How do seniors travel cheap to Europe?

May 23, 2010 By Leave a Comment

seniors-travel-cheap-europeSupply fuels demand and as one of the most popular travel destinations in the world, travel to Europe can be expensive. For seniors living on a fixed income or without much money to spare, the dream of European travel can still be realized. Frugal travel to Europe starts with planning ahead and preparing for emergencies with travel insurance.

Avoid the Summer Rush
During the summer months, Europe is crawling with excited travels. To meet the demand, prices on airfare, restaurants, and hotels are also much higher. Frugal seniors who wait till winter can travel to Europe and experience the same wonderful cultural options but with fewer crowds and cheaper prices. On airfare, this could lead to huge savings since most airlines charge holiday surcharges during holidays and the busy summer season.

Seniors are more prone to accidents and injuries than younger adults. On a European vacation, extensive walking and different weather conditions could be a problem for some; especially seniors who already have preexisting health conditions. With a Medical Evacuation policy, seniors can be reassured that no matter how remote their European travel destination is, they are not out of touch. This travel medical insurance can get seniors airlifted and returned home to receive immediate care.

Compare Package Deals
When booking a trip online seniors can easily compare travel agencies and book hotels, air flights, and even some tours online. River cruises however, usually offer better savings since airfare is not a concern. These cruises are also suited to seniors looking to experience Europe at a more leisurely pace. As cruises are only in shallow waters, motion sickness is not a concern. Seniors get the price of the room, meals, onboard activities and tours of Europe’s most appreciated wonders with local guides – all at one low price. Some tours also feature hotel stays as part of the cruise and meals at local restaurants. By buying in bulk, cruise lines can negotiate lower hotel prices than those available to individual travelers.

Save when Traveling Around Europe
If planning on traveling between England, France, Germany and other countries in Europe – trains, airlines, and rental cards are all options worth considering. Budget airlines offer reasonable prices for those looking to quickly hop between countries. Each country has its own set of train cards with discount cards for those over 60, available in some countries. Seniors who plan on mainly visiting one or two specific countries might consider renting a car. By traveling by car seniors get to move at their own pace and cars can be rented through online travel agencies weeks in advance to get a discount. Look into Rental Car Policies to cover the cost of any repairs needed in case of a car accident or to protect against theft of personal property stored in the vehicle.

When exploring Europe, enjoy some of the many free adventures offered to save money. Ancient churches and cathedrals, grand parks, art galleries, museums, libraries, architectural wonders, and free concerts are some of Europe’s most amazing experiences. Seniors who set a realistic budget and protect against the unexpected with a travel insurance policy can have a grand adventure touring Europe.

How much does it cost to Travel to Europe?

May 18, 2010 By Leave a Comment

cost-travel-europeTraveling to Europe can be costly or cheap depending on your means and how you want to travel. First class travel is going to cost you a bundle, while traveling in budget class will save you a ton. Traveling frugally doesn’t mean you have to rough it. Travel to Europe these days can be quite affordable, more so than in the past. Seeing Europe, doesn’t have to be just a dream, but can become a reality.

Airlines
Round-trip airline tickets to Europe are ranging from $1000 to $1500 during high season and can be as low as $500 during off season (September through May). Right now there are two competing airlines, Continental and U.S. Airways, which are undercutting most other airlines on many flight routes to European countries. If you dig around on the Internet a bit, you may come up with a good deal. There are many websites that have a feature which compares different airlines, different flight times and different routes all to your benefit. If you find a good deal, go ahead and lock it in, the further out the better, so you will be assured the price and a seat, and your departure won’t be impeded.

Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is quite inexpensive these days, so this is one cost you won’t have to stress about. If you’re booking ahead, trip cancellation insurance is a must. You don’t want to get stuck at the last minute being out all the vacation money you’ve invested because you had to cancel your travel plans. These cheap travel insurance policies will protect you for a number of covered reasons for trip cancellation. Being stuck with a huge emergency care bill will really stress you out, so make sure you get covered with (ravel medical insurance as well—just in case of an accident.

Lodging
Many European countries offer inexpensive hostels if you’re up for sharing space with strangers that range from luxurious to the barest of the bare for around $8 a night. If you prefer a bit more privacy and a more low key stay, you can get comfortable motel accommodations for around $120 a night during high season and even cheaper during off season. If you stay a bit away from the city center or historical areas the cost will always be much less, but you trade easy access for the lower cost.

Food
Just as there are large disparities in the cost of flights and lodging—the same can be said for food. Depending on the European country you are visiting and the way you like to eat, the cost will be reflective. Some people can eat on $20 a day in Turkey, while having to spend a $100 a day in France. If you are going to be spending more of your budget on lodging, then you may want to plan on spending less on nice meals out and go for a loaf of fresh bread, cheese and some fruit eaten in your room.

How to plan a fall foliage trip in New England

March 1, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Keystone ArchesAutumn is one of the most beautiful seasons of all, and nothing says fall like colorful leaves or foliage. These leaves turn into gorgeous colors of red, orange, and yellow, and nowhere in the United States does fall foliage stand out quite like New England. Every fall season, thousands of people flock to the New England states to visit and enjoy the wonderful restaurants, views, and colors. If you are planning a fall foliage trip up north, there are several things to consider before you hit the road. First, look into each state and find out when the leaves begin to change so you can plan accordingly. Know which states are considered to be New England states. Vermont, New York, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Connecticut, and Massachusetts are the most popular states to visit.

While most of these states have peak color around the same time, some can be different by a span of a month or more. For example, the peak fall colors for most areas of New York and New Hampshire are towards the end of November, but they peak in large areas of Connecticut in October. Think about where in each state you want to visit, and then create a map with a timeline so that you don’t miss anything along the way. Consider investing in some single trip travel insurance, in case an emergency arises while on the trip.

Since the fall brings chilly weather, and this weather can be much cooler in the New England states, it’s important to pack and dress appropriately. Overall, the fall month temperatures in the northern states vary from the mid 50s-60s during the day, to around the 40s or even colder at night. It’s recommended that you bring a sweater and a jacket or even a coat if you plan on being outside for any lengthy period of time. If you do not want to drive to New England yourself to take a look at the gorgeous fall foliage, there are many organizations that offer bus tours and guided trips. If you choose to participate in a trip like this instead of driving on your own, it’s still a good option to buy travel insurance in case anything gets lost or stolen such as luggage or identification.

Bring along a camera so you can capture some of the stunning colors and beautiful landscapes. There are also many fun things to do while on your trip to New England such as visiting landmarks or museums, and enjoying fine wine and dining.

Tips for Saving Money on Travel Insurance

September 29, 2009 By Leave a Comment

travel-insuranceTravel insurance is a necessity for travelers because it provides compensation for accidents or loss of belongings that may occur during a trip. While most travelers are concerned with getting the best prices for accommodations, transportation, and travel packages, few of them are aware they can save a lot of money on travel insurance too.

First of all, it is important for travelers to know what kind of insurance coverage they need during their trips. Some travel insurance agents will offer policies with extra unnecessary coverage, and this means travelers will be paying a higher price for their travel insurance. One way to save money on travel insurance is to purchase a policy that provides only the necessary coverage, which usually includes medical expenses, personal liability, baggage, cancellation, and cash. It will also be beneficial if the travel insurance company can provide coverage for legal expenses. In the end, the amount of coverage needed depends on circumstances. Those who are traveling on a low-cost flight may not need coverage for cancellation because the amount of money they stand to lose from missing the flight is not very high.

Making the right choice between single trip travel insurance and annual multi trip insurance can also help travelers save money. Most travelers opt for annual multi trip travel insurance because many travel insurance agents offer single trip insurance at very high rates. It is also possible to find single trip travel insurance policies that are very affordable, and travelers who want to save money should do some travel insurance comparison shopping to find such deals. The choice between single trip and annual multi trip insurance should be based on the number of times a person travels in a year. Generally, those who go on overseas trips more than two times a year will be able to save more money with an annual multi trip travel insurance policy, while single trip travel insurance is the better option for those who are going overseas only once or twice a year.

It is also important to look for a special travel insurance policy designed for specific needs, because these policies offer great savings for those who are eligible. The most common special insurance is family travel insurance, which provides combined coverage for families and couples at lower overall rates. Senior travelers can take advantage of the special senior travel insurance policies, offering better coverage and benefits. Backpackers and those who have an existing medical condition can also avail of long-stay insurance policies and special policies for pre-existing conditions.

To get the best insurance deals, it is advisable travelers shop around and compare deals first before they decide which travel insurance policy is most beneficial to them. While the price is an important consideration when choosing travel insurance policies, travelers should also look at other benefits offered.

Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/annia316/

Who has the best deals for travel insurance?

November 27, 2007 By Leave a Comment

Many travelers want to know, “Who has the best deals for travel insurance?”

There is no easy answer to this question. It is hard to single out 1 travel insurance company as having the best deals. Each company, and more importantly, each policy, has different coverage and levels of coverage. Therefore, they have different prices.

The best deals for travel insuranceCheap is not always the best way to go

The important thing its to get the coverage you need. It will do you no good to buy the cheapest trip insurance plan, but not have coverage for that lost suitcase or missed flight.

Decide what coverage is most important to you, and how much. Every plan varies. If you are going abroad, and want to make sure you have medical coverage, you will want to pay special attention to the travel medical policies. If you are concerned with a last minute cancellation due to the illness of a sick family member, you will focus on trip cancellation insurance, or “cancel for any reason” coverage.

Here are the steps to finding the best deals for travel insurance:

  1. Decide what coverage is most important to you and your trip
  2. Compare travel insurance using a comparison site (see How to Compare Quotes with a Travel Insurance Comparison Site)
  3. Find the policies with the coverage you are comfortable with, then look for a price that works for you

It’s that simple.

To give you an idea of how the different the premiums can be, here is a comparison chart of the rates from various companies and plans. This is a quote for a 30 day trip, trip cost of $10,000, medical coverage of $10,000, for 2 32 year-old travelers:

Company Plan Cost
Travel Guard Essential $600
CSA Travel Protection Freestyle $617
Travel Guard My Travel Guard $627
Travel Guard Essential Expanded $682
American Express Global Travel Shield Classic $722
Travel Insured Worldwide Trip Protector $756
Travel Guard Protect Assist $790
Travelex TravelLite $802
CSA Travel Protection Freestyle Luxe $823
Seven Corners RoundTrip $823
Travelsafe Vacation Insurance $838
American Express Global Travel Shield Deluxe $842
M.H. Ross Enhanced $849
Global Alert! Preferred $859
Seven Corners RoundTrip Choice $859
Access America Classic $870
HTH Worldwide Trip Protector $918
M.H. Ross Enhanced Extra! $1,041
Global Alert! Preferred Plus $1,051
HTH Worldwide Trip Protector Preferred $1,114
Travel Insured Worldwide Trip Protector Gold $1,137
RBC Travel Protection Standard $1,146
Travel Guard Cruise, Tour & Travel $1,226
Travelex Travel Plus $1,242
RBC Travel Protection Deluxe $1,259
Access America Deluxe $1,472

As you can see, there is a big gap between the cheapest and the most expensive plan. You can bet there is more coverage for the Deluxe plan from Access America, and less coverage in the Essential plan.

Travel Insurance 101-What does travel insurance cover?

January 10, 2007 By 2 Comments

Travel insurance policies provide many different coverages, here are the 5 main ones:

1. Trip cancellation

This provides coverage in case you need to cancel your trip or vacation. The coverage pays for non-refundable trip costs such as airfare, hotel, tour costs, etc. Covered reasons for cancellation include:

  • you or your traveling companion get sick and cannot travel
  • a death in the family prevents you from traveling
  • your home is damaged by fire
  • you or your travel companion lose your job

Travel insurance provides cancellation coverage that covers pre-paid, non-refundable trip costs up to the policy limit.

2. Medical emergencies

This provides medical coverage while you are away from home. Most people do not know that their health insurance from home does not work in foreign countries, and any medical expenses must be paid out of pocket, often even before treatment is received. An accident or illness in a foreign country can be a scary experience without the proper medical coverage. Travel insurance policies provide up to $1,000,000 of medical emergency coverage, depending on the plan and insurance company.

3. Trip interruption

When an accident or illness does effect your trip, coverage for trip interruption will help pay the unused portion of the trip as well as last-minute expenses for heading back home.

4. Lost, damaged, stolen baggage

Baggage coverage includes personal items, baggage, and travel documents. If your baggage is lost, stolen, or damaged and you need to replace items, baggage coverage will provide benefits up to the policy limit, usually between $500-$2000.

5. Medical evacuation

If you are in a foreign country and suffer an accident or illness, there will most likely be some medical evacuation expenses. From simple transportation to the nearest suitable hospital to an extensive medical flight back to the US, evacuation costs can easily cost over $100,000. Medical flights are specially staffed with trained professionals, and stocked with medical supplies and equipment. It is not as simple as hopping on the next commercial flight. Medical evacuation coverage provides up to $1,000,000 in evacuation expenses, depending on the company.

Comparison sites are the best way to shop for travel insurance

There are several websites where travelers can compare policies from all major companies (see How to Compare Quotes with a Travel Insurance Comparison Site)

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