventing them from seeing the value in it, which is why it’s important to work with a trusted company to understand everything travel insurance covers.”
According to Nationwide’s survey, many consumers mistakenly believe that travel insurance will not cover their top travel concerns, including injury, sickness and trip interruption. Most travel insurance policies do cover these disruptions, Rizvi said.
Many consumers also overestimate the cost of travel insurance, with almost a third (30%) believing it usually costs more than 15% of the total cost of the trip. In fact, according to Rizvi, the average cost of travel insurance is actually only 5-6% of the total trip cost.
What’s more, over two in five (41%) mistakenly believe their travel credit card offers the same amount of protection as travel insurance, which is not always the case.
"While credit cards can offer travel protection, they don’t always fully cover an individual if something goes wrong, especially if they get sick or injured on a trip,” added Rizvi. “When traveling in this age of uncertainty, consumers should consider enhancing their coverage by buying a separate policy that protects against unforeseen disruptions. It’s a relatively small premium to pay compared to the total cost of the trip, and it can help you rest easier as you prepare for your holiday travel knowing you’re protected.”
Need to get a travel quote for your spring break getaway? Nationwide has affordable, flexible plans that will keep you traveling smart and financially protected against unforeseen circumstances.
NSM-0373AO
01/2024