What to do when you don’t know your exact travel return date

February 6, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Backpacker Travel InsuranceWe recently read this question on another forum: “I’m going backpacking for about three months in Europe. I don’t know exactly when I’ll return, can I still get travel insurance? It seems that all the plans want a hard return date.”

You absolutely can get travel insurance in this case.

What you want is a travel medical policy for at least 90 days that may also be renewed, or a plan that allows for a period of coverage that is longer than you plan to be gone.

In this plan, it’s likely that you’ll want these coverage options at a minimum:

  1. Medical care
  2. Trip interruption
  3. Emergency Evacuation

See the following two travel medical insurance plans as examples.

Liaison International from Seven Corners

This plan has coverage for 5 days all the way up to 180 days. You choose the coverage limits and deductible. And, it’s available to U.S. and non U.S. citizens.

Summary of coverage:

  • Medical: $50,000 – $1,000,000
  • Deductible: $0 – $2,500
  • Emergency dental: $500
  • Evacuation: $300,000
  • AD&D: $25,000

See the complete Liaison International plan details.

TravelGap Voyager from HTH Worldwide

HTH WorldwideThis plan covers trips up to 6 months and covers pre-existing conditions for medical care and evacuation. Your choice of medical limits and deductibles helps you keep costs down.

Summary of coverage:

  • Medical: $50,000 – $1,000,000
  • Deductible: $0 – $500
  • Emergency dental: $200
  • Evacuation: $500,000
  • AD&D: $25,000

See the complete TravelGap Voyager plan details.

It’s important to note that these are only two examples of travel insurance plans to fit this particular need. Use our travel insurance comparison tool, type in a few trip details, and get a number of quotes from a number of travel insurance providers.

Vacation Tip: Keep your cell phone charged

July 1, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Cell phone charging stationIf you’re headed on a trip soon, don’t forget to pack your phone charger (in your carry-on, not your checked luggage), but what if you are heading into the woods or on a long backcountry trek?

With cell phones and smart phones reaching nearly universal rates, the problem of keeping all these devices charged has reached record proportions. Some airports have set up phone charging stations (now with locking devices in some locations) to help travelers keep their devices charged, but once a traveler gets away from civilization, things get harder.

In fact, the near ubiquity of mobile devices keeps operators at ranger stations in places like New Hampshire’s White Mountains and Colorado’s Rocky Mountain National Park just as busy answering calls for directions, weather reports, and blister treatment as they are for true emergencies.

Keeping your cell phone charged in places like these have always nvolved expensive and often ineffective gear, but a new device introduced by TES NewEnergy Co. directly converts heat into electrical energy. In brief, while you are cooking your dinner on the trail, you can also charge your phone. Called the Pan Charger, this stew-pot lets you recharge USB-enabled devices while you cook using a built-in thermoelectric heat exchanger to send a trickle of juice through the USB cable in its handle.

Did you get scalped for that campsite?

June 23, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Campsite at YosemiteA recent report on various Craigslist sites listing dozens of campsites at popular national parks has alerted the media and campers to a new problem: campsite scalping.

One very popular national park, Yosemite, has found their campsites – which are reserved in advance for $20 per night through the contracted park reservation system – are being sold for up to $100 or $150 per night from vendors on Craig’s list.

What’s more, campsites aren’t the only thing being resold. Permits for climbing Half Done, which are issued by the park for free are also being sold for profit online.

How is this possible?

It comes down to supply and demand, of course. A quick search (at the time of this writing) of the Reserve America website, which handles Yosemite reservations, found many areas still closed due to heavy snow pack, and the areas that were open for a 4-night stay in August were already limited to yurts and RV sites (no campsites).

There are 900 campsites available in Yosemite, but the park is a highly popular summer destination, and the summer camping season is in full swing.

While the park system prohibits the reselling of any park reservation, there simply isn’t the time or resources to implement the necessary oversight any time soon.

How to travel Europe?

April 29, 2010 By Leave a Comment

travel-europeThere are many ways to see and travel Europe; the way you go just depends on your personality type. The different modes of transportation speak to different types of people. One mode may frustrate and repel one person, while it is the only way that another person will travel. So you have to see how you match up to a European train, car, bus, plane, or boat.

  1. You are super organized, want to get everywhere the fastest way possible and you are not interested in seeing the sights along the way, only after your get there. Then the best way for you to go is from one bordering country to another on one of the super sleek, super fast rail cars. Some of them are so fast you almost won’t have time to blink.
  2. You are a backpacker, like to camp or stay in hostels wherever you go, and want to just get to know everyone and see every single bit of Europe you possibly can. Hitchhiking by auto will probably be your mode of choice—you get to meet interesting locals or tourist—and see the country along the way. Hitchhiking may be illegal in some countries; in others it is highly acceptable.
  3. You are carefree, don’t have an itinerary planned, you don’t mind a crowd and are willing to go where ever the day takes you. The bus might just be the way for you to go. You get to meander and get off wherever you like along the route and you don’t really mind there isn’t another bus to catch for a few hours or a day, because you’re easy to please and can enjoy anywhere you find yourself.
  4. You are efficient, very particular about whom you sit next to and cautious about whom is around you. You will definitely want to plan your trips by rail in a private compartment, possibly a sleeper. This will give you the most private of travel modes, while still being able to check out the scenery and get where you want to go efficiently and alone.
  5. You are the seafaring type and love to be on the water. Your perfect European trip is on the lakes, the oceans and the high seas of any country you visit, the boat and ferry are your obvious choices. Ah, that fresh salt air!
  6. You are a do-it-yourselfer and are a control freak, more or less. You’ll want to have your own rental car, so that you can get up and go when your itinerary says it’s time. This type of transport might keep you in gridlock in the cities, but traveling between countries means the open road all the way, but only if you don’t get stuck behind a herd of sheep in the country.
  7. You were a bird in a previous life. You are a frequent flyer junky. You’re going to take the plane anytime, anywhere you can. First class or economy you’re just happy being in the air. Luckily for you there are lots of flights between many European countries.

So you want to know how travel Europe? Look to yourself and your personality will lead the way. You’ll enjoy your trip so much more if you have it just as you like it. Planning your trip is almost as much fun as going there, while you are making all your plans be sure to include travel insurance to your list. If you are paying fees up front such as transportation and accommodations then you will want to get a trip cancellation policy with your additional travel insurance. Just in case you have to cancel your trip, because of illness or another covered reason, you won’t be out the thousands of dollars you’ve already invested.

What all student travelers need to know about travel insurance

November 14, 2009 By Leave a Comment

student-travel-insuranceTraveling is a fun and educational activity for students, because it gives them the opportunity to discover new lands and cultures, and enhance their understanding of the world. More and more students are traveling abroad these days, and some are even going on backpacking trips to lesser known countries. There are also students who travel to foreign countries to study or take part in exchange programs. While making travel plans, students should take into consideration the need for travel insurance. A travel insurance policy will provide compensation for expenses and losses incurred as a result of accidents or other unfortunate events.

Most student travel insurance policies offer coverage for: medical expenses, emergency services, cancellation, travel interruption, baggage, and personal liability. There are various other coverage options available, such as: flight delay, tour operator default, repatriation, and accidental death or injury, and student travelers can add any of these options to their standard policies. Since students are usually more adventurous than other travelers, they may need coverage for high-risk activities. This is especially important for those who are planning to participate in potentially dangerous activities such as: skiing, scuba diving, rock climbing, paragliding, bungee jumping, and others.

With a standard student travel insurance policy, student travelers will get compensation for medical expenses, in case they fall ill or get injured while traveling. If they need emergency transportation to medical centers, they will also be compensated for the transportation costs incurred. Those who need to cancel or cut short their vacations because of emergencies will also get reimbursement for the unused parts of their trips. In the event their baggage is lost, damaged, or stolen, travel insurance will cover the losses as well. It is important to know that some travel insurance policies do not offer full compensation for loss of baggage. Student travelers who are bringing valuable items, such as laptops, or expensive sports equipment and electronic devices, should get a coverage upgrade for their baggage or personal belongings.

There is also a type of travel insurance policy specially designed to meet the needs of student backpackers. A standard policy only provides coverage for a limited period of time, and it is not suitable for those who plan to go on long trips. A backpacker travel insurance policy, on the other hand, offers extended coverage as well as special features to cater to the needs of backpackers. Students who are planning to study in a foreign country should opt for a study abroad travel insurance plan. This policy does not only cover medical expenses; it also provides compensation for loss of course fees, in the event that students are unable to attend courses because of illness or injury.

Student travelers can find a wide selection of insurance companies that provide student travel insurance. The best way to find a good and cheap travel insurance policy is to use one of the travel insurance comparison tools that are available.

Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/claireataiwan/

What is Backpacker Travel Insurance?

October 14, 2009 By Leave a Comment

backpacker-travel-insuranceBackpacking is becoming a more popular option among young travelers these days, because it enables them to discover many new places and cultures around the world. Backpackers travel on a budget, and they are exposed to higher risks of accidents, injuries, and illnesses: it is important for every backpacker to get a good backpacker travel insurance policy to provide sufficient compensation for expenses that may be incurred in the event of emergencies.

Many travel insurance providers offer backpacker travel insurance policies with specialized coverage for backpackers. Such policies are offered at lower rates than single trip travel insurance policies, and provide better coverage for a longer period of time. The duration of coverage can range from a week to two years, and this makes backpacker insurance policies attractive even to those who want to spend an extended period of time visiting friends or relatives in foreign countries. Backpacker travel insurance policies also offer special coverage for certain sports and activities backpackers may participate in.

Those who are planning to purchase a backpacker travel insurance policy should look out for certain types of coverage including: emergency medical expenses, personal liability, cancellation, rescue and repatriation, cash, baggage, and personal belongings. Since many backpackers travel to developing countries where the hygiene standards are low and a variety of infectious diseases such as malaria and tuberculosis are prevalent, the coverage for medical expenses is essential should they become ill. Backpackers are known to be more adventurous than ordinary travelers, and may take part in hazardous activities. Medical expenses coverage will provide compensation in the event of accidents. If the activities are particularly high-risk, such as scuba diving and rock climbing, they may have to apply for special coverage. The rescue and repatriation coverage will protect backpackers from the costs of hiring rescue services if they are seriously injured as well as transportation expenses required to send them home.

Backpackers can be quite unpredictable therefore, cancellation coverage is also necessary. If they fail to make a flight on time, or cannot travel because of illnesses, they can get compensation for the amount of money lost for canceling a trip. The cash as well as baggage and personal belongings coverage included in the backpacker travel insurance policy will protect them from damage, loss, or theft. This is especially important for travelers who carry large amounts of cash, valuable belongings and costly equipment. If the maximum compensation amount does not cover their personal belongings, backpackers can opt for special coverage offering higher compensation.

To find the right backpacker travel insurance policy, it is advisable to shop around and compare different offers before purchasing a particular policy.

Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/praziquantel/

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