As Countries Re-Open their Doors, Are You Ready to Travel? What you need to know before you GO...

SHOULD I BUY TRAVEL INSURANCE?

I am frequently asked if and when to buy travel insurance.

Yes purchase travel insurance and do it right away.

In this age of delays, bankruptcies, and strikes it is wise to have insurance coverage for your travel investment.

The general rule with most insurance companies for best coverage is to purchase insurance coverage within 14 days of you initial trip deposit. So if you wrote your check out on May 15th and mailed it out, you should purchase your insurance no later than May 29th.

BUT to cover unforeseen things like natural disasters such as the volcanic eruptions in Iceland that grounded flights a few years ago, or flight delays due to sun flares as is now happening, etc…GET the insurance soon as you write out your check or give your credit card number for payment.

The less of a time gap between your trip deposit payment and purchase of travel insurance, the less of a chance there is of events such as a new strike happening that would not be covered.

If a strike breaks out, a volcano erupts, etc before you purchase coverage then it will no longer be a covered incident. It then is a re-existing incident and thus not covered. So do not wait till the last minute.

Check the insurance company’s Alert and Strike Lists. Here you will find carriers and tour operators that are not covered, and any announced and on-going strikes that are excluded form coverage.

It is always best to purchase third party insurance. Yes, the cruise ship company you booked your cruise with will recommend you purchase their insurance policy, but if the cruise company goes under there will be no one to pay insurance claims.

Many insurance companies allow you to purchase insurance for the amount of the deposit, but you must remember to add coverage when you pay the balance for your trip.

NOTE: All insurances have a loophole for civil unrest. Some cover it up to 1 day prior to departure for a hefty premium. Shop around for the best coverage to your circumstances and chosen travel destination.

Live, Laugh & Travel!

Erja

INSURANCE UPDATE

From Travel Guard:
"... any new volcanic issues in Iceland are now considered new situations for travel insurance coverage, except for travel in and out of Iceland since Iceland airports are not back to normal yet.

Volcanic Ash follow up questions & answers:

When is the eruption of the Iceland volcano on 4/14 considered to have ended?
The event of 4/14 is considered to have ended on 4/22/10 when Eurocontrol announced that air traffic had returned to normal level.

If I purchased a policy on or after 4/14 would coverage apply to a future eruption?
As long as your policy is purchased prior to any future eruption occurring, you would be covered under most of our U.S. products.

You can purchase Travel Guard Coverage through Eurynome Journeys or your travel agent.

Malta an Oenophile’s island!

Who knew?!?! I had never heard about Maltese wines…so while here in amazing Malta I sampled some of the local varietals and I must say I was very pleasantly surprised! Malta’s viticulture dates back to 5000 years, but it has only been in the last few years that the quality of Maltese wines have started to get international recognition and AWARDS. So while visiting Malta be sure to try some of the local wine. I can recommend Isis Chardonnay to enjoy with the delicious local seafood; the Fenici Chardonnay /Vermentino blend for sipping at sunset with a plate of Maltese appetizers; or the Palantino Merlot with pasta in a tomato sauce, red meat or with some of the mild local cheeses.

Tor learn more visit: http://www.maltafoodandwine.com/

Should you buy travel insurance?

(image from CBS web site)
The anwer in many cases is YES. The article below gives good advise to the consumer. Don't be misled by the headline. Be sure to read the fine print!

April 11, 2007

Why It Doesn't Pay To Buy Travel Insurance
You're Probably Already Covered ... And You May Not Even Know It

“It may make sense to buy additional travel insurance if your health is an issue and you are traveling overseas. Some health insurance policies, such as Medicare, won't cover you abroad. Before you buy, check your homeowners and other policies [i.e. credit cards] to avoid any overlapping coverage. These policies may already provide adequate protection. Avoid purchasing policies through tour operators or cruise lines. If they go bankrupt, you could be out of luck. Instead, purchase through a third-party insurer … Bear in mind that not all credit cards offer protection, and that some are better than others.”

For full story visit source: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/04/11/business/main2669693.shtml


It is very good advise to check what coverage is provided by your credit cards (you have to use the credit card to pay for the trip for it to be covered) and /or your homeowners insurance policy. Will they cover you if you loose your passport on the way to the airport and are denied boarding for your non-refundable vacation in South Africa? Good travel insurance will.

For a cheap domestic ticket that can be reissued for a fee-you probably don’t need insurance, but for that tour of Europe or Asia be sure to purchase adequate coverage-just in case. And if you or a family member have a pre-existing medical condition make sure it is covered by the insurance you choose.