Summer is one of the busiest times for travel, and this year, there may be more travel disruptions than usual. A shortage of air traffic controllers, predicted above-normal hurricane activity in the Atlantic, and problems with aging airport infrastructure, such as radio outages that have caused widespread delays at Newark airport, could all make trip delays even more likely than in years past.

If you’re traveling this summer, taking out travel insurance can be a good investment and give you some financial peace of mind, especially when things are not in your control.

Key Takeaways Trip delays could be worse in 2025 than in previous years because of extreme weather, staff shortages, and airport infrastructure issues.

Travel insurance covers you for trip delays and cancellations, as well as medical expenses and baggage issues.

Consider getting coverage for expensive non-refundable domestic and international travel.

Expect to pay an average of at least 4% to 10% of the price of your trip for travel insurance plus any add-ons you choose.

Don’t forget to read the fine print.

When Should You Get Travel Insurance?

The best time to purchase travel insurance is as soon as you book. But you still have time after you confirm your trip if you want to consider your options. Most insurers require you to purchase policies in advance, but there are a few that let you buy coverage up to the day before you travel with very limited benefits.

Consider purchasing coverage 14 to 21 days in advance for the full benefits for international travel, immediately when you make a non-refundable domestic trip, immediately when you make an adventure trip, and at least 24 hours before you book a last-minute trip.

Domestic vs. International Travel

Travel insurance may not be worth it in certain cases. This may be the case for certain domestic trips, when you’re spending relatively low amounts, and when your travel is refundable. According to Raleigh, North Carolina-based travel agent Shaikh Ahmed, it is a good investment when you have:

Airbnb or hotel stays that are non-refundable

Concert or event tickets

Medical emergencies away from home

It’s even more important when you travel internationally.

“For trips that cost $1,000 and over, travel insurance is a smart way to protect your investment and health,” he said, adding that your regular health insurance won’t necessarily cover you abroad. Medical costs or emergency evacuations, he said, can run you over $10,000.

What Travel Insurance Covers

Trip delays are increasingly common, according to Ahmed. In an email to Investopedia, he attributed this to staffing shortages, weather disruptions, and global travel congestion.

“In 2024, over 20% of U.S. domestic flights were delayed, and international travel has seen similar patterns,” he said.

“Even small delays can cause cascading problems—especially with tight connections, lost accommodations, or tour schedules.”—Shaikh Ahmed, travel agent in Raleigh, North Carolina

Travel insurance provides you with protection against unexpected financial losses and events while you’re traveling domestically or internationally and for different scenarios, including:

Trip cancellations and delays : Taking out a travel insurance policy will protect you from any covered interruptions due to cancellations and delays that may arise from illnesses or other unforeseen circumstances.

: Taking out a travel insurance policy will protect you from any covered interruptions due to cancellations and delays that may arise from illnesses or other unforeseen circumstances. Medical coverage : Most health insurance policies don’t cover medical expenses while you travel abroad (or even out of state). Travel insurance will provide you with this lapse in coverage if you get sick or injured while you’re on vacation.

: Most health insurance policies don’t cover medical expenses while you travel abroad (or even out of state). Travel insurance will provide you with this lapse in coverage if you get sick or injured while you’re on vacation. Baggage issues : Your travel insurance policy will reimburse you if your baggage or belongings are lost or stolen.

: Your travel insurance policy will reimburse you if your baggage or belongings are lost or stolen. Additional coverage: Some policies also give you the option to add coverage for rental car problems, accidental death, dismemberment, and emergency assistance.

Tip You can also purchase a cancel-for-any-reason (CFAR) add-on, which allows you to cancel your trip for any reason not covered under your standard policy.

Travel Insurance Prices

The average cost of travel insurance can run from 4% to 10% of the price of your trip. So if your trip costs you $3,000, expect to spend $120 to $300 on travel insurance. The general rule is that you’ll pay a higher premium if your trip costs more.

But other factors can also influence the cost of your travel insurance, including:

The length of your trip

Your age

Your policy type

The type of coverage you choose

Travel insurance also comes with different options that many consumers may not be aware of, according to Ahmed. These include single-trip options that cover one defined trip and multi-trip policies, which provide coverage for frequent travelers for a certain period—usually a year.

There is also basic and comprehensive coverage. Basic insurance provides limited coverage, while comprehensive insurance is more expensive with more benefits.

Fast Fact Travel demand is strong and is expected to rise. This is largely due to an increase in household travel budgets, the number of people working while traveling, and higher consumer confidence.

With travel becoming more unpredictable, Ahmed said travelers should consider a policy with a minimum of $50,000 of emergency medical coverage, baggage protection, trip cancellation/interruption, and 24/7 travel assistance.

If you’re traveling internationally, he suggested at least $100,000 of medical coverage and evacuation services, as these costs can add up.

How to Get Travel Insurance

To get travel insurance, determine your needs and what coverage suits you best. Will you need medical coverage? Will you need coverage for trip cancellations or delays? Are you taking checked baggage with you that should be covered? Does your health insurance cover you while you’re away?

Next, compare quotes online with different insurers. You can review your quotes with specialized travel insurers or you can ask any current insurance companies you have an existing relationship with, such as your home, auto, or health insurer.

Here are some other options:

Check with your credit card company as well, because your card issuer may provide insurance when you book. Be sure to review coverage options.

Airlines and travel companies may also offer travel insurance when you book. Like your credit card company, find out what type of coverage it is before you book.

You can also get information about travel insurance from travel agents.

Don’t Forget to Read the Fine Print

Every insurance contract comes with information in the fine print, so review it before you sign up. Most of the fine print for travel insurance policies includes the following information:

Exclusions for pre-existing conditions, high-risk activities while you’re away, war, unlawful events, and named storms

Deadlines for making a claim

The documentation you need to provide to the insurer if you need to file a claim

The Bottom Line

Many different factors can impact your trip, from weather to strikes to global unrest, which is why it’s important to consider travel insurance. A policy can be a great financial investment if there are any interruptions or delays. If you have any questions, a travel expert can save time, money, and stress so you can enjoy your trip.

Find out what travellers need to know before they head south of the border.

The Canadian government has updated its United States travel advisory amid widespread, violent demonstrations in Los Angeles and other parts of the country.

Global Affairs Canada updated the “Safety and Security” advice for the U.S. on June 17, noting security forces have been deployed to L.A. and other cities and a “curfew order may be imposed on short notice.”

U.S. President Donald Trump ordered the deployment of roughly 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines to the second-largest U.S. city following protests over his stepped-up enforcement of immigration laws.

Canadian travellers in the affected areas are advised to avoid demonstrations and follow advice from local authorities, including curfew orders.

Visitors should also monitor local media for new information.

The travel advisory remains at the lowest level, meaning travellers should take normal precautions (with regional advisories, as previously noted).

United States travel advisory: Canada’s updates in 2025

Global Affairs Canada warns travellers they face stricter border searches heading south of the border amid a wave of detentions of worldwide travellers.

On March 21, the department updated its travel advice, noting that “failure to comply with the registration requirement could result in penalties, fines, and misdemeanour prosecution.”

A spokesperson for Global Affairs Canada told V.I.A. it issues travel advice and advisories (TAAs) about safety and security conditions abroad to help Canadians make informed decisions and travel safely while outside of Canada.

“Before travelling, we encourage Canadians to visit our Travel advice and advisories for the latest information, and to sign up with the Registration of Canadian Abroad system to receive important updates,” the department spokesperson said.

Global Affairs Canada advises travellers always to register trips they take online before they leave so that the Canadian government can contact them in an emergency, regardless of trip length. Additionally, registration allows the government to alert them to important changes or updates to the Travel Advice and Advisories for the country they are in.

With a file from the Associated Press.

Find more information about exciting destinations in B.C. and across the globe, as well as travel deals and tips, by signing up for V.I.A.’s weekly travel newsletter The Wanderer. Since travel deals can sell out, find out the day they are posted by signing up for our daily Travel Deals newsletter.

Want to learn more about a specific destination or have a travel concern or idea you would like V.I.A. to write about? Email us at [email protected]. Send us stories about recent holidays that you’ve been on, or if you have any tips you think our readers should know about.

Stereophonics at Belsonic 2025: Everything you need to know before you go

Author: Emma Dickson Published 4th Jun 2025

Stereophonics, one of the UK’s most enduring and loved bands, is coming to Belfast to headline his first Belsonic 2025 🙌

Stadium Anthems promises to be a journey through the band’s incredible career, with no hit left behind.

Kelly said: “Being on the road again with my best friends, playing all the hits of this bands catalogue, for people in huge outdoor gatherings through the summer of 2025 makes me so excited, we should make a new album…oh wait …we already did that! See ya there for more good times….TUNE!!! TUNE!!! TUNE!!”

We CANNOT wait to see the band return to Belfast this week!

If you were lucky to your hands on a pair of tickets, there’s some important information you need to know before you go 👇

What time do gates open at Belsonic 2025?

Gates open at 6pm.

Curfew is 11pm.

We’ll keep you posted on stage times as soon as they’re released!

Where can you park at Belsonic?

Organisers are advising those attending the gigs to use public transport as there are NO parking facilities at the site.

Translink are running special bus, coach and rail travel services for Belsonic events – for more info visit translink.co.uk/special-events/belsonic-2025

Are there still tickets available for Stereophonics at Belsonic?

There’s a handful of tickets remaining for the Stereophonics gig this week, if you’re interested visit ticketmaster.ie

Who will be supporting Stereophonics at Belsonic?

James Bay and Davey MacManus will support Stereophonics at Ormeau Park.

As soon as we know stage times, we’ll let you know.

Is there food and drink at Belsonic?

There are a number of food and drinks stations dotted across the site, so there will be plenty to eat and drink throughout the night.

Things you CANNOT bring with you to Belsonic

❌ Alcohol

❌ Food

❌ Fireworks or flags

❌ Umbrellas

❌ Foldable chairs or garden furniture

❌ Professional recording equipment (audio or visual)

What will the weather be like for Stereophonics at Belsonic?

According to forecasters, it looks like Thursday will be a cloudy start for most, largely dry but with rain pushing northeast over Armagh and Down. Bright spells and showers through the afternoon, these heavy at times. Maximum temperature 16 °C.

Check out the other Belsonic 2025 headliners 👇

Madness – Thursday 19th June 2025 One of the biggest and most loved British bands Madness, will headline Belsonic this summer, with Ocean Colour Scene announced as special guests.

Madness will perform their greatest hits from a career spanning over four decades.

Throughout their illustrious career, Madness have had 1 UK Official Charts No.1 album, 10 UK top ten albums, 15 top ten singles and have won a multitude of awards including a prestigious Ivor Novello.

Snow Patrol – Saturday 21st June 2025 Snow Patrol are set to perform to a home-crowd next summer for Belsonic 2025. Their stunning number one new album ‘The Forest Is The Path’ featuring new single ‘Everything’s Here And Nothing’s Lost’ is out now.

Now comprising the trio of Gary Lightbody, Nathan Connolly and Johnny McDaid, Snow Patrol offered the first tastes of their extraordinary new album with singles ‘The Beginning’, ‘This Is The Sound Of Your Voice’ and ‘All’.

Justin Timberlake – Thursday 26th June 2025 Fans can expect to hear their favourite hit singles spanning across Justin Timberlake’s entire catalogue alongside singles from his latest album Everything I Thought It Was. Justin’s sixth studio album, Everything I Thought It Was, is now available on all platforms.

Throughout his career, he’s sold over 54 million albums and 63 million singles globally, and a further 70 million records as the lead vocalist of *NSYNC.

blk. – Friday 27th June 2025 Following a Sold Out 3 Arena and Emerge Belfast shows, one of Ireland’s fastest rising DJ/Producers blk. is pleased to announce his biggest Irish headline show to date at Belsonic, Ormeau Park, Belfast on Friday 27th June 2025.

blk. has been booked as the main headliner for some of the UK and Europe’s biggest underground dance music and commercial festivals and is pushing huge boundaries with his music. With his own platforms amassing a huge 30+ million plays across some of his tracks on SoundCloud and having his own monthly fan base of 200k+ listeners on Spotify alone, the best is still yet to come.⠀

Boiler Room – Saturday 28th June 2025 Belfast’s biggest ever Boiler Room event at Ormeau Park this June, featuring an absolutely stacked lineup, including a worldwide first B2B set from two of the hottest DJs on the planet right now – Chris Stussy & KETTAMA.

A rowdy cohort of treasured BR faves will visit Belfast in June for a weighty mid-summer session.

Alanis Morissette – Monday 30th June 2025 Since 1995, Alanis Morissette has been one of the most influential singer-songwriter-musicians in contemporary music.

Morissette’s 1995 album JAGGED LITTLE PILL was a tour de force that changed the sound of pop music around the world. It was followed by nine more eclectic and acclaimed albums. She has contributed musically to theatrical releases and has acted on the big and small screen.

Read more:

Castlederg’s Gareth announces Ulster Hall show on ‘Back to the Backyard’ tour

Kesha announces new tour with a date in Dublin

Benson Boone to kick off EU tour in Belfast!

How to listen to Downtown Radio:

Tune into Northern Ireland’s Home of Great Music, Downtown Radio on FM, AM, DAB Digital Radio, online, on our Rayo app and by asking your smart speaker to ‘Play Downtown Radio’. Gary & Glen kick things off every weekday morning and Neal McClelland brings you home on Downtown Drive.

Play The Most Dangerous Beaches In The US Revealed

It’s probably no surprise that the top 10 most dangerous beaches in the U.S. are in Florida, according to a 2025 analysis. While the Sunshine State is known for its dozens of beautiful, white, sandy beaches, it also gets the highest number of hurricanes and shark attacks.

Those are two of the main factors that the tide and weather forecasting platform, Tideschart, used to analyze 528 beaches across the United States.

(Getty Images/Angela Auclair)

The other major factor was surf-zone deaths. The surf zone is where waves begin to break as they reach the shore, deaths are often caused by three hazards in that zone:

Rip Currents – these strong, narrow currents create a high-speed channel that can rip you out to sea.

High Surf – large, powerful waves churned up by swells from a distant storm.

Sneaker Waves – large waves that suddenly swamp the shore, taking people by surprise and sweeping them out into deeper water.

(MORE: 2025 Hurricane Season Outlook)

Advertisement Each beach in the top 10 has experienced 126 hurricanes, but the destination with the distinction of the number 1 spot had a staggering number of shark attacks.

Here are the top 10:

(Getty Images/antoniodbacco)

10. Jupiter Beach Park

23 Shark Attacks

5 Surf Zone Deaths

9. Cape Canaveral

19 shark attacks

6 Surf Zone Deaths

8. Miramar Heights Beach

0 Shark Attacks

10 Surf Zone Deaths

7. Palm Beach

35 Shark Attacks

7 Surf Zone deaths

6. Cocoa Beach

39 Shark Attacks

7 Surf Zone Deaths

5. Indialantic Boardwalk

A surfer arrives at the beach in search of swells in Indialantic, Florida (Getty Images/Joel Carilett)

Indialantic Beach is a favorite with surfers, but the 8-foot swells that attract them also make this beach especially risky. It’s had nine surf-zone deaths and 30 shark attacks.

4. Miami Beach

Miami Beach may be Florida’s most famous beach but surf conditions have caused 14 deaths and there have been 17 shark attacks.

3. Daytona Beach

The powerful currents at Daytona Beach, on Florida’s Atlantic Coast, are blamed for 27 deaths and there have been 67 shark attacks

2. Laguna Beach

Just two miles west of Panama City Beach, Daytona Beach had the highest number of surf-related deaths – 39, with nine shark attacks recorded.

1. New Smyrna Beach

South of Daytona Beach, New Smyrna Beach had more shark attacks than all the other 9 beaches combined. 277 encounters were recorded there, in addition to 12 surf-zone deaths.

And while this list may seem like a beach bummer, there’s no need to abandon your seaside plans. Just remember to stay aware, pay attention to high-surf and other flagged warnings and stay informed during hurricane season.