Travel Insurance - Don't Go Abroad Without It

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Your choice of a travel insurance policy is probably the most important decision you will make in planning your holiday. You will enjoy peace of mind on your vacation knowing that any unforeseen circumstances, such as a hospital stay due to sickness or accident will be taken care of.

In addition, while many travelers have health insurance, it sometimes does not cover them outside of their network or outside of the United States. Most medical plans will not cover medical expenses abroad, which is why travel insurance coverage is vital to avoid financial disaster. Always check the details of your insurance coverage before you travel. Additionally, with out the proper medical insurance, you will not have a say on where you will be treated if you were in an accident.

Generally, comprehensive travel insurance policy costs 5 to 7 percent of the price of your trip. Your policy may also provide reimbursement for lost luggage, some degree of medical evacuation insurance, accidental death coverage, medical expenses, personal liability, cancellation, loss of baggage and theft. Your policy should also include all the details of how to make a claim.

Not all travel insurance plans are created equal. The cost varies from company and policy to policy. Policies may be purchased for individual trips or as an annual policy for all trips taken in the year of insurance. If you purchase an annual travel insurance policy, it will cover you for one year from the start date you choose. In some cases, it might be your best option to purchase a trip cancellation waiver and a third party travel insurance policy.

Credit card companies usually provide what is called travel accident insurance, which covers accidents but not incidents of serious illness. When you travel abroad, you should always consider buying insurance that includes medical care.

If you are willing to assume a financial risk (the cost of your trip), you can probably forego insurance for your domestic travel. Since 9/11, many are looking to travel insurance to safeguard their trip against any unforeseen terrorist attacks at their destination. Traveling abroad without insurance can be risky and impose long-term financial hardships if an accident or illness occurred.

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Things That Might Not Covered by Your Travel Insurance

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Holiday season is coming, and some of you might already have planned how and where to spend this relaxing moment with your family. So prepare your holiday well, choose a trusted and reliable travel agent to arrange your trip, decide wisely where to go and what to do on your destination, prepare your travel documents and things to bring on your trip, and of course, in order to avoid your holiday turned into a disaster, you will need a travel insurance as a protection.

Travel insurance is one of the most important instruments on your holiday, so you better choose your insurance carrier wisely when you decide to buy one. Shop around for the best rate and coverage, and also it is a good idea to look for guidance and tips on how to get the best travel insurance for your journey.

But don't feel 100% secure just because you already have travel insurance, since there is no insurance that can cover every risk. So do with travel insurance, there are things that most travel insurance will not cover. Knowing these things is important so you can make a preparation in case some of them happen before or during your trip. It's also useful to help you choose an insurance provider that can give you the most coverage for your travel.

I have compiled from many sources, things that most travel insurance won't cover as you can see below:

Travel cancellation

Tour operator

Although it is totally beyond your control, but travel insurance will not pay for any expenses you have already made if the travel is canceled by your tour operator. You could ask the tour operator to return your money, but your travel insurance will not pay for any loss you experience regarding this situation neither helping you to get cash back from the tour operator or making a law suit against them.

A tour operator can cancel your trip for some reasons including their internal company problems. That's why you should carefully choose for a tour operator to avoid this, make sure it's a good and reliable company.

War or Riot

Usually there are certain types of mess up situation stated in a policy with explanation whether it's coverable or not. Usually they are; strike, riot, civil commotion, terrorism, and also war, that happens in your travel destination. If the cancellation is made regarding one of those reasons, many travel insurance policies won't cover.

Death or Illness of a Pet

Animal lovers might cancel their trip because their beloved pet is dead or ill, but don't expect the insurance company will have a compassion on this situation, this is also the risk that cannot be insured.

Psychological Problem

You cannot cancel your trip for having psychological illness or mental problem without penalty, because for most insurance companies, this is an exclusion of coverage.

Divorce before the Trip

One in a million, but it still could happen. After you bought a tour package and travel insurance, suddenly a problem occurs in your family, then your spouse files for divorce and ruins the whole plan, and you have to cancel the trip. This is also not considered as an uncoverable risk.

Pandemics

If you find out that on your destination there is a pandemic like swine flu or anything like it, you might worry for the sake of your family's health and decide to cancel the trip. But pandemic is also not a valid reason for trip cancellation, so this won't be covered.

Visa Refusal

This case sometimes happen, and sadly it always happen after you buy a ticket or book a tour package or at the arrival. Mostly you can only expect cash back from the airline for the ticket, but travel insurance usually won't cover for this cancellation.

Natural Disaster

Most of travel insurance policies say they will give coverage for trip cancellation if your destination is completely shut down by a natural disaster. But please pay attention to the fine print and read it carefully, usually it says that if the resort or the airport remains open, you will not get your claim paid by the insurance.

Health, Medical Treatment, or Personal Injury

Pre-existing Conditions

This is a common exclusion in many insurance policies, so medical treatment related to that condition during your trip will have to come out of your own pocket.

Extreme Sport

If you wish to do some extreme sports on your destination, the risks won't be covered by your regular travel insurance. For this, you have to obtain another insurance which is extreme sport insurance or something like that.

Pregnancy and Childbirth

Usually, it is specified under which conditions the pregnancy complications or childbirth is covered. You too have to read the fine print real carefully on this one.

Working Activities

For an insurance company, holiday is holiday, meanings you shouldn't work or do anything related to it. If you are injured while doing something that is considered a working activity, then the insurance won't cover it. What is considered to be a working activity is not always that you do something for money, as long as it's a situation involving manual labor, using power tools or driving heavy duty machinery, it could be considered as a working activity.

Drunk

If you are injure in doing an activity after you have some drinks there's a big chance that your insurance won't pay for this. So you better pay attention on this one.

Sexual Behavior

If you suffer a disease or have a worry of your future health condition related to a sexual transmitted infection or unwanted pregnancy for the result of your sexual behavior on your holiday, there's a big chance that you have to take care of the medical costs for treatments or tests by yourself. Most travel insurance doesn't cover this health condition.

Medical Repatriation

Many people feel safe when they know that the insurance will give coverage for medical evacuation if they suffer a bad medical condition in some remote area. Evacuation meant to transfer the patient to the nearest area that has a better medical service. But if you need to be transferred back home to get the proper treatment it is called repatriation, and not so many travel insurance will cover this. So you have to read the fine print carefully and find out what it says about it.

Others

Baggage Delayed For Less Than 24 Hours

It's a good idea to carry the things you need for a day in case there's a baggage delay. If the delay is less than 24 hours, the insurance won't cover it. The insurance will only cover for baggage delay for more than 24 hours and it's valid for outbound flights only, so no baggage delay cover for your flight back home.

Loss or damage to keys, money, documents, tickets, or credit cards

Usually these items are not considered to be as baggage or personal item, so you should keep these items real safe during your journey.

Flight Problems Regarding to Security Threats and Terrorism

Sometimes these issues can cause an airport closing, flight delay or event flight cancellation, and travel insurance won't cover you for buying another ticket, rerouting tickets, or paying for accommodation for these causes.

I really hope this article could help you to arrange your save and pleasant journey. The most important thing is always pay attention to every detail in a policy and read the fine print carefully, since one single word could determine whether the claims you made can be paid or not, have a nice holiday.

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The Dangers of Online Booking

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There are a lot of establishments that are associated with online booking services while there are those that have their own booking service. With the accessibility and flexibility of the internet, more and more people are utilizing online booking services for easier reservations of hotel accommodations, plane fares and tours. Each site promises to provide safe, secure and direct online booking services although this is not always what happens.

Let me tell you about what happened to my friend.

My friend was planning to spend the holiday with her husband on a foreign land. This was probably the first trip that she and her husband will spend overseas. They have travelled the entire country-hopping from one state to another-and after scouring every possible tourist destination, they decided that for a change, they wanted to explore what is outside the United States.

Since they wanted to have everything "fixed clean" when they arrive in their place of destination, they opted to book online for all their accommodation needs. They were very meticulous with the hotels that they wanted to stay at and even made special requests for their "special needs." Every booking then, was done online, and all reservations were also done using the World Wide Web.

My friend's first stop was in a seemingly desert place in Bolivia. They spent four days there and didn't have any problems. However, the real problem occurred after their "desert tour." They arrived in their second stop at 3am in the morning. They were very tired after having to travel 5 hours by bus. When they arrived at the hostel where they had their reservation, they learned that their booking was cancelled.

We were aghast and frustrated. My friend's husband insisted that they made the reservation and confirmed it online. Upon further investigation, they were able to discover that their booking was cancelled because they failed to reply to the email from the hostel which specifically requested the CCV code of their credit card.

My friends told me that they did not receive the email that was being referred to. My friend mentioned that had she received the email, she would still not provide the information that they were asking because doing so would make her look like consenting to identity theft and that she is actually inviting identity theft criminals to come and access her credit card information.

The CCV is a three or four digit number that is found at the back of any credit card. This is often used to verify that you have physical possession of the card in instances when physical verification is not possible (like in online transactions).

My friends were not able to get the refund that they paid for their reservation/confirmation. Once they got back to the United States, they immediately proceeded to blogging about their experience to warn other people not to get ripped off and be victims of identity theft. They didn't want others to experience the same thing that they did.

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Motorhome Holiday Essentials

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A washing line
If you are lucky, there will be sunshine most days while you are on holiday, so washing your clothes is no problem. Remember to take a line to hang your stuff on - trees and bushes are not always so practical!

Reading Material
A lot of campsites have a pretty good 'self recycling' library - but if you are traveling abroad a lot of the books and magazines that get left behind are in a foreign language so it's best to take some good reading material of your own.

Camera USB leads
Download your pictures as you go. While away some holiday time relaxing and editing.

Phone Charger
You could pack the one to charge the phone from the 12V cigarette lighter socket, but it would probably make more sense to have one that runs from the mains so it can be used in the van or at the campsite.

Travel Insurance
People still forget this vital holiday must have! You don't want to go traveling without any insurance, especially abroad.

Motorhome Insurance
Check that your insurance policy is all up to date and covers exactly what you need. Ensure you have informed your insurance company of any changes to your circumstances.

Insect Repellent
Park near to water and you could be in trouble. Avoid the bugs by taking a good body and clothes spray and a good plug in.

Lockable safe
Keep your personal items secure. A lockable safe hidden somewhere within the motorhome is your best bet, especially if it is secured to the motorhome itself.

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Travel Insurance Comparisons

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Nothing Can Compare To Good Travel Insurance

Travel insurance is an invaluable commodity as it can prevent unforeseen events that could potentially ruin a dream holiday or any sort of travel scenario for that matter. Deciding which type of insurance to opt for can prove to be tricky as some policies only cover certain losses where others are far more extensive.

Travel insurance can be put into three main categories, these being trip cancellation insurance, emergency medical coverage, and 24-hour telephone assistance. Trip cancellation insurance is a policy which covers the expenses of your airfare as well as other prepaid costs that may arise if you have to cancel a trip. Another bonus is that if your luggage gets lost it will reimburse you as well.

Emergency medical coverage pays for medical related expenses and the cost of having to return home in the event of medical emergencies. This kind of policy is particularly useful for senior citizens.

24-hour telephone assistance offers a simple and hassle-free means of finding doctors and getting emergency assistance. This type of coverage can be highly beneficial if you are travelling to a country where you cannot speak the language.

The best way of going about purchasing insurance for travelling is through your travel agent as good travel agencies will have built solid working relationships with trustworthy travel insurance providers. Alternatively, you could phone your regular insurance agency and find out whether they sell travel insurance

Another approach for choosing the right policy is taking part in online discussions such forums and message boards. By doing so, you can post questions or any concerns you may have regarding your insurance for travelling.

In addition to this, ample research should also be done via the internet and also by asking friends, family and work colleagues if they have had any first- hand experience with travel insurance providers, whether it be of a positive or negative nature.

It is also extremely helpful to use an online insurance comparison service to aid you in finding out about coverage and costs.

If you are going on a trip related to sport or an adventure trip that could pose an element of danger you should find a policy that accommodates injuries related to sport for instance.

Always ensure you have been thorough in reading the policy as opposed to glancing through it. If there are any details you do not understand or are unsure of make a point of asking the insurance provider to explain the finer details within the policy.

Even if you have excellent auto insurance, home insurance and medical aid it does always promise international travel insurance protection when you travel abroad. The unpredictable situations that can arise are endless, many of which that may not be covered by the insurance provider in your home country. This is why you may require travel health insurance for instance or any other relevant insurance policies for travel.

Travel insurance is a pivotal component to any sort of travel as it can be the determining factor in whether your trip is a complete success or an absolute nightmare. Aside from the financial coverage travel insurance provides, it also gives you a sound piece of mind!

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5 Most Common Travel Insurance Claims

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With the widespread availability of cheap travel insurance, there is no good reason to risk travelling uninsured. There are plenty of accidents that can befall the unlucky traveller abroad, and if you have insurance, these accidents will likely be minor inconveniences - if you don't, they could turn into expensive disasters.

Almost two million travel insurance claims are made every year by people from the UK, ranging from refunds on cancelled flights to the payment of costly medical bills abroad. While a great variety of claims are made, some are much more common than others. Here are the five insurance claims that you are most likely to make while on holiday abroad...

1. Medical Costs

With almost a third of recorded claims involving medical bills, this is by far the most common travel insurance claim. It is also the most expensive, at an average of almost £500 per claim, with insurance in America, Canada and Europe being especially expensive. Medical bills abroad can range from a few hundred pounds for basic treatment and medication to tens of thousands of pounds for helicopter evacuation or emergency repatriation. With prices that high, it is well worth investing in some worldwide travel insurance to cover you wherever you go!

2. Lost Baggage

After the disaster at Heathrow's Terminal 5 on its opening day (where thousands of pieces of luggage were misplaced), people are now much more aware of the risk of lost baggage. It is a common problem for holiday goers; indeed, it is the second most common travel insurance claim. The loss of personal items can be a frustrating inconvenience, but your travel insurance will cover the cost of replacing your lost possessions.

3. Cancellation of Flights

Many people buy their insurance at the last minute, but the threat of cancellation is an important reason to book up your worldwide travel insurance as early as possible - this is the third most frequent travel insurance claim. Whether it is because you have to cancel the holiday yourself due to a family or personal emergency, or because the airline cancels the flight, having cover for this is essential - the average cost of cancellation is just under £400.

4. Travel Delay
If your journey is delayed it can lead to plenty of unforeseen costs, including last minute accommodation and paying for alternate transport, and it is fourth on the list of common travel insurance claims. Worldwide travel insurance can help to cover the costs associated, so next time you are sitting in an airport waiting for a delayed flight, at least you'll know that your insurance is there to ease the cost!

5. Lost or Stolen Money

Cash is all too easy to misplace while on holiday, and is also the main target for pickpockets, casual thieves and conmen. Unsurprisingly, it is the fifth most common travel insurance claim made by UK travellers. A worldwide travel insurance policy typically features cover for the loss of money, so that if your wallet is stolen or misplaced you'll have your cash replaced.

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Stay Healthy on Holiday

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When we think about our holidays we often ask questions like "Will it be sunny?" and "Shall we hire a car?" rather than "Can I drink the water?" and "Where's the nearest doctor?" Here are our top 10 tips for staying healthy on holiday...

1. Get your jabs

Talk to your GP or practice nurse if you're going to a country where you'll need vaccinations, such as Thailand or Brazil. Early planning is the key - at least 3 months before if possible - as some vaccinations take a while to work

2. Pack your prescription meds

Plan early to make sure you have enough of your prescription medication to see you through your holiday. Keep your medication in your hand luggage, and make sure it's clearly marked.

3. Find the doctor

Locate your nearest pharmacy and doctor on the first day of your holiday - don't wait until something goes wrong. Ask your holiday rep, see your hotel receptionist or check in your guidebook.

4. Be careful - here comes the sun

And along with it comes sunburn, prickly heat and sunstroke. For most sun-starved Britons, avoiding the sun is probably not an option but try to be sensible. Drink plenty of water, re-apply your suncream every 1-2 hours and take extra care with babies and children.

5. Say bye-bye to bad bellies

Check whether the water is safe to drink and if not, avoid salad and say "no" to ice in your drinks. Upset tummies are one of the most common holiday ailments, so pack constipation remedies, diarrhoea tablets and rehydration sachets.

6. Take a mini-first aid kit

Pack a small first aid kit with safety pins, antiseptic wipes, antacids, aspirin, travel sickness remedies and paracetamol, as well as plasters - handy for flip-flop blisters!

7. Protect yourself

Even if you're not planning a holiday romance, it's best to be prepared. Condoms protect against pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Ideally, use condoms bought in the UK with the BSI Kitemark for safety.

8. Bring things for bites and stings

Don't forget your mosquito repellent - those pesky things attack mostly after dark. If you are bitten, you can use an ice pack, antihistamines or anesthetic cream to help reduce itching and swelling.

9. Keep up your 5-a-day

Our diet can change a lot when we're on holiday, but try to eat your 5 portions of fruit and vegetables a day. If it's a struggle, multivitamins could be a temporary top-up while you're away.

10. Get your travel insurance

Travel insurance is vital in case you, or someone in your family, needs medical treatment on holiday.

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