Solo travel has many benefits. It’s a chance to step outside of your comfort zone, meet new people from around the world and spend time doing some inner reflection. However, solo travel also comes with risk, and in many places, this risk is heightened for female travelers.
Accidents, emergencies and unavoidable hiccups in your travel itinerary happen — and these situations can be even more stressful when you’re traveling alone.
This is where travel protections and insurance can help save the day. You can buy comprehensive travel insurance plans from a third-party provider, which is a good idea when you’re doing anything potentially dangerous, like mountain climbing or other adventure sports. But many credit cards also offer base protections that can be a lifesaver when you’re abroad.
Everyone should have some sort of travel insurance coverage when traveling abroad. However, female solo travelers, in particular, should double down to make sure they’re protected throughout their trip, no matter what happens.
Let’s discuss a few solo travel situations and the type of travel insurance coverage that will be most important for your trip.
When you’re traveling somewhere new
Coverage needed: Travel assistance hotline
Unfortunately, there are some destinations that are riskier for female solo travelers, whether it’s due to crime rates, local laws or a mix of the two. When you’re traveling somewhere you’ve never been before (especially if your destination is off the beaten path), access to a travel assistance hotline can be invaluable.
This type of benefit has different names across credit cards. Amex has a Global Assist Hotline benefit, while Chase and Bank of America both call this benefit “travel and emergency assistance.”
A travel assistance hotline can help if you lose your passport or luggage, need an emergency legal referral or need to find reputable medical care while abroad. Traveling alone can be stressful, especially when something goes wrong. A travel assistance hotline can help alleviate some of that stress and let you focus more on your trip. But note that you’ll be on the hook for any charges that come with the assistance.
When your flight home is delayed
Coverage needed: Trip delay reimbursement
It’s an unfortunate fact of air travel: Planes are often delayed. Sometimes, a delay is just a minor inconvenience. However, if you have a connecting flight with a shorter layover, a delay can be the start of a nightmare. Solo travelers could end up stranded alone at an airport overnight or longer while waiting for the next available flight, which can cost hundreds of dollars in out-of-pocket expenses.
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In some cases, extra planning can help avoid a missed flight due to a delay. If you know the route you’re flying often experiences delays, you can simply make sure you book a flight with a longer layover. But oftentimes, delays are unavoidable and unexpected. Trip delay reimbursement will offset most, if not all, of the reasonable costs associated with a delay that’s out of your control.
Chase and Amex both have a number of branded and cobranded cards that offer this protection that are worth looking into.
Related: Best cards that offer trip delay insurance
When you get hospitalized abroad
Coverage needed: Emergency evacuation insurance and/or emergency medical insurance
No one wants to think about the possibility of getting injured or sick while on a trip, but it does happen. You could fall while hiking or skiing or catch a nasty bout of food poisoning that dehydrates you to the point of needing a trip to the emergency room.
Unfortunately, your standard health insurance most likely won’t cover any doctor visits, hospitalizations, medical transportation or medications you need while traveling internationally. Emergency evacuation insurance will cover out-of-pocket expenses if you need a medevac or some other type of transportation to get to needed medical help. Emergency medical insurance will provide coverage for unexpected medical costs such as an ER visit.
When your rental car breaks down
Coverage needed: Roadside assistance
Whether you get a flat tire (and don’t have the means or ability to replace it) or have an engine issue, it can be nerve-wracking to be stranded on the side of the road by yourself. This is when roadside assistance can be a lifesaver. If you’re in an area you’re unfamiliar with, calling your card’s roadside assistance hotline will be easier than frantically searching for a nearby mechanic or tow truck.
Depending on the specific provider and coverage plan, services such as towing, winching, jump-starts, fuel delivery and more could be partially or fully covered.
Related: Best credit cards that offer roadside assistance
Choose a credit card with travel insurance
Comprehensive travel insurance with a third party can add hundreds of dollars to the cost of your trip, depending on your travel plans. However, many premium travel cards come with travel insurance included when you use your card to pay for at least part of your trip. Note that coverage and specific benefits vary between cards.
Premium travel cards from Chase, Capital One and Amex offer a nice set of protections that can help you in most cases. When you’re comparing credit cards, take a look at the travel coverage details offered. Additionally, make sure that when you’re booking a solo trip, you’re using a card that offers the benefits you might need.
Related: The best credit cards with travel protections
Bottom line
Travel insurance is something that every traveler should consider before taking a trip abroad, but there are specific types of coverage that solo travelers should look for when choosing a credit card to pay for their trip. Accidents and illnesses can turn into nightmares, especially if you’re on your own in trying to arrange emergency transportation and handling nonrefundable ticket costs. Some of the travel protections offered by premium cards can help provide peace of mind before you set off on your next adventure.
It’s also a smart idea to look into more comprehensive coverage offered by a third party, especially if you’ll be traveling for an extended period of time. Medical coverage and trip insurance that covers more than just approved emergency expenses could come in handy.
For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply
