That safari or boutique stay may already feel like a splurge, but skimping on insurance and relying solely on credit card coverage is riskier than ever. In 2025, wildfires shut down Europe’s trains, a United glitch stranded 1,000 flights, and cyberattacks scrambled European airports.
“Most cards only offer limited perks like trip delay or baggage coverage, not full protection for trip cancellations or emergency medical care,” shared Suzanne Morrow, CEO of InsureMyTrip. “The biggest misconception is assuming credit cards provide the same level of coverage as a comprehensive travel insurance plan, when in reality, the benefits are often minimal and come with strict limits or exclusions.” Skipping proper coverage might save upfront, but one missed flight can snowball into forfeited tours and costly rebookings.
A Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) policy, according to Morrow, adds flexibility, letting you “receive a portion (generally 50-75%) of your pre-paid, nonrefundable trip costs back for things like fear of travel, or simply changing their mind, which would not be covered under a standard travel insurance policy.”
