The one mistake travelers make after booking their trip—and how to fix it

Forget those expensive carry-on bags. Global travel assistance, helicopter evacuations, and $500,000 in coverage are the real essentials for international travel in 2026.

It’s not fear driving Harry Wenkert to make a “must-have” travel purchase for 2026. It’s peace of mind, he says.

“I have a parent who is 94 years old and living in a long-term care facility,” says Wenkert, a retired pharmaceutical industry marketer from Pittsburgh. “I’m also concerned about having enough medical and evacuation insurance coverage.”

As trav…