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The Importance of Travel InsuranceKaren Zastudil Youve finally saved enough to go on that dream vacation youve been planning. Now youre wondering if you should buy travel insurance. Do I really need to go to the extra expense All I can lose is my luggage, right Guess again! Anything can go wrong while you are traveling, and I strongly favor buying a policy. Most travel insurance policies are designed for a variety of travel needs but, I emphatically advise reading the fine print of any policy you purchase regarding any deductibles and health situations. You many find your policy wont cover pre-existing conditions that may cause a problem, or that the medical coverage is only for an injury or an illness -- not both. For emergency aid, travel insurance polices are generally dependable and affordable, but there are still a myriad of gaps in the coverage provided. You can find polices designed for almost any type of trip you may be planning, such as a single trip for hunting, backpacking, cruises, house rentals, and a host of others. But, the specific types and amounts of coverage you get depend on the policy you choose. Its important to remember that you will only be covered for what is specifically stated in your policy and for nothing else. Most policies cover trip cancellation, lost baggage, medical, dental, and accidental death coverage. Other policies include emergency evacuation, 24 hour travel assistance, and trip or baggage delay. You may even find policies that include options for collision or damage to rented cars and business conflicts. There are many options that can be covered, but you will have to ask. The premiums for the policies are generally 5% to 7% the cost of your trip, but fees will vary depending on the your medical history and passengers ages. Many companies offer policies that will include coverage for children at no extra charge. It is best not to buy your travel insurance from your tour operator. Ive listed a few reasons why it may be better to purchase through an insurance company separately. Most travel insurance policies offered by the operator are less flexible to your individual needs; Provide a lower amount of coverage; May only cover a portion of the trip; Your coverage may be secondary and the insurance will only pay for what you own private health or homeowners insurance does not cover; May duplicate coverage you already have; In the event the tour operator liquidates and goes belly up, you would lose not only your trip, but also your premium. Many travel agents are not fully knowledgeable when it comes to understanding the details of various travel insurance policies and may overlook something that could be important to you or your family and few offer suggestions. Buying travel insurance may be less expensive purchasing through your tour operator or cruise line, but for the reasons listed above, you should really check around. If you do choose to buy your policy from your tour operator, be sure to use a credit card. Depending on the policy of the credit card issuer, you may be provided with protection against potential default of the operator. When buying your policy from an insurance company: Always get quotes from several companies Ask if the plan is pre-packaged or if you can custom design your own Can you waive the pre-existing condition exclusion Ask if you are covered for cancellation due to a terrorist incident. Dont count of the company to provide information Ask any question you can dream up and Do ask for suggestions A good site to reference for multiple travel insurance quotes is InsureMyTrip.com. I am not affiliated with this site in any way. I just like the site! Enjoy your next trip and I hope the odds are with you and that you will never have to file a claim on your travel insurance policy. c2004 Karen Zastudil
| | | | RELATED ARTICLES Gifts in Chinese Culture Chinese people have their own culture when it comes to giving friends or relatives presents. All Inclusive Resort Bulletin Boards For those considering an all inclusive resort vacation the need for information, pictures and trip reports is urgent. All inclusive resort vacations typically run $4000-$7000 for a weeks stay at an all inclusive resort. Because of the higher upfront cost travelers needing information would prefer to get it from people who have been to the resorts vs. the resort themselves. Resort websites and brochures usually contain staged photos which have been airbrushed to perfection. Maps are not always to scale and the facts about features and quality of the resort are usually subjective. Below are links and descriptions for bulletin boards that discuss all inclusive resorts. The members are always willing to answer questions and provide pictures and information. Fractional Fairytales -Private Air Charter Once upon a time, long, long ago -- in the early 1990s -- the concept of fractional ownership in private aircraft was born, and there was much rejoicing throughout the land. People who never believed theyd be able to afford, or justify, owning a private jet suddenly had the opportunity to purchase partial ownership in one. Travel Health Insurance: Know Your Coverage Before An Emergency Occurs NC—Buying travel health insurance is an important step for sufficient medical coverage while outside Canada, but it is only the first step. To make your policy work, say industry regulators, there has to be a co-operative relationship between the policyholder and the company. Made of Atomic Size Stars in a Clumpy Firework Universe The discoveries of normal galaxies, strings of galaxies and heavy elements in the far distant universe [1-7] suggest that these space objects have to be older than what the big bang universe can allow for their creation. In this way the big bang universe enters its current age crisis [8], which will require some new assumptions to mend the edifice of this complex theory. The basic principle of parsimony, known as Occams razor, says not to do with more, e.g. with more assumptions, what can be done with less [9]. The advance of science shows that nature prefers simplicity and the simple explanations are hard to find because nature complicates in our perceptions [10]. The big bang theory offered a simpler explanation for the cosmic microwave background radiation as a thermal radiation left after the big bang and thus sent the rival steady-state theory of the universe into oblivion. The theory of interaction offers a simpler explanation for the puzzling clumpy structure of the universe and the structure of the cosmic microwave background [10]. Turbulence or Smooth Ride You Decide. Why is it that 2 people can use the same airport, the same airline and even be on the exact same flight, and have 2 totally different stories about their trip I Survived the Booze and Cruise: A Guide to Past Tense Instructions in the Bahamas The only souvenir I still have from the Bahamas is an old “I survived the Booze and Cruise” t-shirt...and a few snorkeling rules forever etched in my memory. Back in college as if I needed to say more, my boyfriend, his best friend, and I went on a cruise to the Bahamas. We, of course, did all the necessary research to know the attractions we wanted to see and have some familiarity with local customs...Yeah, right. We knew nothing and cared even less. We were going to the Bahamas on a cruise ship for about $200 a person! It was a deal where we had to listen to their time-share nonsense, but we were college students. We were pros at listening for hours on end about topics we had little to no interest in. Borneo - Exotic Island Paradise SABAH is Malaysias premier nature adventure destination situated in the northern tip of Borneo Island, the third largest island in the world.Sabah is popular for its wildlife conservation attractions, rain forest, surrounding nature and islands, beach resorts, tropical white sandy beaches, crystal clear water, and its warm and friendly people. If you are thinking of visiting Borneo, these places of interest and activities will whet your appetite! My Introduction To Northwest Coast Native American Art I had lived in Vancouver very briefly as a child and it was during that time when I was first exposed to the art of the Northwest Coast Native American Indians. It was the towering colorful totem poles out in Stanley Park that everyone gazed at with wonder and appreciation. It took about 30 years later during a return trip to Vancouver when Northwest Coast Native American art caught my eyes again. The Thoughtful Tinkerer - Make Homemade Devices For The Fun Of It Ive always liked to make gadgets and gizmos that have some function, either useful or not so useful. It started with the simple things that many kids make - slingshots, a simple bow and arrow, a toy boat. Occasionally I made more involved items such as a canoe and a dune buggy. Then there was the grass hut - 12 feet across, octogonal in shape, and thatched top to bottom with a thick layer of grass. I built it in a remote location, near a stipmine filled with water. Hauled the cut grass in a 1972 Volkswagon convertible with the top down. Piled the grass high in the back seat. It must have taken a dozen trips back and forth from a nearby hay field. The Intellijeune Factor Helps Relocation Decisions Many people with a desire to live overseas have difficulty in deciding where to go and are sometimes in search of help in making their decisions. Cultural and other activities frequently play an important role in the decision making process. One useful parameter to consider when deciding on where to live and work, I term the "Intellijeune" factor. Las Vegas "Whales" What Las Vegas jargon names "whales" is in fact the creme of the high rollers species. They are a handfull of people that in some opinions dont exceed 500 individuals in the world. Las Vegas hoteliers are nuts about them; some claim four or five of those whales bet much more than the rest of the thousands customers they receive daily. No wonder they are suspected of going as far as selling their first born child to get one of those whales into their gaming area. What Do You Do on Valentines Day When You Have 1000 Girlfriends!!!! What Do You Do on Valentines Day When You Have 1000 Girlfriends!!!! Cocos Island... Green Bouquet Is Seen Far Into The Sea Cocos Island National Park Alternatives for Business Travelers "Im coming home.Ive been away too long.Been away so long.Im coming home" – Ian Thomas, in Coming Home Hungry For Overkill I dont have much time to watch television.Being the lazy person that I am, I usually let other people in the family do my watching for me. Who Should Win The Oscar Who, do you think, should win the Oscar this year Who has been the best male actor in film this year Should it be Don Cheadle, in Hotel Rwanda, Johnny Depp in Finding Neverland, Leonardo DiCaprioinThe Aviator, Clint Eastwood in Million Dollar Baby or Jamie Foxxin Ray. Travelers Logon for Advice Before Booking Travel Guidebooks and travel magazines are helpful when trying to choose hotels, excursions, or a destination for your next vacation.Travel agents are even better. But what could be less biased and more helpful than no-holds-barred, word-of-mouth comments and comparisons of trips made by other travelers just like you. This is the idea behind MyTripReport.com, a web site devoted to consumer reviews – called “trip reports” – that provides these honest assessments for destinations all over the globe, sometimes with dozens of reviews for a single hotel or destination. How to Travel for Free by Leading or Promoting Tours Whether youre 16 or 60, you CAN travel just about anywhere in the world for free -- and even with a nice stash of cash in your pocket -- by telling like-minded people about a trip and convincing them to go with you.Get 5 to 20 to book the same trip, and your trip is free. Pretty Women Have Stayed At The Beverly Wilshire Since it was built in 1929, The Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel has attracted rich and famous guests from around the world. To the general public the hotel is most famous for being used in the 1990 movie Pretty Woman. They have disappointed thousands of people by turning down requests from around the world who would like to stay in the same suite that Julia Roberts and Richard Gere had in the movie because it does not exist, it was filmed at the Walt Disney studio. |
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