FFipzz

Hello. I can't take anymore chances, for the first time I'm planning on getting Travel Insurance for 3 weeks Italy trip. I'm a US citizen. Please share your knowledge and experiences. Especially your "wish I've known that". For this trip, I made my first payment for flight booking 2 days ago.

Aside from airfare, the big bulk of my travel $$$ will go to hotels. I want to to insure or cover Hotel Cancellation Fees/Penalties - I have NOT prepaid any accommodations. But I have Hotel Cancellation Penalties which could run up to mid 4 digits( $X,000) if I cancel '4-3 to 1 Week(s)' prior to my departure. Most of it is in the Amalfi Coast. You guys know that hotels/villas in the area have longer and higher penalties for cancellation (not 48 hrs prior to arrival).

In travel insurance websites, the "trip cost" is asked when you do "trip quotes". It specifies your total non-refundable payments and deposits. Should I add my "hotel cancellation fees" to that? Take note that I have reserved but not pre-paid any deposit to hotels. Fees will only be charged to credit card upon cancellation within those time frames.

One insurance company rep told me to add those Hotel Cancellation Fees to total trip cost. Another rep told me that since I have not paid any deposit, I cannot add those Hotel Cancellation fees. That made me go go "huh"? Hotel Cancellation Fees are one of the major $$$ outlay if these trip is cancelled for a legitimate reason.

Thanks in advance for your input.

traveller1959

You probably post this question better on the U.S.forum, since it is a question of U.S. law and not a Eurpean question.

Here in Europe, these penalties would be added to the total trip costs and covered by travel insurance, but only if you cannot travel in case of illness or illness of a close relative. I have done that already, when I had to cancel a trip due to a broken foot.

FFipzz

Thanks for input. I posted this in Europe and tagged Italy because when I research "travel insurance" in this Fodors forum, this kind of topic are posted and tagged with the destination countries.

My observation (I may be wrong), we Americans are not generally purchasers of travel insurance within USA travels unless it's an expensive trip package to, for example, Hawaii. USA Hotels are generally cancellable on day of or prior day of arrival. Local USA flights generally can be changed for a small fee.

My European-Italy trip on the other hand means, thousands in penalties if cancelled within those time frames I posted in first post above. Thank you.

RM67

You can use services like Booking.com which allow you to hold rooms, pay on departure and cancel without penalty up to the day of arrival (although the cost per night is usually then more than if you book a non cancelable room, or pay up front).

In terms of travel insurance, it's probably just easier to buy a comprehensive global yearly policy if you travel enough to merit it, rather than worrying about the exact costs/possible deductions for each and every trip.

FFipzz

RM67, this hotels are in the Amalfi Coast, even if I (or other travelers) book in booking.com, the cancellation policy is the same as the hotel website: 1 month to 1 week prior to first day of stay. Amalfi Coast in general have this due to, I guess, seasonal business and it closes down winter time.

HappyTrvlr

We add up all non-refundable expenses when booking travel insurance. For flights, add the change fees not the whole cost as you can use the flights for up to a year. If you don't think you'll be able to use a flight credit within a year , then add the total cost our total. Add those hotel costs with strict cancellation policies. Guided tours, home or apartment rentals too..if there is a penalty. You can add and delete these costs to your policy.
Our boutique hotel in Capri was small and had a month in advance cancellation fee so we added the total cost. We experienced the same
policy in the Dolomites at a very special hotel. There is a hotel in Rome that has no cancellation on all it's rooms so read your bookings very carefully and add all non refundables to your policy. We use Travel Guard as they refunded 100% of a cancelled trip due to emergency surgery.

Christina

If it is nonrefundable, it should be covered subject to the terms of the insurance you choose (as to reason, time frame, etc). As HappyTrvlr says, you have to exclude things that are not really costs, so for airfare it is only the amount of change fees.

Yes, add the costs in if they are nonrefundable, as it is a cost if you cancel in that time period.

Trip cost does not cover your lost baggage, etc., those as those are under separate provisions.

the statement on the front page of insuremytrip.com where you put in that figure very clearly says << Be sure to insure the full amount of your prepaid and non-refundable travel arrangements; you can have trouble with claims if you don't. Non-prepaid and refundable items are not covered.>>

I wouldn't deal with agents or the company who told you that.

FFipzz

Thanks HappyTrvlr and Christina. That's whatI thought too. The rep (could be misinformed) who said that if you have not paid any deposit to a hotel reservation, then you cannot add that to total trip cost. Though hotel cancellation is 4 to 1 week(s) prior to arrival and could add up to $X,000.

Happy Trvlr, those are exactly my places of destinations with boutique hotels having long cancellation and high penalty fees. So thanks guys. I will do more calling around.

jubilada

We have been buying trip insurance for a trip ti Italy next year. We add coverage as we pay deposits on different portions of our trip. It is easy to do.

FFipzz

Hi Jubilada, My hotel reservations require no deposit. However there is a pricey $$$$ penalty for cancellation that I want covered by insurance. Trip Cancellation for a legitimate reason ( not for "any" reason).

In this trip there will be no more additional payment or deposits. I have already paid for my airfare and trains. Hotels, no payment until I go there to complete my stay or if I cancel within those time frames. But I sure would like to get my 4-digit $X,000 Hotel penalties covered just in case.

NYCFoodSnob

As you get closer to the departure date, you should be able to add the cancellation fee cost to your total coverage, because only then will you be liable for that fee. Don't sign on for coverage with an agency that does not offer customer service and/or add-on coverage.

Everyone who travels knows that cost liability comes in increments, and you need a policy that allows for that.

flpab

I use allianz and they were very good to me when mom died and I was in Italy. Save all receipt's from trip.
I bought tickets on a European website for tickets to travel in between countries and used their insurance and it was not covered when travel companion had heart attack and had to cancel for open heart. They refunded tax. So, better to use travel insurance not attached to airline.

FFipzz

Thanks NYCfoodsnob. I've never taken out any kind of Insurance trip for Europe in the past. Though there have been times when I actually (carelessly) booked non-refundable hotel in Venice and (for big discounts) a Paris hotel during my earlier and younger days of travel. At that time I was feeling foolishly invincible I guess.

Now, especially with this Amalfi Coast trip, with such pricey fees and long cancellation time frame, I want a comprehensive insurance. That goes without saying that upon research I've read horror stories of evacuation cost! Which I want coverage too. 6-digits for evac and repatriation. Again the possibility that I would need medical evac has never even entered my mind until now.

Underhill

Go to the insuremytrip.com web site, which allows you to check out various insurance companies' plans and do a comparison.

bvlenci

There are many hotels on the Amalfi Coast that have much better cancellation terms, although you pay more than for the non-reimbursable reservations. I would prefer to pay more and get a hotel that allows you to cancel without penalty until a few days before the trip.

HappyTrvlr

Like Jubilada, we add expenses to the trip insurance as we book them.

NYCFoodSnob

I can't imagine picking a hotel based on its reservation cancellation terms. I'm way too picky about the quality of my surroundings. I stay where I want to stay, and respect the terms of the owner.

<i><font color=#555555>"I've never taken out any kind of Insurance trip for Europe in the past."</font></i>

I'm no fan of insurance companies. I often view them as I view lawyers: a necessary evil. The contents of my luggage are valued far beyond ordinary travelers' luggage. I never travel without a $10,000 camera kit. I won't even mention the cost of my favorite shoe choices.

Since I travel for work, I have a business policy that includes travel. Prior to carrying my own policy, I had to wade through the various plans and suffer through the fine print.

Many of my fellow colleagues in the film business are free-lancers, and they are required to insure themselves. I help many wade through the ever-changing policies in the marketplace. The fine-print can be mind-numbing. The basic premise: insurance companies make it very difficult for consumers to recover a loss. If the loss is legitimate, expect to jump through many hoops to prove it. And then justifying the policy expense is a hoop all its own.

Fortunately, I haven't made many claims. Luck has a lot to do with avoiding acts of God that can be very hurtful.

FFipzz

Thanks again everyone for contributing to this discussion.

@HappyTrvlr - do you mind sharing the insurance company you have been using? Your past trips situation you mentioned in your above posts seemed similar to my trip situation: boutique accommodations with longer cancellation time frames.

@NYCfoodsnob- I also don't pick accommodations based on cancellation policy. Yeah, to the mind-numbing fine print, as I've been reading those.

@underhill - I did a lot of browsing on insuremytrip.

My observation is, in the Amalfi Coast, the cancellation policy are longer, stricter than other places. Regardless whether it is a hotel, villa, apartment. Moderate or higher-end.

jubilada

FFipzz, the type of accommodation or the cancellation policy is not relevant if you simply add insurance as you go. Ours is through nationwide/ national mutual as listed on insure my trip. At the time you pay the deposit you cover it with insurance of the type you choose. If you have to cancel for a covered reason and lose your deposit, the insurance covers. It is straightforward.

maxima

Due to family circumstances, work schedule and availability of travel partners I find it difficult to predict if, in the event of cancelation I would be able to rebook within a year. That being said, I include the full airfare rather than the change cost, as I cannot be certain that I would be able to use an airline credit.