How to protect your summer travel plans in 2025

Despite a backdrop of global economic uncertainty, the World Travel & Tourism Council forecasts continued growth in international travel during 2025, with travelers expected to spend more than ever before.

Travel is also predicted to become less of an “escape” and more of an opportunity for self-fulfilment and self-transformation with solo travel and “off-the-beaten-path” destinations growing in popularity. That’s according to the 2025 Trendcast report conducted by Tripadvisor, the world’s largest travel platform, in collaboration with Travel Guard, one of leading travel insurance brands of global provider Zurich Cover-More.

In response to these changing trends, Jeffrey Rutledge, CEO of Global Travel at Zurich Cover-More, asks: “If today’s travelers are more likely to seek out-of-the-way destinations, travel solo or pursue the ultimate adrenalin high, what does that mean for the protection and care they need to stay safe on their holidays?”

Here’s how you can secure your summer travel plans and make your vacation memorable for all the right reasons.

Protect your luggage

Lost luggage is a common problem. But you can protect yourself and your belongings, even if you check a bag. “It’s frustrating if you arrive at your destination and your bags don’t,” says Will Nihan, CEO of Travelex Insurance Services in North America. “So it’s best to be prepared so your trip doesn’t get off to a bad start.”

• First, take a few changes of clothes and other essentials in your carry-on.
• Take advantage of your travel insurance allowance for delayed bags so you won’t be out of pocket if you need to buy some essential items.
• Stay in constant touch with your airline about your missing bags.
• For peace of mind, consider investing in a luggage tracker, like an AirTag – then at least you’ll know if your luggage is in the same airport as you, though just on a different carousel.
• If your luggage does get lost, good travel insurance providers will reimburse your loss, depending on the type of policy you buy.

And since canceled flights can be as big a problem as lost luggage, keep in mind that in North America, Travelex Insurance Services also provides cover for trip delay, meaning you’ll be reimbursed in the event your trip is delayed by five or more hours. You’ll also be reimbursed if you need to purchase meals or even a hotel room until you can continue your travels.

Protect yourself and your loved ones – proactively

Travel insurance provides essential protection if disaster strikes. However, mobile travel assistance apps can help you avoid disaster altogether by offering proactive destination advice, risk ratings, real-time safety alerts, and click-to-call emergency assistance from anywhere in the world.

“It’s all about geo-tracking,” says Nihan. “You share your location with us through our app on your mobile, and we’ll ping you if there are serious threats or impending weather events around you. Then we’ll help you and your loved ones get to safety. It’s like having your own security expert with you on your trip, at no cost.”

The Travel On app from Travelex Insurance Services is free to download when you buy a travel insurance policy from the company. It’s available for both iPhone and Android devices.

A similar travel assistance app has also been launched in Australia through Cover-More Travel Insurance. “It’s a travel assistance app designed specifically for Aussie holiday makers, and it brings a whole new level of care and protection for travelers,” says Todd Nelson, CSO of Cover-More in Australia.

And in Latin America, Universal Assistance has boosted its popular travel assistance app with the addition of a new medical self-assistance service to allow their customers autonomy, self-triage and one-click access to the optimum medical provider for their needs. Universal Assistance CEO Fernando Garcia Ruiz says that travel assistance is about immediacy and access. “We all have phones with us, 24-7,” Ruiz says, “and when we’re traveling, they are taking on a new role as a potential guardian and doctor. It means that travel, really, has never been safer. As long as you pack your common sense.”

Remember the basics of travel

For many people, travel is an annual affair, making it easy to forget the essentials that make the experience smoother, from packing remedies for common ailments to bringing comfort items that ease the impact of long-haul flights on our well-being.

Medications are one obvious consideration. You should plan to take more than you need in case you are delayed – or if you extend your trip. But if you do inadvertently run out of medication or need to treat a bad cough or gastric upset, don’t panic. Cover-More Europe CEO, Donna Dorairajoo, says that some travel insurance providers offer a telehealth service for rapidly assessing your condition and prescribing medication across borders.

“We have a Virtual Care telemedicine service where you can talk with a doctor in your pajamas without leaving your hotel room, which is super convenient,” she says. “Prescriptions can be sent electronically or sent to a nearby chemist to be dispensed and picked up or delivered.”

Dorairajoo adds that the key to easy and efficient journeys has always been preparation. “I also recommend packing your immediate medicine needs in your carry-on luggage,” she says. “So if your checked bags are delayed, it will be one less thing to worry about.”

Just remember to plan ahead and pack your common sense. Being prepared is the best way to ensure you have fun this summer and enjoy a stress-free vacation, wherever you go.

Photos: Adobe Stock