Spring Break is one of the busiest times of year for travel when families, college students, and couples flock to warm-weather destinations in search of solace from dreary gray days and pesky winter temperatures. For many, it’s a time for sunshine and relaxation but it’s also a time when vacationers should remain extra vigilant regarding their health and safety while away from home. From delayed and cancelled flights to medical emergencies abroad, data shows that medical sickness claims are known to rise during this time of year and this knowledge highlights the importance of having the right travel insurance. As a travel advisor, I play an essential role in pointing my clients in the right direction.
I highly recommend investing in travel insurance for any trip, but especially for busy travel periods like spring break as airports will be busy and there’s a greater chance for plans to be disrupted.
4 Spring Break Safety Tips:
1. Keep Your Belongings Close
Spring break can pose the perfect opportunity for criminals to take advantage of tourists while visiting high-traffic areas. For this reason, it’s important to keep your belongings close and stay aware of your surroundings by staying off your phone and avoiding distractions. Unfortunately, pickpocketing and other crimes can happen, and it’s important to avoid exploring with all your cash, credit cards and identification methods — think passports and driver’s licenses —just in case. If something does happen, insurance companies have a 24/7 emergency assistance line that can be accessed from anywhere in the world and I am available 24/7 to my clients during their travel.
2. Carry the Necessities
The thing about medical emergencies is they’re just that, “emergencies,” meaning they’re unexpected and can happen at any time. To prevent an uncomfortable, or even worse, dangerous, travel day, World its imperative travelers pack any necessary medication in their personal item or carry-on. Whether it’s having anti-nausea and diarrhea medications on hand or remembering to take necessary prescriptions at the proper time each day, keeping these things close by can make traveling a whole lot easier. Many insurance company policies offer emergency medical expense coverage to include hospitalization, same-day surgery, emergency dental coverage and more.
3. Know Your Policy
While travel insurance policies can be incredibly helpful for covering unexpected events away from home, they aren’t a catch-all. It is important to understand the limits of your insurance policy before embarking on your spring break adventure. I help make sure my clients are aware and understand both the exclusions and benefits of their chosen policy in case plans go awry, such as flight delay/cancellation or an unexpected natural disaster. Alcohol usage can also impact coverage, so that is especially noteworthy for some spring break travelers. Finally, while it might seem like a no-brainer, the same goes for anything illegal. Don’t expect to break the law and have the consequences covered by travel insurance.
4. Books Accommodations Strategically
What’s the next biggest decision after deciding where to go for spring break? Deciding where to stay, of course! You should think strategically when booking your accommodations noting that being within walking distance of the places you want to see and eat makes for a more enjoyable vacation You can also request to ask for a room between the second and sixth floor of a hotel as these floors are less likely to experience a room break-in while being just high enough to easily evacuate in case of a disaster like a fire or an earthquake. Finally, your should save emergency contacts to your phone in addition to keeping essential phone numbers like your hotel’s front desk and your travel insurance line to prevent frantically searching for them if worse comes to worse. You also can call your travel advisor who should also have all this information readily available.
Travel insurance provides crucial protection by covering unexpected events that can disrupt your trip – these can include expenses related to medical emergencies, trip cancellations, lost or delayed baggage, flight delays and more. You can think of travel insurance as providing coverage for three main buckets: your trip investment, your health and your stuff. While none of us want to think about the worst-case scenario, the investment made in travel insurance can be far less than a hospital bill!
Spring break should be all about relaxation, adventure, and creating unforgettable memories—but safety should always be a top priority. By staying informed, making smart choices, and preparing ahead of time, you can enjoy a stress-free getaway.
As a travel professional, I’m here to help you plan a spring break trip that’s not only exciting but also safe and well-organized. From finding the perfect destination to ensuring you have all the right travel protections in place, I take the guesswork out of planning so you can focus on the fun.
Ready to book your next adventure? Let’s make your dream getaway a reality! Reach out today, and let’s start planning your perfect amazing escape!
