Travel Insurance companies are starting to get a lot of calls for the type of vacation protection policy that would offer refunds to people laid off before they were scheduled to ship out on a big vacation. It would also cover you if you see the need to stick around work for urgent reasons and the timing is no longer appropiate.

Times are tough, I imagine people are going to stick around work more and relinquish going on the Spring/summer/fall vacation. What do you think?

I've noticed a couple of airlines that were offering leniency to people who were laid off after they purchased tickets but before the travel date. Can't remember the particulars at the moment.

As someone who has been our of work several times I can speak for how tough times are. I look for more local things to do, especially free or very inexpensive things and I've found a surprising number of interesting things to do that don't cost money. It's not the same as a trip to Europe and I definitely get jealous when I read of everyone here traveling and posting trip reports but I'm learning to be happy with what I have and hope for more in the future. I know I'm not alone in this. I'm beginning to look at this as a new experience. I would have missed lots of local things to do and new experiences if I were concentrating my efforts on my next European trip.

If people have money to travel they can find some really good deals. I have a friend who likes to take cruises and she learned last year that if she had waited to book until 2 weeks prior to the cruise she could have saved $1,000 per person off the price of the cruise; it would have been a 30% reduction.

I am based in the Netherlands, and have permanent travel insurance which covers, amongst other things, being laid off and therefore unable to travel. It is always recommended in the Netherlands to take out insurance which covers cancellation for all sorts of reasons (apart from just changed your mind). The same as health care insurance is always strongly recommended, even for travel within the EU, as health care services vary so much from country to country.
Our permanent insurance costs us a few Euros a month, but gives total peace of mind.

I noticed that American Airline's optional flight insurance covers layoffs if you've been employed with that employer for at least 3 years.

At least two companies offer "cancel for any reason" option on their trip insurance plans, for a fee of course. I think the most it covers is 75% of the loss. You can find them on the Insuremytrip.com site.

Interesting points, more relevant than ever. In the USA, There are health insurance companies that will ONLY cover EMERGENCY medical expenses if overseas; others (i.e. Blue Cross/Blue Shield) will have far more reimbursable coverage as far as medical visits overseas.

I also agree with the surge on local tourism; a lot of Lessons Learned when the Bubble bursted....