Why every female solo traveler needs a card with travel insurance

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Solo travel has a lot of benefits. It's a chance to step outside of your comfort zone, meet new people from around the world and spend time doing some inner reflection. However, solo travel also comes with risk, and in some places, this risk is heightened for female travelers. Accidents, emergencies and unavoidable hiccups in your travel itinerary happen, and these situations can be even more stressful when you're traveling alone as a woman.

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This is where travel protections and insurance come in. You can buy comprehensive travel insurance plans from a third-party provider (which is a good idea when you're doing anything potentially dangerous like mountain climbing or taking an extended trip), but many credit cards also offer base protections that can be a lifesaver when you're abroad. In my opinion, everyone should have some sort of travel insurance coverage when you are traveling abroad. However, female solo travelers should double down to make sure you're protected throughout your trip.

In this guide, we'll walk through a few solo travel situations and the type of travel insurance coverage will be most important to have for your trip.

Related reading: Is credit card travel insurance sufficient on its own?

When you're traveling somewhere unknown

Coverage needed: Travel assistance hotline

Unfortunately, there are some destinations that are more risky for female solo travelers, whether due to crime rates, local laws or a mix of the two. When you're traveling somewhere you've never been before (especially if your destination is off the beaten path), access to a travel assistance hotline can be invaluable.

This type of benefit is called different things across credit cards. Amex has a benefit called Global Assist Hotline, while Chase and Bank of America both call this benefit travel and emergency assistance.

A travel assistance hotline can help if you lose your passport or luggage, need an emergency legal referral or need to find reputable medical care while abroad. Traveling alone can be stressful, especially when something goes wrong. A travel assistance hotline can help alleviate some of that stress and let you focus more on your trip.

When your flight home gets delayed

Coverage needed: Trip delay reimbursement

It's an unfortunate fact of air travel: planes are often delayed. Sometimes, a delay is just a minor inconvenience. If you have a connecting flight with a shorter layover, a delay can be the start of a nightmare. Solo travelers could end up stranded alone at an airport overnight or longer, waiting for the next available flight, which can cost hundreds of dollars in out-of-pocket expenses.

In some cases, extra planning can help avoid a missed flight due to a delay. If you know the route you're flying often experiences delays, you can simply make sure you book a flight with a longer layover. But oftentimes, delays are unavoidable and unexpected. Trip delay reimbursement will offset most if not all of the reasonable costs associated with a delay that's out of your control.

Chase and Amex both have a number of branded and cobranded credit cards that offer this protection, including the the top-tier Chase Sapphire Reserve and The Platinum Card® from American Express, along with a few stand-alone cards such as the Bank of America Premium Rewards credit card that offer the benefit, too.

Related reading: Best cards that offer trip delay insurance

When you get hospitalized abroad

Coverage Needed: Emergency evacuation insurance and/or emergency medical insurance

No one wants to think about the possibility of getting injured or sick while on a trip, but it does happen. You could fall while hiking or skiing. A bad case of the flu could land you in the hospital. Unfortunately, your standard health insurance most likely won't cover any doctors visits, hospitalizations, medical transportation or medications you need while traveling internationally. Emergency evacuation insurance will cover out-of-pocket expenses if you need a medivac or some other type of transportation to get you to needed medical help. Emergency medical insurance will provide coverage for unexpected medical costs such as an ER visit.

Currently, the Chase Sapphire Reserve is the only travel card that offers both emergency evacuation insurance and emergency medical and dental insurance coverage, but the Amex Platinum and U.S. Bank Altitude™ Reserve Visa Infinite® Card both offer emergency evacuation insurance.

The information for the U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

When your rental car breaks down

Coverage Needed: Roadside assistance

Whether you pop a tire (and don't have the means or ability to replace it) or have an engine issue, it can be nerve-wracking to be stranded on the side of the road by yourself. This is where roadside assistance can be a lifesaver. If you're in an area you're unfamiliar with, calling a roadside assistance hotline will be easier than frantically searching for a nearby mechanic or tow truck. Depending on the specific provider and coverage plan, services including towing, winching, jump starts, fuel delivery and more could be partially or fully covered as well.

Choose a credit card with travel insurance

Comprehensive travel insurance with a third-party can add hundreds of dollars to the cost of your trip, depending on your travel plans. However, many premium travel credit cards come with travel insurance included when you use your card to pay for at least part of your flight. Note that coverage and specific benefits vary between cards.

Related: The best credit cards with travel protections

Right now, the Chase Sapphire Reserve is the only credit card that offers emergency medical/dental insurance. However, other premium travel cards from Chase, Capital One and Amex offer a nice set of benefits that can help you in most cases. When you're comparing credit cards, take a look at the travel protections and coverage details offered. Additionally, make sure that when you're booking a solo trip, you're using a card that offers the benefits you might need.

Bottom Line

Travel insurance is something that every traveler should consider before taking a trip abroad, but there are specific travel insurances that solo travelers should look for when choosing a credit card to pay for your trip. Accidents and illnesses can turn into a nightmare filled with arranging emergency transportation and handling nonrefundable ticket costs. With the travel protections offered with premium cards such as the Chase Sapphire Reserve, you have peace of mind that you're covered through your travels.

It's also a smart idea to look into more comprehensive coverage offered by a third party, especially if you'll be traveling for an extended period of time. Medical coverage and trip insurance that covers more than just approved emergency expenses could come in handy.