The decision to purchase travel insurance can easily prove to be one of the best decisions you"'""ll ever make. In the recent past, travel insurance was widely regarded by travelers as an expensive and unnecessary expenditure, but times have changed. With the recent rise in carrier mishaps, environmental disasters, and the endless tales of stranded travelers, many jetsetters are now wisely opting to purchase travel insurance as a way to safeguard against the unexpected.

What are my chances of needing travel insurance?

The risks associated with traveling have changed over the years and in many cases, increased. Now more than ever, travelers are finding themselves the victim of:

"' Delayed/canceled trips and flights- Delayed and cancelled trips happen quite frequently. Illness, injury and other unforeseen circumstances such as weather are all to blame.

Trip cancellation and interruption insurance will ensure that you won"'""t lose money on your prepaid travel expenses.

"' Lost and stolen personal property- Lost baggage, stolen electronics, pick-pocketed wallets, and snatched purses are all ways in which tourists can find themselves left suddenly without their personal effects.

Baggage insurance will help you replace your lost or stolen property as soon as possible and according to the stipulations of the plan.

"' Illnesses and medical emergencies-It used to be that travelers only had to worry about the occasional case of diarrhea or dehydration while traveling, but these days there are even bigger concerns with the increase in health epidemics. Couple this with routine falls, scraps, and broken bones, and it"'""s easy to see why having medical coverage is a must.

Medical insurance guarantees that you"'""ll get the medical help you need when traveling. Also adding repatriation insurance will allow you to be flown home if you require further medical evaluation or treatment in your home country.

"' Catastrophic events Natural disasters like earthquakes, tsunamis, and hurricanes can greatly affect travel conditions, and can totally end all ability to travel. Since there are few ways to predict catastrophic events, having insurance is the only real solution.

Many insurers offer coverage against natural disasters and catastrophes, just make sure that you read the fine print.

There"'""s a really good chance that on your next trip or holiday, all will go well and nothing out of the ordinary will occur. But just in case something does happen, wouldn"'""t it be nice to know that you are covered by travel insurance? Purchasing travel insurance should be a top priority and expenditure on every traveler"'""s trip itinerary and budget.