Posts Tagged ‘travel & leisure’

Questions About Car Rental Insurance

Sunday, August 16th, 2009

Whether or not to take out rental insurance, when you are renting a car, has been a major decision among all renters. It is important, when you rent a car, that you understand these companies want to sell you insurance because it is a way for them to make more money. On top of that, rental companies encourage you to take out their insurance because it protects their car, and that is all that matters to them.

Here are some of the most asked questions about rental insurance, and the answer are most likely going to surprise many of you.

Q: DOESNT MY REGULAR CAR INSURANCE POLICY COVER ME WHEN I AM DRIVING A RENTAL CAR?

A: YES….Many insurance companies will still cover you when you are driving in a rental car. However, it is advisable that you contact your insurance company, prior to picking up your rental vehicle, just to make sure that is so. Otherwise you will not be completely confident that you will be covered and may spend money, on rental insurance from the rental company, you could have otherwise saved.

Q: IF I RENT A CAR WITH MY CREDIT CARD, WILL THAT COVER ME FOR DAMAGES THAT MAY OCCUR?

A: YES and NO….Most of the major credit card companies, such as Visa, MasterCard or Discover, offer you additional insurance protection when you use the card to rent a vehicle. Because this may not apply for all credit cards companies you should check with your credit company prior to renting your car. This will give you a piece of mind when turning down the rental insurance for the rental car company.

Q: IF I FIND OUT THAT I AM COVERED UNDER MY OWN CAR INSURANCE AND MY CREDIT CARD COMPANY SHOULD I STILL TAKE OUT THE CAR RENTAL INSURANCE?

A: Absolutely not. Many companies will tell you that your insurance wont cover everything or that you are leaving yourself open to liability if you don’t take their coverage, however most car rental coverage doesn’t even cover you as well as your own. Many times the companies and their representatives will lead you to believe that this coverage is necessary, but in reality it will provide you with no benefit at all if you are already covered, and therefore this will just be unnecessary money that you will be handing over to the car rental agent.

So before yo arrive at the rental car company to pick up your vehicle check with your insurance and credit car companies to see what you are covered for. This will make you more confident when you refuse the rental companies insurance and you will be saving a lot of money.

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Is Travel Insurance Necessary?

Thursday, August 6th, 2009

Annual travel insurance policies can be deceivingly luring because you have an entire year to enjoy travel funds without having to repay the loans. Upon closer inspection, many policies reveal incomplete cover of travel needs.

Today people travel for a wide range of reasons and the travel insurance policies accessible to you have evolved to meet the more varied demand for suitable cover. In this guide we will look at which policies are suitable for certain types of travel. If you are plan to take a winter holiday you may want to consider taking out winter sports insurance.

This form of insurance provides cover for activities such as skiing and snowboarding, covering equally injuries and the loss or damage of sports tools. Fewer than 60 countries have a reciprocal healthcare agreement with the UK and without adequate cover a broken leg in Switzerland could cost you around ?25,000.

Backpackers insurance is great when planning to take a backpacking holiday, as it allows up to 18 months of coverage for long term trips. For people like students who are studying or working abroad, traveling insurance can also be useful, as long as you make sure all the countries you are visiting are covered in the policy. Be sure to check if you EHIC card is valid in certain areas, such as third-world countries where coverage may be more difficult to attain.

Business insurance is great for those working abroad, as it covers necessities like business equipment like electronics and documents. It may even cover the traveling expenses of a coworker who takes your place, should you fall ill. These are all things that insurance by your employer may not cover alone.

If your work requires you to travel abroad you should consider taking out business insurance. This type of policy can cover business equipment such as laptops and PDAs and business documents. Some policies also cover the travel expenses if you are taken ill and another member of staff has to fly out and take your place. Something that insurance provided by your employer may not.

Keep in mind that after a certain upper age, usually around 65, insurance can become pricier due to more precautions taken to assure your safety. If this is your case, look for cheaper travel insurance for those over 65. Your age put aside, should you have any pre-existing medical conditions, always keep your insurance company aware of those conditions so to pay the extra fees, if any. Without notifying your insurance company of any conditions insurance may not be able to cover any incidents that involve your condition.

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Discount Travel Insurance For Over 65

Friday, July 31st, 2009

The prospect of traveling, whether within the country or abroad, can be very exciting. There are so many places to go and things to do! It’s a little easy to get carried away with planning events and there may be a need to adjust the budget a time or two accordingly. When preparing for travel, it is wise to keep in mind ways to keep the costs down. There are many ways to decrease expenses and have a pleasant trip.

There are, however, some things that should not be skimped on. One of these is Travel Insurance. It may be fun to frequent a local market a time or to rather than the fancy eatery. But while insurance may seem like an expense that you can forego and the likelihood is great that you won’t have occasion to use it, it is a precaution that you should be prudent to work into your budget.

You’ll want to determine what advantages you’d like to include and locate a reputable agency. There are quote sites available that allow you to enter specific criteria including age. Within a company there are different plans. Determine what amenities you’ll really need. If you are not carrying sports gear or equipment, for example, you will need a smaller amount of coverage. You may be able to rent some of the equipment when you arrive. Take note to the difference in plans- some have cancellation policies that may cause you to lose out depending on the reason. If you have an unexpected event that causes you to cancel your trip, you should be able to re-book when convenient for you without it costing you again. Some plans refund a voucher, some give back cash. Even if you can’t afford the most expense plan, basic coverage will give you a bit of security and peace of mind so that you can enjoy your trip to the fullest.

To keep the cost down, there are many options available. Many travel agencies have discount program available depending on the age of the travelers. There are plans for the over 65. To take advantage of some of these discounts, it may be as simple as a call to your local agency. Or, you might complete some online searches to compare prices from one company to another.

Often, depending on the trip you’d like to take, there are group rates available for the travel itself or for individual events when you arrive. This is an additional savings that means it may benefit your pocket to travel with friends.

By this point in your life, you may have accumulated ‘frequent flier’ miles. These can help with your budget as well so that that you needn’t skimp on the insurance. Be a bit resourceful, do your homework, and you will be able to have the vacation you want.

With a little hunting, on average, the over 65 crowd should be able to arrange at least a 10 or even 15 % discount from their travel insurance costs.

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Travel Insurance Coverage Information

Thursday, July 9th, 2009

When planning your trip you may be asked about travel insurance. Do not turn it down simply because you do not know what it does. The insurance will cover any lost financial funds made on non refundable tickets or other trip items as well as medical expenses. Domestic and international travelers will be offered travel insurance.

Travel insurance can be purchased to cover your trips exact duration or you can get a more extensive continuous policy from your travel agent, travel insurance company, or travel supplier such as a cruise line or tour operator. Be careful when purchasing a policy through a travel supplier as their policies are less inclusive than the ones from the travel insurance company.

The type of traveler who purchases the insurance will vary from business traveler, student traveler, international traveler and even the adventure traveler. The traveler can create their own options to make their policy unique as well as to reduce cost by excluding certain items for coverage.

Some of the most common risks that are being covered by travel insurance policies are of course medical expenses, emergency evacuations, accidental death, injury, and disablement benefits, overseas funeral expenses, cancellations of trips, curtailment, delays in departure times, loss, damage or theft of personal possessions including money and travel documentation, delayed baggage for replacement of emergency essentials, legal assistance, and personal liability for rental car damages.

The policies vary widely depending on travel insurance company and travel supplier. The policy can be customized to meet the traveler’s needs and price. There are some companies that will offer insurance to cover any additional trip expenses that may arise.

A separate policy can be purchased to cover any high risk or dangerous sports participation such as rock climbing, sky diving, or skiing as well as one to cover any pre-existing medical conditions like asthma or diabetes. Travel to countries that are known for natural disasters, terrorism acts or have a war status will create the need for a separate policy for travel to the high risk country.

There are certain things that are excluded from your basic insurance policy. In most cases any injury or illness that was brought on by alcohol or drugs, a pre existing illness or condition or war and terrorism will be excluded. Some travel insurance companies will allow you to purchase the separate policy for war and terrorism travel.

During the first trimester of pregnancy most insurance policies will cover the related expenses. Depending on the company the policy and their guidelines it can vary between trimesters as to what is covered and what is not.

You can find help 24 hours a day with your travel insurance services. The most frequently used services is the concierge and the emergency assistance services. The travel insurance policy will normally cost around 5-7% of the total trip cost.

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Factors To Consider In Travel Insurance – Validity Of The Travel Insurance

Thursday, June 18th, 2009

Before you embark on travel it will be a good idea to avail travel insurance coverage. After all, you do not know when need might arise for it. However it could be confusing and trying to make a right choice. Main consideration is the duration for which toy want to take the travel insurance. This duration will depend upon the type of policy you choose. There are essentially three types of travel insurance policies which are single trip, annual multi-tripand extended stay. It will be valuable to have knowledge of three types so that you can make a right choice.

Travel insurance policy for single trip covers you for a single return journey. For children insurance these policies also offer discounts. Children are covered for free also. The only condition to be fulfilled is that they should be traveling with an adult, who has also insured with the same policy.

Another sort of policy will suit your flavor if you have to travel frequently. This is an Annual multi-trip policy.With this type of travel insurance policy you can travel as often as you need to. You save not only money with this policy but also many troubles. Besides covering you for multiple trips they also cover children also for free. Trips of 24 to 90 days are taken care of in these policies. If you have to buy separate policies for each trip you will be put to much inconvenience. So in addition to saving you from hassles these are comparatively inexpensive also.

Extended stay policy is most suitable to those who are students, backpackers, or those looking for career change or break. Such travelers risk the loss of some personal possessions and hence need protection for them. Being flexible it is light on your budget. This allows you to choose the accessories and equipments you want to insure. There is a shortcoming also that you cannot get insurance for everything. By not insuring your every thing – except some of those which you consider important or essential ? you can save your expenses. If you travel plans include working also during your stay then this is not covered by the policy. Such cases are covered by gap year policy which includes your work.

You are insured for a specific sum by any travel insurance policy. Medical expenses up to $20 million, luggage loss up to $16,00, trip cancellation up to $3000 for example could be covered by the policy. The situation differs case to case. Your medical emergency decides how much the policy will cover your hospital expenses. Only cases with very serious conditions merit policy coverage.

Before buying the policy proper you should give a serious thought to the number of times you have to travel in a year and your baggage. A right evaluation will enormously help you to make right choice. Do not compare your case with others as requirements differ from case to case. What works best for someone else may not be of any or much use to you and vice versa. With a correct picture of your needs you will be in a better position to choose the policy which tailors to you needs. Also read all the information given by the policy as all travel insurance policies differ in their terms and conditions, rules, and standards.

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Some World Records Held By Toronto

Thursday, June 18th, 2009

There are a number of world records held in by the city of Toronto and by residents of Toronto. Some are serious and have had a lasting impact on the world for the good, while some are somewhat frivolous.

Nonetheless, all add to the reputation and ‘fame’ of the great city of Toronto, Canada.

The University of Toronto was the location for the discovery of insulin, a medication that has assisted millions of diabetic patients have lives that are much closer to normal than they ever before could hope, thanks to Fredrick Banting and Charles Best.

Toronto was also first in a new way to collect money from drivers, with the first fully electronic toll highway – Highway 407.

While some Americans get the notoriety for the radio tube, Edward Rogers Sr. invented the world’s first AC (alternating current) radio tube in Toronto in 1925.

The first pacemaker was set in motion in 1950, again at the University of Toronto. This time Dr. John A. Hopps gets the credit.

The CN Tower in Toronto holds two world records; one for the highest wine cellar in the world, and another for the world’s tallest glass-floor elevator.

The exemplary PATH system is on record as the largest underground retail complex in the world, while the world’s first, permanent AIDS memorial was dedicated in 1993 at Toronto’s Cawthra Park.

In the frivolous vein, the Radio City Music Hall Rockettes joined with thousands of participants at the Hummingbird Center in Toronto to form the world’s longest kick line, while Arulanantham Suresh Joachin and Tiffany Lesko set a record for another kind of dancing, winning the world’s longest dance marathon by a couple at 31 hours and one minute.

Sticking with the dance theme, instructors from Toronto’s Davar Indo Jazz Dance Movement taught the world’s biggest dance class.

The fastest marathon time with a baby buggy and the world record for joggling are both held by Toronto resident Michal Kapral. He pushed a baby buggy for a marathon time of 2 hours, 49 minutes and 43 seconds, while he jogged while juggling three beanbags ten kilometers – and never dropped a bag.

Toronto is home to the world’s longest street – Yonge Street, measuring in at 1,178 miles/1,896 kilometers, and also boasts the world’s longest free-spanning staircase, found in the Four Seasons Cenre for the Performing Arts.

Toronto residents also know how to chow down: Pete Czerwinski holds the record for eating the most latkes after downing 46 in 8 minutes flat.

Toronto is also generous with its food, having donated 119,068 kilograms of food to charities in 24 hours.

Toronto resident Suresh Joachim makes a habit of collecting world records – he has at least 5 – longest amount of time watching television (69 hrs., 49 minutes), the longest time impersonating Elvis (55 hrs.), longest time watching movies (123 hours), the longest karaoke marathon (25 hourse and 49 minutes), and the longest time conducting a musical band (42 hours and 52 minutes).

These are just a few of the fascinating and frivolous world records held in Toronto! When looking for some of these GTA places, you can check the visitors and information on Travel Insurance Canada

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Towing Services and Roadside Assistance

Thursday, April 23rd, 2009

Roadside assistance is a great thing to have for the fact that it can get you out of a bind when you are traveling. There is nothing more frightening when on the road than breaking down and not having anyone to help you. There are too many instances in which an individual may be traveling and they break down too far away from anyone they know. What happens is they then have to call a towing service to help them and that towing service will charge a lot of money to tow them to a hotel or another destination.

Sure, it is great that towing is available if you need it, but the cost can be so incredibly high. If youre traveling with a limited amount of money, you may find yourself sleeping in your car somewhere because you have to pay the towing fee and you cant afford a hotel. You would be amazed how many people this happens to. Whats said is that this doesnt have to happen at all.

Roadside assistance

If you tend to travel or you are going to be traveling sometime soon, it is important that you look into a good roadside assistance package with towing services. You pay one low fee each month for your roadside assistance. It usually consists of different services, such as tire assistance, battery assistance, lockout service, and someone will bring you gas if you run out of gas. But the towing service can be the best of them all for the fact that there isnt always a fix right there on the side of the road. The car needs to be taken somewhere if it will not run at all.

Instead of you having to call a tow truck and pay them every dime in your pocket, you can call your auto club and tell them what is going on. What they will do is contact a local tow service for you and two you for a certain distance. You have to take a look at your roadside assistance plan to know how far they will tow you. Many of them will tow you up to 50 miles and what is great is you dont have to pay them when they are done. Your roadside assistance service takes care of that for you because youve been paying them monthly anyway. Youve more or less already covered the cost through your membership fee, so you have nothing to worry about when youre on the road.

Should you get it?

If youre still wondering if you should get roadside assistance, you have to ask yourself how you would handle being stranded in a strange place. If you have a wireless phone, you could call information for a towing service, but then you would be stuck with the cost. That is where you ask yourself if you could handle the cost of towing if you had to. You dont want to be one of those individuals who pay large amounts of money to be towed to a hotel lot or a supermarket parking lot so that you can sleep in your car and seek out help the next day. That is simply unacceptable, especially if you dont have to put yourself through that.

So if you dont have a roadside assistance package that includes towing, you need to get one. It is good to be safe than sorry when you are out and about on the road. When it is all said and done, that will be a move that you were glad you made. It is worth the monthly cost to not be stuck somewhere.

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