94%!!!! I doubt that! I always mean to buy travel insurance, or at least evacuation insurance, but so far I haven't. Maybe the agents are good at getting their clients to purchase? But I don't know anyone who typically buys it. I do have a few friends who belong to MedJet or similar.
I planned my own my RTW last year on the oneworld site. But I did use an agent for reserving my tent and transport for the Pushkar Camel Fair and used one of the horse travel companies for a ride around the Ring of Kerry. At 65 I don't anticipate giving up independent travel, but the occasional guided/arranged tour is a nice counterpoint. Looking at Bio-Bio Expeditions for a trip within a trip in South America with my granddaughter--she picks: Galapagos or Inca Trail.

Posted By Kathy on October 21, 2011, 1:43 PM

I never purchase travel insurance. I challenge many of the findings in this article. I travel often and always with my husband. We're both in our early 30's. Maybe I'm also a rare case but I dont travel to shop. I can shop anywhere in my howe town. Traveling for me is to get away, explore the unfamiliar, learn about the culture and to experience new things. When I travel is to sight see (if Europe), relax on the beach if a tropical place along with fun excursions outside the resort. Shopping is never on the list unless its a souvenir to hang on my wall.

Posted By Monika Vacca on October 21, 2011, 3:03 PM

I only buy travel insurance when I travel abroad. I am 56 and have often traveled by myself. I am not going to let life pass me by simply because I can't find a friend to do things with. Quite often I take my 2 kids where ever I go. We have traveled all over the world since they were babies as I divorced when they were young. They are now teenagers and have had quite an education!

Posted By Heidi Netherton on October 24, 2011, 12:06 PM

I am in my 30's, married without children. When not traveling with my husband, I mainly travel with my mom or sister. My friends are either too busy with little children at home or don't have the funds to travel, so they are an unreliable source of travel companionship. I imagine when we all get a little older and they can leave the kids at home more often, perhaps they will become my travel buddies. I never use a travel agent because, for me, planning the trip is half the fun. And I almost never buy travel insurance.

Posted By Jessica on October 24, 2011, 12:35 PM

I am in my mid 60's and a widow. My late husband & I travelled a lot together, just the 2 of us. Since his death another widow friend and I have taken one BIG overseas trip each year for the past 4 years. Next week we leave for a Eastern European River Cruise for 18 days. We ALWAYS buy trip insurance. When you pay almost a year in advance for a trip and are "older", you NEVER know what will happen in the meantime and we feel it is money well spent for the peace of mind that we could be reimbursed for our trip if we are unable to go.

Posted By noreen on October 24, 2011, 1:17 PM

I'm a woman who prefers to travel alone and have been for the last 20 years. I like being in control of my schedule ... eating when I want, sleeping when I want and the freedom to change my itinerary at a moment's notice if something more interesting turns up. And I meet many more locals when I'm traveling solo.

As for travel agents ... never use them, especially these days with everything online. I have purchased travel insurance a few times, but it was for my first trips abroad - many years ago. Since then, I've passed on that too. When you book with certain credit cards, you have a lot of purchase protection already so the extra travel insurance feels redundant.

Posted By Joan on October 24, 2011, 1:20 PM

I bought travel insurance for my trip to France this year--booked the travel last year after finishing chemo for b. cancer and before starting radiation. This insurance covered pre-existing conditions. Thankfully, I didn't need to submit a claim and I traveled as planned. I also bought travel insurance just for a flight last year--going to a spa in Mexico, this time actually traveling during my break between treatments. Otherwise, I've never ever purchased travel insurance..=

Posted By Stephanie on October 24, 2011, 1:50 PM

I am 74 and travel domestically (short trips by car) with my husband, with occasional longer trips (by plane) with my sister. When go to Europe, I go alone, as I do not know anyone who would enjoy doing the same things -- churches, museums, historic houses -- who could afford to pay her own way.

I have never purchased travel insurance, and have not used a travel agent since one bought me a child's BritRail pass! I can do more for myself on the internet now than any travel agent ever did years ago.

Posted By Thirza on October 24, 2011, 5:15 PM

I'm a single woman traveler, who loves to travel alone!!! Do you know how many people I meet by myself? In Ireland I met a lad, he walked me back to my B&B but before that he kissed me at the foot of a castle in the moonlight in Dingle my first night there!!! Also, I ALWAYS buy travel insurance!

Posted By Sally on October 28, 2011, 11:40 AM

I love trips with my adult daughter when she is on holiday from teaching in TOKYO.

Posted By CAROL JEAN on October 31, 2011, 11:30 AM

I have traveled with my mother and now travel mostly alone. I enjoy setting my own schedule and making my own plans. I have never used a travel agent or bought travel insurance. i think that a good travel companion is hard to find, you have to have very similar styles, energy levels, and levels of fear. When I talk about my trips, most of the women I know sound shocked and fearful. I think that's who still use travel agents and buy insurance.

Posted By Lori on November 1, 2011, 7:33 PM

I travel only with my spouse if I can help it. My family would drive me insane within 2 days on a vacation. Spouse and I make our own plans since we have never had a better experience (and some worse) with travel agents. We are seasoned travelers and can figure out almost anything, have traveled in places most people wouldn't go and we hate tourist crowds. I have only bought travel insurance when there was a possibility of huge $$ loss if I canceled.

Posted By history girl on November 7, 2011, 2:42 PM

For 30 years I never bought travel insurance. I travel alone 99 percent of the time. If I travel with someone first choice is a friend if they are available and desire to go to same place. Company is nice but alone you do have freedom to do whatever you want at your own pace and travel wherever you want.

I like the idea of travel agents but since my regular one left the biz it has been hard to find one that really delivers on service. I have been to agencies and the customer service is really bad. I do most of my own booking now online direct.

Insurance sounds like a good idea but my experience is that insurance companies will do everything they can to avoid paying out. They want the money/profit and your needs are second. Don't be fooled by the warm fuzzy insurance ads and be prepared to prove your claim!

Posted By Anne on November 8, 2011, 9:26 PM

Wow, das ist so interessant! Ich kann nicht für den nächsten Artikel warten. Achten Sie darauf!

Posted By mialem wypadek on March 6, 2012, 6:30 PM