The trip of a lifetime – everyone has one in the back of their minds and most everyone with means regularly sets aside a little cash to save for it. These are the trips that take months or years to plan and/or coordinate. These are the trips that may be so exclusive only a few people every year have access to them.

These are the trips where Trip Cancellation coverage is a must.

For example, the Grand Canyon rafting outfitters commonly recommend trip cancellation insurance. Why? In this case, it’s because of a few facts:

• There are a limited number of authorized rafting companies allowed in the Grand Canyon.
• The National Park Service places limits on the total number of trips down the canyon every year – for safety and to protect the natural environment and our national treasure.
• Rafting trips through the Grand Canyon fill up years in advance.
• The average deposit is $400 per person and the balance can run into the thousands. Most payments are due 90 days prior to the trip and there are no refunds if you cancel within a certain time-frame (although you may get 30% back if your seat is later sold to someone else). Ouch!
• There’s only one Grand Canyon.

Combine the limitations above with a little ‘stuff happens’ and you could be facing a situation where you’ve spent years planning and paying for a trip-of-a-lifetime only to see it vanish into thin air. Check out the Travel Insurance Coverage Guide for a better understanding of how Trip Cancellation coverage works.

May 31st is World No Tobacco Day.

Started in 1987 by the World Health Assembly, the World No Tobacco Day is intended to draw attention around the globe to the dangers of smoking and its lethal history.

With tobacco use the second leading cause of death across the globe – beaten only by hypertension – smoking causes one in ten adults to die worldwide. The annual death toll from global tobacco use is predicted to rise to 8 million by 2030. Having killed 100 million people during the 20th century, tobacco use could kill 1 billion during the 21st century.

The World Health Organization celebrates No Tobacco Day to highlight the health risks of smoking and to advocate for effective policies that help reduce cigarette use for everyone.

This year’s theme is “The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control” and it’s designed to demonstrate the importance of the world’s foremost tobacco control instrument – the first treaty ever negotiated by WHO. In force only since 2005, the WHO FCTC is already one of the most widely embraced and rapidly moving treaties with more than 170 participants. It reaffirms the right of all people to the highest standard of health and provides legal cooperation around worldwide tobacco control.

 

 

Cruise travel offers a variety of opportunities for getting really sick. Staying on top of potential hazards, however, can help you – and everyone in your group – stay healthy and enjoy the cruise.

1. Update any necessary vaccines before you leave. Regardless of your itinerary, you should be up-to-date on your vaccines. With a recent rise in the number of measles cases across Europe, it’s ever more apparent that keeping routine vaccinations up to date is crucial for the body’s health.
2. Stay informed. Use the Centers for Disease Control web pages to check for recent information on specific destinations. Review the updated destination-based health information so you understand what to watch for on your cruise.
3. Seasick? Don’t suffer. A number of easy solutions are available if you’re prone to seasickness, which is actually quite common even on larger cruise ships. Some medications, including anti-depressants, pain killers, and birth control, can make seasickness worse too. Pick up a motion sickness remedy that works for you before you go to have it on hand.
4. Nausea, Vomiting and other thrills may not be related to the ocean motion – it could be a norovirus. Cruise ship outbreaks of norovirus have been reported recently, but the best way to avoid this disaster is by washing your hands frequently and thoroughly. Follow common precautions with food – eating only that which is cooked to a proper temperature. Avoid ice made from impure tap water and avoid fresh fruit until you have washed it carefully with clean water. Remove the peel as well.

Of course, avoiding other stresses that are common to cruises can help as well. Wild changes in diet or alcohol consumption or long periods of sun exposure can only make things worse.

A rain-soaked American South means a rain-bloated Mississippi River, but water levels in Europe’s Rhine River have dropped to 18-month lows. As the rivers around the globe rise and fall, destinations are working hard to re-assure tourists and regain ground while tourists are looking to protect their travel dollars.

Some good news: according to the New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau, New Orleans is safe from flooding related to the overflowing Mississippi due to an extensive water diversion system. When there is flooding on the Mississippi, it’s actually safer to be in Baton Rouge and New Orleans.

In the meantime, however, cruise lines along the Rhine River would be happy with a little of the Mississippi overflow. According to a Bloomberg news report, river cruise companies are working to develop contingency plans as a backup in case the water doesn’t rise soon. Tourism isn’t the only industry affected either. Falling water levels have cut barge traffic, which is largely responsible for delivering diesel, jet fuel, and oil. The canal system, runs into Poland, the Czech Republic, and Austria.

When environmental situations like this occur, basic trip cancellation coverage can’t help you. It’s best to have ‘cancel for any reason’ coverage with your travel insurance policy to keep your travel costs secure. With this coverage, you can cancel a trip ruined by the lack of water and get up to 100% of your insured trip costs back.

As airlines have hoisted higher and higher fees on passengers, passengers have become quite inventive. Here are some recent tips to help you avoid airline baggage fees.

1. Often, the scales at the airport are not calibrated correctly. Purchase an electronic hanging scale for around $20 (e.g. American Weigh Scale American Weigh H-110 Digital Hanging Scale) and weigh-in at home. This way, you’ll leave home knowing what your bag weighs and you may be able to avoid extra fees.
2. Pack special items to evade extra fees. Cyclists have been doing this for years – packing their bicycle frame in one unmarked box and putting the wheels in another, then sending it all through the scanners. Airlines like to charge excessive fees for sporting equipment, so pack it so it’s not obvious. If you can pack the equipment in a normal-looking bag without fear of it being damaged, even better.
3. Spread out the load by packing heavier items in different bags to avoid excessive weight charges.
4. Use the free options with abandon. Strollers, car seats, and certain medical equipment flies free. If you put the car seat in an overlarge duffel (for easier carrying, of course), you can usually pack other items in with it without attracting notice.

You can also check into the luggage shipping services offered by UPS and other pack-and-ship service providers.

At last resort? Try an upgrade. First-class passengers rarely pay bag fees, and if you can upgrade for a decent price, you’ll also be more comfortable. Just make sure the airline offers free baggage checking with the upgrade.

A recent review of Department of Transportation reports by ConsumerReports.org indicates that the average prices of airlines tickets at smaller, secondary airports (Colorado Springs versus Denver, for example) have gone up and prices at larger airports has gone down.

Why?

Apparently, larger airport hubs are luring customers back from the competitive regional airports. Bigger airports have begun streamlining the travel experience by opening more gates, reducing delays and convincing discount airlines like Southwest and JetBlue to do business at their airports.

What does this mean for you?

The price of a domestic ticket at O’Hare in the last quarter of 2010 averaged $372, down 12% from the same price in the last quarter of 2000. Over the same period, the average price of a domestic ticket at Midway, Chicago’s regional airport, increased by 25% instead.

Although flights are still cheaper at Chicago’s smaller airport, the gap in price differences has reduced considerably because larger airports and the larger airlines are able to reduce costs in order to offer cheaper tickets. Airline mergers – often seen as the impetus for higher ticket prices – can reduce congestion and delays at airports too. Industry consolidation such as this can mean a reduction in the regional airlines and losses at regional airports, which can mean less competition and the potential for higher ticket prices.

Luckily for many travelers in the U.S., regional airports seem to be holding their own so far.

Last year’s volcanic eruption in Iceland is shortly followed by another. Iceland’s Gromsvotn (pronounced GREEMSH-votn) volcano erupted over the weekend and its ash plume is already affecting air travel in Iceland and Greenland. So far, only flights into and out of Iceland and Greenland are affected, but Norway’s Svalbard islands may soon be affected.

A recent study validated the previous ban on flights; stating that volcanic ash particles can be harmful to aircraft engines and thus put the crew and passengers in danger; however, better radar imaging, better preparation, and more knowledge should mean far less disruption than last year. That being stated, some UK airports are canceling flights already, so those flying to, from, and within Europe should monitor their flight schedules closely.

The EU Air Passenger Rights website site is posting updates on the developing ash cloud situation, including warnings and useful information. You can also see a map of the predicted ash movement.

Last year, many travelers who bought trip insurance before the larger Eyjafijallajokull volcano eruption were covered for trip delays and cancellations. Once an event becomes a known event, travel insurance companies cannot cover it – therefore travelers who purchased their plans on or before May 21, 2011 should be in luck.

Check your travel insurance policy for natural disaster and weather-related clauses to understand what is and is not covered in the policy. Similar to having trip cancellation coverage for hurricane disasters, you must have purchased your plan before the volcano erupts, not after.

If you plan to propose on your trip, good for you – and good luck to you! But, please keep the ring with you. All baggage protection – even that offered by the airline – comes with limits. If you store the ring in your bag and check that bag, you could be in trouble if the bag is lost or stolen.

You can read more about what the airlines owe you when your luggage is lost, but the short story is that they won’t cover the loss of a particular item if that item is worth more than  ($150) and it must be accompanied by the original receipt. See how travel insurance covers jewelry.

Travel insurance coverage for individual items is higher, but it’s limited as well – between $600 and $2,000 depending on the policy limits. See the specific limits per plan here.

Your best bet, when traveling with a valuable item is to keep the item with you – on your person or in your carry-on. This can include valuable personal documents or papers, jewelry, and more. You can read more about safe travel tips recommended by the State Department, but the key is to keep your valuables with you and protect your bag at all times.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, up to 600,000 Americans have deep vein thrombosis, or DVT, which is caused by blood clots that form in a person’s lower leg or thigh and break off to join the blood stream. These blood clots can travel to the lung or other parts of the vascular system and create serious, even fatal, conditions.

What increases the risk of blood clots?

According to the National Institute of Health, the risk of blood clots forming deep in a person’s vein is increased by:

• becoming pregnant
• being overweight
• being older than 60 years of age
• anyone with a history of DVT

You can read more about the signs and symptoms of deep vein thrombosis as well.

How do travelers prevent blood clots?

In addition to getting regular medical checkups and taking care of your health, travelers are reminded that during long trips, your risk of developing DVT is small but can be prevented by:

1. Getting up and moving around. If traveling for long periods by car, stop and move around at least every hour.
2. Stretch, flex, and move your legs to encourage blood flow into and out of your calves.
3. Wear loose, comfortable clothing when you travel.
4. Drink plenty of water and avoid alcohol.

If you are at increased risk for DVT, compression stockings while traveling can help as well.

The Federal Trade Commission reported over a quarter million customers were affected by identity theft in 2010. The explosive growth in quality and access to smart phones and social media means that many people are far more exposed than they think they are.

Many travel insurance companies include identity theft recovery services with their plans. These services can help you restore your credit, deactivate and replace lost or stolen cards and passports, and work with you to file loss reports with the local authorities.

Of course, prevention is the first best defense, so it’s important to take a quick refresher course on identity theft protection strategies.
Here are the current best tips:

1. Use credit cards, not debit cards, for travel. Credit card charges can be disputed and reversed, but unauthorized use of your debit card taps into your cash back home.
2. Do not give your credit card number over the phone at the hotel – even to a hotel employee. If necessary, visit the front desk and confirm the request.
3. Block your use of any automated teller machine (ATM) and watch for anyone taking your picture with a mobile device or digital camera.
4. Leave your social security card back home – locked in a safe, preferably.
5. Leave your check book behind as well.
6. Use the hotel safe to store your travel documents when you don’t need them.

For additional information on how to protect your identity on the road and at home, see  Protecting your Identity when you Travel.