Travel Health Insurance: Reimbursement Depends On Following The Rules (NC)—Travelling, whether for business or pleasure, involves risk. A personal emergency may necessitate an early return, or you may need hospital treatment or air evacuation due to a medical problem. Travellers should be aware that the Ontario government health plan (OHIP) is rarely enough when it comes to medical treatment outside the country, so without supplementary insurance during an emergency, you could be exposed to considerable financial obligations.
Travel health insurance policies vary considerably, says the Financial Services Commission of Ontario (FSCO), an agency of the Ministry of Finance that regulates Ontario's insurance industry. FSCO reminds us to pay special attention to the definitions, pre-existing condition clauses, deductibles, as well as the limitations and exclusions sections of the policies. Ask for clear explanations of each and once you are satisfied, make your insurance purchase. But even then, says FSCO, there is a bit more work for you to do — as follows:
Read the policy: Before leaving on your trip, read and become familiar with your policy and the coverage. It is your responsibility to know what you have purchased.
Take it with you: Include the policy with your travel documents. Keep both the emergency contact phone number available, as well as the number for your insurance company. Compile and include a list of current medications.
Get authorization (if possible): If a medical problem arises, the toll-free phone number provided will connect you to an emergency service centre. Be ready to supply all the facts and information and ask for clarification if you do not fully understand. Service centres manage and monitor your treatment and make the medical referrals. Before you go ahead with treatment however, be sure the service centre has obtained authorization from your home-based insurance company. If not, you may be personally obligated for medical services not approved.
Follow the payment process: Under some policies, you pay the hospital and are reimbursed later by the insurance company. Other policies provide payment directly to the medical facility or practitioner. The policy will tell you which procedure to follow.
More information on travel health insurance is available online at www.fsco.gov.on.ca. Or, for a copy of their booklet Shopping for Travel Health Insurance phone (416) 590-7298 (Toll Free: 1-800-668-0128).
- News Canada
Editors, these articles are for use in Ontario only
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Travel Health: Useful medical information for good health before your departure, during your trip and after your return. The diseases most commonly seen in travellers are diarrhoea, malaria (if you travel in a malaria-infested area),
accidents (when travelling by car or swimming), wound infections and sexually transmitted diseases.
- Diarrhoea is caused by contaminated food and drinking-water. You must therefore be careful if your are travelling
in poor hygiene conditions.
- Malaria is transmitted by mosquitoes, so the first thing to do is to protect yourself against these mosquitoes.
- In order to prevent accidents during travelling, it is wise to apply the same precautions as those taken at home.
In addition, it is very important that all wounds should be thoroughly disinfected in order to avoid infection.
·TRAVELLER’S DIARRHOEA
Many intestinal infections are attributable to infections picked up by mouth or hands. With a little care most of
these illnesses can be prevented. Hepatitis A, typhoid fever, polio and cholera still occur in countries with poor
hygiene, but these diseases are easily prevented.
However, the chance is rather large that you will still contract a light and/or nondangerous form of traveller's diarrhoea.
Traveller's diarrhoea almost always spontaneously clears up after a few days, but can nevertheless be irritating.
And a risk to your overall and travel health.
In the first place measures must be taken against dehydration. Likewise, treatment of the symptoms must be considered
in order to reduce the number of bowel movements and relieve other symptoms such as fever, vomiting and stomach cramps.
Sometimes a more serious form of diarrhoea occurs, for which specific treatment with antibiotics is indicated or where
hospitalisation or fluid replacement appears unavoidable.
It takes only a few basic preventive measures to make your trip a success : Total prevention of traveller's diarrhoea is
impossible and it is obvious that preventive measures can seldom be strictly followed at all times.
But following preventive measures do significantly reduce the risk of contracting serious diarrhoea:
In order to maintain good travel health wash your hands before eating and avoid (if possible) :
- raw vegetables and fruits that you have not peeled yourself
- uncooked or unpasteurized dairy products
- insufficiently cooked sea foods (+ Hepatitis A !) and meat
- “local meals” which do not smell fresh
- ice-cream bought from street merchants (industrial ice straight from the deep-freeze is probably safe).
Cooked meals should be served hot. The place where you eat is also important. A meal taken from a stall presents a
greater risk than a meal taken in a restaurant. Avoid restaurants where there are a lot of insects.
Avoid tap water and ice-cubes. Bottled water and soft drinks are safe. Watch out for bottle caps that have already been used.
It is very important to disinfect drinking-water on adventure trips. Total sterilisation of drinking water is impossible.
The following measures considerably reduce the contamination risk and safeguard your travel health:
- Boiling the water is very effective.
- A good alternative is chemical disinfection with chlorine drops (e.g. Hadex®, Drinkwell chloor®; available in sport
shops specialized in outdoor activities) or chlorine tablets (Certisil Combina®; chloramine tablets; available at the
pharmacy). Their effect can be improved by first filtering unclear water. Silver salts (Micropur®, Certisil Argento®) are
not very suitable to disinfect water, but they keep disinfected water germ-free for a long time.
For adventurous travellers conscious to travel health it is best to buy a portable water-filter. The use of antibiotics
in order to prevent diarrhoea before it occurs can be dangerous + Also the use of other preventive medications is not
recommended.
.How to treat diarrhoea?
It is extremely important to consume sufficient liquid and salt in order to prevent dehydration. You can do this by
taking salt solutions, but tea with lemon, broth, soft drinks and fruit juice, supplemented with salt crackers are tastier.
Commercial salt products are available on the market (ORS-solution).
Taking an anti-diarrhoea preparation (loperamide, e.g. Imodium®) can greatly reduce the number of bowel movements, with
a considerable reduction of the complaints as a result. Imodium® may only be used by adults and older children and only
for treating ordinary watery diarrhoea: 1 capsule after every loose movement up to a maximum of 4 per day.
Antibiotics are indicated :
1. If blood, mucus or pus are present in the stools.
2. If after 24 to 48 hours, there is no sign of improvement and the diarrhoea is accompanied by fever (above 38.5 C) or
severe abdominal cramps, or if there are more than six stools per 24 hours and especially when these also occur
at night.
3. Or if because of travel circumstances a quicker solution is absolutely desirable . Appropriate antibiotics are only
to be used on doctor’s prescription
·SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES
Casual sexual contacts tend to be higher while on holiday abroad. Sexually transmitted diseases, particularly AIDS, form
therefore an important risk for travellers.
Quite often unintentional and unsafe sexual contact takes place under alcohol influence.
Prevention while on holiday abroad is no different from the precautions you take at home. Adequate use of a condom,
preferably bought at home, is absolutely essential. Only a water-soluble lubricant should be used, but it only offers
a partial guarantee (e.g. KY gel).
Vaccination against hepatitis B is advised. Always consult your doctor if you think you are at risk, even when there are
no symptoms.
·MALARIA (swamp fever, malaria)
Malaria is an infectious disease caused by a parasite (called Plasmodium) transmitted by the bite of the Anopheles mosquito.
There are four different types of which Malaria falciparum is the most dangerous and the most widespread.
The incubation period – the time between an infecting bite and the appearance of the disease – varies from ten days to four
weeks (rarely several months).
The symptoms include attacks of fever, but can initially be quite similar to influenza.
If adequate treatment is not started in time, an attack may sometimes result in death within a few days.
. Where does malaria occur?
Malaria only occurs in those areas in which Anopheles mosquitoes are present : in the tropics and in a large number of
subtropical areas. From a height of 1.500 to 2.500 m onwards, depending on temperature and climate, Anopheles mosquitoes
are either rare or non-existent.
In most big cities there is little or no risk at all of infection, except in Africa where a real risk exists.
Risk also exists in the suburbs of the big cities in Asia (e.g. in India). In a number of areas the risk varies according
to the season.
. How can malaria be prevented?
It is very important for travel health to avoid mosquito bites : the Anopheles mosquito only bites between dusk and dawn,
is rather small and hardly makes any noise.
- In the evening wear light-coloured clothing which covers your arms and legs as much as possible. Apply repellent cream
with a DEET basis (20 to 50%, for children and pregnant women preferably 20 to 30%) to the uncovered parts of your body.
Repeat this every four to six hours (it will not protect you all night).
Non containing DEET repellents were less examined; Autan-Active. and Mosegor. are however excellent safe products.
- Sleep in rooms that leave no access to mosquitoes, (mosquito nets on the sills, electrically-warmed anti-mosquito plates,
air-conditioning) or sleep under a mosquito net impregnated with permethrine or deltamethrine hung over the bed with the
edges tucked under the mattress.
If these measures are carried out correctly, the risk of malaria will be reduced by 80 to 90% and travel health is maintained
.The intake of pills as prevention
There is no drug efficient enough to prevent malaria 100%, which means that quite often a combination of measures is
preferable. Also the drugs used have changed over the years.
Moreover, the advantages and disadvantages of drugs should be considered against the risk of malaria infection.
These risks are dependent on the visited country, and on the region, the season, the duration of your stay and the kind
of trip.
Some people might be troubled by the side effects while taking antimalarial drugs. These are usually mild and are not
always a reason to stop taking the pills. Sometimes it may be necessary to change to another type of medication due to
intestinal problems, allergic reactions or other intolerance symptoms.
Therefore it is the doctor who can best decide for each individual which drug to use. This explains why individuals from
the same group may end up taking different drugs.
Finally, as no drug is 100% effective in preventing malaria, it is important that if an attack of fever occurs in the
first three months after your return from the tropics, a malaria infection should be considered as a possibility despite
the correct use of the drug prescribed.
However, it is reassuring to know that malaria, provided it is recognised in time, is easy to treat without any danger of
recurrent attacks. The belief that "once malaria always malaria" is totally untrue.
You can find even more travel health tips in the next pages:
CAUTION: The information provided here should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or for the
treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for any and all medical conditions.
Call 911 for all medical emergencies.
About the Author
Eddy De Vos is the owner of http://www.spain-holidays-advisor.com/ ,
a website about travel and Spain. It contains usefull tips for your next trip, be it to Spain or anywhere else in the world.
Of course if you are planning a trip to Spain there is no better place to start than Spain Holidays
Travel in Style - Favorite Celebrity Vacations Celebrities sure do seem to have a great life. Their every day lives are ones filled with glamour, and their vacations are even more spectacular! But just because you aren’t rich and famous, doesn’t mean you can’t travel like a celebrity! Today, the Hollywood Elite, A-list Stars, musicians, politicians, and the super-rich are followed more closely than ever before. Because of this, we know exactly where they go when they want to unwind and where they go to be pampered. If you are looking for some well deserved pampering, rest, relaxation, good food, or even star-gazing (Hollywood or that other kind!) then check out some favorite celebrity getaways.
Alfajiri Villas, Diani Beach, Kenya - The latest craze in celebrity travel is a trip to Africa. Whether you partake in a safari excursion, or rest in relax in one of the grand resorts.... a trip to Africa will open all of your senses. No wonder celebrities from Teri Hatcher to Oprah to Tiger Woods are taking the time to visit this vast and amazing continent. Luxury accomodations are becoming more abundant throughout Africa, but the Alfajiri Villas are one of the tops. You can choose to stay at the Ciff Villa, Garden Villa, or Beach Villa. The scenery and nature surrounding the area are spectacular... And for the family oriented there are many options for kids. Just ask Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie who stayed there early in their relationship.
Location: Ukunda, Kenya
Grand Hyatt and Park Hyatt Tokyo - The Park Hyatt may be the hotel shown in Lost in Translation with Scarlett Johanson and Bill Murray, but the Grand Hyatt Tokyo is equally popular. The Grand Hyatt boasts itself as a great destination for all kinds of activities, such as weddings, fine dining, and state of the art recreation and relaxation facilities. Perhaps that is why celebrities such as Dave Grohl and Chris Martin opt to stay there when they travel to Tokyo. The Park Hyatt Tokyo is also considered one of the best hotels in Tokyo, if not in the world. This spectacular hotel which caters to long term visitors looking for someplace to live as much as visit, has become even more popular since Sofia Coppola showcased it in Lost in Translation.
Location: 6-10-3 Roppongi, Tokyo, Japan, 106-0032 (Grand Hyatt Tokyo) - Location: 3-7-1-2 Nishi-Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan 163-1055 (Park Hyatt Tokyo)
The Ivy London - If you are interested in checking celebrities in their natural environment, then you have to know where to be. Sometimes, knowing where to be isn't enough because you may not be able to get into that exclusive club, or have reservations for that fabulous restaurant. But, if you plan far enough in advance (6 months or more) than you too can dine with the the rich and famous. Getting in to the Ivy is the most exciting part, but once you get in then there are plenty of options for some culinary exploration. So when traveling to London, plan a trip to the Ivy and you are nearly guaranteed to have a celebrity sighting. David Beckham, Victoria Beckham (Posh Spice), Elton John, Nigella Lawson, and the rest of the UK's elite have all been seen munching and sipping at the Ivy.
Location: 1 West Street, Covent Garden, London - Telephone: 020 7836 4751
Chez Michel in Villefranche-sur-Mer - Chez Michel’s is a reasonably sized, reasonably priced French restaurant serving unbelievably authentic Provencal food. The restaurant is owned by a husband and wife team who take special care to create a menu filled with fresh ingredients and plenty of local flavor. The atmosphere is comfortable and warm with Provencal landscape murals along the walls. It will be very easy to immerse yourself in the good wine, good food, and good conversation. So good in fact, that you may not even notice celebrities such as Sheryl Crow and Lance Armstrong sitting at the table next to you!Location: Place Amélie Pollonais, Villefrance-sur-Mer, France - Telephone: 04-93-76-73-24
Los Cabos’ One & Only Palmilla Resort - Palmilla is located on the southern end of Baja California... a hop skip and a jump away from L.A. and yet a fabulous and quick getaway for celebrities. The area boasts great weather, scenery, outdoor activities, and plush resorts. Palmilla at Los Cabos was founded in the 50s (back when it was reachable only by plane or boat) and started catering to celebrities from the get go. John Wayne, Lucille Ball, Bing Crosby, and President Dwight D. Eisenhower all escaped to be pampered at Los Cabos. Some of the more recent celebrities to stay at the Palmilla include Jessica Alba and Cash Warren. Location: San José del Cabo, B.C.S. Mexico - Telephone: 624 146-7000
Now, get your dark sunglasses and get ready to travel like a star!
Michelle is a travel, art, and architecture buff who has recently moved to Seattle after living in Honolulu, Chicago, Gloucester Massachusetts, and Delft Netherlands. In between studying and working in design, she dreams travel and works to help others compare and select vacation options.
Travel Industry Trends and Predictions 2004 This article collects our thoughts about new trends in the travel industry and tourism markets, especially with regard to sustainable tourism. This is not meant to be an exhaustive list, and is quite general. These trends are included as an overview, a synthesis of our readings and experience, and should not be taken as results of our formal research. They are based in part upon the research results of other organizations. We plan to update and refine these thoughts throughout the year. If you have comments or questions, or you are interested in Leave Home's travel marketing consulting services, please visit www.Leave-Home.com or contact the author directly.
Overview
Leave Home sees significant realignments in tourism decision patterns and roles within the industry, as a result of global economic, political, and social changes and the impact of new communications technologies. As in some other sectors of society, these technologies appear to be encourage a greater decentralization of distribution, greater individual access to choice and information, and a realignment of roles for tourism intermediaries. We recognize major opportunities for tourism industry participants who provide value as "experts", respond to demand for individualized service, fulfill higher level needs and aspirations of tourists ("fulfillment", "self-actualization", "individuality"), and remain flexible and responsive to change. We find sustainable tourism projects and products especially well poised to take advantage of these changes, to provide unique value to tourists, and to spread the benefits of responsible tourism to new areas and a wider segment of the host populations.
Tourism, global security and the economic picture
Overall, tourism expenditures and international arrivals began recovering in the last half of 2003 and appear to be continuing this trend in 2004. The World Tourism Organization (WTO) organized a panel of 180 tourism experts, whose survey results about the promise of 2004 in terms of tourism industry recovery are markedly optimistic. Continued global instability should give caution to long-term prognostication, however.
The WTO reported a 2% drop in worldwide international tourism receipts (in inflation-adjusted, weighted local currencies) in 2003. Major factors in this decline were the continuing results of the September 11, 2001 attacks in the USA, the Asian SARS outbreak, the Bali bombing, the war in Iraq, and global economic recession. Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia, and Oceania fared the worst, with North America, Africa, and Europe also showing losses. The Carribean, Central and South America, and the Middle East (!), showed gains during 2003. These findings are included in the WTO's second trimester 2004 Barometer publication (An excerpt is freely available from their website at http://www.world-tourism.org/market_research/facts/barometer.htm. The full first trimester edition is available for free download, as well).
Security and economic concerns are still significant factors affecting travel decisions; globally and across demographic sectors. Continued currency value realignment (particularly the reduced value of the US dollar against the Euro) will continue to shape consumer and industry spending decisions. Tourists, overall, are not curtailing their travel, so much as spending less (tourism receipts have decreased more than have the number of international arrivals), and staying closer to home. This has led to an increase in regional and local tourism. Regional budget airline growth is also fueling this trend (The continued viability of their business models remains to be seen, however).
Major new outbound markets are developing in China, India, Russia and other ex-Soviet countries, and to a lesser extent, the Middle East, as a result of economic and social changes in these countries. The Asian markets among these are tending to produce mostly regional travel demand, which should help Asian tourism rebound from losses in previous years.
New pressures and new roles
The global security and economic situation remains volatile, and rapid technological innovation looks to remain the norm. Wider availability of new communications technologies will change tourism markets in ways we have not yet imagined. Flexibility, diversification, and decentralization seem certain to become more important for the survival and success of tourism organizations and tourism-based economies.
Internet travel purchases (now the largest amount of all online purchases) and airline competition have led to a downward pressure on prices and slimmer profit margins for tour operators, travel agents, and throughout much of the industry; in general, leading to necessary realignments within the industry.
More competing tourism products, decreased customer loyalty, and increases in last-minute booking present challenges to tourism organizations. They will need to work harder to differentiate their products and services, help tourists sort through the "information clutter", engender trust and loyalty, and maintain stable revenue flows.
Smart marketers appear capable of countering the above trends and displacing price's centrality in purchase decisions for some types of travel products. More sophisticated uses of these new communication technologies, such as Internet-enabled customer relationship management tools and email marketing campaigns, would allow for more selective marketing and distribution strategies to attract highly desirable tourists.
Internet and other new communications tools are displacing some tourism intermediaries and redefining the roles of others. Tourism product suppliers are less reliant on traditional distribution intermediaries, and consumers are more willing to make their own travel arrangements. The WTO notes that the current emphasis on regional travel is also producing less group travel and more individual travel (people feel more confident to make their own arrangements, when the destinations are more familiar).
Trust is more than ever a central concern for travel purchasers. By nature, the product cannot be tried before purchase, and businesses on the Web must still overcome a healthy skepticism about the trustworthiness of the companies and offers they discover online. Speedy decision-making is also important, as the most frequent travelers are often also the most pressed for time; particularly as the number of competing tourism choices threatens to overwhelm their ability to choose.
There is an important opportunity for "experts" to support decision-making about tourism purchases. Agents and intermediaries which add real value with their specialist expertise and personal service will remain relevant and successfully navigate the shifting roles in travel distribution.
New demand and opportunities for sustainable tourism
Even the smallest operators, like community-based tourism groups, can generate their own demand. Where distributors remain necessary, they can negotiate distribution from a position of greater strength, and reduce price pressure on their tourism products.
While price pressures and competition have characterized most parts of the industry, there has been sustained or increased demand for luxury accommodations, tours, and other travel packages. The trends are not mutually exclusive within one set of purchase decisions: "Luxury travelers" may choose budget transportation, expensive accommodations, and adventure tours (which might previously have been seen as incongruous choices). More consumer access to information, better product customization, and more attention to demand-led marketing are both revealing and producing more complex travel purchase habits. The "package holiday" approach to tourism products may be on its way out. An increase (2-3% from 1993-2003) in tour customizations may be related to this trend toward individualization.
Active travelers have not been deterred by security concerns, but have also traveled more regionally. Self-identified "active travelers" intend to increase travel expenditures over the next few years. According to the World Tourism Organization, "active travelers" rate available activities higher than destination in terms of importance to their purchase decisions.
Eco-tourism, nature tourism, hard adventure, soft adventure, sports tourism, and health tourism count among the top growth sectors. For example, the World Tourism Organization estimates that the market for nature tourism is increasing at 6 times the rate of tourism overall.
There appears to be evidence for a "self-actualization" dividend (if not a "green dividend") for tourism sales. There are signs of increasing interest in travel for reasons of personal growth, assertion of individuality, human connection, and "authentic experience", among segments of major outbound markets. These segments overlap markets for "luxury experience" and new, "exotic", "individual" consumer goods. These travelers appear more flexible about price ("price elastic"), when they can be convinced that an experience offers significant additional value (in terms of the interests listed above).
These consumer and lifestyle groups have been called "Cultural Creatives" in the USA; "New Authentics", "Style-Lifers" and "Neo-consumers" in Europe (the groups and findings represented by these terms are not totally interchangeable, but appear to overlap more than not on characteristics important to tourism decisions). As an example of these groups' significance: the original research done about "Cultural Creatives" showed they represent 25% of the adult U.S. population at the time of the study—the polling group American Lives estimates that they amount to 50 million people including both the U.S.A. and Europe. Find links to the defining marketing studies in the Resources section at www.Leave-Home.com.
The desirability of market segments which use travel consciously as a means of personal growth and a defining "lifestyle accessory" will lead to increased use of "lifestyle marketing" through partnerships with producers of psychologically-associated products and related organizations. These tourists require different marketing approaches; they appear not to respond well to direct marketing, for example; are avid media consumers; and tend to require corroboration of information from a trusted authority or personal acquaintance.
Sustainable tourism products are poised to take advantage of the preceding trends, as lifestyle products in line with the demand for organic foods, Fair Trade products, and "natural health-care", all "luxury," "individual", and "authentic" products, of demonstrated appeal to people in these "new lifestyle" groups.
Sustainability is of increasing concern to tourism organizations of all sectors. The effort at "greening" tourism is now the focus of hundreds of initiatives and conferences, as well as certification efforts, worldwide. Many of the largest institutional donors have recognized its validity and value as an approach and a goal, and include sustainability as a central criterion in their development packages—and major donors are increasingly turning to tourism development to achieve overall development goals.
Sustainability will increase in importance as a central part of donor organizations' project goals, project recommendations, and donation criteria. Economic viability, as a component of sustainability and project value, will be of increasing concern to the donors. (The eco-tourism portal Planeta.com hosted an online conference on eco-tourism financing in 2002. A summary is available on their site.)
(Seattle, USA; August 2004)
About the Author
Bryan Wilson is a travel marketing consultant and partner in Leave Home Productions
Leave Home Productions (http://www.leave-home.com) provides marketing services and tools to tourism-related businesses and organizations. Our clients benefit from strategies, tools, and creative concepts developed to clarify their needs, make use of their resources, and help them achieve their goals.
Travel Insurance There are many vendors who would try and convince you that going abroad without traveler's insurance is downright foolish. However, most people going on vacation have already invested enough in their travel costs that they generally overlook extra costs they consider frivolous, at best. And there are arguments on both sides of the fence. If you have never encountered a flight or cruise cancellation, loss of personal property, or a serious medical malady outside of the United State's borders, you perhaps have never seriously considered a travel insurance plan. But for those travelers who have had experience with the above, many experts agree that a well researched insurance plan may have helped.
Do You Need Travel Insurance?
Before you decide in favor of or against purchasing travel insurance there are some factors to consider. First, are you planning that amazing, once-in-a-lifetime vacation you've had on your To-Do list for the last decade? This type of trip might require some forethought when it comes to considering protecting yourself and your long awaited investment. Perhaps a little extra investment in flight cancellations, medical insurance, and luggage loss might pay off should something befall you on your travels.
Medical Travel Insurance
Traveling outside of U.S. borders? Make sure, especially if you are going for a long stay that your medical insurance will apply should a medical malady occur while you are in Tanzania, for example. You may be surprised to find when you actually ask your insurance provider how little coverage you have when traveling beyond the U.S. Many insurance plans only cover physicians and care within certain network areas. And a big reminder for seniors: Medicare does not apply outside of the United States. Also, make sure your vaccinations are up to date before you travel. And depending on where in the world you may be traveling, know what types of inoculations you may require above and beyond those you already have.
Most travel experts agree that travel insurance is not necessary for all travelers, but that for some it is definitely a wise idea. Long term stays outside of the United States would suggest some type of medical coverage. In the event of a medical emergency, you would want to secure some transportation back to The States. Your health insurance plan may cover the emergency medical care, but it most likely will not pay for your transportation back home for continued care.
Plans and Coverage
There are scads of companies just waiting to sell you all kinds of travel insurance packages, including insurance for terrorist events and accidental death. What you need to consider is exactly what could most likely go awry and plan best for that situation. Experts suggest you research a travel">http://www.travelinsuranceweblog.com">travel insurance plan thoroughly and make sure you are completely aware of the details of coverage before you pay. Comprehensive package deals will most likely cover a little bit of every major aspect of your trip including basic trip cancellation, luggage loss, and a basic medical and/or dental plan, but, once again, shop around and be sure you really are covered.
Travel Insurance - Helpful Tips For Your Trip The day is soon approaching and it's time to consider travel insurance to protect you from the unexpected. There are many travel insurance plans to choose from for that trip you are going to take. There are some important tips about travel insurance and the policies these travel insurance companies offer. Also, you can have a safe trip if you take a little time to research and educate yourself with a few simple and helpful tips.
When you are getting ready to travel, be sure to tell at least three family members where you are going to stay. Let them know your hotel details and arrival and departure dates. Another important tip if you travel in other countries, is the right vaccinations for the country you are going to visit. This is a safety issue many forget to even consider while traveling abroad.
Another helpful tip with any type of travel insurance, is your money and documents. Be sure you have the right passports and all required visas and that they are current. One of the best things you can do is get travelers checks. You really don't want to carry cash if at all possible. Another important thing to remember in regards to travelers checks, is not to counter sign them until you use them.
Travel insurance companies can give you a check list of all the important tips for a safe trip. Make sure you have copies of your travel documents, airline tickets, passport, visas and your vaccination records. It's best to leave a copy at home and also carry them in your carry on luggage and your suitcase. This will help insure you have these important documents in case one set gets lost while traveling. Another very important consideration, is to put all valuables and documents in a safe deposit box. Don't leave them in your hotel room or you vehicle unattended.
Travel insurance policies should cover you for international travel. Medical and other expenses, cancellation and curtailment, personal baggage, delayed baggage, missed departure, personal money and important documents, travel delay, personal liability and hijack are generally covered.
Travel insurance reviews online can help you get an idea of the best company for your travel plans. You can easily see the many insurance reviews online. It can be well worth your while to do a simple online search. You can compare travel insurance companies with a few clicks of your computer mouse.
Take some time to do your research and you can rest assured you have made a well informed decision in regards to your safety and travel insurance needs.
About the author:
Dean Shainin offers free online travel insurance quotes. For more information, articles, news, tools and valuable resources on travel insurance, visit this site: http://travel-insurance.deans-knowledgebase.com target=_blank>Travel Insurance Quotes
Travel Insurance - Insurance For The Over 65's According to a survey published by Mintel, one in three pets needs an unexpected visit to the vet each year. This means that you are more likely to claim on your pet insurance than on a home & contents policy or even your car insurance.
The word "unexpected" is important here. If you are looking for pet insurance to provide cover for routine treatments such as vaccinations or worming, forget it - policies that do that are as rare as hens' teeth! And you won't find cover for elective treatments, such as neutering, either. This means that the most common reasons for visiting the vet are uninsurable.
But don't forget it's those unexpected visits that tend to be the expensive ones! Developments in animal care mean that more conditions can be effectively treated and costs of emergency care can be horrendous. A cat that argues with a car could cost £700, even more, to treat. After all, a series of X-rays could cost £400 and a MRI scan will put you back £1,000. If Buster the Bulldog tore a ligament that too can be treated - but the cost? Don't expect change from £1,500! This is serious money!
Having appreciated that most reasons for a visit to the vet are uninsurable, what do we get for our money?
Well, insurance plans largely fall into three types. The first restricts the value of the claim for each condition or event; the second limits the total annual payout and the third and cheapest option, limits the payout per condition and ceases cover after 12 months of treatment. Most will make a payout if you pet dies. And with all policies you will have to pay an excess on any claim, usually between £50 and £100.
And the cost? That depends on which type of policy you want, the excess you want to pay, the sort of pet you have, its breed, its age and even your post-code (vets charge more in Chelsea). But as a guide, an industry estimate suggests costs between £30 and £200 per year for a cat and between £50 to £500 for Buster.
The best advice is start the insurance when your pet is young. Most pets can be insured after they're 8 weeks old and you can then maintain the insurance over the course of its life. If your pet is in it's middle age when you want to start the insurance, say eight or nine for a dog, then it may be difficult to get worthwhile cover. This is because treatments for existing health conditions will be excluded from the cover and in any case, a new policy at that age gets expensive.
So how can you lower the premiums? Sometime insurers will give you a discount if you pet has been identity chipped and quantity discounts do prevail! Discounts are widely available for your second and subsequent insured pet.
Then there's always the Internet. The Internet is taking an increasing share of the insurance market and no wonder - its simple, quick and easy. What's more it's probably the cheapest avenue for all your insurance whether it be for your home, your car or pet.
Travel Insurance Might Be Just What You Need! Travel insurance is something that many people haven’t considered. Sure, it’s possible that you may never have to access your travel insurance, but just having it can really give you peace of mind. As it so often happens, there are many different circumstances or situations that could cause you to cancel your trip, interrupt your plans and possibly return home early or force you to seek emergency medical treatment while traveling. To demonstrate the importance of purchasing travel insurance, and emergency travel services, here are a few common examples of what might go wrong:
It's 8:00 p.m. and your family arrives at the airport for a connecting flight, only to find that your flight has been cancelled. How do you get your family home? A travel insurance policy would be very helpful.
Your spouses luggage was lost which contained his medical insulin inside. Obviously he needs to locate that piece of luggage very soon. What could you do?
It’s your first visit overseas to Europe, and your passport and wallet are stolen. A terrible circumstance to be in under any condition. Where would you turn for emergency cash, and very importantly, how will you get your passport replaced?
Your spouse is involved in an accident and adequate medical treatment is not available. Who will help arrange and pay for a medical evacuation? A solid travel medical insurance policy would go a long ways towards easing the difficulties of this situation.
Sure, these circumstances are rare and may not ever happen to you. However, if you have adequate travel insurance you can relax a little because now you’ve got someone on your side.
Take your time and look around to see what is offered and we’re confident you’ll find the travel insurance you need.
Travel Insurance rates Probably the biggest factors when calculating travel insurance premiums is the length of the cover required. If you are taking a two-week vacation, there is a much lower risk than if you are making a yearlong voyage around the world. That said, there are many annual travel insurance policies that cover all the trips you make in a single year and if you make more than a couple of separate trips, annual protection may work out cheaper. Often family protection policies are not too much more expensive than a single person's policy so if you get the whole family insured together you are also likely to save.
Another big factor is where you are travelling. While some countries represent more health risks, as they are more dangerous, it is also a fact that poorer countries often have far lower medical costs so insurance tends to be highest for travellers in North America and Europe, with the US specifically recognised as having high health care costs. If you plan special high-risk activities such as skiing or mountain climbing you will either need separate insurance for this occasion, or to have the activity specifically added to your policy, as there is a good chance it will be excluded.
Insurance premiums are calculated according to several risk factors. These are the factors identified by the insurance company as most likely to have an impact on the insured against risk occurring. Insurance is a significant cost associated with the item insured and should not be rushed into. It is always a good idea to shop around for the best price available. Insurance premiums will vary considerably from insurer to insurer so do your homework.
Look up the various insurance companies you are interested in and ask them for a quote. They can usually give you a rough estimate fairly quickly and even more exact quotes should also be possible if you provide more details and wait. You should also look up insurers online and get instant quotes from their website. This is a very fast and effective way of shopping around. You will get a good idea of what prices to expect. You can also experiment with the quotation websites to see what effect it makes to your premium price if you select different options. With all insurance policies you will have a number of options that affect the price of the policy. Therefore you should think about these options and if there are risks that you do not wish to cover then let the insurer know as your premium should become cheaper.
You should also try to make sure you do not double insure. It is a principle of insurance that you cannot benefit from the insured event's occurrence. So you cannot get paid twice even if you have two insurance policies. So if a risk is already covered by one policy, again let your insurer know so they can remove it from their calculation.
About the author:
Joseph Kenny is the webmaster of the insurance site http://www.insure121.com/ where you will find information, news and links to the leading providers of travel insurance in the UK.
Travel Insurance Tips Its often an after thought when booking a trip but good Travel Insurance can be a life saver if things go wrong, especially if you're thousands of miles away from home.
At the very least a good travel insurance policy buys you a little extra peace of mind. Or is it a false sense of security? With travel insurance companies estimating that up to 10% of claims are fraudulent, how can you be sure that any legitimate claim you make gets paid?
TIP 1 - Take a good look before you buy You might assume that there's little difference between most travel insurance policies. In reality, the quality of cover and excesses you'll have to pay can vary substantially. This might not be a concern now but will be crucial should you make a claim.
Many disputes arise because people think they're covered but discover too late that they're never were.
So before you simply opt for the cheapest premium, take a closer look and check that you're comparing like with like. In particular, be sure to look at:
*The excess: confirm how much of any claim you would have to pay. If the excess is £50 per item that means you have to pay the first £50 of any claim for each item you are claiming for.
*The maximum you claim for individual items.
*What you're not covered for such as pre-existing medical conditions.
*The level of medical protection you have, particularly in countries like the USA where medical costs can be higher.
*If you're covered for lost or stolen cash and how much.
*If loss is covered as well as theft.
*If 24-hour emergency assistance is included or optional.
TIP 2 - Take a copy policy document with you A good travel insurance policy document will confirm the procedures to follow in the event of a claim, what you are covered for and who to call in an emergency.
TIP 3 - Disclose any medical conditions Like any insurance policy, travel insurance is a contract between you and the insurer based upon "utmost good faith". This requires you to disclose anything that may affect the acceptance or terms of a policy, any exclusions or its price.
When completing the application form, be open and honest about your medical history and any activities you're likely to take part in, whether you think they're risky or not. If in doubt declare it anyway and if possible keep a copy of the form.
TIP 4 - Document your valuable possessions Take photo's and keep receipts for expensive items such as jewellery, cameras and designer clothing which you plan to take with you on holiday.
TIP 5 - Report thefts or losses immediately Any losses or thefts should be reported immediately to the local police. Get an accident report number or similar documentary proof that you've officially reported the loss and if you're on a package holiday, again quickly report the situation to the hotel or travel company rep.
If your bag is lost, stolen or damaged at the airport, report it immediately and get a receipt from the airline or baggage handler.
TIP 6 - Be prepared for medical claims Previous E111 forms have now been replaced by the European Health Insurance Card which entitles the holder to free medical treatment within Europe equivalent to that available on the NHS. Application forms are available from Post Offices and should be submitted at least ten days before you travel.
Before you leave check your policy document or contact the insurer to confirm what precise steps your insurance company requires you to take in a medical emergency.
TIP 7 - When you get home If you intend to make a claim, check the small print and contact your insurer. Gather and submit all supporting documentation via recorded delivery (keeping copies for yourself) as evidence of your claim. Submit receipts, photographs and copies of any police or medical reports you have received.
Makes sure you keep copies all correspondence and make detailed records of every phone call, including the name of the person you spoke with and the time of your call.
TIP 8 - If your claim is refused? Your claim could be rejected for many reasons. For example most policies won't cover alcohol-related incidents and like all insurance you must take 'reasonable' care of your belongings.
The first step is to appeal against the decision providing detailed and specific points for your arguement backed up by any additional evidence. If you feel you have been poorly treated you can refer your case to the Financial Ombudsman Service who will assess your claim independently.
About the Author
Are you off to a vacation adventure this summer? Have you ever kept a travel journal, diary, or diaries?
A travel journal is where you write about your personal, family and/or business travels. It can be a separate journal where you record your experiences, details, and even your feelings about your travels, creating a written record of each trip. You can also record your travels, if you already journal, in your existing journal. Just indicate that this is a record of your travels -- That can be accomplished by using a separate color of pen.
You can record…
Your feelings and experiences.
All the locations you visited. You can include a map or draw a map.
The miles and time to travel from location to location.
Who you were with.
Who you met.
What you wore.
Would you go back? Why? What do you want to see?
Where you stayed? You can keep the address, phone numbers, names, etc.
What you ate? Again record the address, etc., so you can find it again.
What you saw?
Daily travel experiences, and expenses.
Favorites-hotels, campgrounds, restaurants, locations, etc.
The funniest thing that happened.
The most difficult thing that happened.
In your travel journal you can add photos, receipts, memorabilia, maps, drawings, menus, any items that you want to add, and that fit the space you have.
Travel Journals for the Children
A great tool to involve the whole family is to create a travel journal for the children. They can use a notebook and record the same items that you did, writing what their experiences were. They can also write a story telling what they experienced each day. You can create a game for them where they count the cows they see, other children they met, or towns, etc., keeping that information in their journal.
Use the idea of a travel journal to keep a written record of all your travels, all those adventures.
Copyright Doreene Clement All Rights Reserved
About the Author
Doreene Clement, a cancer victor and author of The 5 Year Journal, is currently writing a new book, Blessed, about her life and her cancer experience. For more information www.the5yearjournal.com 480.423.8095 Copyright 2005 OMDC, LLC All Rights Reserved
Feel free to pass this along to your friends. If you want to see my column, About Journaling, www.the5yearjournal.com
Travel Kashmir at cheapest price Set like a jewelled crown on the map of India, Kashmir is a many faceteddiamond, changing character with the seasons - always extravagantly beautiful.Three Himalayan ranges, Karakoram, Zanaskar and Pir Panjal - snow capped,majestic, frame the landscape from northwest to northeast. They are the birthplace of great rivers which flow through the kashmir valley.RajTaringini the chronology of the Kashmir Kings written by Kalhana eulogises the beauty of Kashmir as follows:"Kasmira Parvati Paroksh; Tat Swami ch Maheswara". Meaning Kashmir is as beautiful as Goddess Parvati manifest; and its owner is Lord Shiva Himself" And the Mughal Emperor exclaimed "Gar Bar-ru-e-Zamin Ast ; Hamin Ast ,Hamin Ast Hamin Asto. Meaning if there is paradise on this earth : This is it, this is it, this is it.
Srinagar is at once a collection of images: a son-et- lumiere that tells the story of the love of the Mughal emperors for this paradise vale; deep green rice fields and river bridges of gardens in bloom and lakes rimmed by houseboats; at once summer capital of the state,business centre and holiday resort.
Srinagar is as much imagination as it is fact,for every season offers new vistas to this city of great antiquity. Spring breathes life again into a frozen world and the air is heady with the fragrance of a million flowers that blossom on trees, shrubs and creepers.Summer heightens the effect and autumn is poignant in its colours of warm introspection. Winter brings with it snow,sometimes the Dal Lake freezes and beneath a leaden sky, roasted chestnuts turn the atmosphere aromatic with the promise of warmth and comfort.
The river Jhelum and the Dal and Nagin lakes dominate Srinagar and its life and activities.Here lush wild gardens of lotus and waterlily flower amidst bustling lanes.By the lakeside spread the gardens of the Mughals in patterned beauty.And the people move with a tranquillity borne of a history laden pulse of activity.
IF legends are to be believed, the Kashmir valley was once a lake as large as a sea and here lived an abominable demon who was killed after most of the lake had been drained with the collective help of Brahma's grandson, Kashap and the goddess Parvati.She wasfinally stilled the demon by dropping upon him a mountain and thereby crushing him to death.This legendary mountain is no other than Hari Parbat, Srinagar's 'Takht-i- Sulaiman' hill that forms the famous backdrop to the city.
For more detail Please visit-http://www.India-horizon-travel.com Horizon tours offers quality tours packeges for india including palaces tours, study and museum tours , adventure tours , festivals of india, wildlife tours and eco tourism in India.
Travel to india, reise nach indien, viajes para india, tour to india, wildlife tour of india, palaces of india, treks of india, , cultural india, festivals of india, adventure in india, eco tourisim in india, study & museum tours in india, cultural tour travel to India.
John
Submitjohn@gmail.com
About the Author
John is a master degree holder in Journalism and Mass Communication.He is working as freelance article writer for various categories like "Tour And Travels".
Travel Light: The How And Why I learned how to travel light from lightweight backpacking,
then found it was just as useful to keep it light on trips
overseas or driving across the country. The last time my
wife and I went to Ecuador, I had 10 pounds of luggage, all
in one carry-on bag, and Ana had just 8 pounds in her
carry-on bag. This wasn't a short trip. We spent six weeks
in Ecuador, at times on glacier-covered mountains, and at
other times lounging on Pacific coast beaches.
Travel Simplicity
Why travel light? Travel simplicity. Everything is simpler
when you travel light. With only carry-on luggage, we were
on our way to a restaurant in Quito, while others were still
waiting for their checked luggage. When we took busses our
luggage was safely with us, not on the roof or in the hold
below being cut open, like one time when I was in Mexico.
While others struggled down the street with three heavy
bags, we had our hands free and were walking comfortably
because we use daypacks or small backpacks. We had less to
lose, less to be stolen, less to wait for, less to pack and
unpack in hotels, and less to worry about.
Light Travel Issues
There are a couple minor problems when you travel light.
First, expect an extra question or two from the customs
officials at the airport (Six weeks with only this?).
Second, a small bag won't work if you plan to bring back
many souvenirs. In this case, you can still go light. Just
plan to buy a second bag at some point during the trip, to
carry your acquisitions. As for the seemingly obvious issue
of not having enough clothes and other things all in one or
two small bags, I'll explain below why that isn't as big a
problem as you may think.
How To Travel Light
Silk shirts weigh 3 ounces, and travel well if rolled up.
Nylon dress socks weigh less than an ounce, and they are
cool and comfortable. Poly-cotton blend t-shirts weigh 5
ounces. Supplex or other lightweight travel slacks weigh 9
ounces, and are sufficient for a fine restaurant or a walk
in the woods. All of these weigh less than half of the
typical travel choices, and take less space, yet function
the same. There is no sacrifice involved here. For this
exercise in travel simplicity, you even get to go shopping
for new clothes.
You don't have to buy new clothes, however. You don't have
to buy a scale and count ounces to travel light. Just choose
the lighter alternative whenever you can. Set aside your
lightest jacket, socks and pants for your next trip. Travel
simplicity is the goal, not more complicated planning.
More Ways To Travel Light
Money replaces weight, especially in the form of a debit or
credit card. Why carry two pounds of your favorite shampoo
when you can simply buy small bottles as you travel. It
really won't cost much more to buy things wherever you go,
instead of carrying your bathroom and wardrobe with you.
Also, you really don't know exactly what you'll need,
particularly on an overseas trip. Buy what you need as you
need it, and you won't have a pile of useless things in your
luggage. Don't we all regularly unpack things at home that
we never once used during the trip?
Take a lesson from long-trail hikers (backpackers who travel
a trail for months). They send things, such as new shoes, to
a post office on their route, ahead of time, so they'll be
waiting for them. They also send home things they no longer
need, such as a winter coat. The latter may be a useful
practice for other travelers. If you buy bulky gifts for
family or friends, why carry them around for weeks? Put them
in the mail.
A Light Travel Example
What I Took For Six weeks in
Ecuador:
* 8 pairs of nylon socks (less than an ounce per pair)
* 2 silk shirts for going out (3 ounces each)
* 4 poly/cotton blend t-shirts (5-6 ounces each)
* 5 pair of light underwear (2-3 ounces each)
* 1 extra pair of lightweight slacks (9 ounces)
* Nylon shorts for hiking or swimming (2 ounces)
* Thin gloves (1 ounce)
* Thin hat (1 ounce - honestly)
* Thin wool sweater (11 ounces)
* Waterproof/breathable rainsuit (14 ounces)
* Light plastic camera (3 ounces)
* Sunglasses (1 ounce)
* Small chess set (3 ounces)
* Bathroom kit (5 ounces)
* Maps, notebook and various small things (3 or 4 pounds)
My pack weighed ten pounds, and my wife's weighed 8 pounds.
We never felt deprived. I'm not suggesting that you start
counting the ounces (that comes from my backpacking days),
or that you buy all new lightweight things. Without spending
money or thinking about it too much, you can just start
setting aside your lightest shirts, socks, etc., so you can
travel light on your next vacation.
