What started as a perfect beach getaway in Roatán quickly turned into something I never expected. Picture this: turquoise water, a warm Caribbean breeze, fresh seafood, and zero responsibilities. It was the kind of trip you daydream about for months. Days were filled with good food, lying by the pool, and massages at the Kimpton Grand Roatán. Everything was exactly how a vacation should be. Until it wasn’t.

 

 

After a great workout and a small breakfast, my daughter, Kelly, suddenly felt a sharp pain in her left side. At first, she brushed it off. Maybe she overdid it at the gym. But within minutes, that discomfort intensified, then became unbearable. The pain shot up to a 9 out of 10. It was constant and deep, paired with waves of nausea. She couldn’t sit still, couldn’t get comfortable, couldn’t think straight. Was this a return of kidney stones? (She had had them 12 years ago.)

Then, just as suddenly as it started, it stopped. Relief washed over us, and we convinced ourselves it was a fluke. Eight hours later, after dinner, it came back.

 

 

 

 

Getting Medical Help

That second wave made it clear this wasn’t something minor. When you’re in a foreign country, that realization is frightening. Questions start racing through your mind—where do I go, is there a hospital nearby, how much will this cost, and will my insurance even work here? The answer to that last one was no as we realized she was in a transitional state with insurance.

We finally went to an urgent care clinic, where we spent the next three hours with a very slow doctor, and learned they didn’t have radiography or good medication for the pain.

After talking with the doctor and doing some quick research, it became clear that what she was experiencing was most likely kidney stones. If you’ve never had one, consider yourself lucky. The pain is sudden, severe, and often comes in waves. It can disappear just as quickly, which makes it confusing, but that doesn’t mean the problem is gone. When you’re traveling, especially somewhere like Roatán, you don’t have the luxury of waiting it out and hoping for the best.

We were also scheduled to fly home in two days, and she didn’t know how she could do it. She was beside herself with pain and vomiting. We were beside ourselves, helpless to alleviate the pain.

 

 

Medical Care in Roatán

The urgent care staff gave her mild relief and meds, then sent her back to the hotel. She had a restless night, and the next morning, we decided to go to a larger medical center for more care.

We went to the Wood Medical Center and immediately felt like we were getting her more professional care. The reality, though, is that you will likely need to pay up front. There’s no Medicaid and no “we’ll bill you later.” It’s cash or card, right then and there. And when you’re in severe pain, the last thing you want to think about is how much a CT scan costs or whether your card will go through. Luckily, mom was there with a minimum spend to meet.

This experience made one thing crystal clear: travel insurance isn’t optional, it’s essential. Before this trip, it felt like one of those purchases you hope you never need. Now I see it completely differently. And so do my daughters. I have an annual plan through Allianz. Most people count on their health insurance to cover things.

Travel insurance can cover emergency medical visits, reimburse out-of-pocket expenses, help coordinate care, and even arrange evacuation if needed. Without it, you’re dealing with both a medical emergency and financial uncertainty at the same time. 

 

Lessons Learned

There were a few hard lessons in all of this. First, listen to your body immediately—sudden, severe pain is never something to ignore. Second, don’t assume it will just pass, because even if symptoms disappear, they can come back worse. Third, know where medical care is before you need it; a quick search upon arrival can save valuable time later. (Chat GPT was a godsend.)  And finally, always get travel insurance. It’s a small cost compared to what’s at stake.

Roatán is still beautiful. The water is still clear, and the sunsets are still unforgettable. But this trip was a reminder that even in paradise, unexpected things can happen. When they do, being prepared makes all the difference. If you’re planning a trip—any trip—learn from our experience: get the travel insurance. You hope you’ll never need it, but if you do, you’ll be very glad you have it.

What travel emergencies have you survived on a trip that was supposed to be relaxing?

 

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