Is Travel Insurance Worth It? Here’s What You Need to Know

Article summary:

Even the most carefully planned vacations can face unexpected challenges. That’s why travel insurance might be the smartest thing you pack. Whether it’s sudden illness, weather delays, job loss or lost luggage, AAA Travel and Allianz Global Protection can help protect your trip investment from common disruptions.

Here’s what sets their benefits apart:

• Flexible plans that fit your travel style and budget—from basic protection to deluxe, comprehensive coverage.
• 24/7 global support and emergency medical care, including evacuation and vehicle return if you can’t drive home.
• Family-friendly benefits, like free benefits for kids 17 and under traveling with an insured adult.
• Protection for domestic and international trips, ideal for everything from national park adventures to overseas getaways.
• Smart technology with the Allyz® TravelSmart app and automatic SmartBenefits® payouts to make claims fast and easy.

AAA Travel Agent, Tara Clemens, also shares her expertise and guidance so AAA Members can personalized assistance and travel confidently knowing help is always just a call or click away.

Travel with confidence: How AAA Travel Insurance and Allianz keep your adventures protected

Travel opens the door to unforgettable experiences and exciting new places—but even the best-planned adventures can take an unexpected turn. A sudden illness, flight cancellation, lost luggage or medical emergency abroad can quickly derail your trip. So, is travel insurance really worth it?

With expert insights from Tara Clemens, AAA Travel Agent, this quick guide explains what travel insurance covers, when it’s a smart idea and how AAA Travel, together with trusted partner Allianz Global Assistance, helps protect your vacation and your wallet. Whether you’re planning a family getaway, an overseas adventure or a once-in-a-lifetime cruise, the right coverage helps you travel with confidence.

Do I need travel insurance?

Picture this: You’ve finally booked your bucket-list vacation, but a sudden illness forces you to cancel just days before departure, leaving you out thousands of dollars in non-refundable costs. Or maybe you’re exploring a new country when an unexpected medical emergency strike and your health insurance back home doesn’t cover it.

Today’s travelers face plenty of unpredictable what-ifs. That’s where travel insurance comes in. It’s an upfront cost that protects your travel investment, covers unforeseen expenses and offers 24/7 support when plans go awry. Clemens often reminds her clients, it’s all about balancing risk and peace of mind. “Travel insurance is like a safety net—you hope you don’t need it, but you’ll be glad it’s there if you do.”

What does travel insurance cover?

At its heart, travel insurance helps protect your trip—and your wallet—when the unexpected disrupts your plans. And Allianz’s plans through AAA give you the confidence to travel with less worry. With flexible coverage options, you can choose what works best for your travel style and budget:

• Basic: Straightforward trip cancellation protection
• Select: A well-rounded option with solid benefits and added perks
• Deluxe: Maximum protection with higher limits and broader covered reasons—ideal for longer or more complex trips

Key coverage highlights:

• Trip cancellation or interruption: Reimburses non-refundable expenses—such as prepaid hotels, B&Bs and certain vacation rentals—if you need to cancel or cut your trip short for a covered reason like illness, job loss, or severe weather
• Emergency medical care and evacuation: Pays for doctor or hospital visits abroad and can cover emergency medical evacuation
• Lost, stolen or delayed baggage: Helps replace essentials if your luggage goes missing or arrives late
• Travel delays: Covers unexpected costs like hotels and meals when delays leave you stuck

AAA’s exclusive TripProtect® plans, powered by Allianz, offer even more peace of mind with benefits like automatic payouts for missed ports, coverage for returning your vehicle if you can’t drive and around-the-clock global assistance—so your trip stays on track, no matter what.

Is travel insurance worth the cost?

For many travelers, the answer is a clear yes, especially when the trip involves significant costs. It’s not just about guarding against the unexpected; it’s about protecting your investment and easing stress when plans go awry. The cost of a policy depends on factors like trip length, destination and traveler profile, but it’s often a small price to pay compared to potential losses—like a missed cruise, $5,000 in non-refundable tours or a $50,000 medical evacuation.

Clemens advises, “I always remind travelers to check what they’d lose if they had to cancel. For many, that alone makes insurance worthwhile.”

Travelers with families, pre-existing conditions or those taking longer, more expensive trips often benefit from more comprehensive coverage. While some credit cards may offer limited protection, they typically don’t cover emergency medical care or evacuation abroad.

Here’s when insurance often makes the most sense:

• International trips: Many health insurance plans don’t cover care abroad. If you get sick or injured, out-of-pocket costs can skyrocket
• Higher ticket or non-refundable trips: Cruises, group tours and resort packages often have strict cancellation policies. Insurance helps protect that investment
• Unpredictable seasons: Traveling during hurricane season or winter? Weather-related disruptions are common — and insurance can cover related delays or cancellations

Do I need travel insurance on domestic trips?

Travel insurance isn’t just for international getaways—domestic travelers can benefit just as much, especially when exploring remote or adventure-filled destinations

Clemens recalled a client who joined a guided tour of several national parks. After posing for a group photo, he jumped from a rock and seriously injured himself. Due to the remote location, he needed to be airlifted out to get the medical attention he needed. The emergency evacuation could have cost tens of thousands of dollars, but thanks to his travel insurance policy, it was fully covered.

Beyond medical emergencies, travel insurance also offers valuable perks for domestic travel—like more comprehensive and cost-effective rental car coverage compared to what’s offered at the rental counter. Whether you’re flying across the country or hitting the road for a weekend escape, travel insurance helps protect you and keeps your trip on track.

Why choose AAA Tavel and Allianz Global Assistance?

When it comes to travel insurance, who you buy from makes all the difference. AAA and Allianz have built a trusted partnership known for quality coverage, exceptional customer support and member-exclusive benefits.

Here’s what sets them apart:

• Trusted reputation: Over 61 million AAA members rely on AAA’s travel expertise, while Allianz boasts an A+ rating from AM Best and was named Best Travel Insurance Provider in the 2024/2025 Elliott Advocacy Readers’ Choice Awards
• Travel smarter: SmartBenefits® delivers automatic payouts for covered delays or baggage issues—no receipts required. The Allyz® TravelSmart app lets you manage claims, find medical care and get real-time travel alerts right from your phone
• Flexible plans: Whether you need single-trip coverage or an annual plan for frequent travel, there are options to fit your lifestyle
• Special AAA benefits: Get reimbursed for unexpected costs like required vaccinations if you cancel, vehicle transport home due to illness, lost travel documents, missed cruise ports and river cruise itinerary changes—often with no receipts needed

Making the decision: Is it right for me?

When deciding if travel insurance is worth the investment, consider the details of your trip—such as the total cost, destination, non-refundable bookings and how comfortable you are with unexpected changes. Even the most carefully planned trips can hit a bump in the road. For many travelers, the peace of mind that comes with knowing you’re covered is invaluable.

AAA Travel Agent Tara Clemens puts it simply: “I’ve never had a client that was disappointed that they purchased travel insurance. Better to have it and not need it than the alternative. “If you’re unsure whether travel insurance makes sense for your plans, Clemens recommends speaking with a AAA Travel Agent. They can walk you through your options, help you assess your risk and match you with a plan that is customized to exactly what you need.

AAA and Allianz combine reliability, convenience and customizable protection so you can travel confidently. And if challenges arise on your journey, AAA Travel Agents are ready to step in. Agents like Tara Clemens serve as trusted advocates who guide you through every step of the claims process and help solve problems quickly. Whether it’s navigating unexpected medical emergencies, trip interruptions or lost luggage, your AAA agent is just a call away, providing personalized support and peace of mind when you need it most. As Clemens says, “We’re always here for our clients and won’t stop working until they get the help they need.” This hands-on service ensures that you’re never alone when the unexpected happens—making your trip smoother and your experience stress-free.