Tips for Summer Travel

Despite our best efforts, any trip or vacation can have its own unwanted surprises: your luggage is lost; you twist your ankle while sightseeing; you receive urgent news from home. The following section describes how travel insurance can help you be prepared for the unexpected. The section also provides some basic tips for smart, summer travel.

Travel Insurance – Travel insurance is an important way to protect your travel plans and provide you with peace-of-mind while you're away. Most homeowners and renters insurance policies do not cover travel plans, or provide the wide range of travel benefits found with travel insurance policies. When traveling outside of the country, you should ensure that you are adequately covered in case of medical emergency and emergency assistance (for example, a hospital stay in a foreign country or transportation back home). Without the proper insurance, you could be responsible for any and all related expenses.

If you have paid a deposit or pre-paid for the cost of a trip, and then have to cancel or come home earlier than planned, you could lose the entire amount. Most travel policies will protect you with Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption Coverage. If your valuables or luggage are lost or stolen, travel policies can provide you with additional coverage over and above coverage that may be available through a credit card company, travel planner, hotel, or transportation provider.

If you decide to purchase a travel insurance policy, shop around and compare coverage as well as price. Many policies can be very limited, and usually don't provide much more coverage than accidental death & dismemberment.

While Traveling

• Carry expensive items and important papers with you at all times.
  
  
• Ask your hotel manager to store your jewelry and other valuables in the hotel's safe.
  
  
• Avoid carrying large sums of cash.
  
  
• Do not wear or carry valuables or cash when visiting a pool or at a beach.
  
  
• Check your hotel, condominium or house rental for any damaged property when you arrive. Report anything unusual to the management right away. This ensures that you can retrieve your full security deposit when you leave.
  
  
• Check to make sure your homeowners insurance will cover your personal belongings worldwide.
  
  
• Consider adding a Personal Property Endorsement to your homeowners policy if you travel with expensive jewelry or computer equipment.
  
  
• Carry your money and passport in a money belt worn underneath your shirt or around your waist when traveling in foreign countries. Do not use a front pants pocket.
  
  
• Keep a copy of your passport in your luggage for easy replacement at the U.S. Embassy.
  
  
• Watch your wallet or purse when moving through large crowds.
  
  
• Do not carry a fanny pack, belt bag or travel guide that will label you as a tourist – especially in large cities or foreign countries.
  
  
• Use a disposable camera when traveling to high crime areas.
  
  
• Always be aware of your surroundings. If it doesn't feel safe, it probably isn't.
  
  
• Attach brightly colored bits of fabric or ribbon to the handle of your luggage to differentiate it from other, similar-looking bags.
  
  
• Pack a special first-aid kit for travel to foreign countries with limited medical access.
  

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