Many people rent cars when they go on vacations. Compared to the usual forms of public transportation, car rentals offer greater flexibility and convenience. However, it can be dangerous to drive in a foreign land or an unfamiliar place. To protect both the car rental companies and the people who rent cars, rental car insurance is highly recommended.

As a type of travel insurance, there are many reasons why rental car insurance is important. Basically, there are two main types of car insurance: collision and liability. Collision insurance covers all your financial obligations with the car rental company should you get involved in an accident, such as repair or replacement. Liability insurance covers damages to your own self. If you suffer severe injuries or death as a result of the accident, you can be assured that your dependents or other beneficiaries will be compensated in some financial form.

If you have already bought your own car insurance, check to see if it can also be applied as a travel insurance policy. In the situation where you have comprehensive coverage, then it will most likely apply to any rented car you drive in the world. The problem is, not many car insurance policies provide comprehensive coverage. This means your car insurance policy only covers liability damages and may not cover collisions. Before you travel, it’s best to be clear about these points.

Some credit card companies also provide rental car insurance for free or at a discounted price if the credit cards are used for the car rental. However, the Insurance Information Institute recommends that you do some research before purchasing travel insurance from your credit card provider because not all of them have comprehensive insurance policies. Some will provide benefits only to your own rental car, but not to other cars involved in the accident. Still, others provide collision benefits to all vehicles involved, but will not cover injuries or deaths.

Car rental companies also have their own version of rental car insurance, although it is not actually called insurance. These are loss damage waivers (LDW) and collision damage waivers (CDW). They are equivalent to collision insurance and comprehensive insurance. Just like collision and liability insurance, LDW and CDW require you to pay a deductible, usually ranging from $9 to $19 for each day you rent the vehicle. You can also include a death and personal property insurance, which will provide benefits for death and medical expenses in case anything happens.

Keep in mind that buying your insurance from the car rental company may be more expensive than getting a policy from an insurance provider. If you already have life, medical, or personal property insurance, you may not even need to apply for a waiver from the car rental company at all. Check with your insurance provider before you make any commitments, and if you do, make sure to always do your research first. Always go for the best rental car insurance policy that will keep you covered from head to toe, whatever may happen to you.

Photo credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/mollyeh11/

For most people, the opportunity to travel abroad is certainly welcomed. While going to a foreign country can be a great experience, it’s not without its dangers. Each year, a good number of tourists go “missing,” and never return home. No matter where you plan to go, here are some travel safety tips to help you stay safe while abroad.

Planning and Research: Before you go to any place, it’s also good to know as much as possible about the area, especially, a foreign country. Though it’s rather impossible to gauge when a natural disaster will strike next, it pays to be informed about past occurrences, to avoid the seasons which may be most dangerous. Find out if any vaccination or special medication is required for your destination. For instance, people who go to places of high altitude may need some medication to deal with spells of dizziness, and the like. It’s useful to make a list of contact information covering such places such as: the embassy, local hospital, local police station, local travel insurance representative, and others.

Protecting Yourself: If you are traveling alone, try not to go out late at night. If traveling in a group, it’s always good to stick together as much as possible. Keep shiny and flashy accessories at home. In other words, it’s best to keep a low profile. As for cash and credit cards, just carry what’s essential for the trip. It’s safer to use traveler’s check or its equivalent. To prevent identity theft, don’t give out any personal information to strangers. In fact, you are not advised to get too close with strangers, especially those who appear to be overwhelmingly “friendly.”

Illegal Drugs and Alcohol: Never take illegal drugs. Many people have negative experiences when they purchase or use illegal drugs, especially in a foreign land. They can end up being robbed, cheated, imprisoned, or worse. On the occasion where you need to consume alcohol, always practice self-control. Other than ruining your vacation, you may also get yourself into further trouble. If you get injured while under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs, you will not be covered by your travel insurance policy.

Respecting Local Laws and Customs: You have probably heard of the common adage: “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.” Well, it’s actually applicable to every country. If you are fascinated enough to travel a great distance to go to a foreign land, it makes sense to respect the local laws and customs as well. Would you like it if some foreigners disrespect your country’s laws and customs? When you travel abroad, it’s always good to keep an open mind because the laws and customs of one country can be very differently from your own.

While traveling abroad opens up a whole gamut of possibilities, pay attention to the negative ones as much as you embrace the positive ones.

The earliest records of insurance dates back to the 3rd century BC, and it was probably started by the Babylonians and Chinese traders. Life insurance started long ago too, during the time of the Greeks in 3rd century AD. Comparatively, travel insurance is a new type of insurance, and it is defined as a kind of insurance covering financial, medical, and other related losses incurred during travel. Travel insurance policy generally covers these losses for travel to a domestic location or foreign country.

The first modern day travel insurance company was called the Travelers Insurance Company, and it was launched on the 1st of April, 1864. The company was founded by James Batterson and the clients of the company were the first travelers to get insured “for the purpose of insuring travelers against loss of life or personal injury while journeying by railway or steamboat.” Now, about 150 years after the company opened its doors, travel insurance has become a huge industry, comprising of millions of insurance policy holders and premiums crossing $1 billion.

The insurance used by the Chinese and Babylonian traders about two millennia ago could be regarded as the first ever travel insurance. The Chinese traders used to reallocate their commodities across many boats, before crossing a treacherous stretch of water. If one of the boats capsized, it could greatly reduce the quantity of commodities. On the other hand, the Babylonians had a kind of insurance very similar to modern travel insurance. To fund their shipments, merchants usually took loans from moneylenders. Interestingly, the merchants would sometimes pay extra money to the lender, so the lender would not ask for a repayment of his loan if the shipment was lost or stolen. There is also a mention of this insurance system in the Code of Hammurabi.

The travel insurance industry throughout the world, particularly the US, was growing steadily since the early 20th century, but the growth was rather slow compared to other types of insurance. The turning point in the history of travel insurance policy was the 9/11 incident. It was after this horrendous event that the sale of travel insurance began to shoot up throughout the US and the world. Prior to the World Trade Center (WTC) attacks, about 10% of Americans had travel insurance, but after the incident, the percentage increased to 30% in a span of just a couple years.

Travel insurance companies of today offer different types of insurance policies for different people. Some popular travel insurance policies provide coverage for business travel, student travel, leisure travel, and international travel. Trip cancellation, accidental death, overseas funeral expenses, medical expenses, theft of personal possessions, curtailment and legal assistance are some of the typical risks covered by travel insurance policies.

Many travelers are aware of the advantages of purchasing travel insurance. The number of global travelers is ever on the increase, and the risks of travel are on the increase as well. That is why more travelers are purchasing travel insurance. As a result, the travel insurance industry is expanding at an exponential rate.

Vacationers or travelers should get a travel insurance policy before they go on their trips; they will be covered for expenses resulting from emergency situations, such as: accidents, injuries, baggage loss and theft. Many travel insurance agents offer policies providing coverage for certain things that may not be necessary, and this will increase the premium significantly. To get the best travel insurance deals, travelers should choose only the types of coverage they need and conduct a travel insurance comparison. Here are the types of coverage typically needed by most travelers:

Cancellation
Coverage for cancellation is necessary because it compensates for the amount of money that will be lost in case a policy holder cancels a trip. It is beneficial to travelers who are spending a lot of money on a trip, but it may not be necessary for those who are traveling on low-cost flights, because the potential loss is not that high.

Medical Expenses
Getting medical treatment in a foreign country can be very expensive, and therefore, it is important to get travel insurance coverage for medical expenses, in case accidents happen and medical care is needed. Medical expenses coverage usually offers compensation for treatment costs, hospitalization fees, and emergency evacuation. It is not necessary to get policies offering extremely high maximum compensation, but travelers should make sure their policies offer compensation of at least one or two million dollars for medical expenses.

Personal Liability
This covers the policy holder if they cause injury to other people or damage to their properties. There is also an option in some policies for policy holders to get separate coverage for legal expenses.

Cash, Luggage, and Personal Belongings
Travelers will need coverage for their cash, luggage, and personal belongings, to get compensation in the event of damage, loss, or theft. Although it does not happen very often, a common carrier may make a mistake resulting in the permanent loss of luggage. Having coverage for baggage will ensure the traveler compensation for the loss. Those who are bringing valuable belongings, such as: laptops, jewelry, or expensive sports or activity equipment, will benefit greatly from a personal belongings insurance coverage should their belongings get damaged, lost, or stolen.

Other types of coverage beneficial to travelers include: travel curtailment, accidental death, and travel supplier default. Travel curtailment coverage provides compensation for an unused part of a trip when a traveler or a family member becomes seriously ill or injured that the trip has to be discontinued. Some travel suppliers may not be reliable, and they may default from their commitment to provide travel services or they may just go out of business. Travel default coverage will prevent such incidents from ruining travel plans by providing compensation for extra expenses incurred in engaging a new travel supplier.
The choice of travel insurance coverage depends on the preferences and needs of different individuals. Some travelers are prepared to take more risks than others, but the types of coverage mentioned above should be sufficient to ensure a worry-free and pleasurable trip.

Most vacationers and travelers will opt for single trip travel insurance when they travel, but frequent travelers should consider getting an annual travel insurance policy instead. Annual multi trip travel insurance provides coverage for all trips made within a year.

The major benefit that an annual plan travel insurance policy offers regular travelers is savings. Rather than paying for a single trip travel insurance policy each time they travel, which can add up to quite a lot of money, those who travel frequently can purchase an annual multi trip travel insurance policy and get the same coverage for every trip at a lower overall price. The savings will be greater for travelers who go on many trips, but generally, it will benefit those who travel more than two times a year. In some cases, one annual plan policy is even more affordable than two single trip insurance policies.

Other than savings, an annual multi trip travel insurance policy also provides great convenience for regular travelers. This is especially true for business travelers, because it means they do not have to book travel insurance every time they go on a business trip. Adventurous travelers who may make last minute trips will also find that an annual travel insurance plan is a better option, because they may not have enough time to make arrangements for travel insurance before their trips. Annual travel insurance also provides coverage for eventualities that are more likely to happen to adventurous travelers.

There are different types of annual multi trip insurance policies to suit the needs of different travelers. Families and couples can avail of special annual travel insurance packages that offer great discounts, and some policies even offer free coverage for children. Another option usually offered with an annual travel insurance plan is activity-based coverage. Such a plan can cover a variety of sports and recreational activities as well as special events, such as: golfing, winter sports, or weddings, but the coverage is usually only valid for a limited number of days, and extra money has to be paid to extend the duration of the coverage. Many travel insurance agents also provide special policies for businesspeople and professionals, and these policies offer coverage for certain work-related activities, but they are usually not available to manual workers.

One of the main reasons why travelers choose annual multi trip insurance is because it is flexible, and it can be easily customized to suit the insurance needs of different individuals or groups. Besides getting extra coverage for special activities, travelers can choose to exclude certain coverage items, such as: baggage, cancellation, or cash, and get a discounted rate. Ordinarily, an annual travel insurance plan has a limited coverage of 31 days for each trip within the year, but the duration of coverage can be extended to 45 days or 60 days at an additional cost.

Photo credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/jimfrazier/

Many travelers spend a lot of time and effort planning the perfect vacations, and then, they will purchase just about any travel insurance policies available at the last minute. One thing they do not realize is they can get better coverage and save a considerable amount of money if they spend enough time searching for the best travel insurance policy.

What to look for when purchasing a travel insurance policy?

One of the first things travelers should look at is the extent of coverage of a travel insurance policy. Some policies are expensive because they cover a number of things not applicable to every traveler. The basic things that need coverage are: personal liability, medical expenses, cancellation, cash, and baggage. Travelers can gain considerable savings if they can find a policy that only covers these things.

Travelers who are bringing valuable belongings, such as: a laptop, jewelry, or expensive sports equipment, should consider getting additional coverage for these items.

While it is beneficial to get a travel insurance policy that is well-priced, travelers should also take a look at other aspects of a travel insurance policy. The maximum compensation is one factor to consider, because it will decide how much a person can claim if accidents or loss of belongings should occur. While there is no need to pay extra for a policy offering tens of millions as coverage for medical expenses, travelers should make sure the compensation is sufficient. Anything around one or two million dollars for medical expenses should be enough.

There are many different types of travel insurance policies to choose from, and the two most common policies are single trip travel insurance and annual multi trip insurance. Generally, travelers who make frequent trips to other places within the year should opt for annual multi trip travel insurance, because it will be more cost-effective than purchasing several single trip policies.

Those who are traveling only once or twice a year will find that single trip travel insurance is more suitable for them. There are also special single trip policies that provide coverage for special activity-based vacations, such as: skiing, scuba diving, rock climbing, and jungle adventures, which are high risk activities most ordinary travel insurance policies do not cover. Travelers should find out from their travel insurance agents if they offer special insurance packages for families, senior citizens, backpackers, or people with existing medical conditions. These special policies either offer more attractive rates or better benefits.

Another thing travelers should look for when they are purchasing travel insurance policies is the availability of 24-hour assistance. This is particularly useful in the event of emergencies. Although it rarely happens, travelers may find their travel companies, charter flight companies, or tour operators have gone out of business just when they are about to start their vacations. One way to prevent such incidents from ruining a perfectly planned vacation is to request financial failure coverage from the travel insurance agent.

Photo credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/dharmasphere/

Travel 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: https://www.flickr.com/photos/annia316/

You’ve just finished your exams and it’s time to hit the big time. For three years your major in Philosophy has given you parties and lots of girls with glasses and a coffee habit. But now you’re graduating. There’s no job out there, and you kinda like the easy lifestyle so the best option is to go travelling to ‘find yourself’ or in other words, spend another year not doing much and burn out your parent’s credit card.

But, as you’ve spent the last three years with Michel de Montaigne, you don’t know how to do this. So, we’ve put together a handy post to give all you students and grads out there a chance to travel the world and have an excellent time doing it.

Couchsurfing.org
Credit crunch got to your trust fund as well? No fear, hook up with this excellent community and stay on couch’s through the world on your trip. You’ll meet lots of interesting people and you’ll also get to see how people really live. And it really saves on the bucks as well.

TripAdvisor
Even these days, the web is full of biased hotel reviews and destinations that are truly magical and amazing and are life changing. You then find out the only magic about the hotel is the one that is holding it up or that the customers have not died of dysentery after two nights of their food. Fortunately tripadvisor shows these problems with customer feedback reviews – what you really want.

DigiHitch
In the same way that couch surfing is for sleeping, digihitch is for hitchhiking. I know what you’re thinking: horror movie – stabbed in the outback and left for dead – but there is a whole community out there dedicated to hitch hiking – if this doesn’t make you feel safe, then you might as well stay in the basement!

Global Freeloaders
While the term ‘freeloader’ is defined as someone who takes advantage of the charity of others, this website has a way of bringing them together. The site is an online community of people offering free accommodations.

Expedia.co.uk
Like Tripadvisor, but European in outlook – you gonna want to go to Europe, right? With excellent hotel reviews and the added bonus of you being able to search for a car, hotel and flight together (well, if you’ve got loads of money and haven’t burnt out the credit card yet!).

Apple.com
Travelling on the whole is boring. Getting there is the fun bit. The bit in-between is dull with long periods of sitting down and dozing – actually a perfect way to train you for an office job – but in the meantime you need some fun in your life. Got to Apple and download some tracks, podcasts, apps and games for your iPod. Can’t afford this level of tech? Sell some more blood or a kidney!

Travel.State.Gov
The most horrific that can happen to you on your holiday is when you lose your passport – luckily the US State Department can give you all the advice you need and will hopefully help you when it all goes wrong. They may however, just lock you up, throw you in an orange jump suit and give you an extended stay in Cuba.

Weather.com
A great weather service that tells you all the information you need to know about the weather. Strangely!

Ecotravelling.co.uk
So you want to travel the world but you want to do it with the minimum of impact to the environment? You’ll need help – fortunately this blog is packed to the mulched rafters  with advice and hints and tips on eco-friendly travel.

Amazon Kindle Store
Don’t lug all your books around the world – that mean that you’ll only be able to wear one pair of underwear through the whole trip. A kindle, with connection to their store means you can read a whole library on your techhie wonder all in a rather grey and rather lacklustre design. But it’s worth the 15 days working in the cracker factory with Jose.

Hostels.com
Youth Hostels are a great place to hang out in. But be aware! You want to go to the recognised hostels, not just any old thing. This site tells you all about the right ones – and there’s a great forum added in to boot.

IWantOneOfThose.com
Travelling’s all about showing off the right gadgets – the Apple Tablet, a $14,000 camera(and lenses) and a proper diving watch. But those things are a bit passé, aren’t they? Get yourself some really funky travel gadgets, and be the envy of your hostel.

SleepingInAirports.net
Hilarious and informative at the same time. Picture the scene. You’re in France. You’re exhausted and you can’t afford a hostel and there are no friends to couch surf with. You have two choices, sleep in Charles De Gaulle’s airport of sleep rough. Sleepinginairports will tell you which one to choose and, the best places to sleep. Invaluable for the weary traveller. Or for the not so weary traveller having a laugh.

Travel-Rants.com
Wanna complain about something on your trip? Chances are, Travel Rants may have got there first. A great blog for checking in and making you feel that it’s not just you asking the question, “is it just me?”

FoodByCountry.com
Are you lactose intolerant? Allergic to ethnic food? Check this site out. You can see famous recipes from any country you like so you can see what you like and what might kill you, helping you not cause offence to the lovely inn keeper who’s just given you Teh Halia

Twitter
Don’t you roll your eyes at the back! It’s not just a place for people to tell you they’ve just gone to the Washroom – it’s a way you can keep family and friends up to date with where you are and what’s going on. Oh, and what the washrooms are like in Vietnam.

Photo credit 1: jopeattie
Photo credit 2: Ilse Reijs en Jan-Noud Hutten
Photo credit 3: chrisdejabet
Photo credit 4: Zador Spanish schools
Photo credit 5: Siim Teller