New COVID variants not primary concern for most travelers

Despite reports of the latest COVID-19 variant, BA5, generating waves of re-infections and single-digit increases in U.S. hospitalizations, trip takers are sticking with plans to go abroad. Nearly 80% of the world’s most experienced travelers say the threat of a new COVID variant is unlikely to make them cancel or postpone international travel this year, according to the Summer 2022 Global Rescue Traveler Safety and Sentiment Survey.  

Travelers are ready to go!

“Whether it’s revenge travel or responsible travel following vaccination – or a combination of both, 7-out-of-10 travelers are much less concerned about travel compared to the beginning of the pandemic. 

Testing can help relieve anxiety.

They feel safe enough to plan trips and vacations because they’re vaccinated, borders are open, and they have confidence they’ll be able to get home if the worst happens,” said Dan Richards, CEO of Global Rescue and a member of the U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board at the U.S. Department of Commerce.  

Sixty-eight percent of survey respondents have already traveled internationally since the pandemic. The balance expects to travel abroad by the end of the year (16%) or in the first three months of 2023 (9%).  

International flights are on
the upswing.

More international travel is likely due to the recent U.S. policy change. Nearly half of travelers (49%) say they are more likely to travel internationally in the next 12 months now that U.S. officials no longer require passengers flying to the U.S. to show a negative COVID viral test or documentation of recovery from COVID before they board their flight.  

“The decision to end the requirement for a negative COVID test to enter the United States is a welcome step toward recognizing the decreasing severity of the disease, the urgent need to restore confidence for travelers, and support for an industry badly damaged by the pandemic,” Richards said. 

Cruises are popular again.

Traveler hesitancy is unchanged since early 2022. After two years of pandemic-related travel restrictions, a third of survey respondents still experience travel anxiety related to where to go or when to get back to travel.  

The biggest international travel fear among trip-takers is testing positive for COVID and being stranded away from home (33%), a 37% decrease from early 2022. Having an accident (24%), trip cancellation (21%) and civil unrest/terrorism (8%) were the next biggest concerns. Being robbed, war, natural disasters, and difficulty finding a COVID-19 testing facility each accounted for less than 2% of responses. 

Having travel insurance
lessens the stress of the
unknown during travel. 

“The pandemic has generated a tectonic shift in the traveler mindset. Travelers learned emergency rescue and evacuation services are essential, whether it's due to COVID, a natural disaster, civil unrest or simply needing emergency help when you're traveling. The majority of travelers (64%) say medical evacuation services are more important than Cancel For Any Reason (18%) insurance or traditional travel insurance (15%). Traveler preferences have moved travel protection for emergency medical services and evacuation from ‘optional’ to ‘obligatory’,” Richards said.   

Traveler confidence increases.

“The decision by the CDC to ease its COVID-19 guidelines is a welcome step toward recognizing the decreasing severity of the disease, the urgent need to restore confidence for travelers, and support for an industry badly damaged by the pandemic,” said Richards.   

It's a great time to travel!

The CDC’s updated guidelines include ending quarantine recommendations after exposure to COVID-19 and replacing it with a recommendation to mask for 10 days and get tested on the fifth day. The announcement also reduces the isolation period for people who test positive for COVID-19 but are asymptomatic or have quickly improved symptoms.  This will alleviate the biggest international travel fear—testing positive for COVID and being stranded away from home.  

“The CDC announcement is a much-needed improvement and will contribute further to travelers’ peace of mind when planning trips and vacations,” Richards said.   

Information courtesy of Bill McIntyre, bmcintyre@globalrescue.com .  Global Rescue, travel risk and crisis response provider, conducted a survey of more than 2,100 of its current and former members between July 12 and 16, 2022. The respondents exposed a range of behaviors, attitudes and preferences regarding international and domestic travel. 

 

Insurance for travel post-COVID

Today’s post is from John Cook, owner of Quotewright, a travel insurance comparison site. www.quotewright.com

One year and still counting! To say that all of us have been through tough times over this past year is an understatement. However, things are starting to change for the better and good things are on the horizon. One of the foremost things on people’s minds is getting back out into the world safely. More people are purchasing travel insurance, so here are some things to think about when you decide to travel again. Has Travel Insurance changed because of COVID19? Contrary to some news articles, there haven’t been any material changes in travel insurance policies in regards to covering COVID19. For trip cancellation and trip interruption, coverage is only for an unforeseeable covered reason stated on the policy.  What’s covered for COVID19? Most comprehensive package plans cover trips that are cancelled or interrupted due to an unforeseen sickness of the insured, traveling companion or immediate family member. An attending physician must state that the sickness is debilitating enough to prevent you from traveling (trip cancellation) or continuing to travel (trip interruption).  And in most policies COVID19 is treated as any other sickness would be covered.  However, there are some policies that have an exclusion for “pandemics or epidemics.”  Stay away from these unless it doesn’t matter to you. If you’re concerned about your destination being shut down due to COVID19, or you’re worried the tide of COVID19 might shift, you need to look at those plans that offer Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR). CFAR still remains the best protection for travel. Remember, it’s still only available if the insurance is purchased within 15-21 days of your initial trip deposit, and it covers only a stated percentage of the purchase price (usually 50-75 percent). Does my destination have any insurance requirements? Know the insurance requirements of the country that you’re visiting. The most common so far we have been seeing are those countries that are requiring $2,000 for bed rest while being quarantined if you contract COVID 19. Not all policies include that, so be sure to read your policy for details. Is default or bankruptcy coverage included? Should you be concerned about having coverage for the “default or bankruptcy” of an airline, cruise line, or tour operator?  Yes.  This past year has put a financial strain on all travel companies.  Trip cancellation/interruption plans with “default” as a covered peril can help you mitigate this risk, but remember it’s not uncommon for companies to make this a time sensitive coverage that is only available within a short time following your first trip payment. It’s time to travel but travel smart.

What can a travel insurance policy do for you?

 During the past year we have heard much about the importance of travel insurance. Although it does add expense to your trip, it can reimburse you for many out-of-pocket expenses if you or a travel companion becomes ill or has an accident. 

Most policies also cover trip delay, trip interruption, lost baggage or baggage delay, flight delays, and much more. (Check for COVID coverage, as that may not be covered)

In addition, there are many services you might not be aware that having a travel insurance policy could
entitle you to. Need help planning your trip or booking guides and tours? Want to reserve a tee time at your destination or purchase tickets for a special event? Lost your eyeglasses or run out of a prescription and need a replacement? Many plans include a concierge service that can assist you with such things.

Although these are non-insurance services, knowing assistance is available can help make travel easier. The graphic below outlines some of the most common tasks that may be available to you through your policy. Make the most of what you've paid for! 

Information courtesy of Travel Insured International, a Crum & Forster Company. I do not receive any compensation from the company for posting this information.

Don't let winter weather spoil your trip

Living in central Texas we don’t think much about winter weather affecting our travel plans. But if you’re flying to a northerly destination, ice or snow could wreak havoc on your plans.

It’s not just weather in the city that you’re flying into that can be a problem. If the plane you’re taking is scheduled to arrive from an airport that’s experiencing a winter storm, it may not be able to arrive on time—so you won’t leave on time, either. If the unthinkable happens in a southern city such as Austin and the plane needs de-icing, the flight could be significantly delayed as the airport may not be set up to handle that situation efficiently.

In fact, you could be delayed a day or more, not just hours. Or the flight could be cancelled. Spending a night or two in an airport isn’t fun for anyone, and airlines often run out of available hotel rooms for which they might offer a voucher (if you’re lucky!). So think about a back-up plan before booking your flight.

Of course, no one can predict what the weather will be when you plan a trip months in advance. But if the situation looks dicey a day prior to travel, consider booking another flight to an alternate (still close) airport or on a different airline. Yes, that means you have two reservations for the same trip.

Many airlines let you cancel a reservation within 24 hours of making it with no charge. Others might charge a fee but reimburse you later. Just be sure you know the cancellation policy in case your original flight is able to go as scheduled.

Another option is to contact the airline ahead of time and ask to be rerouted or rescheduled because of weather conditions without additional cost to you.  The airline might be willing to accommodate your request if it looks like hundreds or thousands of delays and/or cancellations are imminent. On a trip abroad last year we were scheduled to fly through Atlanta just as a hurricane was approaching the East Coast. At my request the airline rerouted us through Detroit, so we missed the madness and confusion taking place in the Atlanta airport at that time.

Consider purchasing travel insurance for any parts of the trip that are pre-paid and non-refundable.  That might include flight, hotel, rental car, or excursions--but don’t include anything that is refundable. Just be sure to buy the insurance prior to travel and print out a summary of your policy with contact numbers to take with you. If you get stranded it’s a good idea to check on what the insurance will cover while deciding what course of action to take.

You can get insurance through a travel agent, the airline, or purchase it yourself online from many reputable companies. Check with consolidators and comparison sites to get the best policy for your needs at the lowest price. (I like QuoteWright). Policies are generally based on cost of the trip and age of the insured person.

If you paid for your flight, cruise, or tour with a credit card, check to see if travel interruption, delay, and lost baggage coverage are included on that card. Quite possibly, you already have insurance and just aren’t aware of it.

Images from free sites.

Travel insurance--don't leave home without it

To buy or not to buy. That is the question.

But for us, this is never a dilemma. We always purchase travel insurance.

You wouldn’t drive a car or live in your home without insurance, even though chances are you’ll never get back in claims anywhere near what you’ve paid in premiums over the years. Yet you have it in case that one catastrophic incident might happen.

So think about travel insurance the same way. Because travel can be expensive, and the unthinkable can happen.

Our trip to India and Nepal last winter ended with my husband Larry in the hospital in Kathmandu for eight days. Even though medical expenses are less in Nepal than in the United States, we still racked up considerable claims, not to mention canceling flights and rebooking last minute later on.

One thing to remember is that if there’s a medical situation in a foreign country that requires prompt attention, you won’t be able to get preapproval from your insurance company. So you may be required to pay upfront (charge cards are generally accepted) and then receive reimbursement from the insurance company after filing a claim when you get home. Just be sure you have high enough limits to cover expenses.

What does travel insurance cover?

The main reason to have it is to protect you from financial losses if you must cancel or interrupt your trip for covered reasons or you have legitimate medical expenses. It can also cover lost or stolen items and provide financial assistance if flights are delayed or canceled or your baggage is lost or delayed.

Cost is based on the age of the traveler, type of coverage you choose, and cost of the trip. Generally the cost is around seven percent of the amount of insurance you decide to purchase. It’s not always necessary to purchase for the full amount since you only want to include non-refundable expenses when calculating the trip cost (hotel or car rentals may be cancellable, for example).

Policies are available that allow you to cancel for any reason or that cover pre-existing conditions. These typically must be purchased soon after your initial payment and will cost more than a standard policy which can be purchased any time up until travel begins.

For more information, check out these recommendations from Consumers Advocate (courtesy of Sam Klau).

What is not covered?

Some policies will warrant against default by the tour operator, but not all do. Also, there are restrictions on covered reasons for canceling or interrupting the trip unless you purchased an all-inclusive policy. When choosing a policy keep in mind the dollar limits for covered expenses.

One amount to look for is at least $150,000 for emergency medical evacuation. With sufficient coverage on a regular travel insurance policy, you don’t need to purchase a separate policy for this type of emergency event.

Do you have insurance from other sources?

Some home owner’s policies will cover lost items, including luggage, although payment may not happen while you are traveling and need to replace items missing. And your health insurance might pay for illness or accident expenses although Medicare usually won’t cover expenses when traveling out of the country. 

Some credit cards offer travel insurance as a perk if you use the card to book certain expenses, or you might have purchased insurance from the airline when booking your flights. Be sure to check all possibilities, so you can then purchase only what is needed in excess of what you already have. To help you analyze credit cards that are good for travelers, Money magazine offers its picks for best travel credit cards in 2020. 

Bottom line is that—like any insurance—a travel policy can provide valuable peace of mind. And reimbursement if unfortunate circumstances happen.

Images from free sites.

 

Another testament for travel insurance

So you still don’t buy travel insurance. But you do have car insurance, home insurance, and health insurance. Have any of these netted you a payout large enough to cover all the premiums you’ve paid throughout the years? Probably not. But you still have insurance—just in case.

Well, that ‘just in case” can happen when you are traveling, too. And the costs of a major illness or accident or weather event can be much higher than the premiums paid out.

Unexpected illness in Nepal

We recently returned from a trip to India and Nepal. After two marvelous weeks exploring wildlife parks, temples, countryside, and much more in India, we headed to Nepal. That was about the time my husband Larry started feeling bad. A hotel doctor diagnosed him with bronchitis, gave him medicine, and suggested he rest for a couple of days. We canceled our trip to Chitwan National Park and stayed in Kathmandu two extra nights before flying to Pokhara.

The night before leaving Pokhara, things started going really downhill for him. He was admitted to the local clinic which determined he needed to be at a better equipped facility in Kathmandu, where he was taken by helicopter the next morning.

Without going into specifics, suffice it to say he was in the hospital for eight days receiving treatment before he was cleared to fly back to the States. Even though the cost for medical care in Nepal is significantly less than equivalent services in the U.S., it doesn’t take long in a hospital to incur a large bill.

Most U.S. insurance companies (especially if you’re on Medicare or Medicare advantage-type program) won’t guarantee payment to a hospital in a remote location like Nepal, which means we had to pay our bills (make sure your credit card limit is fairly high) and then file claims for reimbursement. 

Add caption

The one thing our travel insurance did cover upfront was our flight home. However, they only provided economy fare, although our original, but canceled flight, was in business class. And Larry needed to be in business class as per the doctor’s recommendation because of how weak he was. So getting reimbursed for the extra fee is an issue I’m still working on. Even so, I was grateful for what the insurance did cover on the 40-hour flight home, which was a significant expense since it was a last-minute booking. And I’m hoping coverage will extend to a good portion of the other expenses.

Weather event in Antarctica

That was the second time we had a large claim during travel. About two years ago we went to Antarctica with an extension to Easter Island following the icy expedition. Weather created the problem this time as we could not get back to mainland Chile when scheduled, which played havoc with our flights to Easter Island and later return to the U.S. In all we paid out nearly $7000 more to continue our journey and return home afterwards, which the insurance company covered in full. Yes,  travel insurance cost can be hefty, but we would never have gone without it because of the uncertainty of traveling in remote parts of the world.

Before each trip, check the credit card on which you book travel (cruises, flights, tours, hotels, etc.) to see what kind of coverage is offered for non-refundable expenditures as well as medical expenses. If it’s substantial, you may be able to lower the amount of coverage purchased for regular travel insurance. You can consider a med-evac type of policy, too, although most regular travel insurance policies include around $150,000 for that service (which is highly unlikely to be used and does not guarantee transport back to the U.S. only to the nearest facility that can provide necessary treatment).

Even if your destination isn’t so far away as Antarctica or Nepal, travel insurance is a good investment. Many costs are incurred prior to travel, and things can disrupt your plans (luggage didn't arrive where you did? Flights delayed or cancelled?) even before a trip as well as during. I would never book a major trip without insurance—just in case.

Photos from free sources

 

How to fight back against the "beyond our control" excuse from travel providers

Today’s guest post is by Christopher Elliott, author of How To Be The World's Smartest Traveler. 

It's not our fault.

You've probably heard that line a time or two, especially from an airline, hotel or cruise line. It's the old "Act of God" excuse — or to put it in less theological terms, an event "beyond our control."

 

Reasons matter. That's because under the rules of most travel bookings, a company owes you nothing if these events keep it from operating. Blame it on Mother Nature, and the company can get away with almost anything. But there's a way to counter the oldest excuse in travel.

"'Circumstances beyond our control' are hard, even impossible, to define, "says Stan Sandberg, co-founder of Travelinsurance.com.

 Consider John Thompson's recent flight from Las Vegas to Boston by way of Washington. The carrier blamed "weather or air traffic" on a brief delay of his outbound flight — both events it claims it has no control over.

But that's not how Thompson remembers it. He says his flight from Las Vegas to Washington was also held up because it was overbooked, something which the airline can control.

"The delay was extended by another 20 minutes because no one was willing to take a $1,000 voucher to give up their seat for other passengers," recalls Thompson, a project manager from Chelmsford, Mass.

In the end, he had to spend the night in Washington, which cost him $125. The airline initially refused to cover his extra costs, but after I contacted it, Thompson was reimbursed for his hotel stay.

Turns out you can fight back.

Nancy Barnby, a retired high school teacher from Menlo Park, Calif., booked a room at a La Quinta hotel in Oregon two years ago to see this summer's solar eclipse. Then the hotel was sold.

"The new owners decided not to keep any of the prior reservations," she remembers. "But they also didn’t inform us."

By the time she discovered the canceled reservation, hotel prices were astronomically high. The new owners claimed the sale was an event beyond their control. I begged to differ. I contacted the new hotel and it covered the cost of her new hotel reservation.

"When someone uses the 'circumstances are beyond my control' excuse, they are utilizing a classic negotiation technique: the abdication of authority and responsibility," says Kwame Christian, director of the American Negotiation Institute, a consulting firm. The most important step you can take toward resolving your dispute is to persuade the company to accept the responsibility, he adds.

It's also helpful to turn the tables when someone tries to feed you that line. What would happen if you were the one with a circumstance beyond your control?

"What if you got sick or injured just prior to your trip, preventing you from traveling?" adds Sandberg. "It's pretty clear that an airline or hotel, while likely sympathetic to their customer, would not have any financial obligation to you."

In other words, more often than not, it probably is their fault that they couldn't operate their flight, offer you accommodations, or a car. The cop-out is a symptom of a much bigger problem: an industry that's used to getting away with it.

How to fight the 'circumstances' excuse

• Get informed with accurate and up-to-date information. I once pushed an airline to offer meal vouchers and compensation after it claimed runway construction was an event beyond its control. I gently pointed out that the construction, which had caused my flight to be canceled, must have been announced a while back. Indeed, the event was highlighted on the airport website.

• Go positive. Rather than making demands, try telling the company how it can fix your problem. Ask for the hotel to find a way of honoring your reservation when it closes for renovations. Stay upbeat. "Tell them, 'I really appreciate you getting me on this next flight. This is incredibly helpful,'" says Christian of the American Negotiation Institute. In the end, what matters isn't their excuse, but that you got around it.

• Buy travel insurance. Most policies cover trip interruption and don't distinguish between weather or a delay caused by an airline, rail operator or bus company. Delay coverage can be considerably more generous than an airline, says Sandberg. "Travel insurance can provide reimbursement for additional expenses, including meals, accommodations, local transportation and phone calls," he notes.

Learn more about how Christopher Elliott helps travelers at  his consumer advocacy site.

Photos from free sources.

 

 

 

5 things you may not know about travel insurance

Travel insurance is like any other insurance--you hope you never need it, but if you do, you'll be so grateful that you have it. We don't like to think about things that can go wrong when planning a trip, but if you experience delays, canceled flights that must be rebooked, or medical problems, you'll find that travel insurance was well worth the cost. If you've put off buying insurance, considering these points may change your mind:

It can cover road trips. Often we think of travel insurance for long flights to exotic places; however, insurance can be valuable in many travel situations, including road trips. If any part of your trip has prepaid, non-refundable components, you should consider travel insurance.

In addition, if your health insurance doesn’t cover you or your family while out of network, travel insurance with medical emergency coverage may be a good option. And if you are still confused by the Loss Damage Waiver (LDW) option with a car rental, many travel insurance plans offer optional car rental coverage which may be more cost effective than what the car rental companies offer.

Rental car coverage may be included in trip insurance.

It can cover expenses due to pilot strikes. In most cases, airlines will not reimburse you for a flight that is cancelled or severely delayed due to an airline strike. Most travel insurance plans, however, include unforeseen or unexpected labor strike within their trip cancellation or trip delay benefits. It's important to remember, however, that if you purchase a flight after a potential strike is announced, in most cases travel insurance will no longer cover that strike. 

 
It can provide reimbursement if you have to cancel your trip because of work. While most plans will cover you in the event you or your travel companion are laid off, many will also cover for reasons that go beyond this drastic life event. This could include being relocated, an important work requirement (notarized by your employer), if your organization is a participant in a merger or acquisition (that you are directly involved in), or if your office is damaged by a natural disaster.
 
You can give it as a gift.

Worried about your aging parents taking off for a seven-day cruise to the Caribbean? Or your sister planning her off-the-grid honeymoon? Travel Insurance can be a great way to take care of those you love, and ensure they travel worry-free.

 
Comparing policies can be an easy process. Finding the right travel insurance plan doesn’t have to mean sifting through hundreds of offers. Consolidators like www.travelinsurance.com choose the best providers  and share details to help you compare plans, so you can make the best decisions for everyone who is traveling.

Information courtesy of Sarah Mann at Percepture on behalf of TravelInsurance.com

Here's another resource for the best policies for different kinds of  travel: https://www.reviews.com/travel-insurance/  

Photos from free sources

 

Travel insurance--annual or single trip

You’ve decided on a special trip and made the necessary payments, often months in advance. But life can be uncertain, and the best-laid plans can go awry.  The best way to protect your financial investment is with travel insurance.

Canada's Via Rail traveling from Edmonton to Jasper

Selecting the right level of travel insurance should be a major consideration for any traveler. It's not a legal requirement, but given its importance, most reputable tour operators and airlines now prompt passengers during the booking stage to arrange holiday coverage before they go. And most tour operators or travel companies now sell third party insurance, or offer their own tailored policies, which helps ensure their customers stay protected.

Most travel insurance policies fall into two main groups: multi trip and single trip travel insurance. Here's a little more about each type of coverage:

·         Single Trip Travel Insurance: This is ideal for customers who rarely travel abroad and who just want cover for one trip - be it a weekend away or a three-month voyage. You can tailor the policy to your holiday and your requirements, and once you get home, the policy expires. It's usually the most cost-efficient way for infrequent travellers to organise insurance.

·         Multi Trip Travel Insurance: Also known as annual insurance, given its typical 12-month arrangement, multi-trip travel insurance is ideal for frequent travellers as it means you're covered all year round (or until your policy's expiry date).

Rocky Mountaineer traveling from Banff to Vancouver, Canada

As with any travel insurance, single or multi trip, the policy can usually be tailored to suit your requirements. Be wary of any off-the-shelf policies that seem inflexible, as they probably won't offer the right level of coverage nor will they offer the best value for your money. Remember, you are organizing travel insurance for financial protection , so it makes sense to dig a little deeper until you find a policy that offers the right level of protection.

You can find out more about multi or single trip travel insurance here - http://www.thomascook.com/holiday-extras/travel-insurance/single-trip-insurance/

Sailing in Adriatic Sea near Croatia

Whether traveling with a tour operator or on your own, don't forget to arrange the right level of coverage before you go—usually as soon as final payment has been made--and don't be tempted to choose the cheapest policy. Knowing you’re covered in case of unusual circumstances will give you peace of mind and allow you to enjoy your holiday.

This sponsored post was written in collaboration with Catherine Lavinia.

Photos by Beverly Burmeier

When trouble stalks your travel plans

Generally, when we travel we try to find the most economical way to arrive at our destination.  That usually means booking our own air rather letting a travel agent or tour operator do it.  We made an exception to that rule recently after signing up for a cruise leaving from Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

When sailing from an East coast port, many people arrive the night before—a good plan since air travel can be uncertain, and the change from Central or Pacific time doesn’t allow for delays.  But this time we decided to try flying in the day of departure.  Knowing that choice could be risky, we opted to book our air through the cruise line—a hedge against unexpected problems.

Princess Cruises has a new program that is more flexible for choosing flights than previously, with costs only slightly above tickets found on consolidators.  That’s a program we were thankful for when we learned upon arrival at the Austin Airport that our original flight had just been canceled.

Ships leaving Fort Lauderdale
Photo by Larry Burmeier

Instead of arriving in Fort Lauderdale at 2:30 p.m. for a 5:00 p.m. sailing, we were booked on an alternate flight scheduled to arrive at 4:30.  Even if it was on time, we still had to claim our luggage and get from the airport to the dock (a 20 minute taxi ride), check in, and board the ship before departure time.  All during the flight we were mentally formulating alternate plans to get to Antigua, our first port, in case we missed the ship. 

But here’s how it played out: A strong tailwind pushed us along in the air, so that the plane arrived 25 minutes early—a stroke of luck.  I called Princess immediately when the plane was on the ground, and they assured us a representative was waiting at baggage claim and a bus would transport us quickly to the dock where check in would be expedited.  Because the cruise line facilitated the process, we stepped onto the ship just before 5:00.

Had we missed the ship, the insurance we purchased would have covered expenses such as a hotel in Fort Lauderdale and flight to Antigua, but we would have traded two relaxing sea days for a hectic race to the island.  As it turned out, that wasn’t necessary, but it reaffirmed why we always buy trip insurance.  The best scenario, as with home or auto insurance, is to never need it—but we believe it’s important to have it just in case. (I’ve only had to make a claim once, for a camera that was stolen in Africa, and the insurance completely covered costs of camera, battery, and photo card).

As the saying goes, all’s well that ends well.  We had a fabulous 10-day cruise in the Eastern Caribbean, with stops at six islands.  But we’ll continue to plan for unforeseen situations that can happen any time you travel.