Is Travel Insurance Really An Essential?

Any holiday website, hotel reservations website or travel agent will be quick to tell you that travel insurance is an essential for any trip either abroad or in the same country. This ‘advice’ usually accompanies a hard sell for their in-house insurance, which many people purchase without even thinking about it.

However, those stuck in Europe following the Iceland volcanic eruption that closed European airspace for six days, discovered to their cost that travel insurance is not always what it’s made out to be. Many discovered that even with insurance, not all of their costs were covered, begging the question: is travel insurance really essential?

Firstly, in the vast majority of cases, any travel insurance that is bought through a travel agent or when booking a holiday is likely to be overpriced. While the cover may be good, these companies capitalize on your spur of the moment decision, and the premiums can be double what the same cover with an independent company may be. So if you do decide to purchase travel insurance, make sure you shop around.

When doing so, read the small print. This really cannot be stressed enough. Think of the various situations in which you might need to make a claim on your insurance; lost property, cancellation of flights, or even more extreme situations like airspace being closed. Find out exactly how covered you are, and if there is a time limit you are covered for should you need emergency accommodation.

Then, do your sums. You may find it would be cheaper, when you factor in excess, just to set money aside to use in case of emergency rather than buying travel insurance. Only when you know the insurance would save you money in the event of a problem should you purchase it.

Think Outside The Airplane Travel Box

In a world of budget airlines and flights for as little as a dollar, it can be easy to think that flying is the only way to travel. Where once airplanes were reserved for crossing oceans and continents, the ease of domestic flying has meant that society is more and more used to getting aboard a plane to travel within the same country. It’s cheaper, it’s quicker and it’s more efficient – or so we are told.

There is no doubt that in the ‘quickest’ category, flying by airplane is going to come up on top. Even when you factor in the time needed to travel to the airport and to check in, the simple fact is that flying at 500mph is going to be faster than any train, car or boat can manage.

Flying is also more efficient; you can take luggage without having to cart it around a train station or cram it in to the trunk of a car, and usually you can fly directly to your destination – or at the very least a nearby city.

But is it the cheapest?

Budget airlines and fares may look tempting, but it’s essential to read the small print. Often, taxes and other charges – such as charges for checking in, or taking baggage – are levied on top, often at a premium price. Suddenly, that 99c flight is going to cost you $40 – it’s still cheap, but not that cheap when you factor in travel to the airport.

The lesson is simple: don’t assume flying is the best method of travel. Look around, keep your option open and – most importantly – always read the small print.

The Benefits of Traveling Solo

When presented with the idea of holidaying alone, many of us will recoil immediately at the idea. Where, we wonder, would the fun be? Or even if the idea does appeal, we worry about the possibility of looking like some kind of ‘loser’, alone because we have no friends to go on holiday with.

In reality, traveling alone can be one of the most enjoyable vacation experiences of a person’s life. First and foremost, there are many reasons why someone may choose to travel alone – it does not automatically mean they have ‘no friends’. You may have interests or sights you want to see that do not appeal to your friends, or perhaps you’ve just had one too many family holidays that have ended in arguments – so you fancy seeing the world alone, and in peace. There’s no harm in it, and it is becoming more common for couples, best friends and families to travel alone on occasion.

There is an unfortunate truth that people traveling alone are sometimes penalized for it; better known as the ‘single person supplement’. This is where you will pay more for not being in a group, and is something to consider. However, with lone traveling becoming more popular, the single person supplement is losing its grip on the travel industry in the competition for consumers – so look around and you should be able to avoid it.

Better yet, there are now hotels that cater especially to people traveling alone for whatever reason, so there is an opportunity to make like-minded friends. If you’re fed up with arguing with your traveling companions or just want to experience something new, then traveling alone may be the best decision you’ve ever made.

The Pick Pocketing Problem

Pick pocketing is one of the biggest crimes for tourists to suffer. The reasons for this are simple; tourists are more likely than regular citizens to be carrying their valuable belongings with them, making them a prime target for pick pocketers.

The risk of pick pocketing is higher if you are in a big city, and particularly a crowded area. Also be wary when visiting a foreign market; while the cultural thrill is immense, these markets are also prime locations for pick pocketers to target.

To minimize the risk of being pick pocketed – and to make it less damaging if it does happen – follow the steps below:

- Distribute your money.

Do not carry cash and credit cards in one single wallet when out and about on holiday. Distribute cash and cards in different areas, pockets, bags and preferably among different people in your group. That way, if a thief does get their hands on something of yours, you’ve not lost everything.

- Don’t want a fanny pack / bum bag.

Fanny packs (also known as bum bags) make you a target. You’re essentially strapping something around your waist that says: here is where I’m keeping my valuable items! Instead, use a money belt which can be hidden beneath clothes if you don’t want to actively be carrying a bag in your hands. If you must wear a fanny pack, only store items you can afford to lose in it.

- Don’t display items.

Thieves can often see the outline of what it is someone’s pocket – this is particularly true for wallets. Don’t store items in your back pockets wherever possible, and if you do need to, push them tightly inside so they can’t be removed easily.

Tourism and Crime: An Unavoidable Link

No matter what country in the world you visit, there is a perennial problem when visiting big cities. Any city that is synonymous with tourism also has another unfortunate association; a criminal association. As cities are prime preying ground for the less scrupulous of society, tourists are among the most likely people to be a victim of crime – and particularly, theft.

The problem is not specific to any one country, nor any one city. It is just, unfortunately, something that goes with the territory. Tourists are a target for criminals because tourists are out of their comfort zone; away from their home, perhaps not aware of the way things are done in a different country, and – most importantly – more likely than regular citizens to be carrying their valuables with them.

Tourists are a target for theft based crimes; theft of both property – such as wallets, money and jewelery – and also identity theft, such as passports being stolen. The statistics more than double when you look at the plight of tourists in big cities such as London, New York and Paris. Thieves rely on tourists to be disorientated and unfamiliar with their whereabouts, and the crowded locations make pick-pocketing an easy day’s work for many a criminal.

While you should not let the possibility of crime ruin your holiday, so allow it to take part in your holiday preparations. Try and book hotels that are well-recommended on travel review websites, and preferably that have safes in each room. Consider a money belt to conceal cash and credit cards while out, and wherever possibly, don’t take your passport out in to a city you are visiting.

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