You've got the big trip planned to a "T" The family vacation is marked off on the calendar, time off has been approved by bosses and the flights are booked. Now what? Before you go on holiday, maybe you should think about insuring it.

Last year, thousands of people had to cancel their vacations to the Caribbean due to Hurricane Gustov when it struck Haiti and the Dominican Republic, leaving the island with no running water.

More recently, world travelers were advised not to go to Mexico for fear of contracting Swine Flu. Some spring breakers from the University of Delaware did contract the virus while on a binge in a resort area. They spread it to a few more students, who all thankfully recovered. Still, families and partiers alike had to put the brakes on their dream vacation because of circumstances out of their control.

There are many insurances available. AAA offers a package that covers everything from personal injury and "dismemberment" (I'd hate to even think about how that could happen on vacation) to trip cancellation due to natural disaster, terrorist attack or widespread illness. The insurance is available to members only and is a one-stop shop where you will get your money back if anything big goes wrong - that includes losing luggage to flying home if you get sick while away.

Another option is insurance underwritten by American Express. Travelers can choose what's most important to them and piece meal a package together. For instance, you can buy cancellation insurance only to cover the price of your trip if it's canceled because one of the big reasons already stated, or you can add other items in, like covering the cost of a delayed plane, or replacing delayed luggage items before they arrive. Both insurances vary in cost, depending on the departure state, destination and age of travelers.

Some credit cards also offer travel perks, including insurance on rental cars. Either way, through a card or insurance, it might be worth the low cost for the peace of mind. For more information, go to www.aaa.com or www.americanexpress.com.