So you’ve booked your flights, accommodation and even your hire car without too much of a hassle, and are looking forward to a chilled, rejuvenating holiday. Unfortunately, there’s still a final issue to deal with before you can completely let go: sorting out your travel insurance. Not the most enthralling of tasks, and somewhat daunting to the first time buyer as there are so many questions surrounding it.

Where do you buy it from? Who will offer you the best deal? What do you need to have covered? And, above all else, is it really worth it? Underestimating the importance of travel insurance causes unnecessary grief for a lot of people – here are 5 tips to help explain the importance of travel insurance, and to guide you in your decision.

1. Don’t think you can travel without it. When the process of buying travel insurance seems like one extra headache that you could do without just before your holiday, it can be tempting to think ‘what’s the worst that could happen’? This, however, is a bad move. You may well have a holiday that goes off without a hitch, but there is always the possibility that something could go wrong – be it minor or major – and leave you with unnecessary stress and an empty wallet.

2. Consider how frequent a traveller you are. You may just be planning the one holiday at the moment, but before buying single trip insurance it’s wise to consider whether you’ll be travelling frequently and therefore better off with annual cover. Annual insurance policies can be very reasonably priced and are often better value for money if you intend to travel twice or more during the year.

3. Consider what kind of traveller you are. Another complication of travel insurance is that most companies offer policies that cater to different kinds of traveller – backpacker, skier, golfer – so you have to consider what you need covered before picking one thats right for you. A family holiday, for example, won’t require the same kind of accident cover as a winter-sports holiday, so insurance will probably be a bit cheaper.

4. Do some research. Don’t be tempted to grab at the first insurance policy you come across because you’re not enjoying the process of sifting through everything that is available. Ok, it might mean a bit more time and effort if you widen your research, however you’ll be sure to profit from it as there is so much variation amongst policies when it comes to cost and features.

5. Don’t leave it to the last minute. Above all, buying your travel insurance shouldn’t be something that you do in a panicky rush – a cool head and time for research is the best way to get a great deal.

Though it’s not the easiest process to get your head around, searching for your first travel insurance policy shouldn’t be too difficult as long as you know what to expect. Always do your research carefully, and read over the policy so that you can be sure you’re covered for all your needs.

About the Author – Mathew Sabri
If you have been saving up to go abroad in your gap year, you do not want to have to pay a fortune for backpackers travel insurance. etravelinsurance.co.uk offer special rates to provide student travel insurance to protect you and your valuables while you are away.

Looseleaf Law Publications, Inc. announces the release of an important new book, Safe Overseas Travel: Maximizing Enjoyment By Minimizing Risk written by security experts Brian Johnson and Brian Kingshott. Designed as both a “how-to-stay-safe” guide and a functional workbook, this new publication is relevant for both personal and business travel.

” is user-friendly for a novice traveler, but also gets into aspects of travel that are instructive to the seasoned leisure, business and government traveler,” says retired Secret Service Agent Richard Grossenbacher who is now a Criminal Justice Professor. “This is a book that should be re-read as a practical reminder before each trip abroad.”

Included in the book is information overseas travelers need to determine crucial safety issues specific to their destination, steps they can take to lessen their chances of being victimized and advice on how they can protect themselves financially and physically. Additionally, Safe Overseas Travel details specific strategies for handling travel crisis like theft, fraud, and even attack as well as offering planning advice that will better ensure that lodging and travel arrangements are safe and any unexpected medical issues can be appropriately handled.

“Today, overseas travelers face a number of unique challenges and risks, not just to their travel plans, but to their personal safety,” says Michael Loughrey, president of the book’s New York-based publishing house, Looseleaf Law Publications, Inc. “Recent news reports on travelers’ being thrust into life-threatening situations underscore this reality. With proper planning and an understanding of the questions you should be asking, the security flags you should be watching for and the kinds of travel pitfalls you should be avoiding, overseas travel doesn’t have to be laced with worry. What makes Safe Overseas Travel unique is that it’s a travel book written by security experts whose primary focus is not on sites, but safety.

“If travelers heed their advice and follow the steps this book outlines to plan their trip, they can rest better assured that they will be able to enjoy without undue anxiety.”

Safe Overseas Travel includes a number of helpful checklists and forms to make trip planning and execution safer and easier. These include a country safety checklist, safe transportation checklist, traveler assessment form, country characteristics checklist and a detailed emergency contact list.

Safe Overseas Travel: Maximizing Enjoyment By Minimizing Risk is 304 pages long and available for $19.95 through Looseleaf Law Publications by phone at (800) 647-5547 or through their Web site at www.looseleaflaw.com.

AUTHOR AVAILABILITY: Authors are available for phone interviews. To schedule, call (773) 481-4964 or e-mail: scott (at) publishingpromo.com

About Looseleaf Law Publications, Inc.
For more than four decades, Looseleaf Law Publications has been one of the most recognized and respected names in law enforcement and criminal justice publishing.

Offering nearly 300 books, databases and CD-ROM products, Looseleaf serves the informational needs of attorneys, police professionals and criminal justice educators and students nationwide.

Flushing, New York / PRWEB

A cruise holiday may seem like one of the safest ways to travel. After all, you are on a large, purpose built liner surrounded only by fellow holidaymakers, and it may be tempting to skip on getting cruise travel insurance. But this would be a grave mistake – there is plenty that can go wrong on a cruise holiday, and in some cases (such as medical emergencies) it is no exaggeration to say that cruise insurance can mean the difference between life and death. Here are five reasons to get insured before you go…

You have a medical emergency…

Bear in mind that the medical facilities on most cruise ships are extremely limited – the onboard doctor will be able to provide some basic medication and medical attention, but that will be it. More serious medical problems will require medical evacuation to a hospital, usually by helicopter. If you don’t have cruise travel insurance, you’ll be facing a bill for several thousand pounds – even worse, if you are uninsured you could be forced to take your chances with the medical facilities in the nearest port. If you are on a cruise in a Third World area, this could be disastrous – cruise travel insurance is essential for you to be covered in the event of a medical emergency.

Your cruise is disrupted by bad weather…

There’s nothing that can ruin a cruise quite like a sudden batch of bad weather. Cruise insurance won’t offer you any compensation for a little rough sea or a few days of rain, but sometimes the weather can be much worse than that – cruises can be delayed, disrupted or even cancelled if a storm or hurricane descends on your destination. If the weather severely disrupts your journey, you can claim compensation through your cruise travel insurance.

You are a victim of theft…

People often assume that they are safe from crime while onboard a cruise ship, but petty theft is as much a danger on a cruise as it is anywhere else; unlocked cabins and valuables that are left unguarded are open invitations to thieves. You should always take precautions with your valuables and use the ship’s safe where possible, but if you do fall victim to theft your cruise insurance will cover the cost of the stolen items.

You have to cancel your holiday…

When you are first planning your cruise holiday, it may seem like there is no possible reason you would cancel your dream trip. But you may be injured in an accident, a relative may fall ill, you could be made redundant or even called up for jury service – in all these cases and more, cruise travel insurance will compensate you. Otherwise, you’ll be left to foot the substantial bill yourself.

You take part in extra activities…

On many cruises you’ll be given the option of taking part in a wide range of activities, both on and off the ship, ranging from scuba diving to rock climbing. But this is one area where, even if you have cruise insurance, you really need to check the small print – depending on the level of cover, it may not protect you. If you are going to take part in these kinds of potentially hazardous extra activities, make sure your cruise travel insurance will protect you if something goes wrong.

About the Author – Patrick Chong is the Managing Director of Journey’s Travel. Their commercial travel insurance website, Insuremore, offers cruise travel insurance for families, couples and singles with a quick and easy online claims feature.

With Americans trailing the rest of the world in annual number of vacation days, a recent survey conducted on behalf of AIG Travel Guard, one of the nation’s leading providers of travel insurance and assistance plans, sought to find out if Americans work too hard. The survey indicated that despite dreams of long vacations, Americans are cutting short their vacation days and canceling or postponing trips.

A recent nationwide survey of 735 American travelers, conducted by Ruf Strategic Solutions on behalf of AIG Travel Guard, found that 33 percent of those polled said that they end up not using two or more vacation days each year. Some 13 percent of those polled said they have been forced to cancel or postpone a scheduled trip last year due to a work related conflict.

The average number of vacation days per year in the U.S. is 13, according to a 2007 study by the World Tourism Organization (published by Pearson Education, as Infoplease). However, nearly 60 percent of travelers polled state that their dream vacation would last a month or more. Traveling for more than a month doesn’t seem to be a problem for professionals in other countries, as the average vacation days are 28 in the U.K., 26 in Canada and an admirable average 45 days per year in Italy.

Despite the lack of vacation time, polled travelers do know what they want in a dream vacation. When asked if money were no object, 45 percent of those polled said their dream vacation adventure would be an around the world cruise. A month-long tour of Europe, an African safari, exploring Australia and traveling to a remote island without phone, e-mail, etc., were also listed among dream vacation adventures. Of those travelers polled, 55 percent said they would choose significant others/spouses to accompany them on their dream vacation, followed by 22 percent wanting their immediate family to travel with them.

Seeing new places and experiencing new things is the best part about taking a vacation, said 70 percent of travelers in the survey. Another 17 percent just want to get away from the daily routine and pressures of everyday life. Close to 40 percent prefer to explore a destination on their own, while 30 claim the best part of a vacation is participating in guided sightseeing excursions.

A travel insurance plan, like those sold through AIG Travel Guard, can cover any vacation — whether it’s a dream vacation, or what you can do right now. When cancellations and postponements arise, travel insurance can reimburse travelers should they need to cancel for a covered reason. AIG Travel Guard offers a Cancel for Any Reason option as well as Cancel for Work Reason option on select programs for those canceling a trip simply because they change their mind — or work forces them to cancel — if
purchased within 15 days of initial trip deposit. For more information, travelers can visit http://www.TravelGuard.com.

Travel Beat is a new survey offering the latest traveler insights conducted by Ruf Strategic solutions on behalf of AIG Travel Guard.

About AIG Travel Guard

AIG Travel Guard is one of America’s leading providers of travel insurance plans for more than 6 million travelers each year. Travel
insurance plans through AIG Travel Guard are distributed by more than 12,000 travel agents across the United States.

AIG Travel Guard is a wholly owned subsidiary of AIG Travel, Inc., a member company of American International Group, Inc. (AIG). American International Group, Inc. (AIG), a world leader in insurance and financial services, is the leading international insurance organization with operations in more than 130 countries and jurisdictions. AIG companies serve commercial, institutional and individual customers through the most extensive worldwide property-casualty and life insurance networks of any insurer. In addition, AIG companies are leading providers of retirement services, financial services and asset management around the world. AIG’s common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, as well as the stock exchanges in Ireland and Tokyo.

Insurance is underwritten by National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh, Pa., a subsidiary of American International Group, Inc., with its principal place of business in New York, NY. The Policy will contain reductions, limitations, exclusions and termination provisions. All coverages may not be available in all states.

About Ruf Strategic Solutions

Ruf Strategic Solutions delivers a full suite of marketing intelligence solutions to help organizations acquire new customers, retain existing customers and develop one-to-one relationships to maximize profitability. Founded in 1976, Ruf Strategic Solutions helps organizations maximize the return on their marketing investment through superior customer intelligence. Ruf’s unique ability to integrate vast arrays of data, technology tools and 30 years of expertise, empowers organizations with truly actionable and measurable intelligence. Through Customer Relationship Marketing (CRM), Ruf’s clients are able to use consumer insight to reach
their target audiences through multi-channel marketing. Ruf currently services many market leaders in a variety of industries. For more information, visit http://www.ruf.com.

CONTACT INFO:

Dan McGinnity
AIG Travel Guard
800-826-7791 ext. 1485
dan.mcginnity@aig.com

Brian Major and Erin McKeon
MMG Mardiks
646-442-6764 or 646-442-6767
bmajor@mmgmardiks.com or emckeon@mmgmardiks.com

SOURCE AIG Travel Guard / PRNewswire

Michelle Reesman, RN, Executive Director, Passport Health Colorado, says far too many international travelers, from business travelers to the more adventurous types, leave home without taking the basic steps she suggests below. “People need to put the same kind of preparation into their health as they do into their destination choice, passport acquisition or flight plans,” Reesman advises.

1) Get advice from a travel health professional. Four to six weeks before departure, consult a travel medicine specialist for the most up-to-date immunization, malaria recommendations and consultation. They can answer your questions and prepare you for a safe and healthy trip. It’s important to get your immunizations early, as some of the vaccines take time to effectively protect you.

2) Protect yourself from disease-bearing insects. Wear protective clothing and use products containing 20-30% DEET, the insect repellant permethrin and bed nets.

3) Never go barefoot, even on the beach.

4) Make sure your water is purified. Do not use tap water when brushing your teeth.

5) Consume only well-cooked food. Fruits and veggies? Peel it, boil it or forget it!

6) Pre-fill your prescriptions, they may not be available at your destination. Take extra in case your trip is extended. In some countries counterfeit medications can be a problem. Carry medications in their original packaging and pack in your carry-on luggage.

7) Don’t swim in rivers, lakes, ponds and streams. Well-chlorinated pools and salt water are usually considered safe.

Take a basic first aid kit. Include medications for pain relief, such as ibuprofen and Tylenol, topical preparations for minor skin wounds and infections, and medications for allergic reactions (Benadryl). Consider presumptive treatment (Imodium and an antibiotic) for traveler’s diarrhea. Discuss the appropriate antibiotics for your destination with a travel health specialist.

9) Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of medical problems among tourists. Avoid riding motorcycles or wear a helmet and don’t drink and drive. Wear a seatbelt and only travel during daylight hours.

10) Purchase travel insurance that includes emergency medical evacuation. Most medical insurance plans aren’t accepted when you travel internationally.

About Passport Health Colorado

Passport Health Colorado’s travel health professionals assess individual needs, prescribe and administer immunizations and medications, and discuss precautionary measures for dietary and recreational activities. Clients also receive the latest information of health risks and requirements for each destination on their itinerary. Passport Health Colorado uses a variety of resources including the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. Department of
State so that it can stay abreast of the latest developments in travel medicine and safe travel. For more information, go to
http://www.passporthealthco.com.

Passport Health Colorado / PRNewswire

How many times have you decided that travel insurance is not a mandatory expense for your vacation? And how many times did you actually travel outside the country without it?

I must admit that I have done this on several occasions myself in order to “save a few bucks” from the cost of my trip. It didn’t take me long to see the error of my ways and understand that I need to be prepared for any eventualities on my trip.

Let’s take for example the time I was stranded in Cozumel during a port visit. A police incident caused a heavy traffic jam on the way back from a private shore excursion that lasted for even hours after the ship sailed away without me! If it wasn’t for my super duper RBC travel insurance representative and their fabulous 1-800 number, that would have marked the end of my long awaited vacation. Lucky for me that my travel agent insisted I pay an extra $25 dollars to include travel insurance in my cruise vacation package! And for that little money, I was ensured that the flight to catch my cruise at the next port was all taken care of.

Or maybe we should talk about the time when my luggage ended up on the other side of the world while on my way to catch a cruise. My travel insurance paid for wardrobe necessities while I was waiting fo my luggage to catch up to me. I know…. I’m just a travel disaster waiting to happen…. so I never leave the country without a policy.

So when I read about Jack Clevenger this morning and his misfortune of being left at port intentionally because the ship doctor on the Carnival Legend recommended that he get medical treatment right away on the island, I felt bad for him. After all, the caribbean cruise he was on was for his 89th birthday celebration.

He spent $2,500 getting himself and his son home to the United States. That amount is nothing compared to what he would have ended up spending if his condition worsened during his cruise and he needed to be airlifted off the ship to the nearest hospital. Medical treatment can be quite expensive in a foreign country and your standard medical insurance will not cover it.

If you invest money on a vacation, you also need to spend the extra money to protect your investment from unforseen circumstances.

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