Off-season travel is popular with budget travelers and those who have less traditional and more flexible schedules, i.e., retirees or couples who are not tied to the traditional school year calendars and it has it’s own set of risks and benefits.

The most popular benefit is reduced prices due to reduced demand, but there are other benefits including less crowds, fewer lines, and a more relaxed local population. Of course, you may also face bad weather: unending rain during the unpopular monsoon season in Asia, ridiculous levels of snowfall and closures in Yellowstone National Park, or 120-degree days in Death Valley, for example.

Savvy travelers looking for off-season bargains can follow these steps:

Step 1: Determine the off season

Determining when an area’s off-season is involves figuring out why a place is popular and then going when the features that make it popular are not in place. For example, travel to warm desert areas like Arizona are popular in the winter when people want to escape colder climates.

A quick call to the local Visitor’s Bureau or the regional Chamber of Commerce will also help you determine if your off-season hunch is right.

Step 2: Adjust your travel expectations

Mild weather makes Europe a popular summer-time destination, but that also means lots of crowds and long lines. If you can adapt to a colder climate by packing the right clothes, and adjust your expectations to include more indoor activities, you can avoid the hassle and expense and enjoy a less frazzled local population.

Review the websites of landmarks, museums, and the like to determine whether their hours change for the off-season. Nothing’s worse than adjusting your expectations and then finding out the museum you counted on is closed for a month of renovations.

Step 3: Be Prepared

Travel to the Caribbean, Mexico, and Hawaii is popular in the early Fall for off-season travelers, but that’s also hurricane season. To prepare for that risk, consider travel insurance with trip cancellation and interruption coverage for hurricanes and at least you’ll get your pre-paid expenses back if the trip doesn’t work out.

If you’re likely to be traveling by car during the off-season, the roads and remote villages will be less populated with tourists, so consider having car rental coverage with roadside assistance services just in case.

Either way, think about the risks unique to your off-season travel pick and be sure you are prepared with travel insurance coverage.

We were recently asked whether travel insurance plans offered the same level of coverage for those working for employers versus the self-employed, so we decided to do some research and find out.

Unfortunately, the answer was not always positive for self-employed workers.

Coverage that relates to work is isolated to the following:

• trip cancellation
• trip interruption

Specifically, some travel insurance plans allow for trip cancellations or trip interruptions due to involuntary termination or layoff. Here’s how travel insurance covers job loss.

The wording we found in for pre-departure trip cancellation benefits in the Travelex Travel Select plan, for example, reads like this:

15. your involuntary termination of employment or layoff and was not under your control. You must have been  continuously employed with the same employer for 1 year prior to the termination or layoff. This provision is not applicable to temporary employment, independent contractors or self-employed persons;

Notice the highlighted text? This plan does not cover pre-departure trip cancellations if you are self-employed. We found similar text in CSA’s Custom Luxe plan:

j.  your involuntary termination of employment or layoff, which occurs more than 15 days after your effective date of coverage and was not under your control. You must have been continuously employed with the same employer for 1 year prior to the termination or layoff. This provision is not applicable to temporary employment, independent contractors or self-employed persons;

Some plans do cover the self-employed

We did find at least two Travel Guard plans, however, that allow for trip cancellations if you’re required to work and self-employed. The description of coverage reads like this:

In the situation of selfemployment, proof of self-employment and a notarized statement confirming that the Insured is unable to travel due to his or her job obligations will be required;

You can find this coverage in the Platinum and Gold Travel Guard plans (and perhaps others).

Self-employed and in doubt?

Not all travel insurance plans allow for trip cancellations or interruptions due to work-related reasons, and not all travel insurance plan certificates include ‘self-employed persons’ in their list of exclusions, so it’s crucial that you check your travel insurance certificate and understand the coverage limits and exclusions.

A call to your plan’s travel assistance services hotline will help you determine whether you – as a self-employed person – have the coverage you expect. Remember to call within the plan’s free-look review period in order to have time to cancel the plan for a refund.

As soon as the airlines added baggage fees to the list of travel expenses, the security lines got longer and airports got crowded with passengers AND their baggage as travelers decided to sidestep the fees and carry their bags instead of checking them.

Of course, this also made it clear to everyone traveling these days: there are those who pack well and those who don’t.

To avoid being that guy or that gal holding up the security or check-in line, all travelers ask that you please learn to properly pack your bags.

Why pack light?

Sure, packing light is a skill, but is it really necessary? Travel experts recommend packing light for a number of reasons, including the fact that traveling light helps you move more quickly, be less tired, and you’ll have a free hand.

No longer can you check any heavy bag and have it hauled by the airline. Packing light also means you pay less when you do decide to check your bag. See this chart for the costs associated with heavy and large bags.

Packing light also means you simply have less baggage, which can be a boon for everyone when you consider the overcrowding of flights these days. With so many people carrying their bags through the airports and train stations and stowing them on board, the light packers are the clear travel winners.

What are some useful packing tips?

We scoured the Internet for useful packing tips and found a slew of recommendations:

1. use your shoes as packing cubes for small items
2. position heavy items closer to the wheels to keep it from toppling
3. double-duty items are essential – a sarong can be used as a scarf, skirt, or airplane blanket
4. never bring more than a week’s worth of clothing – wash it as you go instead
5. don’t pack items your hotel room will have available (soap, shampoo, etc.)
6. save space by packing a jewelry pouch that doubles as an evening bag

Luckily, electronic devices are allowing travelers to maximize the books and entertainment they need on the road as well. Travel guidebooks can go on your e-reader with the book you want on the flight, for example. Your smartphone will incorporate GPS and apps that help you locate places while translating phrases as well.

Where to get more packing help

See the Packing like a Pro video we featured earlier this year.

Also see light-packing help from One Bag for instructions and support.

See the Boots ‘n All guide to packing light.

A quick search with an Internet search engine will reveal a number of tips too.

A recent comment indicated that at least one traveler is confused about whether travel insurance provides trip cancellation coverage for panic attacks, and we decided to dig into the plan certificates to find out.

How panic attacks are defined

The Mayo Clinic defines a panic attack thus:  “A panic attack is a sudden episode of intense fear that develops for no apparent reason and that triggers severe physical reactions.”

The National Institute of Mental Health defines this disorder as: “an anxiety disorder and is characterized by unexpected and repeated episodes of intense fear accompanied by physical symptoms that may include chest pain, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness, or abdominal distress.”

Travel insurance plans and panic attacks

Travel insurance plans specifically exclude coverage for any loss that is caused by or results from mental, nervous, or psychological disorders, and given the definitions above, a panic attack falls within those categories.

Specifically, travel insurance plans include text like the following (from CSA’s Custom Luxe plan):

The following exclusion applies to all coverages:
We will not pay for any loss under the plan, caused by, or resulting from:
2. mental, nervous, or psychological disorders (does not apply to Medical Expense Benefits);

Therefore, while a panic attack is a recognized condition and those who suffer from them deserve careful consideration, panic attacks are not a covered reason for trip cancellation, trip interruptions (going home before your trip has ended), missed connections, and other travel insurance coverages.

The alternative for people with a panic disorder is to have adequate ‘cancel for any reason’ coverage. ‘Cancel for any reason’ will reimburse between 50 and 100% of your pre-paid non refundable trip expenses if you have to cancel your trip for any reason. Be sure to cancel the trip within the usual 48-hour prior-to-departure window.

A few travel insurance providers know that some folks travel for very specific reasons and they’ve designed travel insurance plans with unique coverage for those types of travelers. For example, Travel Guard offers a unique travel insurance plan specifically for gold enthusiasts: the Tee, Tour, & Travel plan.

This plan includes a number of coverages expected in a travel insurance package plan, including:

• Trip cancellation up to 100%
• Trip interruption up to 150%
• Higher-than-average travel delay coverage up to $1,500
• Missed connection up to $250
• Medical expenses up to $25,000
• Emergency medical evacuation up to $500,000
• 24-hour AD&D up to $10,000

This plan is also customized to cover the risks faced by travelers who love playing golf. It includes the following golfer-specific benefits as well:

• Equipment and baggage delay (12-hour minimum) up to $750
• Equipment and baggage loss up to $2,500
• Refund of pre-paid golf fees, including green fees, caddy and cart fees, etc. if you have to cancel your trip for a covered reason
• Refund of golf course fees if a golf course on your itinerary is closed due to inclement weather with less than 24 hours’ notice (excellent for sudden tornadoes, severe thunderstorms, etc.)

Plus, children age 17 and under are covered by the plan at no additional cost with all accompanying adults purchasing this coverage.

Enjoy a Hole-in-one Celebration *

The Tee, Tour, and Travel plan has an additional unique benefit for golfers. This plan will reimburse your bar expenses up to $250 if you make a verifiable hole-in-one and are inspired to celebrate.

Note: the bar expense receipts must be from the clubhouse affiliated with the golf course where the hole-in-one took place.

Access Exclusive Golf Concierge Services *

Plus this plan includes exclusive golf concierge services:

• event ticketing for PGA, LPGA, and Senior PGA events
• local golf course recommendations
• slope and rating info
• golf course driving directions
• tee time reservations (with availability)
• PGA-pro referral service
• Find-a-foursome service
• golf club retrieval assistance
• golf club pickup and delivery arrangements
• golf club rental reservations
• ground transportation services
• and more

Purchase within 15 days for Extra Benefits

If the plan is purchased within 15 days of your initial trip payment, you also receive:

• Double missed connection benefits ($500)
• Coverage for trip cancellation or interruptions due to pre-existing medical conditions (up to the first $30,000 in trip costs)
• Coverage for travel supplier default (cruise line, airline, and tour operator)
• Flight guard AD&D

Add Optional Coverages

Optional coverages are purchased with the plan. The optional coverages available with this plan include the following:

• Optional ‘Cancel for any reason’ coverage for up to 50% reimbursement and an extension of the covered reasons for trip cancellation (purchase within 15 days of initial trip payment)
• Optional additional golf equipment and personal effects coverage for $2,500 additional coverage
• Optional medical upgrade for double the medical and evacuation limit and the option to choose the medical facility
• Optional ‘Cancel for work reasons’ upgrade extends the work-related reasons for trip cancellation and interruption (purchase within 15 days of initial trip payment)
• Optional flight guard for additional AD&D coverage at increments of $100,000 up to $500,000
• Optional car rental coverage for up to $35,000 ($250 deductible)

This is only a brief description of the coverage(s) available.

The Policy will contain reductions, limitations, exclusions and termination provisions. Insurance is underwritten by National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh, Pa., a Pennsylvania insurance company, with its principal place of business at 175 Water Street, New York, NY 10038. It is currently authorized to transact business in all states and the District of Columbia. NAIC No. 19445. Coverage may not be available in all states.

* Non insurance services are provided by Travel Guard.

Travel insurance coverage for dental emergencies is isolated to injuries to sound natural teeth, so artificial teeth, dentures, dental braces, retainers, orthodontic devices, and dental bridges are not covered.

Dental coverage is described in the plan’s medical coverage and is typically limited to a specific amount.

For example:

• The Travel Insured International Worldwide Trip Protector Gold plan “will pay benefits, up to $750.00, for emergency dental treatment for Accidental Injury to sound natural teeth.”
• The Vacation Classic plan by TravelSafe includes the following text: “Benefits will include expenses incurred during the Trip for emergency dental treatment due to Injury not to exceed $750.”

Other plans provide coverage between $200 and $1,000. Often, dental coverage is limited for situations where a traveler experiences a sudden onset of pain too.

Help finding a local dentist

Your travel insurance provider’s travel assistance services representatives can help you find a local dentist if you experience a dental emergency. Be sure to travel with your travel insurance plan description, so you have it when you need to refer to it for questions like these.

A recent report indicates that seismologists are nervously watching another Icelandic volcano, which is reported to be more powerful than the Eyjafjallajokul volcano which erupted in 2010 and caused severe travel delays while spewing ash all over Europe for several weeks. The Katla volcano is a much larger and more dangerous volcano and currently showing signs of imminent eruption.

If you were among the thousands of stranded travelers, you know that having travel delay coverage can provide at least a little financial relief. Travel delay benefits are paid for reasonable accommodations, meals, and local transportation if you are delayed a certain number of hours due to a reason covered by your travel insurance plan.

In the TravelSafe Vacation Classic plan, the coverage description looks like this:

Travel Delay: Benefits will be paid for reasonable accommodation,
meal, and local transportation expenses incurred by You, up to the
Maximum Benefit Amount shown in the Schedule of Benefits, if
You are delayed for 6 hours or more while en route to or from, or
during a Trip, due to: a) any delay of a Common Carrier (the delay
must be certified by the Common Carrier); b) a traffic accident in
which You or Your Traveling Companion are not directly involved
(must be substantiated by a police report); c) lost or stolen
passports, travel documents or money (must be substantiated by
a police report); d) quarantine, hijacking, Strike, natural disaster,
terrorism or riot; e) a documented weather condition preventing
You from getting to the point of departure.

If you are concerned your travel plans may be disrupted by this impending volcanic eruption, give your travel insurance provider a call to verify. Always carry your travel insurance documents with you so you can refer to them on your trip. Carefully review your travel plan documents to understand the coverage.

Travel delay coverage is limited by varying per-day and maximum limits and any refunds you receive from your travel suppliers as a result of the delay are deducted from the travel insurance benefit.

See how travel insurance covers volcano eruptions for more details.

Travel insurance benefits that are paid as a result of common carrier failures include: trip delays, missed connections, and baggage loss and delay. For example, your travel insurance certificate may include text like the following (from Travelex’s Travel Select plan certificate):

Trip Delay must be caused by or result from:
1. Common Carrier delay; or

In addition, some travel insurance plans include common carrier as a covered reason for trip cancellation and interruption benefits with text like the following (from Travel Insured International’s Worldwide Trip Protector Gold plan certificate):

Weather which causes complete cessation of services of Your Common Carrier for at least 24
consecutive hours

So we decided to find out whether the term common carrier also applied to trains. Every travel insurance plan will have a plan certificate and in that document are the definitions that explain the specifics of your travel insurance coverage. In fact, travel insurance plan certificates usually have a specific definitions section where the terms used in the document are defined.

How Travel Insurance defines Common Carrier

We looked through a number of travel insurance plan certificates and found that the term ‘common carrier’ is typically defined in the definitions included with the policy.

Travel Guard and Travelex insurance plans define common carrier as:

“Common Carrier” means an air, land, or sea conveyance operated under a license for the transportation of passengers for hire.

Travel Insured International defines common carrier as:

“Common Carrier” means any regularly scheduled land, sea, and/or air conveyance operating under a valid license for the transportation of passengers for hire.

So, as long as the train you are traveling on during your trip is operating under a valid license for the purpose of transporting passengers for a fee, then your travel insurance coverage will provide benefits.

Rockets and submarines not included

Travel insurance certificate definitions for common carrier does not include (at least not yet): space rockets and submarines. So, for the time being there is no travel insurance for deep sea diving of space exploration.

As always, it’s important to carefully read your travel insurance plan document to understand the specifics of your benefits as well as the limitations and exclusions.

Recently, we talked about how your credit card travel insurance coverage doesn’t compare to what you can get with a true travel insurance plan. Here, let’s compare the costs of travel insurance against your credit card annual fees.

Here are just a few annual credit card fees:

• Discover Escape $60
• Citi ThankYou Premier $120
• Chase Sapphire $85
• American Express Gold $175

If a 46-year old spending a week in France wants travel insurance coverage with trip cancellation, they have a number of options, including these plans for example:

As we’ve noted in the past, it’s risky to view your credit card coverage as ‘better than nothing’. If you’re willing to shell out the bucks on a trip, why not protect that investment and guard against unexpected medical, evacuation, interruption, and other emergency expenses at the same time?

Take a look at our complete review of credit card travel insurance protection.

Of course, if you want the same travel protection all year long, consider looking into an annual travel insurance plan as an option too. The trip cancellation coverage is usually more limited, but you’ll have protection for accidents and injuries (even abroad, where your health insurance doesn’t extend), evacuation protection, trip interruption reimbursement, and more.