Get your non-refundable money back when you have to cancel or cut a trip short for a covered reason. Independent, LLQP-licensed guidance across 20+ top Canadian carriers.
You book the trip months ahead, pay for flights and hotels, and then life happens: an illness, a family emergency, or a sudden change at work. Trip cancellation and interruption insurance gets your non-refundable money back when you have to cancel or cut a trip short for a covered reason. At Glenn Stewart Insurance, we have helped Kitchener-Waterloo travellers protect their vacations for over 30 years. As an independent insurance broker in Kitchener, we compare 20+ top Canadian carriers to match you to the right plan, with no captive-agent sales pressure.
This coverage protects the money you have prepaid for a trip. There are two parts, and good plans include both:
Reimburses your non-refundable costs if you have to cancel before you leave for a covered reason.
Reimburses you if you have to cut a trip short or come home early, and it often covers the extra cost of a last-minute return flight.
Together, they protect the flights, hotels, tours, cruises, and deposits that airlines and travel providers will not refund on their own.
Covered reasons vary by policy, but a comprehensive plan typically includes:
Standard trip cancellation covers specific listed reasons, not simply changing your mind. If you want the freedom to cancel for any reason, some carriers offer a Cancel For Any Reason upgrade at a higher cost, which refunds a portion of your trip. We explain the options plainly so you know exactly what you are buying.
A cancelled or interrupted trip is not just disappointing; it can be expensive. A family vacation, a winter down south, or a cruise can represent thousands of dollars in prepaid, non-refundable costs. Trip cancellation insurance is inexpensive relative to what it protects, usually a small percentage of the trip cost, and it turns a potential total loss into a full or near-full refund.
The Kitchener-Waterloo travellers we help most often buy it for cruises, package vacations, overseas trips, and any booking with large non-refundable deposits.
There are two levels of flexibility, and the right one depends on how much certainty you want:
Covers the specific reasons listed in the policy, such as illness, a family emergency, or a work requirement. It is the most common and cost-effective choice.
An optional upgrade that refunds a portion of your trip cost if you cancel for a reason not on the standard list. It costs more, but buys total flexibility.
We show you both, with the trade-offs in plain language, so you only pay for the flexibility you actually want.
Most travellers are best served by an all-inclusive plan that combines emergency travel medical coverage with trip cancellation and interruption. Bundling usually costs less than buying the two separately and closes the gaps between them, so you are protected both for a medical emergency abroad and for the money you prepaid.
If you already have medical coverage through a group plan or credit card, we help you check what it actually includes, since that coverage is often thinner than people assume, and then we fill the gaps.
Trip cancellation premiums are based on the total cost of your trip, your age, and the length of the trip. As a general guide, cancellation coverage often runs a few percent of the insured trip cost, so protecting a $5,000 vacation might cost a modest one-time premium relative to losing the full $5,000. Cancel For Any Reason upgrades and older-traveller pricing add to the cost.
Because rates and covered reasons differ by carrier, we price your specific trip across 20+ insurers and show you the trade-offs, so you get solid protection without overpaying.
You pay nothing for our service. Carriers pay us commission, and it is the same whether you buy through us or direct.
As soon as you book and pay your first deposit. Buying early maximizes your coverage window and, with some carriers, unlocks benefits tied to buying within a set number of days of your initial deposit.
Cancellation applies before you leave; interruption applies once your trip has started and you need to end it early or return home. A complete plan includes both.
Standard plans cover specific listed reasons only. If you want to cancel for any reason, some carriers offer a Cancel For Any Reason upgrade that refunds a portion of your trip cost for a higher premium. We will show you the option.
It depends on the policy and its stability requirements, similar to travel medical. We ask the right questions up front so a claim is not denied later.
For a small, fully refundable booking, maybe not. For any trip with meaningful non-refundable costs, cruises and packages especially, it usually is. We help you decide based on what you actually stand to lose.
Yes, and most travellers should. All-inclusive plans combine emergency medical with cancellation and interruption, usually for less than buying separately. See our travel medical insurance page.
Take 2 minutes to request your free trip cancellation quote. Tell us your trip cost and dates, and Glenn will match you to the right plan across 20+ carriers, usually within 24 hours.
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