Neil Simon's 1970, The Out of Towners, is a classic comedy that presents a litany of things that can go wrong when you travel. In the movie, George and Gwen Kellerman experience a chain of events that would make any traveler cringe. Their flight to New York is diverted to Boston, the airline loses their luggage, they get to New York late and find the hotel has given away their reserved room and they go out to try to find another hotel and get mugged. They are left in the big city with no money, no food and no place to stay.

Could all of the things that happened to the couple have been avoided? Probably not (and not just because it would ruin the movie). When you travel, many things can go wrong. Buying travel insurance before you leave home can be a lifesaver when something does not go according to plan. While you'd have to be the most unlucky person in the world to go through everything George and Gwen Kellerman did, it is not at all uncommon for you to experience some inconveniences when you travel.

Travel insurance is relatively inexpensive and it can cover you in many types of situations. It can reimburse you for expenses you may incur if you have to cancel a trip. If you are booking a $10,000 cruise today for a Caribbean holiday that will begin in three months, you never know what could happen that could make it impossible for you to take that cruise. You could break your leg, or there could be a death in the family or you may have a time-sensitive project at work that cannot be delayed. Travel insurance can help you avoid any out-of-pocket expenses you may incur for cancelling the cruise. 

Lost luggage is another hazard of travel. If the airline loses your luggage, they may compensate you for the loss, but the time it takes to process a claim may be longer than the length of your trip. With travel insurance, you can get cash almost immediately so you can buy new clothes and get on with your vacation. 

When you are away from home, particularly when you are in a foreign country, getting sick can cost you dearly. Not only do you need to seek and pay for medical care, but your illness may force you to curtail your trip. Travel insurance can help cover your healthcare and any associated expenses if you have to cut your trip short. 

Talk to your independent insurance agent and find out all of the different types of travel insurance you can buy. Hopefully, everything will go according to plan; but if it doesn’t, it’s comforting to know that you have travel insurance.