You’ve been planning your international trip for what feels like forever - reading and researching, buying tickets and making reservations. You can’t wait to sink your toes into the sand on the beach in Mexico, or walk the cobblestone streets of Prague, or explore the ancient ruins of Tikal. Everything that can possibly be arranged has been arranged.

And yet, you - like many travelers across the globe - may, unfortunately, discover just how much is out of your control. An injury or medical emergency, political unrest abroad, stolen luggage - all of these and more may be poised to turn your carefully laid plans upside down. 

What can turn those plans right side up again? Travel insurance for your international trips. Without it, your trip-of-a-lifetime may be over for good. But with a good travel insurance policy in hand, your dreams won’t be at an end. Here are 4 of our top reasons to make sure you’re covered before you embark on an international trip.

1. Your costs upfront are generally higher when traveling internationally.

On average, international flights cost two and a half times as much as domestic flights. Visa fees and passport costs, international taxes and departure fees, meals, lodging and more all raise the price tag on your overseas adventure. With so much at stake and so much money out-of-pocket on the front end, it just makes sense to insure your international travel to prevent significant financial loss if you must change your plans.

2. Emergency medical care abroad can leave you with an exorbitant bill.

While on the trip of your dreams you may find yourself with a dental or medical emergency. Many standard health insurance plans won’t cover medical bills from another country. And if you are injured or contract an illness in an area that lacks sufficient care, you may find yourself in need of emergency medical evacuation to a local hospital or back home, a cost that can quickly climb. Travel insurance can cover these eventualities.

3. Terrorism or political unrest in your destination country can give you no choice but to cancel.

While it’s uncomfortable to dwell on this possibility, it is a powerful reality in today’s world. If you’ve been planning a trip to Egypt for years but then find yourself needing to cancel your plans just weeks before your departure date due to a terrorist attack, will you lose all non-refundable fees? Anti-government protests in many countries may cause you to rethink the wisdom of your travel plans. With coverage that includes comprehensive travel insurance and trip insurance protection, as well as 24 hour emergency assistive services, you can rest easy even if you’re planning on visiting a more volatile area of the world.

4. Lost luggage can take a long time to make its way to you overseas.

The dozen online packing lists you consulted and the time you took to thoughtfully prepare your suitcases don’t mean much if you arrive at your destination but your luggage does not. With most bags eventually finding their owners in 48 hours, you could be stuck for a few days without the necessities. Travel insurance can reimburse you for the essential clothing and other items you’ll need to purchase while waiting to be reunited with your bag.

Travel insurance will not necessarily be crucial for every trip you take. However, when you’re planning on traveling internationally, it’s important to give yourself the safety net that travel insurance can provide. We are more than happy to talk you through any questions or concerns you may have - please, get in touch today. Peace of mind for your dream trip abroad is just a call or click away!

Travel Coverage Presents:
Real Stories of When Travel Insurance Saved the Day!

A lot of people don’t consider travel insurance when traveling these days. Getting online to check prices for hotels, flights and activities can leave you fearfully sneaking peeks of rates screen your fingers. Most think, “I’m only going to be gone for a few days and I don’t want to tack on more charges to my trip budget. I mean, what could happen?” Any travel insurance company will tell you why securing travel insurance is the smart thing to do. In fact, despite the danger, nearly half of Americans say it will not affect their travel plans. Another study even shows that illness and natural disasters affect 1 in 6 traveling Americans. Despite this, travel insurance is still not something that many find necessary, despite its obvious benefits. We can tell you why you should get travel coverage until we are blue in the face, or we can tell you three unbelievable stories of when travel insurance truly saved the day. So, before you go buy plane tickets, take a moment to sit back and read today’s blog selection. It may make you think twice about booking hotels, flights or any recreational activities without making sure you and your loved ones are covered.
 

Relieved In Russia

According to the LA Times, a family who traveled to Russia developed a great success story for travel insurance. Bobby D. said, “My family and I were on a cruise to the Baltics when my brother-in-law had a heart attack in St. Petersburg, Russia, and passed away. I have always bought insurance for these trips for my family and myself. As they say, insurance could be the worst investment until you need it.

In my case, $50,000 later, the insurance company wanted all the receipts for hospital expenses, doctors and emergency personnel and new flight bookings, in addition to the information on the body being sent back to the States. I was thinking that the insurance company was going to do everything they could to get out of paying such an enormous bill, but to my surprise, it paid for everything but our hotel stay in St. Petersburg. If anyone asks me if travel insurance was worth it, I will tell them it surely was.” -Bobby D.

Stranded in Scotland

In another success story, Don L. talks about his experience in Scotland. “Several years ago my travel insurance agent gave me advice to keep a printout of documents, receipts and bills. I wrecked a rental car in Scotland, but I didn’t follow her advice and keep any of the documents. I spent an insane amount of time digging up required documentation that showed that the car had in fact been rented on the credit card, drivers insurance was purchased and I had the right to drive in that country. I also had to show proof of medical expenses I had incurred, police reports that were filed, and much more.

Travel insurance was the only thing that got me through it with just a few bruises on my patience and ego. My insurance agent was helpful and very patient with me even though a folder with printouts would have been a real time-saver for both of us. I am not sure what would have happened if I had not purchased travel insurance. You never think about what it would be like to get a ticket or get caught up in a legal system in another country where you don’t know the laws. You also might not think about how much you have to spend to stay longer than expected or the fees and fines you may have to pay. Travel insurance is worth it for that possibility alone, even if it’s just a fender bender.” -Don L. (Huntington Beach)

Misfortune in Mexico

In a recent article from Travel and Transport, a woman from Texas discussed a harrowing experience in travel that her father-in-law went through. She began, “My father-in-law traveled to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico with a group of friends for a week. When he arrived he and his friends headed to the beach. Within just a few short minutes, two strangers pulled him out of the ocean, he had drowned. He was brought back to life and was in the ICU in a coma at a hospital in Mexico. His friends explained, “It does not look good.” Our family went into overdrive. What do we do? Does his insurance cover international emergencies? The hospital had one doctor that ran the ICU and he was the only person that could communicate to us. The biggest question was how we would get him home. The only option was to Medevac him out at the cost of $27,000, paid up front. Unfortunately, a $150 travel insurance policy, had it been purchased, would have covered all of this. We finally got him home after several days. Sadly, he passed away three days later because it took us some time to find that kind of money and he wasn’t getting very good medical care. I wanted to share this story so that others realize that anything can happen to anyone while traveling. It happened to my family.” -Tara N. (Dallas)

So What Have We Learned From This?

Before you travel, always check your personal medical insurance. Do you have a plan in place if the unthinkable happens? Are you covered for the type of travel or the location you’re going to? Do your loved ones know your contingency plans? Do you or your family have passports, if you need to be somewhere quickly?

The real question is, and will always be, “Is travel insurance worth it?” One of our subjects never got to the point where he could unpack his bags and that is the truth of how fast something can happen. More often than not, things that go south, do so quickly... even if you’re headed North! If you think the process is stressful, remember that it is a lot less stressful than trying to make a claim without it. At Travel Coverage, we are here to walk you through the process and remove the stress from your shoulders. Stop wondering if travel insurance is worth it for you and secure it today before something tomorrow leaves you feeling ill-prepared. Visit us online at www.TravelCoverage.com, follow us on social media or call us today at 615-986-0879.

1. Your baggage is delayed or lost

So you spent a lot of time and a lot of money buying your grandkids all the Christmas presents on their list even though you don’t know what half of them are. You DO know one thing though, they were not cheap! Unfortunately, the airline made a mistake and your baggage will be delayed. While you may be able to borrow some shampoo, what about the Santa sack in you rolling bag?

With coverage for delayed bags, you can relax. Travel insurance can help you recover your bags or coverage for luggage that is lost, stolen, or damaged.

2. You need emergency assistance services

You and your parents have planned a trip to your favorite family ski lodge. Your dad went for the black diamond and now he’s being pulled down the mountain by a medic with a twisted knee. He needs to go home and quick to see a doctor that doesn’t speak Swedish.

With trip insurance you’ll have emergency assistance services. The service agents will recover your non-refundable fees, then locate and pay for transportation to get you where you want to be.

3. Your passport is lost

You visiting your sister and her new husband in London for the holidays, and you realize you left your passport at a local restaurant.

With coverage for lost passports, you’ll have help expediting the process of replacing and paying for a new passport.

4. A terrorist event causes trip delay

No one likes to think about this and it causes a lot of fear to even imagine you or the ones you love being caught in this kind of situation. It is just plain smart to think ahead and plan the best you can for any and all emergency situations. 

5. A hurricane damages your destination

You saved all year for a Thanksgiving volunteering in Puerto Rico! A hurricane destroys the hotel a week before you depart. Will you lose all the money you worked so hard to save?

With travel insurance protection for weather damage, you’ll be able to recover your pre-paid costs. Travel assistance services will also help you arrange a trip at a new location where your organization says you can still go help.

6. You need to cancel your trip

What happens if someone gets sick and can’t travel, a parent dies, you’re required to work, or your house floods? Talk a having a blue, blue, blue Christmas!

With trip cancellation coverage, you’ll be able to recover your out-of-pocket expenses for these covered reasons and more. 

7. You miss your connection

You’ve planned a holiday cruise but you discover the connecting flight to get to the ship is delayed. With the missed connection it looks like you will miss your cruise departure. How will you catch up to the ship? Think Santa would drop you off?

With missed connection coverage, you can take another flight to catch the ship at the next port-of-call. You’ll also have assistance services to help you arrange and pay for those travel changes. 

8. Your flight is canceled

With Jack Frost plotting for the destruction of your holiday, this could be the #1 reason for traveler’s insurance. After attending the family vacation, you arrive at the airport to return home with your presents crammed in your bag like stuffing in a turkey. Uh Oh! You are told snow has canceled all flights through Dallas. Who will help you find a new flight to return home?

Trip interruption coverage can help with all or many of these woes!

Contact us today to learn more and purchase travel insurance for your next great adventure! HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

When we plan our vacations and trips we think of all the wonderful place to go, food to eat, places to stay and people to meet. Our beautiful world is rich with different experiences, cultures and adventures. It’s very easy to get caught up in all the excitement and fail to plan for the unexpected such as a catastrophic weather event, riots, personal medical crisis and… God forbid… a terrorist attack.

Unfortunately terriorist attacks are becoming more common and often happen in some of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. For that reason, it’s important to include some crisis thought and planning time when you prepare for your next destination trip.

Here are 4 helpful tools for an unexpected travel crisis

Facebook's Safety Check

Facebook now has a great new resource called SafetyCheck. It’s a place to go and connect with friends and loved ones who may have gotten displaced during a crisis. If you're in the affected area, you can tell your friends you're safe and check to see if they're safe, too.

STEP

Take a moment and register with the State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). When you do this you will have the following resources:

• Receive important information from the Embassy about safety conditions in your destination country, helping you make informed decisions about your travel plans.

• Help the U.S. Embassy contact you in an emergency, whether natural disaster, civil unrest, or family emergency.

• Help family and friends get in touch with you in an emergency.

State Department Travel Warnings and Alerts

The State Department also has a great site where you can go and research your potential travel destination.  You will be able to see if there are any alerts and warnings related to your travel area. From the State Department alerts and warnings site:

Travel Warnings: We issue a Travel Warning when we want you to consider very carefully whether you should go to a country at all. Examples of reasons for issuing a Travel Warning might include unstable government, civil war, ongoing intense crime or violence, or frequent terrorist attacks. We want you to know the risks of traveling to these places and to strongly consider not going to them at all. Travel Warnings remain in place until the situation changes; some have been in effect for years.

Travel Alerts: We issue a Travel Alert for short-term events we think you should know about when planning travel to a country. Examples of reasons for issuing a Travel Alert might include an election season that is bound to have many strikes, demonstrations, or disturbances; a health alert like an outbreak of H1N1; or evidence of an elevated risk of terrorist attacks. When these short-term events are over, we cancel the Travel Alert.

Travel Insurance

Finally make sure you get good travel insurance that covers unexpected events. Encountering the unexpected is often a part of travel; ranging from the inconvenient to a truly serious emergency. We have partnered with Travelex Insurance Services to offer comprehensive travel insurance and trip insurance protection coupled with extensive 24-hour emergency assistance services to meet the challenges of today's travel and help you enjoy a worry-free trip.

Enjoy your travels by planning ahead for unexpected events. Contact us today to learn more and purchase travel insurance for your next great adventure!

Senior adults: You have worked hard over the years and have now arrived at the time of your lives where you can travel and enjoy the fruits of your labor. And that is exactly what you are doing! AARP says that 99% of baby boomers traveled for leisure last year, with an average of 4-5 trips in 2016!  

There are so many great resources for senior travel. So many in fact that it can get very overwhelming to find the good ones! We'd like to save you some time and energy by giving you a list of our top 5 favorite online resources for senior travel! 

1. Rick Steves Travel Tips for Senior Travelers  We all know Rick is the global expert when it comes to all things travel. He packs this article full of travel advice for savvy seniors including advice on when to travel, what to pack, travel insurance, getting around and much, much more! 
2. AARP TRAVEL  AARP continues to provide excellent resources for seniors with their travel site! This is a 1 stop site for all your travel needs. You can find travel discounts, inspiration, ideas and so much more.
3. ElderTreks ELDERTREKS is the world's first adventure travel company designed exclusively for people 50 and over. Established in 1987, ElderTreks offers active, off-the-beaten-path, small-group adventures by both land and sea in over 100 countries. 
4. TravelCoverage.com for all of your travel insurance needs! You can easily and quickly find and purchase affordable Travel Insurance, Trip Cancellation Insurance or Flight Insurance options. We believe it is expecially important for senior travels to purchase additional travel insurance (read our recent article for more information).
5. Kayak searches the other travel sites, from online travel agencies to airlines, hotel and rental car websites and show you all the information you need to make the best travel decisions.

Wherever you decide to go and whatever you decide to do, we hope you enjoy your travel adventures! Hopefully we have helped you get the trip planning started. Don't forget to choose and purchase the right travel insurance plan for your trip. We have everything you need to navigate that process here!

Are you planning to travel internationally soon? Getting everything ready for that vacation or business trip to Europe, Asia or another wonderfully exciting continent can be a daunting task. That's why we've put together this list of resources to help ensure you are fully prepared for that upcoming international trip! 

For Travel Insurance

Resource #1

For hot hotel deals around the world, in-depth destination guides, travel stories, trip planning tips and more we recommend JetSetter.com. They've cover every subject on international travel including best sunsets around the world, where to find the best craft beer in Japan to island hopping in Greece! You just can't beat it! 

Resource #2

For International connectivity we recommend SkyRoam - Unlimited global Wi-Fi at your fingertips. Having access to the internet has become a way of life for us and is essential when traveling internationally for many reasons including safety. Don't leave home without your Wi-Fi!

Resource #3

When traveling internationally, having additional travel insurance coverage is essential! We have several plans available including international student travel, international major medical and international term life. Visit our website for all of your international travel insurance needs!  

Resource #4

One thing you MUST to do and LOVE to do when traveling internationally is EAT! You get to try authentic cultural foods that just aren't the same when Americanized in the states. Yet, it's often difficult to find the best places to eat locally when you're traveling the globe. Well, look no further! We found this great article: 207 of the Greatest Restaurants in the World, According to Those Who Eat, Cook, and Travel for a Living. Bon Appétit! 

Happy Traveling!  

Do I need travel insurance? We get this question often. Here’s our answer: When planning for that vacation, business trip, school trip or perhaps a honeymoon, travel insurance is such a low cost way to add additional peace of mind that you’ve covered everything and can enjoy your trip! That being said, there are times when travel insurance isn’t crucial.

Travel expert Rick Steve’s says “For some travelers, insurance is a good deal; for others, it's not. What are the chances you'll need it? How willing are you to take risks? How much is peace of mind worth to you? Take these considerations into account, understand your options, and make an informed decision for your trip.”

We couldn’t agree more! That’s why we’re here to help you research the different types of travel insurance options and determine your own level of risk and security for each individual trip.

Wanderlust Travel Magazine shares several real life situations in which not having travel insurance cost various individuals thousands of dollars. One example: A scheduled flight, stretcher and doctor escort from Australia can cost £15-20,000! Hospital costs in France can average $853 per day. Read more here for helpful information on why you should get travel insurance.

When travel insurance isn’t necessary

There are some travel experiences in which additional insurance isn’t a necessity. If you’re traveling domestically on a low budget flight and staying with relatives, it’s unlikely that something could go wrong. You’re probably ok without it if you get a cheap, last minute deal on flights as well.  

When you absolutely need travel insurance

We recommend adding travel insurance on all other trips. Especially the following:

• International travel

• Adventure travel

• If you think you may need to cancel your trip

• Traveling with a chronic medical condition

• Traveling with valuable items

• Costly trips

• For emergency medical security

• For protection in case of flight accidents

• For baggage loss or delays

• For possible emergency evacuation due to natural disaster or terrorism.

We hope this resource is helpful to you and we’ve helped answer the question ‘do I need travel insurance’. You can quickly and easily find and purchase the right travel insurance plan for your trip here! Happy traveling!

Vacation planning can be fun and arduous at the same time! Once you’ve chosen your vacation destination, the decision making process begins. And there are MANY decisions to be made like how much to budget, where to stay, where to eat, sightseeing options, local entertainment and many more. Fortunately there are lots of websites available now with the single purpose of helping you find the right options to fit your vacation style! And.. unfortunately there are lots of website available now…. you get our point!

To save you hours and hours of digging through online articles about vacation planning, we’ve done the hard work and narrowed them down for you.

Here are our FAVORITE VACATION PLANNING WEBSITES

1. Rome2Rio A comprehensive global trip planner that helps you get from a to b worldwide. You can enter any town, address or landmark as your destination and Rome2rio will instantly display flight, train, bus, ferry and driving options with estimated travel times and fares.

2. Kayak searches the other travel sites, from online travel agencies to airlines, hotel and rental car websites and show you all the information you need to make the best travel decisions.

3. Google Translate the easy way to translate quickly on international trips!

4. Tripit Organizes your travel plans in one place. Finds alternative flights. Sends real-time alerts. Snags the best seat. They have something for every traveler.

5. TripAdvisor.com Millions of traveler reviews, photos, and maps from TripAdvisor. Know better. Book better. Go better.

6. Be My Travel Muse Travel blog by Kristin Addis, a solo female traveler who has been traveling consecutively for two years. Packing tips, compelling reads and country guides.

7. Lonely Planet Love travel? Plan and book your perfect trip with expert advice, travel tips, destination information and inspiration from Lonely Planet.

8. Trip Hobo TripHobo’s trip planning platform serves as one-stop destination for all the travel needs- exploring attractions, creating itineraries and booking hotels, transportation and tours.

We hope this list of our favorite vacation planning websites is helpful to you. Also remember to choose and purchase the right travel insurance plan for your trip. We have everything you need to navigate that process here!