Travel Insurance: What You Need to Know

06/17/2011 By

Travel insurance is one of those things you think you’re never going to need. Why spend the extra money? What could go wrong? You’re probably like me, once you pay for transportation and a fabulous resort, your thoughts are more on some adorable new sandals or a few cute outfits than on travel insurance.

The truth is that there is a lot that can go wrong. Have you ever thought how much all new clothing for a trip costs after the airline loses your luggage? And most people have other people to think about. Illness or death among family and friends can certainly cause anyone to miss a flight, or an entire vacation. And you don’t want to travel with the flu yourself, do you? Flights are canceled, people get hurt while on vacation – lots of unfortunate things can happen. You may very be saving money by buying travel insurance.

My reluctance to buy travel insurance was tested a few years ago on a flight to Florida where I was planning on joining friends on a cruise. Because of work I had cut times pretty close. I was only going to be in Florida a few hours before the ship left port.

I was fine, my tickets were fine, and I had all of my necessary paperwork. Life was good. As we were flying somewhere over North Carolina, there was a surprise announcement over the plane’s loudspeaker. Was there a doctor on the plane?

I had seen flight attendants going back and forth to a passenger’s seat a few rows up but hadn’t thought much of it. It turned out that the passenger was having a heart attack.

Luckily, there did happen to be a doctor on board and we had an emergency landing in South Carolina. An medical crew came quickly, the poor man was hurried off the plane, and from what we heard, was rushed to a hospital and did well. End of story, right? Not so fast.

By the time the flight got permission to land, and the ill gentleman was taken from the plane, and then the plane was given permission to take off again…that delay was just long enough to get me to Florida a short while after my ship had sailed. And with my ship sailed the non-refundable money that I had spent on the trip. Do I wish I had had travel insurance? You can be sure that I buy it every time I travel now.

A friend of mine took a trip to the Greek Island of Rhodes a couple of years ago. I was excited for her. It was a dream vacation. She went off-season to save a little money. She also refused to buy travel insurance for the same reason. In accordance with “Murphy’s Law” the airline lost all of her luggage. She didn’t even have a toothbrush. It was the off season for travel in Rhodes. It was evening and dark out. There weren’t many people around who spoke English and she spoke no Greek. No stores were open.  She didn’t even have a toothbrush. It was a traveler’s nightmare. Then she had to buy an entire new wardrobe for her trip. Do you think she saved money by NOT buying travel insurance? You can be sure that she has routinely bought travel insurance ever since.

Travel insurance covers a lot of things that may not sound like calamities but are when it comes to making a flight or spending your entire vacation at your vacation destination. Perhaps the best thing about travel insurance is that it eliminates so many little worries that are totally unforeseeable. Buying insurance takes a lot of the worry out of travel and allows you to enjoy the time leading up to your vacation as well as your vacation itself.

There are different levels of travel insurance, from basic travel insurance that covers everything from illness to jury duty. (Really, have you ever thought what you’d do if you couldn’t get excused from jury duty that popped up a couple of weeks before your planned trip?) to more deluxe travel insurance which even covers dental and medical emergencies while you’re away. In fact, it covers the possibility that you might become separated or divorced between the time that you make your vacation plans and the time of the vacation! And, of course, there’s mid-level coverage. It all depends on your vacation and what you can afford.

I just remembered the time my ex-husband and I planned to fly to Ireland on a Sunday for our anniversary….and he had our passports….in the safe deposit box…..at the bank….on a Sunday. No, it’s not why we’re divorced. But I’m going to look into whether travel insurance covers instances like that right now!

 

Filed Under: Travel Guide Tagged With: , ,

Travel Checklist

05/23/2011 By

Even seasoned travelers may become frazzled before a trip. There’s always so much to do and so little time in which to do it. There’s one’s job to tidy up prior to leaving and knowing what to take and what paperwork you’ll need and figuring out with whom you’ll need to leave contact information. If you’re taking your children, that demands extra preparation – and if you have children but aren’t taking them – well, that also demands preparation. Sometimes the most obvious things become sticking points. Have you ever attempted to retrieve a passport from a bank vault on a Sunday? (I have.) So how is a traveler to beat the pre-travel blues? Make a checklist, check it often, and stick to it. Here’s our checklist of important things that MUST be done before you leave.

Long before your scheduled trip, check on the following:

  • Have you done your homework? Make yourself familiar with the area to which you’re traveling. If it’s a foreign country, you should be aware of important customs and traditions. Even if your destination is only a few hours away, learn about things to do in the area. It saves a lot of time during your precious vacation and gives you a chance to check out reviews of restaurants and local attractions beforehand so you don’t get caught up in tourist traps.
  • Do you have the documentation that you need? You may need a passport, or a passport and a visa. Make sure that your paperwork is up-to-date. You don’t want to find out that your passport is outdated on the morning of your flight. Are there any special vaccinations that you need and documentation of these vaccinations? Look into it. Are you going to be able to take medications out of the country without documentation from your doctor?
  • Check into airport security so that you’re not throwing out your full-sized toiletries prior to boarding.

The week before your trip:

  • Print and take all information about your flights, hotel reservations, and any tours you have booked.
  • If you’re using a babysitter, or dog/cat caretaker, or someone to water your plants make sure that you have everything covered with the caretaker.
  • Make sure that your luggage is well tagged and tie something colorful to your luggage (which will look like every other piece of luggage on the carousel after landing if you don’t.)
  • Print out a list of emergency numbers to have just in case you lose your cell phone or it loses service.
  • Buy a power adaptor if you’re traveling internationally.
  • Make sure that you have an ample supply of any medication that you may routinely take and that it’s in the bottles in which it’s supplied by the pharmacy.
  • Ask the post office and the newspaper to hold your mail and newspapers until you return home. There’s nothing like a pile of letters and newspapers to let burglars know that your home is empty.

The night before your trip:

  • Do you know where your car keys, house keys, medication, vitamins, extra contact lenses, reading glasses, cell phone and cell phone charger are? Put them next to something you can’t forget – like your luggage – and pack them as soon as you can.
  • Have your luggage packed.
  • Make sure that you have a carry-on bag with a quick change of clothing in case your luggage is lost, medications, cash,  driver’s license, passport and other documentation, airplane tickets, credit card/s, and traveler’s checks. Add some snacks.
  • Toss out anything in the refrigerator that you won’t want to come home to – i.e. once fresh fish, old leftovers.

Right before you leave:

  • Put everything in your luggage and carry on that you left out for use before you left.
  • Turn down the heat and unplug the coffee pot, iron, curling iron, and other small appliances.
  • Check this list ten or twelve times.
  • Lock the front door and you’re on vacation!

 

Filed Under: Travel Guide Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Trendy Travel Bags

05/10/2011 By

No savvy traveler will want to be seen indulging in luxury travel unless they’re carrying their belongings in fabulous, trendy, travel bags and cases. And what are those trendy travel bags? You can’t go wrong with a Gucci, Forzieri, Tumi, or a Louis Vuitton.

Gucci offers classic bags in a large variety of styles and fabrications – from cotton with fine leather touches to all leather. Carry your personal documents and other necessities in a messenger bag, backpack, duffel, briefcase, shoulder bag, belt bag, or computer case. A small Gucci messenger bag in beige/ebony GG plus fabric with brown leather trim begins at $395.

Forzieri offerings include beautiful carry-ons, laptop bags, and garment bags of all sorts. A smart looking Fossil Wagner- Brown Canvas Duffle Bag is available for $128.00 on Forzieri’s website. Forzieri Italia’s website also offers Alviero Martini 1A bags, Hi-Tech bags by Piquadro, Luxury Icons by Bentley and Style Lab by Aznom, as well as many other designers and styles in every price range for the smart traveler.

Tumi carries every conceivable luxury bag for any traveler. This includes satchels, totes, duffels, garment bags, shoulder and crossbody bags, trunks, toiletry and cosmetic cases, on up to large wheeled luggage. A Tumi “Just in Case Tote” is available in a several patterns and colors at just $95. This tote is lightweight, foldable, packable, and comes in a zip pouch. This makes it the perfect tote to either use as a carry-on, or to stow in your luggage to bring back souvenirs, or even to carry along as a “luggage lightener,” should you find that your checked luggage doesn’t meet airline weight restrictions.

An impressive Keepall 45, is a staple of the classic Louis Vuitton travel collection. The smallest bag features monogram canvas, leather handles, and natural cowhide trim. It has a double zipper and an elegant, removable ID holder. It can be personalized with your initials. This bag retails at $1050.The Louis Vuitton website also offers Damier Ebene and Damier Azur canvas bags. Rolling luggage, hard-sided luggage, many bags, and other travel accessories are available.

Don’t venture out until you’ve checked out these beautiful travel bags and accessories. They’ll add convenience, pleasure, and style to your exciting luxury travel!

 

Filed Under: Luxury Lifestyle Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Polar Bears of Churchill

05/05/2011 By

Visit Churchill, Manitoba, Canada, the “Polar Bear Capital of the World.” It’s a town on the shore of the Hudson Bay and is famous for the polar bears that move toward the shore from inland in the autumn, leading to its nickname.

Churchill

The first people to live in Churchill were the Thule people who arrived around 1000 AD and later evolved into the Inuits who live in and around Churchill today. The first Europeans to arrive in the area were the Danish in 1619. The first permanent settlement came with the Hudson’s Bay Company in 1717.

The town is named after John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough and an ancestor of Winston Churchill. The area was a part of the fur trade and later became a port. It’s also the site of the Churchill Rocket Research Range, part of Canadian-American Atmospheric research. Its first rocket was launched in 1956. Today Churchill is a small town that thrives from the operations of the Port of Churchill and polar bear and beluga whale tourism. It’s also a birdwatcher’s paradise and a wonderful place to take in the Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis.

Polar Bears

Churchill’s main claim to fame is its polar bears. Tourists can safely view polar bears from buses called tundra buggies. This form of ecotourism is best in October and November when hundreds of polar bears wait near Churchill while the water freezes on Hudson Bay, allowing them to return to their primary food source, seals. Churchill maintains a “polar bear jail” for bears that loiter near or in town, keeping them until Hudson freezes over.

The Classic Polar Bear Photo Adventure

The Classic Polar Bear Photo Adventure is an excellent way to visit Churchill and meet the famous polar bears up close and personal. The trip includes three full days on the tundra among the polar bears, a chance to perfect your wildlife photography skills with the help of a well-known photographer/guide, and a chance to be amazed at how close you’ll get to the bears for some incredible photographs. Each group is limited to fifteen travelers, a roundtrip flight from Winnipeg to Churchill is included, as well as accommodations, meals, and more, including the loan of boots and parkas. Little or no walking is required and the the physical requirements are easy.

To learn more or to book your Classic Polar Bear Adventure call us at 866-365-8747.

Filed Under: Adventure Travel Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Escape to the Riviera Maya

04/03/2011 By

Built on sugar white sand and set between the warm, sparkling, turquoise blue waters of the Caribbean and the lushness of the Yucatan jungle, Grand Velas Riviera Maya is just 35 minutes from Cancun International Airport and 5 minutes from downtown Playa del Carmen.

Grand Velas Riviera Maya offers you nothing but luxury! The accommodations are all-suite and decorated in the style of contemporary Mexico. They offer oceanfront and jungle terraces, private plunge pools, wireless Internet access, 42” plasma TVs, in-room massage, whirlpool bathtubs and more – including more than 1,000 feet each of living space! The resort is divided into three areas – the Grand Class is set up for privacy and relaxation, there is a family friendly area, and an area that’s open to families and the best area for business travelers as well as it’s close to the convention area.

Grand Velas offers spa vacations for those seeking to be pampered in luxury that includes massage therapy, body wraps, facials, and a world class fitness center with classes in yoga and pilates.

The Grand Velas Convention Center offers over 90,000 square feet of meeting and event space equipped with cutting edge technology. There are 32 rooms for small gatherings and two large conference areas that can accommodate up to 3,000 people.

Dining at Grand Velas is a delight! There’s something for everyone from fine French cuisine, to traditional Mexican, Asian Fusion, Basque delicacies and family favorites like gourmet pizza.

There are adult restaurants and those that specialize in family dining. Enjoy outdoor dining as well. 24 hour in-suite dining service is offered and there are snack bars, poolside bars, and lounges that feature entertainment nightly around the resort.

The Riviera Maya is a one of the world’s finest beach destinations and the best of its exciting attractions are within minutes of Grand Velas. Visit Cozumel and indulge in scuba diving, snorkeling and more sun and sand. Take advantage of fishing, kayaking and sailing. Looking for adventure? Explore the jungle by horseback or try a zip line tour through the Yucatan!

Some of Mexico’s most ancient ruins are easily accessible to you from Grand Velas. Visit Tulum, Chichen Itza, and Coba to learn about the mysteries of Mayan life. Our concierge can help you set up a day tour.

Don’t forget to take advantage of Grand Velas’ special scuba diving vacation! The Riviera Maya is one of the world’s top destinations for scuba diving. There are many marine parks in both Cozumel and Playa del Carmen that offer protected habitats for the area’s many forms of marine life. The Riviera Maya is also famed for its many “cenotes,” or underground caves that have been carved out of limestone by freshwater rivers. Experts will guide you through the fabulous underwater setting. Other adventures include private sailboat and catamaran tours, diving courses, jet ski tours, kayaking and parasailing. See the concierge at Grand Velas to set up your tour of the Carribean floor. Visit the caves and shipwrecks underneath the Carribean’s blue waters, and even enjoy night diving!

 

Filed Under: Luxury Vacations Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The road less travelled is sometimes the only way to travel.

01/13/2011 By

JacqueSalentineBusby

When you travel a new path, sometimes you do not know where your are going until you have arrived.

People often ask what made me decide to become a travel writer?  Family and friends perhaps are the most curious when it comes to this subject because most of them were not even aware that I had a passion for writing and most probably did not know that I even could write.  In fact, I began my career working as a community relations representative and have spent most of my life helping people and volunteering for many local charities. I was “travelling” in a completely different direction.

Recent events in my life would offer a new path for me to travel along.  Perhaps faith played a role when a chance meeting with a very special individual who I have come to admire and consider a close and personal friend has changed my life.   Because of this, I have finally found my true passion.

Her name is Jacque Salentine Busby and she is the owner of Luxe Travel Deals, a luxury travel agency located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Jacque’s vision and concept of Citizen Diplomat – that people can make a difference in the world through luxury travel has inspired me.

A simple change to her company ideology has already made a huge impact in the travel industry.  She,  like many of her friends and affliates are spreading the word about Citizen Diplomat and people are listening.  Citizen diplomat is catching on!  Travel professionals are beginning to recognize how luxury travel can and is being  used to foster humanitarian relief efforts.  It is because of this, that I have chosen to dedicate mush of my time to witing about travel.

Jacque had showed me that I can change the world through my voice and my passion for writing.   She encouraged me to try new things and I have learned alot  about the world around me.  I have opened my eyes and my heart to new ideas and new travel dreams and  prospects.

Together, with her expertise and passion for luxury travel and my knowledge of community relations we have begun to  build the basis for a  company with a completely new vision and direction.   We have finally arrived.

It has not been an easy road to travel but it has most certainly been worth every step of the journey.  I have made new friends, have a new dream and I am helping to change the world.  I encourage you to join me  along this new path and help make a difference in the world one idea  at a time.

If you would like any further information on citizen diplomat, travel opportunities or ideas on how your company can help to make a difference, please do not hesitate to contact me or Jacque  at concierge@luxetraveldeals.com.

Like us,  you just may find tbe  path that you were  meant to travel!

Citizen Diplomat

Filed Under: Luxury Travel Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

What do companies benefit from employee programs like incentive travel?

01/07/2011 By

 incentive-travel-luxury-travel-agency

Are employee benefits such as incentive travel necessary?

Did you know that according to Wikipedia  “incentive travel investments yield a return  investment of more than 4 dollars to every one dollar spent?”  It has long been the standard for human resources in large corporation to implement employee benefits rewards and programs in an effort to encourage growth potential in their employees.  This growth potential has lead to millions of dollars in cost cutting benefits such as  training tax breaks and sick day disbursements.   Simply, group incentive programs foster motivated employees.

In return for providing such things as incentive travel rewards, corporations have yielded the benefits from motivated employees in such ways:

  • Employees are significantly more dedicated to their jobs.
  • Equally, dedicated employees are more productive.
  • Employees are healthier both physically and mentally and therefore less sick days are reported and this saves companies thousands of dollars over a year period.
  • Employees have a forum to discuss improvements and problems with the products or services -  think about this, who knows moe about the product and service than an employee who is dealing with it on a daily basis?
  • Group dynamics and leadership skills are leaned and implemented which in return formulates good employee relations.

What can incentive travel packages do to improve your company benefits program?

You company will benefit in many ways with the implementation of an incentive travel rewards program.  First and foremost, you have the ability to plan meetings in an environment cohesive to fostering learning and company objectives.

Secondly,  your employees will gain some much needed relaxation and stress free time and they will all share in an incredible group bonding experience.  

Lastly, offering rewards  such as an incentive travel for performance is a huge motivator.  Who would not want to earn a free luxury travel vacation for a job well done?

There are many packages and promotions available from small to large group packages.  Let our expert luxury travel agents at Luxe Travel Deals guide you every step of the way in creating a luxury travel incentive package suited for your company.  We have been helping companies succeed for the past thirty years and as  an affiliate of Travel Group Dynamics  we have access to a world wide network group  and  incentive travel experts.  We travel at the speed of business!

incentive-travel-luxury-travel-agency2

Filed Under: Luxury Travel Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,