INSURANCE
Safe Travels
Travel advisories can help you make safe and informed decisions about your next trip.
By Elisa Keay
Ensure you’re aware of any potential concerns at your destination before you travel. | PHOTO: BULLRUN/ADOBE STOCK
WHEN PLANNING A TRIP, your top-of-mind considerations are likely where to stay, what to pack and how to plan your itinerary. One thing to add to the list: checking if there are any travel advisories that may impact your plans.
Travel advisories can cover many issues; they’re provided to help inform you about circumstances that may affect your safety abroad. They may be issued for weather events, natural disasters, regional crime, a concern for women’s safety, political unrest, a military situation, health concerns or other challenges. Travel advisories are issued by the Government of Canada and offer insight for you to consider. They may be minor concerns to be aware of, or they may be serious, requiring you to change your plans.
Understanding the Four Types of Travel Advisories
The Government of Canada site has four categories of travel advisories:
Take normal security precautions. Take similar precautions to those you would take in Canada.
Exercise a high degree of caution. There are certain safety and security concerns, or the situation could change quickly. Be very cautious at all times, monitor local media and follow the instructions of local authorities.
Avoid non-essential travel. Your safety and security could be at risk. You should think about your need to travel to this country, territory or region based on family or business requirements, knowledge of or familiarity with the region, and other factors. If you are already there, think about whether you really need to be there. If you do not need to be there, you should think about leaving.
Avoid all travel. You should not travel to this country, territory or region. Your personal safety and security are at great risk. If you are already there, you should think about leaving if it is safe to do so.
Travel advisories may be ongoing, or they may develop suddenly. They may be brief, or they may indicate an ongoing situation. It’s important to check if any have been issued for your destination, both at the time of planning your trip and right before you leave, so that you are aware of any advisories that arise. Travel advisories may change — they can be issued or removed at any time, and the risk level can be downgraded or upgraded. You may want to continue to monitor advisories while you’re away, especially if your destination already has a travel advisory in effect.
“Travel advisories are issued by the Government of Canada and offer insight for you to consider.”
Travel Insurance and a Travel Advisory
While your safety is the priority, it’s also important to understand how a travel advisory may impact your travel insurance coverage. If the Government of Canada has issued an advisory to avoid all travel, many insurance companies may limit your coverage or not offer coverage for that destination. If you discover a travel advisory for your destination, contact your insurance company to find out the implications for your coverage, and discuss whether you need Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance if you don't already have it. You’ll want to understand what happens if you need to cut your trip short or if the advisory situation affects your return travel home, so double-check your travel insurance before you leave. Having this information about your destination makes travel safer by allowing you to be prepared and to make informed decisions about your next trip. CAA