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Why I'm still buying travel insurance for international vacations — even if it isn't required

Oct. 03, 2021
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3 min read
Rio Celeste Falls
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Before the pandemic, I never gave travel insurance a second thought. To me, it was always an extra expense that I didn’t see the need for, and I always figured it was worth the risk to save the cash. Oh how the times have changed.

Last month, I visited Costa Rica, my first trip to Central America since the start of the pandemic. Prior to August 2021, visitors to the tropical country were required to purchase and show proof of travel insurance as one of the country’s entry requirements. However, the insurance requirement was lifted on Aug. 1, just a few weeks before I was set to arrive.

Even though it wasn’t necessary for me to purchase traveler’s insurance to enter Costa Rica, I decided to buy it anyways, and here’s why.

In case I need to cancel

I always get tested before traveling on a flight, even if it’s not required to enter the country (Costa Rica currently does not require a negative Covid-19 test result as an entry requirement for visitors). If I had tested positive for COVID-19 before I even left the United States, I wanted to make sure that I had “cancel for any reason” or coronavirus-specific coverage to make sure my flights and any other cancellation fees would be covered by the policy.

Related: 5 things to know about at-home COVID-19 tests for travel

The pandemic isn’t over

Even with protection from the COVID-19 vaccine, traveling during the pandemic is still much riskier than it was two years ago. There are thousands of new cases a day, including breakthrough cases and reinfection cases that are rare, but still possible. With the amount of COVID-related variables that could cause disruption to my trip, I wanted to make sure that if anything did go wrong, I would be covered for the brunt of the costs.

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Related: 5 things travelers need to know about the mu COVID-19 variant

COVID-19 is not the only consideration

While a majority of my trip was filled with days lounging at the beach, massages and spa treatments and yoga, I also went on a few hikes that could have resulted in a bad injury if I had slipped or pushed myself too hard. My policy would have covered this type of injury, so I was less stressed about the possibility of being injured in a foreign country and not being able to get the help I needed.

I am happy to say that my trip to Costa Rica went off without a hitch. I did not need to activate my travel insurance, but I’m still glad that I bought it. Having the insurance made me less anxious about all the things that could have gone wrong, and I was able to relax my mind and just enjoy my vacation. I may not purchase travel insurance forever, but for the foreseeable future, it will be part of my planning budget for all international trips.

Photo b7 Kryssia Campos/Getty Images

Featured image by Getty Images
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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  • Annual Fee

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  • Recommended Credit

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Why We Chose It

There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)

Pros

  • 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
  • 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

Cons

  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.