Overcoming the 5 Common Travel Obstacles

Travel opens the door to incredible experiences — exploring new cultures, savouring diverse cuisines, and creating unforgettable memories. Yet, even the most carefully planned trips can have their fair share of surprises. After all, as Murphy’s Law suggests, anything that can go wrong will go wrong — sometimes even on holiday. From last-minute cancellations to unforeseen delays, unexpected travel inconveniences can quickly disrupt your adventure.

Thankfully, with a little foresight and the right travel insurance, these setbacks don’t have to ruin your plans. Understanding and preparing for common travel hiccups allows you to easily navigate them and focus on enjoying your journey.

In this article, we’ll explore five of the most common travel inconveniences. And if you’re wondering where to buy travel insurance, GREAT TravelCare is a great start. Our travel inconvenience insurance can help you stay prepared every step of the way.

1. Last-Minute Trip Cancellations or Postponements

Life can sometimes throw the most unexpected curveballs. Even the most well-laid travel plans can be derailed by a seemingly random, unforeseen event that forces you to cancel or postpone your trip at the last minute.

Scenario 1: The Show Must Go On... (But It Doesn't)

You’ve booked a dream trip to attend a highly anticipated music festival abroad. Just days before your departure, the organisers announce the festival’s postponement due to severe weather conditions like a typhoon or a public health concern like the outbreak of a contagious disease. You’re now left with non-refundable bookings and disrupted plans.

Scenario 2: Unexpected Life / Work Interruptions

Your amazing trip to Japan is just around the corner. Suddenly, work calls upon you to immediately pay attention to an urgent project and you’ll have to cancel your trip. The disappointment is palpable, and the financial loss from cancelled accommodations and flights adds to the stress. You're left grappling with the sudden change of plans and the emotional letdown of missing out on your long-awaited trip.

These situations highlight the unpredictable nature of travel and the importance of being prepared. Not only do they disrupt your carefully laid plans and potentially result in financial losses due to non-refundable deposits, but they can also be emotionally distressing.

With GREAT TravelCare’s "Trip inconveniences for any reason" benefit*, you can recover non-refundable expenses up to S$6,000 depending on whether your trip is cancelled or postponed. This coverage helps protect you from potential financial losses due to unexpected scenarios, providing you with peace of mind and the flexibility to adjust your travel plans.

2. Travel and Baggage Delays

Delays are among the most common travel problems that can disrupt the best-laid plans. Missing connecting flights, experiencing lengthy airport queues, or facing unexpected flight cancellations can significantly disrupt your itinerary. If you do not have travel insurance, consider this scenario:

Scenario: Multi-city travel kerfuffle

You’re on a multi-city trip, and your flight from London to Paris is delayed due to technical issues which has caused you to miss a connecting flight to your final destination. You’re now stuck at an unfamiliar airport, incurring additional accommodation and rebooking costs. Worse still, you find out that your baggage didn’t make it onto the plane and will only arrive the next day, leaving you without the essentials for your first night.

These delays can not only disrupt your plans and trigger unforeseen expenses but also cause stress and anxiety, potentially spoiling your travel experience as these inconveniences escalate quickly. With GREAT TravelCare’s cash payout, you can claim financial relief of S$100 for every 4-hour (Platinum plan) or 6-hour delay (Gold plan) with a maximum amount of S$2,000 and S$1,500 respectively. This cash payout can be used to cover unexpected expenses such as meals, accommodation, and transportation during the delay. And if your baggage happens to go missing, you can claim up to S$8,000 for lost or delayed baggage, depending on your plan.

3. Medical Emergencies While Travelling

Even the healthiest travellers can experience health scares while abroad. Sudden asthma attacks, flare-ups of chronic pre-existing conditions, accidents, or injuries can happen anytime, anywhere. Picture this:

Scenario: A Mountain of Medical Bills

While enjoying a hiking trip in the beautiful Swiss Alps, you experience a sudden bout of altitude sickness, including dizziness, nausea, and a headache. Immediate medical attention is needed and you decide to visit a nearby clinic in a charming mountain village. It’s important to remember that healthcare costs in Switzerland are on a steady rise — going up by 4.6% in 2023 alone¹. Even seemingly minor medical issues, like altitude sickness, can result in unexpected hospitalisation due to factors beyond your control, leading to significant expenses.

This highlights the importance of adequate travel insurance coverage, especially when travelling to countries with a rising trend in healthcare costs and the potential for unforeseen medical situations. Fortunately, with GREAT TravelCare, you are covered for the medical expenses associated with your altitude sickness, providing you with much-needed financial relief during this stressful situation.

Moreover, GREAT TravelCare provides coverage for pre-existing medical conditions (available as an optional add-on under the Gold and Platinum plans), offering peace of mind for travellers with ongoing health needs.

4. Unexpected / Accidental Mishaps During Adventures

From exhilarating scuba dives to thrilling bungee jumps, adventurous activities add an extra spark to any travel experience. However, these thrilling pursuits can sometimes lead to unexpected mishaps.

Scenario: A Dive Gone Wrong

While exploring the world-renowned Great Barrier Reef in Australia, you experience small equipment failure during a scuba diving excursion. This incident results in minor injuries, such as cuts and bruises. For example, you inadvertently bump into a coral reef and it causes a minor cut on your leg, as well as potential damage to your diving equipment like a broken mask or damaged fins. In Australia, medical treatment for even minor injuries can quickly become expensive. A standard consultation at a hospital can set you back by around AUD$133 (~S$111). Should you require an overnight stay for your injuries, the costs could quickly escalate even for one night. Accommodation in a general ward cost over AUD$2,100 (more than S$1,700) per day for overseas visitors.²

GREAT TravelCare provides coverage for adventurous leisure activities** to reassure you to pursue your passions without excessive worry. With this coverage, you can enjoy your adventures worry-free knowing that you're protected against unexpected mishaps and their associated costs, including medical expenses.

5. Trip Interruptions from Unforeseen Events

Severe weather conditions might force you to cut short your mountain climbing expedition. A sudden family emergency back home might require you to return unexpectedly. Unforeseen events can sometimes derail your holiday plans and add unplanned costs to your holiday, such as non-refundable expenses for accommodation and flights.

Scenario 1: Storm-Hit Ski Trip

You're enjoying a ski trip when a sudden, unforeseen blizzard forces the closure of the ski resort and disrupts transportation. You're forced to cut your trip short and return home early. The remaining time you’ve booked for your holidays is non-refundable and you now have to seek alternative accommodations/plans.

Scenario 2: When in Rome... Family Duty Calls

While exploring the ancient ruins of Rome, you receive an urgent call about a family emergency back home. You are forced to cut your trip short and return immediately. This means you’ll need to book additional flights and account for potential accommodation adjustments.

These are just some examples of why travel insurance is important. GREAT TravelCare helps cover trip interruptions from unforeseen events and provides you with financial support to cover expenses related to trip interruptions. This coverage can help alleviate the financial burden and allow you to focus on resolving the situation at hand.

How GREAT TravelCare Protects You Every Step of the Way

Whether it’s trip cancellation flexibility, pre-existing condition coverage^{^}, payouts for travel delays, or a safety net for the more adventurous travellers, GREAT TravelCare offers a wide range of coverage. This ensures peace of mind for all types of travellers ranging from families to solo adventurers.

Navigating Common Travel Problems with GREAT TravelCare

Travel inconveniences may be an inevitable part of any journey, but being prepared can make all the difference. From unexpected cancellations to missed flights and delays to medical emergencies, these hiccups don’t have to derail your plans or dampen your spirits if you have the proper travel insurance coverage.

With GREAT Travel Care, you can focus on the joys of exploring the world, knowing that you’re protected every step of the way. Whether it’s safeguarding your adventures from inconveniences or ensuring peace of mind for pre-existing conditions, this travel insurance plan has got you covered.

Don't let unexpected travel inconveniences ruin your plans. Safeguard your adventures with GREAT TravelCare today!
 

Footnotes:
¹ Information extracted from https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/swiss-politics/swiss-healthcare-costs-rise-steeply/49183434
² Information extracted from www.seslhd.health.nsw.gov.au - Information for overseas visitors brochure
* Applicable for Gold and Platinum plans when you purchase the travel plan within 30 days from your initial payment or deposit for your trip. General exclusions apply.
** Leisure adventurous activities coverage is applicable for Gold and Platinum plans.
^{^} Applicable as an add-on benefit for Gold and Platinum plans with additional premium.

Information correct as at 22 April 2025.