Given all the caveats with insurance, it seems like the better option for most travelers is to try to negotiate directly with airlines or hotels, or to consider hiring an experienced travel advisor or tour operator to act as an advocate from the outset. That means pushing for cancellations or postponements that will be honored as close to the departure or arrival date as possible, and delaying due dates for deposits. Providers want business right now, so are more apt to meet consumers on their terms, said Alexandra Hanover, founder of the luxury travel consultancy Local Foreigner.
For airline travel specifically, Brian Kelly, founder of the travel website The Points Guy, suggests sticking with Delta and Southwest, which he says have been more consumer friendly than other carriers when canceling or rebooking flights. Also, unlike some other domestic carriers, Delta has pledged not to pack its flights through September.
Kelly said he doesn't recommend booking refundable tickets because they tend to be so much more expensive. A better option right now is to just book closer to the departure date.
Having patience and waiting it out may be the best tactic for travelers who end up having to change their flights. If the airline cancels or changes the flight, passengers are entitled to a refund, but if they're the ones who cancel pre-emptively, they're more likely to just get a credit.
For those contemplating international travel, it's important to be aware of what's happening in each country on a daily basis. Melissa Biggs Bradley, the founder of Indagare, cautions that travelers should not only consider the health infrastructure of a country when booking, but also that country's relationship with the U.S. and what would happen to U.S. citizens if there were a virus outbreak there or some other emergency. Country-by-country details and advisories can be found on the CDC and State Department's websites. The International Air Transport Association also has an interactive map that displays current travel regulations.
Booking with a credit card, especially one that comes with an annual fee and associated services, is often a good idea, since it may provide some built-in protections. For example, if an airline or hotel goes out of business, certain credit cards say they will reimburse cardholders up to a certain amount.
A final tip on value to keep in mind while planning: There may be deals out there, but what travelers pay for this year won't necessarily give them what they would have received in the past. Airlines and hotels are likely to dial back service and amenities given health concerns for the foreseeable future. No amount of insurance is going to fix that.
This opinion piece was provided by Bloomberg News.