Summer’s just about over. The kids are back in school, the campgrounds are quiet, and the beaches are empty.
Have you taken a vacation yet this year? According to the 2016 Allianz Travel Insurance Vacation Confidence Index, your chances were 50/50, but if you did, you probably spent more than you did last year.
The index, produced by Allianz Global Assistance for the seventh year in a row, tracks Americans’ confidence that they’ll be able to take a vacation. Half of the population is pretty sure they’ll be taking a vacation this year, while 39% figure they won’t. When you don’t take some time off even though you’d like to it’s called a vacation deficit, and 3% more are in the red this year (just not from sunburn).
Even though fewer people will be traveling, the ones who do will be spending more – a whopping 11% more than they did last year. Overall we’ll spend about $1800 per household, and that adds up to a projected $89.9 billion. BILLION DOLLARS. This is despite an increase in the use of unconventional, and often less expensive, travel services like Airbnb, Uber, and Lyft.
Sometimes it’s hard to justify an expense like that to just go out and play, but whether it’s a vacation or a staycation, stepping away from the daily grind and taking a break is vital for your health and your sanity. You come back refreshed, with a whole treasure trove of memories that will last a lifetime. Consider it an investment in yourself.
Something you might also want to consider is travel insurance. I know – the last thing you want to think about when planning your vacation, especially if you’re spending that 11% more this year, is insurance. But sometimes stuff happens, and the last last thing you want to think about is wondering what to do if something bad happens.
That’s where Allianz Global Assistance comes in. With their Allianz Travel Insurance brand they protect your pre-paid, non-refundable travel expenses if your trip is interrupted or cancelled. As long as the reason’s covered by your policy you’ll get reimbursed.
They also offer medical assistance services, with pre-authorized hospital admissions and guaranteed payments in 2,817 hospitals in over 160 countries. They can help with repatriation, and in the case that someone is confined to a hospital they can transport a family member to their bedside. This is worst-case-scenario stuff, but it does, unfortunately, happen.
They also offer services that aren’t so doom-and-gloom, like providing information about your destination, helping you with lost luggage, replacing travel documents, and arranging emergency cash (couldn’t we all use that?). Need a translator? They can help. Need a legal referral? They know people. They’ve even got optional concierge services, so you can get some help with restaurant reservations, event tickets, tee times, and shopping.
Check out the site below to learn more about Allianz Travel Insurance and how they can give you peace of mind when you’re trying to get peace of mind. You can also follow them on Twitter at @AllianzTravelUS and #TravelHappy
Thanks to Allianz Travel Insurance for sponsoring this post and providing travel coverage for the unexpected. The Local Tourist received financial compensation from Allianz Global Assistance (AGA Service Company).