InsureMyTrip Blog

Ed. Note: This post is the second part of a two-part fable.  The original installment can be found here.  If you’re following along to try to guess the number of travel preparation mishaps made by this family, answers appear in bold at the end of this post.

When we left our traveling family, just about every aspect of their holiday plans had gone painfully awry.  It would be both easy and false to try to wrap this story up with a neat bow and say that travel insurance could have prevented this family from experiencing any of the stresses they encountered.  Sadly, travel insurance can’t stop snowstorms, it can’t help you clear security properly, and it can’t turn back time to help the kids get to the sledding hill on time.  However, it is an important step in preparing for holiday travel, and it can make the inconveniences of botched plans a little easier to swallow, especially at a time of year when patience for disruptions is in such short supply.
If this family had been properly prepared for their trip, the story might have looked more like this:

Once upon a time, Mom, Dad, Sally, and Billy were on their way over the river, through the woods, and across the country on an airplane to Grandma’s house for the holidays.  They had already shipped most of their gifts directly to Grandma’s, but there were a few last-minute items that needed to be brought on the plane with them.  Realizing that they wouldn’t fit in the carry-on luggage, Mom snapped quick pictures of each gift with her smartphone, then packed them in her checked bag and slipped the  receipts for each present into her purse, just in case anything went wrong.

The family called the airline before leaving the house, and since their flight appeared to be on time, they set out for the airport.  Dad was adamant that they be in the security line three hours in advance, just to make sure there was plenty of time to get through the holiday crowds.  As Mom helped the kids out of the car, she noticed that Sally was carrying her purse.  Quickly, they went through the contents and left the larger bottles of hand lotion and nail polish in the glove compartment of their car, keeping only the items that would be sure to pass the 3-1-1 test.

Once they’d cleared security, the family found a flight status board, which showed that their plane was now delayed.  All of Sally and Billy’s wishing for snow on the sledding hills had paid off – a bit too much, in fact.  A snowstorm had brought the deep drifts they wanted; but it had also brought the airports near Grandma’s house to a standstill.

No aircraft but Santa’s sleigh could possibly fly in or out of the area until the snow had stopped and was cleared from the runways.  After a few hours of waiting, the flight was officially cancelled.  Mom immediately called their travel insurance company and explained the situation.  The representative she spoke with helped arrange comfortable lodgings for the family at a nearby hotel and reminded Mom that if she needed to feed the family at a restaurant, their travel insurance policy would help pay for those expenses – as long as Mom and Dad remembered to keep their receipts.  While the family went to the concourse to eat dinner, the travel insurance company continued to work on getting them booked on another flight.

Although they did have to sleep at the hotel that night, they were grateful for comfortable beds.  Dad spent some time that evening making sure that they had all the documentation they would need to file a claim with the insurance company, feeling relieved that their policy would be able to cover the cost of the hotel stay and the food and toiletries they’d had to buy to get through the night.  The family was able to catch an early morning flight to Grandma’s, thanks to the rebooking help they’d gotten from the insurance company’s travel assistance line.  They got there just in time for the first tasting of the hot cocoa, and while the kids hit the sledding hills, Dad called the travel insurance company yet again to make sure that they were covered for the extra gifts that had been lost with the family’s luggage.  Thanks to Mom’s quick thinking in bringing photos and receipts for all the packed items, he was assured he would have enough information to file a claim.  Better yet, Grandma had the wonderful idea of printing copies of the pictures and wrapping them for the children, so they could see the gifts Mom and Dad would be replacing for them when they got home from their trip.   It wasn’t exactly what everyone had hoped their holiday would be, but at least they were safe, warm, and together, with the majority of their gifts tucked beneath the tree and the peace of mind that they wouldn’t have to add the costs of all the travel disruptions to their post-holiday bills.

As always, we wish everyone safe and happy travels – whether you’re off to Grandma’s for the family sledding party, or heading someplace warm and sunny for your seasonal cheer.  When you’re making your preparations, please consider adding travel insurance to your must-have list this year.  If you have any questions about choosing the policy that’s best for your family, call our Customer Care Center at 800-487-4722.

For those who were keeping track of the travel mistakes made by our traveling family, we counted at least seven: 1) Packing gifts in checked luggage; 2) Wrapping the gifts before packing; 3) Not checking flight status before going to the airport; 4) Not leaving enough time to clear security; 5) Not preparing for security with appropriate footwear and abiding by the 3-1-1 rule; 6) Throwing away food receipts; 7) Not having documentation of valuables in lost luggage.
Can you see any other ways our family might have been better prepared?  Leave a comment and share your best holiday travel tips.

The holiday season can be stressful for most of us, what with all the shopping, cooking, wrapping, and planning to make sure every last detail is just perfect for every member of the family.  When travel arrangements get added to the equation, it’s even more stressful – and more important to be thoroughly prepared.  Small mistakes can add up to big disappointments.  See how many travel preparation errors you can spot in this holiday tale, then check your answers and find out how things might have gone more smoothly in Part II of the story.

Once upon a time, Mom, Dad, Sally, Billy were on their way over the river, through the woods, and across the country on an airplane to Grandma’s house for the holidays.  They had carefully packed most of their gifts into their checked luggage and were eagerly anticipating the next day’s family sledding party and annual hot cocoa competition.  In the rush of last-minute preparations, they arrived at the airport with just an hour to spare before their flight, each lugging a large carry-on bag and suitcases brimming with wrapped presents, ready to place under the tree at Grandma’s.

As they struggled through security, taking precious moments to wrestle with Billy’s double-zippered snow boots and Sally’s Hello Kitty purse of treasured nail polishes and hand lotions, Mom and Dad began to worry that they wouldn’t make their scheduled flight.  As it turned out, the family didn’t need to worry about the time.  All of Sally and Billy’s wishing for snow on the sledding hills had paid off – a bit too much, in fact.  A snowstorm had brought the deep drifts they wanted; but it had also brought the airports near Grandma’s house to a standstill.

No aircraft but Santa’s sleigh could possibly fly in or out of the area until the snow had stopped and was cleared from the runways.  As the hopeful family waited anxiously, the hours ticked by.  Their flight was delayed, then cancelled.  They had no choice but to wait in the rebooking lines to see if they could possibly find another way to Grandma’s house.  As still more time passed without a new arrangement, the children began to get hungry and tired.  Mom did her best to arrange the waiting-area chairs in the airport as makeshift beds for Sally and Billy, then went to find some fast food near their gate.  As she gathered up her purchases, she spilled soda all over the tray, the napkins, and her receipt.  Wondering what else could possibly go wrong, Mom dispiritedly threw the ruined items in the trash.  She couldn’t help wishing they could just go somewhere else to eat, sleep, and sort out their disappointments in the morning.

By the time the family finally got to Grandma’s house the next evening, it was too late for the hot cocoa competition; all that remained were a few lonely marshmallows.  The sun had set on the sledding hills, and the cousins and aunts and uncles had all gone home to hang their stockings.  Grandma warmed the cold dinners that had waited on the holiday table, then put the children to sleep in cozy beds at last.  Mom and Dad sat dejectedly looking at the empty space beneath the Christmas tree while Dad tried to call the airlines to track down the family’s luggage, which had been lost in all the confusion.  At the airline’s request, Mom painstakingly tried to recall exactly which gifts had been wrapped and stowed in the suitcases, wishing she’d kept the receipts instead of balling them up with the excess gift wrap and throwing them away.

Upstairs, as the children slept quietly in their beds, Grandma went into the attic to find the trunks of old toys she’d saved since her own children were small.  From the assortment of keepsakes, she filled up the stockings, knowing that Santa has to come on time, even if the luggage doesn’t.  It wouldn’t be the perfect holiday anyone had envisioned, but with Grandma’s help, Mom and Dad could at least watch Billy and Sally open something on Christmas morning.

Stay tuned for Part II…

We’re pleased to welcome to the InsureMyTrip blog a friend of ours, renowned travel blogger Johnny Jet!  Johnny has graciously agreed to share with us his perspective on one of our travelers’ most popular fall vacation destinations.

For many, Italy is a favorite vacation destination and it’s definitely one of mine. If I had a nickel for every time someone asked me where they should go on their maiden Italian voyage, I would be a very wealthy man. Instead of you lighting up my cell phone, I figured I would share my opinion here.

Ideally, you should try to hit Italy’s big three (Rome, Florence and Venice) sometime in your life. So if you think this is a once in a lifetime trip, then I would recommend you start off in Venice and make your way down to Rome (through Tuscany).  You can sign up for a tour if you don’t want to have to think about your every move – I hear Trafalgar and Perillo offer excellent tours.

But after you are done with that trip, you’re going to need a vacation from your vacation so add on a few extra days and go to my favorite place in Italy; the island of Ischia. Ischia is Capri’s little known sister island, despite the fact that she’s three times bigger and a lot less expensive. Many travelers consider it a slice of heaven and I’m sure after your stay, you will too.  Ischia is a volcanic island that’s six miles (10 km) wide and four miles (7 km) long. It’s located in the Tyrrhenian Sea between the Gulf of Gaeta and the Bay of Naples. It’s famous for its warm mineral springs and incredible vistas.

To get there from Rome is easy. Just take a high-speed train from Rome to Naples, which takes an hour.  When you get to Naples, jump in a taxi to the Molo Beverello Port, a 10-minute ride away. Drivers charge tourists a flat rate of 15 euros (US $21) but my local Italian friends say that if you tell the driver ‘tariffa predeterminata’, the fee is just 10 euros (US $14) including luggage.  There are multiple ferry companies offering transit to Ischia so look at the ferry schedule on the departure board and give your business to the one leaving the earliest; they usually depart every 30 minutes. Tickets cost 16 euros (US $23) each and the ride is just under an hour. Tip: Naples is still notorious for crime. Be sure to take off all your jewelry, including the fake stuff, and safeguard your belongings.

The island is a popular destination in the summer, attracting mostly mainland Italians and Germans. In fact, there are so many Germans that almost all the signs and menus are in both Italian and German; many of the locals speak both languages, too. One of Ischia’s best attributes is that few Americans visit. Don’t get me wrong! I love my fellow citizens, but it’s so much more authentic to be surrounded by locals. For me, being surrounded by Americans when I’m abroad diminishes some of the mystique of foreign travel.

Good to know: Like in Capri, most hotels in Ischia are seasonal. They open in early April and close at the end of October. The population in Ischia is 70,000, but in the summer, this number rises to 90,000. The island gets a total of five million visitors a year, many visiting just for the day.

There are plenty of hotels and bed and breakfasts to choose from for every budget. Just be sure to make advance reservations in high season. I recently stayed at the five-star Hotel Terme Manzi. It’s expensive but has the island’s best restaurant located on its premises. But a few years ago, I shacked up at the three-star La Ginestra for just 80 euros (US $114) a night and that included breakfast and dinner like most hotels on the island.

While you are in Ischia, you’re probably just going to want to relax at the beach and eat good food (and gelato!) while recovering from your whirlwind trip exploring Italy’s treasures. But you really should try to visit these three places:

-The Negombo Health and Beauty Center is a natural thermal spa on the Tyrrhenian Sea surrounded by beautiful gardens. It’s a 10-minute, free shuttle ride from the hotel and a perfect place to unwind.

-La Mortella Gardens, located on a volcanic gorge, has over 3,000 different species of tropical flora from around the world. The views and waterfall make it a perfect place.

-At Fumarole Beach, you can not only swim but the locals cook dinner at night underneath the sand! They don’t use a grill but rather the vapor from the volcano. That’s how close to the surface it is.

Tips:
-Don’t spend 2 euros on a small bottle of water. Instead, find out where the closest grocery store is and stock up. I bought a large bottle of water for under US $1 (0.63 euro).

-I wouldn’t rent a car but depending on your motor skills, I would entertain the idea of getting a Vespa, even though they can be dangerous. I do recommend taking the public bus, which connects to the major towns and costs under $2 USD. Just be sure to buy tickets in advance from either a newsstand, bar, travel agency or tobacconist.

As you can probably tell, I love Ischia and it holds a special place in my heart. And it’s not just because it’s where my grandparents emigrated from in the 1920s. After experiencing the food, views and people, I suspect that you will feel the same way. In fact, I can pretty much guarantee it!

Happy Travels,

Johnny Jet

JohnnyJet.com

Facebook: /Johnny.Jet

Twitter: @JohnnyJet

John E. DiScala (a.k.a. Johnny Jet) travels around 150,000 miles and visits over 20 countries each year. He and his website JohnnyJet.com have been featured over 2,000 times in major publications, including USA Today, Time, Fortune and The New York Times, and he has appeared on ABC, CBS, CNBC, CNN, MSNBC, NBC, FOX News Channel and PBS.  JohnnyJet.com has been named “one of the top best money-saving web sites for travel” by Budget Travel Magazine, while  the L.A. Times calls it “one of the top 10 essential travel resources on the internet.” Outside Magazine touted Johnny for having one of the world’s best “dream jobs”. He writes for Frommers.com, The Huffington Post, LAX Magazine and has written for USAToday and ABC News.  Sign up today for Johnny Jet’s free weekly travel newsletter at JohnnyJet.com.

One of the reasons we’re so adamant about trying to stay in touch with our customers is that it’s often the experience of one traveler that helps us better serve the needs of all travelers.  One person’s experience can sometimes help us to uncover unique questions and concerns about travel insurance that might help somebody else in choosing the right policy for their trip.  That’s why, for many of our Customer Care Representatives, the most memorable Hurricane Season stories are the ones that involved slightly less common questions from travelers.

“I had clients call who were in Mexico at the time of a storm, and their hotel mandated that everyone had to evacuate.  Luckily they made it to the airport before it was shut down, so they were able to get home.  They used their trip interruption coverage to help recover their costs.” Lynne, Customer Care Training and Communications Specialist

Why it was unusual: Although Lynne’s clients were told by their hotel manager that they had to leave the property, there was actually no mandatory evacuation from the city in which they were staying.  While some travel insurance plans state that a mandatory evacuation is a covered event, many travelers could be confused by what a “mandatory evacuation” really means.  In this case, while the term didn’t apply, the travelers were still able to recoup the expenses involved in cutting their trip short, because uninhabitable accommodations — i.e., a hotel that’s closed and evacuated due to the storm — are often covered as reasons for trip interruption.

Confused?  Here’s what to ask: What happens if  a hurricane hits while I’m on vacation, and I can’t stay in my hotel any longer?  What kind of coverage would I have if I left early?

“This is kind of an unusual one, but it’s something I think people should really be aware of.  I spoke to some travelers who were supposed to be spending the night on a sailboat while the hurricane was coming through.  They were covered, fortunately, because it was a charter boat – but I want to make sure people know that they have to ask questions about getting coverage for something unique like a stay on a sailing vessel, because it’s not the type of thing that is covered by every standard policy.” –Darryl, Customer Care Representative

Why it was unusual: Cruising might be a popular travel choice, but spending just one or two nights on a private boat isn’t for everyone.

Confused?  Here’s what to ask: If there is anything about your travel plans that you think may be somewhat unconventional — unusual accommodations, adventure sports, wilderness experiences, whatever it may be — please share that with a Customer Care Representative.  You may want to say something like, “I’m not sure if this is significant, but I’m planning to spend the night on a raft going down the Nile…what happens if the river floods unexpectedly and I can’t fulfill my plans?”  As Darryl’s experience with the charter-boat passengers illustrates, there may be specific coverage readily available for certain things, while others may require a bit more research, or may not be covered at all.  It’s best to know well in advance of your trip whether or not your exotic plans can be protected by travel insurance, so there are no surprises in the midst of your adventure.

“I do remember speaking with an insured that had purchased (one of the policies offered on InsureMyTrip.com).  There was a hurricane warning and she was able to cancel her trip and receive the cost of the trip back.  She wanted us to know how extremely happy she was that she had spoken to a knowledgeable customer care specialist who had suggested purchasing one of the policies that offered cancellation due to a hurricane warning. “ –Nancie, Customer Care Representative

Why it was unusual: As Nancie points out, not every package policy will cover you if you decide to cancel your trip based on a hurricane warning alone.  Many of them stipulate that a hurricane must actually occur, and cause certain complications for travelers, for coverage to kick in.  However, we do have some plans that extend the cancellation coverage to travelers who want to change their plans based on a warning, so this particular customer was fortunate to have made an informed choice.

Confused?  Here’s  what to ask: If you really feel that you’d be among the people who would want to cancel due to the threat of a hurricane, then it’s absolutely worth asking one of our Customer Care Representatives to explain to you about not only policies that will cover cancellation due to a hurricane warning, but also Cancel For Any Reason coverage, which provides a broader spectrum of protection and may be the most comfortable choice for some travelers.

The bottom line: We can never know too much about your travel plans.  The more information you provide to us as we’re helping you research your options, the better able we’ll be to provide you with a policy that truly meets all of your unique needs as a traveler.  Call one of our Customer Care Representatives at 800-487-4722 to receive personalized service and answers to all of your travel insurance questions.

Bri, Marketing

In my life, there are various people who travel.  One of my oldest friends from my junior high school days racks up serious frequent flier miles globetrotting for business.  My sister, a professor of antiquities, is always flying off to some envious locale for a conference or a “research” trip (note, dear, sister, that all those photos of you posing with a glass of wine in front of a gorgeous seascape don’t quite match up to your talk of dusty library carrels and hours spent poring over engravings).  And a dear friend from graduate school invariably spends her summers, unfettered by work responsibilities, exploring various corners of the world with the kind of adventurous yen that I can’t quite muster.  I admire it, but I can’t muster it.

Aside from the business-travel guy, whose needs are covered entirely by his company, most of the travelers in my life find themselves in frequent need of travel insurance.  For my sister, it’s a need usually heightened by the requirements of embassies, host organizations, and other entities; for my adventure-traveling friend, it’s a need identified, somewhat regretfully, by a rather embarrassing incident on a backpacking trip in the Highlands.  (More on that in a moment.)  And while both of these women are quite educated, savvy creatures more than capable of researching and purchasing their own travel insurance, guess who they usually call to help them?

Luckily for both of them, they not only have me — they have my husband, who happens to be the Product Underwriting Manager here at IMT.  He’s the one who got on the phone with my sister last summer and convinced her that she was about to be penny-wise and pound-foolish in purchasing a lesser (and therefore less expensive) policy for her upcoming sabbatical.  It’s a good thing he did, too, because between flight delays and unexpected problems with accommodations, she certainly ended up needing the coverage he recommended.  As for my adventurous friend, she received the tag-team approach on a recent visit to our home.

As she was detailing the plans for her upcoming trip to Africa, I managed to gently prod her several times into proclaiming “Oh!  While I’m here, I should ask you guys about insurance.”  My husband then took over with the details, as I helpfully chimed in from time to time.  For example: “You know, he’s right about getting medical evacuation and hospital of choice.  You may not want to, say, fall over a waterfall in Africa, gash your leg severely — or worse — and end up stranded in the middle of nowhere, until some strange men pull up in a Jeep and offer to try to transport you to a hospital 20 miles or so away.”

Obviously I’m not usually so specific, but remember that embarrassing incident I referred to earlier?  This scenario at the waterfall was the spectacular ending to her Highlands adventure.  Had it not been for the kindness of (fortunately altruistic) strangers, she’d have been in a very dangerous predicament.  She knew it, too.  She left our house armed with plenty of information and several quotes for appropriate policies.

I’m certain that both my sister and my friend would be able to find travel insurance on their own, but they don’t have to.  That’s what friends (and relatives) are for.  When you need advice on any subject, research is great — but let’s be honest; if you’ve got a friend who knows something about it, you’ll ask them as well, and be more likely to feel comfortable that the information they’ve given you is correct.  And while not everyone has an old college buddy or close relative working in the travel insurance industry, you do have the next best thing: InsureMyTrip.

Our Customer Care representatives are licensed insurance specialists who don’t work on commission, so they not only know what they’re talking about, but they’ll only recommend the policies that are best for you.  They don’t have a certain number of calls that they have to take in a day, so they can give you the attention and time you need to make an informed decision.  Just like a good friend, they’re available to help you out when you need it, by phone, live chat, or email — and they’re here seven days a week.

You may not have an actual friend who works at IMT (and who can oh-so-kindly remind you of your most embarrassing travel moments), but we’d like to be your travel insurance companions nonetheless.  It’s often said that in life, it’s not what you know, but who you know.  Why not get to know InsureMyTrip?

Bri, Marketing

Thanks, Mother Nature.  Happy Holidays to you, too.

Pardon us for the moment of sarcasm, but the current insanity that’s happening at Heathrow — at last check, the airport has announced that fully less than 1/3 of its flights (both inbound and outbound) will be operating until after Christmas — is just one more major upheaval in a string of weather-related travel nightmares.  The 2010 Holiday Travel Season is upon us, and since Thanksgiving, the traveling public has been peppered with gloomy announcements of delays and cancellations, all courtesy of what meteorologists the world over are euphemistically calling “events.”  Yes, Mr. Weatherman, it’s pretty eventful out there. (more…)

Chris, Business Development

The American Academy of Hospitality Sciences (AAHS) today presented our home state of Rhode Island with its highest honor: the International Star Diamond Award. It’s the first U.S. State to receive the award, and only the 10th destination worldwide. Rhode Island’s Tourism Director said: “This is our industry’s Academy Awards. We are essentially receiving an Oscar, and certification that Rhode Island is a world-class destination offering some of the best natural beauty, culinary offerings, history and cultural attractions.”

Working in the travel insurance business, I’m constantly focused on helping people who are traveling away from home – for pleasure, visiting friends and family, or for business. Often I forget what’s in my own back yard. So this is a reminder to appreciate our local communities, and to preserve and protect them. As an avid traveler I encourage everyone to see the world (and visit InsureMyTrip.com before you go!)

But often times there’s something new to explore, right in our own back yard.