Hedge the High Cost of Travel Today - Consider Travel Insurance

Buy a laptop and they want you to 'insure' it will work after the warranty expires with a policy that adds 20% to your purchase price. The same for refrigerators, DVD players, televisions and every electronic item you can think of selling over $40. Travel insurance would seem to fall into the 'nice to have but I can't bother with it' category also. It might be time to re-think that and here's why.

As a front desk agent at an airport hotel, I see three to four guests per week billed on their credit cards as 'no-shows'. Last week, a guest called me from the airport, guaranteed one of our last two rooms with their credit card, asked where our shuttle could be found and never showed up! With room rates averaging $129 (plus tax) and the increased likelihood of problems being encountered en route (flight delays or outright cancellations, illness, last minute itinerary changes, missed flights due to traffic) it is possible you might also one day be paying almost $150 for a room you didn't sleep in.

Travel insurance (especially the a la carte type) that covers lost or delayed baggage, hotel cancellations or no show charges, illnesses and flight interruptions can be fairly inexpensive compared to what you may pay out of pocket. Suppose you are flying through the East in dead of winter, starting from NYC, transferring in Chicago and then Denver and on to LA. With tighter airline connection schedules, ANY delay leaving NYC or at any of the hubs will very possibly strand you in one of the last 2 cities. If you have a room reserved at LAX for $119.00 that you now forfeit because it is too late to cancel AND you find there are only rooms for $259.00 in Denver, the $20-$22 cost of hotel cancellation and flight interruption insurance seems a small price to pay. And if you have to re-book at a higher fare the next day due to YOUR missing a flight, you may have to pony up an additional $200.00 as well. Other travel insurance choices to consider are options for medical coverage (out of your coverage area or even out of the country), medi-vac for returning to the US and ER coverage if your insurance does not cover you for these.

Where I think travel insurance is a non-essential luxury would be the medical coverage if you are already covered, if you generally frequent only cheap motels (under $50-$60) or where you are only flying to one city and live nearby if the flight were cancelled. Under these circumstances, the added expense of even $20 would not be a worthwhile investment. But for expensive or non-transferable overseas tickets, especially where carriers have only one flight a day, insurance is almost a no-brainer. Miss one of them and you could be out $1500 easily in extra fees for last minute changes. Add the cost of a hotel room you won't stay in and paying for one you HAVE to find that night and the cost rises even more. The premium likely will be higher to cover overseas trips but nowhere near what you could lose with just one delay somewhere.

20 Top Tips For Women Traveling Alone

What are the options for single people when they go traveling? Given the choice, most would prefer to travel with a companion, yet many travel alone by choice or out of necessity - and a growing percentage of them are women.

The hospitality industry has been paying attention to this trend. Hotels and tour operators are scrambling to cater to this growing market of solo female travelers with an increasing number of female-friendly or female-only accommodations around the world. From female-only hotels to those with wings designated for females, or rooms especially equipped for use by females, hotel management has been paying attention to feedback from their female guests. They are equipping rooms with items like hair dryers, ironing boards, irons, quality bath products, eye make-up remover, illuminated mirrors, and extra shelf space in the bathroom. Beds may have hypoallergenic duvets to be snuggled under while unwinding with complimentary herbal tea. Security is the main concern for most solo females, so features like spy-holes in doors, chain locks, swipe-cards, well-lit car parks, CCTV, 24-hour security, and security guards are much appreciated.

Business women are one group which complains of feeling vulnerable. They may find themselves with keys to rooms at the end of long, dark corridors or in parts of the hotel which are less secure. Women tend to dislike eating alone in restaurants and many hotels are responding by providing in-room cooking facilities. It is up to the solo traveler to seek out the availability of female-friendly hotels at their destinations. Even if it is not 'female-friendly' there's no harm in requesting a room in a more secure area of the hotel. Enter 'Safe Travel for Women' or a similar phrase into a search engine and a wealth of information and links to hotels and related sites will pop up.

This new trend is especially liberating for women who are required by their religion to cover themselves. They can benefit greatly from female-only hotels staffed entirely by females. It means they can order room service, relax in casual clothes or use the spa facilities without fear of being seen by a man. Apart-hotels are another option for those who wish to be self-contained and enjoy a higher level of privacy.

20 Top Tips

• Beware of accepting drinks or food offered by strangers. Spiking of drinks and food has become a worldwide problem whether the motive is sexual assault, robbery, or both
• Avoid wearing expensive clothes and jewellery
• Beware of attracting the wrong type of male attention. Consider wearing a ring
• Keep an eagle-eye on luggage while engaged in activities such as checking into hotels or renting a car as these are vulnerable times when the solo traveller is often targeted
• Always appear calm, confident and in control (even if you don't feel that way!)
• Carry a mobile phone with plenty of credit or the means to top-up
• Arrange to travel during daylight when possible and avoid driving at night.
• Phone a reputable taxi company rather than risk an unknown street taxi
• Before leaving for a trip, research the best method for carrying cash and accessing money at your destination
• Make photocopies of the information page of your passport and keep separate from the passport. Have emergency contact numbers for your bank(s) and the number of the consulate or embassy at hand
• Use the 'Do Not Disturb' sign to deter anyone from entering your hotel room
• Leave your travel itinerary, hotel details and phone number with family or friends
• Know the acceptable behaviour, dress code, and expected etiquette at your destination country
• Remove name badge after business meetings and avoid displaying personal information on luggage or personal property
• Pack as light as possible. Don't struggle with a heavy suitcase which may not be a problem at the airport, but a burden on trains, buses or boats
• Carry a lightweight pashmina or shawl to cover up in countries where this may be a problem, especially for entering religious buildings or shrines
• Carry a supply of sanitizer wipes and tissues
• If taking prescription medicines, ask a chemist to write down all names the drug is known by, or the drug name in your destination country. See your doctor before travel and arrange for all necessary vaccinations well in advance
• Before booking a hotel or other accommodation check traveller review websites (Return the favour when you return by writing reviews on your accommodation)
• Take out travel insurance and ensure that all intended activities are covered

This information is intended only as a guide and is not a comprehensive list. One thing is for certain though...The specialist tour operators and hotels focusing on the female-friendly aspect of travel will be backing a winner...as long as they treat their female guests well. It's no secret that women are the great communicators of the world and if they are happy they'll provide free advertising by spreading the word!

World Wide Travel Insurance

At the moment it feels to the majority of us that the dreaded credit crunch is plastered over every news paper, every TV station and every bill than comes through the letter box. The tightening of money is affecting almost everybody in the general public now, and the proof is showing its ugly head in all manners of ways.

We are not even able to book ourselves that long awaited (and hard saved for!) holiday without the horrible thing barging in and reminding us that every penny is being stretched already. A leading insurance company has reported that many of us are no longer taking out any holiday insurance due to the crunch becoming harder than ever at the moment. However, just as you wouldn't risk two weeks in the Caribbean without any sun cream to protect your skin, you are taking just as high a risk not to insure everything with travel insurance.

When you are jetting off to your holidays this year, and if money is limited, consider instead taking less clothes and accessories than usual in order to be able to buy yourself even a simple travel insurance policy. Of course, it won't allow you to take part in anything daring or too extravagant but you will at least know that if you where to fall ill or lose your passports you will be able to get home in one piece without a huge price tag attached.

Last year 6% of those on holiday that had heath issues or had to cut a holiday short due to injury where not insured. Unlike the United Kingdom, much of the world (namely the USA) does not have a NHS or similar, so even a leg in plaster can set you back a fair few hundred pounds. For piece of mind, and a big saving in the long run, it is very much recommended that you take out some holiday insurance before setting off this summer.

If you are planning to take a round the world tour either for pleasure or business, then you should take time out to make sure you think about taking out a worldwide travel insurance policy. You want your travel experience to be special and memorable; you don't want to remember it because you had an accident or illness that drained you of all your savings! Prices for worldwide travel insurance can be very reasonable if you shop around, and will help protect you from significant financial loss.

There's no need to waste time phoning travel agents for prices. All you need to do is a little searching for online travel insurance on the internet and you'll then be able to compare cover and prices in the comfort of your own home or office.

What should you look out for? Any travel insurance supplier worth their salt will provide a 24/7 emergency service and will be underwritten by a licensed insurer with a high rating such as Lloyd's of London.

Just what does worldwide travel insurance normally cover?

* Cancellation costs if you are taken ill before you're due to travel
* Curtailment costs if you have to return to Australia because a close relative is taken ill or dies
* Medical expenses including repatriation to Australia
* Extra travel and accommodation costs if you are delayed as a result of missed departure or connection
* Cover for loss, theft or damage to luggage
* Personal Liability in case you damage the property you're staying in or accidentally injure someone

You can get a quick travel insurance quote at most travel insurance web sites if you are looking to compare international travel insurance costs. Do notice that when you get to the section on the form that asks you which area you will be travelling to, take care to put in your correct area of travel. Most companies will give you an explanation of how they categorise their travel areas with a link. It is important that your travel insurance certificate reflects the countries you are travelling to or you may not be covered.

It is a good idea to make sure that you understand all the details, both large and small, of the policy you purchase. Check to see if the company you are considering has their Product Disclosure Statement online, so that you can read the "fine print" before you buy. Purchasing your world wide travel insurance from a reputable company should save you money, time, and perhaps even your holiday.

When searching for travel insurance you will undoubtedly have quite a few questions about the policy and the coverage aspects surrounding it. And this isn't a bad thing because there really are questions that should be asked. No matter whether you are traveling within the country or abroad, travel insurance provides a great amount of protection for the traveler. If you are visiting the website of an insurance provider and are trying to find out more information about travel insurance, there are five questions in particular that should definitely be asked.

What Coverage Is Included?

The first question which you should ask the insurance provider representative is what types of coverage are included within the different trip insurance policies. The coverage aspect relates to what incidents the policy will cover should you experience problems during your trip. Some policies will have a wide array of coverage benefits included whereas others may be minimal in number.

What Are the Deductibles?

The premium may not be the only cost which you will have to assume. Deductibles may also be a factor as these are the amounts which you may have to pay should you need to file a claim under the travel insurance policy. Some coverage aspects will have deductibles attached to them whereas others may not.

How Much Is The Premium?

You should also ask about the total cost of the premium. The premium is the amount which you will pay in order to have the policy in effect. Depending on the length of the policy and the coverage which is included, the premium may be on the reasonable side or pricier in nature. Asking about the premium amount will let you know exactly how much you will have to pay simply to be covered. Alternatively, most providers will offer online travel insurance quotes.

Length of the Policy

Another question to ask your insurer is how long the policy will remain in effect. Some policies will cover only a single vacation or business trip whereas others may be in effect for a year and cover any and all travel which occurs during that time. You may even be able to get a better deal on an annual travel insurance policy as opposed to a single trip policy if you plan to travel more than once during the year.

How Can You Contact the Company If You Need To Do So?

Lastly, you should ask the insurance company representative how you can contact them should you need help at any time before, during or after your trip. Also inquire about 24 hour contacts in case you need to reach someone after normal business hours.

Travel Insurance and the New Equality Bill

For many years, travellers from the UK have enjoyed the benefits of cheap travel insurance when they holiday abroad. With worldwide travel insurance available for only a few pounds for a single trip and companies offering fast booking online, getting insured has never been easier or cheaper. However, new government legislation, which may come into effect by the end of the year, could change the way the travel insurance industry operates.

What is the Equality Bill?

At the end of June 2008, the government announced a new Equality Bill that will be debated in the House of Commons in August. The bill covers a variety of equality issues, but its main aims are to close the gender divide on pay, allow a degree of positive discrimination towards minorities in the recruitment process, and to eliminate age discrimination in a variety of areas. If the legislation comes into force, many businesses (including travel insurance companies) will no longer be able to charge those who are over the age of 65 more for their services, and will not be allowed to refuse older customers products or services because of their age.

Why does travel insurance cost more for over 65s?

Over 65s can find insurance for their holidays abroad, but it usually isn't cheap; travel insurance for older travellers usually has to be purchased through specialist providers, and typically costs significantly more than standard insurance policies.

Travel insurance companies charge over 65s higher insurance premiums because they are regarded as higher risk clients. Statistics show that, while over 65s are not significantly more likely to claim on their travel insurance while on holiday, when they do claim it costs travel insurance companies on average 10 times more than usual, usually due to the longer period of time older clients spend in hospital.

What will change in the future?

The new legislation is of obvious benefit to older travellers who struggle to find comprehensive and cheap travel insurance. However, there is a danger that insurance premiums will rise for all customers. Travel insurance companies have been able to provide good cover at low prices precisely because they have been able to adapt their prices to the estimated level of risk of the client. The increased cost of insuring older travellers may end up being passed on to everyone who buys travel insurance.

One possible solution that has been suggested is that potentially higher risk insurance customers (such as the over 65s) should be individually assessed to see if they should be charged higher premiums. However, while this may help to provide a fairer way of assessing customers for their insurance costs, it could spell the end to quick and simple online booking. With the volume of clients clamouring for travel insurance assessing individual customers may be a logistical nightmare - and a costly one as well!

It remains to be seen how the travel insurance industry will be affected if the new Equality Bill comes into effect. Whether prices go up, assessment becomes the standard or online booking becomes the exception rather than the rule, it looks like things are going to change - and the days of cheap travel insurance could well be numbered!

If You Don't Read This Travel Insurance Guide You Might Be in a Danger

Residents of the UK are usually pretty good for insuring themselves on holiday. We also insure the smooth running of the holiday and that it will go exactly as planned in the holiday brochure. Is this because we worry too much? Of course not, we simply enjoy the peace of mind that, if anything does happen which could jeopardise the enjoyment of our holiday (which we have worked so hard to go on), we will be looked after back home when we claim all reimbursements and any necessary compensation.

Whether it is your neighbour, friend, member of your family or even yourself, it will happen at least once in your life, you will know someone who will have a bad holiday. It is a devastating thought to have; you have saved up all year and traveled half way across the world only for it to be ruined in what seems like an instant.

Picture this scenario - you fall over and break your leg; back home you would go the hospital and receive the appropriate treatment from the doctors; you would be in and out the hospital in 12 hours, a minor inconvenience. Now, if you were abroad without travel insurance, depending on which country you were in depends on whether you pay for medical bills. In some countries you might be forced into paying thousands for any treatment you may need. You may even need to have an operation which possibly result in you missing your flight home and potentially work.

Travel insurance is a must and you shouldn't even consider leaving the country without it along with the 'it will never happen to me' approach. Insurance has the same principle as the lottery. Imagine how would you feel if your lottery numbers came up, but because you begrudged yourself of that small amount for the ticket, you missed out on the jackpot. The feeling would relate something similar to if you had an accident and had to fork out thousands for medical bills, all because you didn't want to pay the small amount for travel insurance.

Whether it's for business or for pleasure, traveling always involves a certain degree of risk. You would like to think that if you are on vacation, nothing wrong can happen to you. Think again taking into account that you are in a foreign environment and the chances of something unpredictable to happen are even higher. As a consequence, when planning you trip; do not forget to take also out travel insurance. Even if t does not protect you from accidents, at least it will help you cover certain damages.

Buying a travel insurance needs to given the same importance as to buying the travel package. The insurer will present you different options for coverage: form total coverage of both persons and gods, to different partial coverage of only persons and/or goods. The insurer actually knows all the risk situations and activities that may occur in a certain travel location, and will present you with a list of exceptions to the insurance coverage.

So, it is highly advisable to read carefully this part too so as to be able to avoid the situations presented. If you still want to go to certain places or do certain things not included in the initial travel insurance, you should ask your insurer for an extra coverage.

You need to remember that in almost all countries, medical care is quite expensive. Thus, when planning to expose yourself to some dangerous situations, it may not be such a bad idea to pay for a more comprehensive insurance policy. This way, you will be not obliged to pay by yourself a huge medical bill in case of an accident.

Also, regardless of having good travel insurance, you may loose its advantages, if you do not respect the terms of the policy or if your careless behavior triggers any accident. Insurance companies always conduct inquiries before refunding your claims, so they will refuse payment when discovering you breached the contract.

Buy the travel insurance before you go on a trip. Read all the terms of the policy - including the small prints. Decide what coverage suits best your travel and do not try to save money and purchase a cheaper travel insurance. Respect the terms of the policy and inform immediately your insurer in case of an event.