Natural disasters and travel insurance: What every traveller should know

No one plans for a hurricane, wildfire, or volcanic eruption to disrupt their dream vacation, but the unexpected can happen. The good news? Travel insurance can provide a safety net, helping you recover costs and navigate unforeseen challenges with confidence. 

To help you plan with peace of mind, we've asked insurance experts to answer common questions about travel insurance and natural disaster coverage. 

We’ve booked a Caribbean vacation and are considering trip cancellation insurance. If a hurricane strikes before our departure, would the policy allow us to get a refund? 

When travelling to a tropical destination, be sure to purchase trip cancellation and interruption insurance. If a hurricane strikes before your departure, this coverage can help you recover costs for prepaid travel arrangements. 

If a hurricane occurs during your trip, it can cover extended stays at your hotel until it’s safe to leave and ensure you can fly home safely if your trip provider cannot arrange immediate transportation. 

It is important to review the Government of Canada’s travel advisories before your trip. If you choose to travel to a destination while an advisory is in effect and your claim arises from a situation related to that advisory, coverage will not be provided. Additionally, coverage depends on the level of the advisory and whether it was issued before or after you purchased your policy.  

If there are wildfires while travelling in Canada this summer, will travel insurance protect us? 

We recommend purchasing trip cancellation and interruption insurance if you are travelling to an area where wildfires may be present. 

If the province, territory or Government of Canada issues a state of emergency to avoid all travel or non-essential travel due to wildfires, your plan would cover the non-refundable costs of your trip. Even if the state of emergency is issued after your departure or wildfires start while you’re away, this policy can help cover the cost of getting home and reimburse unused prepaid travel expenses, up to the insured amount. 

A volcano erupted at my destination, and we’ve been told to evacuate. Can we use trip interruption insurance to recover the cost of the unused portion of our trip and any additional charges incurred due to flight changes? 

Being prepared for trip interruption insurance was the right move. Yes, you can use your policy to recover the cost of the unused portion of your trip and any extra charges for flight changes. Keep all receipts and submit them with any other required documents when making your claim. 

Staying protected  

Regardless of where you want to travel, having the right insurance ensures peace of mind. If you have any questions about travel insurance, you can get a quote or visit CAA Travel Insurance for more information. 

CAA Travel Insurance, an Orion Travel Insurance product, is underwritten by Echelon Insurance. Certain exclusions, limitations and restrictions apply. Subject to change without notice. A Medical Questionnaire is required if you are 60 years of age and older. Quotes are valid for 30 days.  

®CAA trademarks are owned by, and use is authorized by, the Canadian Automobile Association.