The Caribbean has long been a favorite destination for American travelers. Treasured for its scenery and family-friendly atmosphere, the Caribbean is one of the safest travel destinations for millions of American tourists each year.

Yet, like anywhere else in the world, some travelers occasionally experience travel headaches. More often than not, these travel troubles are the result of poor planning by tourists. Hence, the key to a successful Caribbean vacation is preparation, from passports and choosing the right resort to learning important details about your destination and knowing how to pack.

To make sure that your Caribbean vacation is a success, here are some travel tips to consider while planning your getaway:

Apply for passports as soon as possible. As all Caribbean destinations with exception of St. Thomas and the U.S. Virgin Islands require passports for air travel, every member of your family will need to apply. Being the first year of the new passport regulations, delays have increased (with some estimates placing completed application at 10 weeks). Since you dont want to miss your vacation because of passports that havent arrived, complete this step before arranging the details of your vacation.

Do some research before you travel. Try to learn about the culture of your destination and the locations of point of interest. Check reviews for hotels, restaurants and activities. Once you learn a bit about your Caribbean destination, you will be able to make informed decisions regarding resorts and activities.

Since the Caribbean has plenty of great family activities, try to get your kids involved in the planning process. Your children will be happy to know they had a role in your family vacation and you wont have to worry about disappointments.

Try to book a resort near your points of interest that offers helpful services. Throughout the Caribbean, reliable resorts will often offer shuttle transportation, activity packages and might even have exclusive opportunities for guests. Also, try to take advantage of your resorts local connections. It is possible to plan everything from car rentals to scuba diving tours directly through your resort.

If you plan to visit the Caribbean during the high season (generally December to mid-April), make your hotel reservations about 2-3 months in advance. During the off-season (June to November), reservations at popular resorts are a bit easier to come by and also more affordable.

Depending on where you plan to travel in the Caribbean, you may not need to exchange currency as many islands accept U.S. currency in addition to local currencies. However, in many cases, it is advantageous to carry the official currency of your destination especially when traveling outside of areas frequented by tourists. If you are unsure whether or not you need to exchange currency, check with the concierge of your resort. Your concierge can also direct you to a reliable point of exchange.

Throughout the Caribbean, food and drinking water are generally safe for your whole family. Yet, if you spend time exploring outside the major tourist areas like the unique desert coast of Western Aruba make sure you pack some bottled water.

Wear sunscreen. Far and away, the most common health concern for tourists in the Caribbean is overexposure to sunlight. However, this hazard is also the easiest to avoid. Simply pack some good sunscreen and cover-up clothing for use on the beach or while playing outside.

If for any reason you have any difficulties while on vacation in the Caribbean, contact the U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Nearly all of the islands in the region have an office offering helpful travel information and personnel able to resolve many common travel headaches.

The U.S. State Department also offers detailed Consular Information Sheets for all the Caribbean nations. These information packets can help you understand entry and exit requirements, currency exchange, the location of consulates and embassies throughout the region and plenty of other local issues. Use the information of the U.S. State Department in conjunction with your travel guides to prepare for your vacation and avoid the unnecessary stress associated with international travel.

Look into travel insurance programs before finalizing the details of your vacation. Travel insurance can protect you (and your money) in case you need to cancel your vacation, experience delays while traveling or have any medical issues. Review your existing homeowners and medical insurance plans to see if any of these conditions are covered before you travel.

Following these simple tips as you plan your vacation to the Caribbean will not only help you avoid common travel headaches, but also grant you and your family a perfect vacation.

Onboard Cruise Ship Expenses – How To Keep Them Under Control Part 2

Onboard expenses can quickly mount up when you’re at sea. So unless you want a nasty surprise before you disembark at the end of your cruise, here’s how to reduce your costs without reducing the quality of your vacation.

Food

If you want to go a la carte, it’s possible to spend vast amounts of money dining at the alternative onboard restaurants. But with a dining room and various buffets as part of your fare, you can eat virtually round the clock at no extra expense. If you want to experience the delights of alternative dining, why not treat yourself to it every three or four days instead of daily.

Likewise, it’s possible to spend a small fortune in select cafes and coffee bars. But most ships provide complimentary tea and coffee 24 hours a day.

Gratuities

Onboard tipping is rather a thorny issue. A number of cruise lines include tips and gratuities as part of the fare. Other companies don’t include tips, but strongly advise that you reward good service. And on many ships, the management suggest a daily gratuity level which may or may not be automatically added to your onboard account. If you don’t agree with this, take the matter up at the Purser’s Office.

Ultimately, it’s up to you. But I will say one thing; the staff on most cruise ships are low paid. Most of them rely on tips to supplement their income. If passengers don’t provide tips, many of the staff may leave and seek work elsewhere. And in many cases that will lead to a drop in the quality of service, or a rise in ticket prices (if the cruise lines have to pay higher wages to attract workers).

Internet

Internet access from ship to shore is normally expensive. It’s not unusual to see charges of up to $10 per minute. So if you have to use the internet make sure that you keep your eye on the clock. Alternatively, some ships provide each person with a set amount of minutes online as part of your overall fare.

If you want to keep in touch with people while at sea, email is cheaper then telephone, but the connection speed on some ships can be rather slow. So if possible, wait until you arrive in port. Either the price of the onboard connection will be cheaper or you can use one of the onshore internet cafes which are much faster and much cheaper.

Oh, and one final word on email. Most ships will provide you with an onboard email address. Don’t use this as it will be slow and expensive. Before you leave, set up a free web based email account. There are plenty to choose from, such as Yahoo, or Google’s Gmail, and they’re all free. They can be accessed from anywhere in the world and are generally much faster that your onboard email account.

Laundry

Most laundry services will be charged per item, at rates commonly applied in land based hotels, so your costs can rise quickly. However certain cruise ships provide a complimentary laundry service in the top rooms. But I guess if you can afford those rooms you won’t be too worried about a few onboard expenses.

So if you think you’ll need to do laundry while onboard, look for a cruise line that provides a low cost self service laundry facility. Alternatively, pack a bottle of washing liquid and hand wash essential items in your bathroom.

Medical Expenses

Injury or illness can happen to anyone at anytime, so it’s best to prepare for all possible eventualities. First check out the position from the point of view of your home country. For citizens of the US, medicare does not apply when they’re out of the country. Next, look at the medical insurance position. If you already have medical insurance, make sure it will cover you when at sea. If not, consider buying medical travel insurance to provide you with adequate cover. Even the cost of a simple visit to the ship doctor will account for the whole cost of a simple travel insurance policy.

Photos

Most ships will have a photographer who is willing to take a portrait photo of you and your travelling companions…for a price. So save money by taking your own camera and asking one of your fellow passengers to take a few photos.

Shopping

Onboard ships stock many exquisite items that will remind you of your days at sea forever. Everything from jewelry and ornaments to cigarettes and alcohol is available, but it will cost you dearly. So try to limit yourself to things that are necessary. And if you forget to pack anything, it can often be cheaper buying them at the next port of call rather than paying the inflated prices at the shops onboard.

Incorporating high paying keywords into your site is critical to maximizing your income. Who has the time to figure it all out? How much are you willing to pay for this type of information? The secret is out: Here are 99 keywords you can use with payouts averaging $2-$100 per click:

1. Structured settlements

2. Mesothelioma

3. Acne

4. Life Insurance

5. Death Insurance

6. Bextra

7. Asbestos

8. Car Insurance

9. Dental Plans

10. Private Jets

11. Debt Consolidation

12. Credit Cards

13. Rewards Cards

14. Equity Loans

15. Equity Line Credit

16. Loans

17. Mortgages

18. Pay Day Loans

19. Cash Advance

20. Bankruptcy

21. Reduce Debt

22. Refinance

23. Jet Charter

24. Vioxx

25. Wrongful death

26. Legal Advice

27. Taxes

28. Investing

29. Bonds

30. Online Trading

31. IRA Rollover

32. Refinance Quotes

33. Adult Education

34. Distance Learning

35. Alcohol Treatment

36. Rehab

37. Drug Rehab

38. Spyware

39. Cell Phone Plans

40. Calling Cards

41. VOIP

42. Weight Loss

43. Canadian Pharmacy

44. Depression

45. Spam Filter

46. Lasik

47. Facelift

48. Teeth Whitening

49. Annuity

50. Anti Virus Protection

51. Adult Diaper

52. Free Credit Report

53. Credit Score

54. Satellite

55. Anti Spam Software

56. Dedicated Hosting

57. Domain Name

58. Need Money

59. Bachelor Degree

60. Master Degree

61. Doctorate Degree

62. Work at Home

63. Quick Book

64. Extra Money

65. Eloan

66. Malpractice Lawyer

67. Lenox China

68. Cancer

69. Payperclick

70. Personal Injury Attorney

71. Lexington Law

72. Video Conferencing

73. Transfer Money

74. Windstar Cruise

75. Casinos Online

76. Term Life

77. Online Banking

78. Borrow Money

79. Low Interest Credit Cards

80. Personal Domain Name

81. Cellular Phone Rental

82. Internet Broker

83. Trans Union

84. Cheap Hosting

85. University Degrees Online

86. Online Marketing

87. Consolidate

88. Helpdesk Software

89. Web Host

90. Homeowner’s Insurance

91. Yellow Page Advertising

92. Travel Insurance

93. Register Domain

94. Credit Counseling

95. Email Hosting

96. Business Credit

97. Consumer Credit

98. Blue Cross

99. Laptop Computer

Actual payouts vary depending on whose PPC program you belong to and on the amount that has been bid per click by advertisers. Still, the savvy web administrator will take good care to incorporate some of these key words and reap results higher than they ever expected.

The holiday season is nearly upon us, and with more and more people gearing up this year to travel during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday season, the thought of doing so yourself can be a daunting prospect. Fortunately, if you can keep a few things in mind, the upcoming holiday travel season doesn’t have to be quite as overwhelming as in years past.

Directions Are Everything

Sure, there are all the stereotypes about men not wanting to ask for directions, and the validity of those stereotypes is for another time. That being said, getting quality directions that you can trust and that you know will get you there is paramount to making your trip as smooth as possible. Calling your destination, be that a brother, grandmother, uncle, or hotel, for directions is a good first step. Not only will they more than likely know the best way to get you there, but they will also probably know go detours in the event of traffic, accidents, or construction.

In the event that your destination doesn’t have good directions for you, there are seemingly endless websites online that will give you turn by turn directions, distances, times, and even maps. Take those with a grain of salt as they may not be completely up to date due to construction changes to traffic patterns, addition or subtraction of exits, or the addition or removal of traffic signs saying which roads you’re allowed to travel on.

Games, Movies, Books, and Snacks

The kids don’t like the 13 hour drive any more than you do, but at least you get to drive. Video games, card games, personal video players, even books (if motion sickness isn’t an issue) are a great way to help make the drive pass for kids. Many of your local electronics stores sell VHS and DVD players that have small monitors already attached for a very reasonable price and allow you to avoid having an entire home entertainment center installed into your car just for road trips.

Make Sure Your Car is Working Fine

Checking your tires for air pressure and tread and checking the oil and coolant in your engine is an easy way to make sure that you’re not one of those families on the side of the road waiting for a tow truck. Every year families find themselves on the side of the road with flat tires from worn tread or bad air pressure or with engines billowing smoke from something that would have cost next to nothing to have checked and fixed ahead of time. Spending a little bit of time and effort up front can save you spending a lot of time and money later.

Check Your Insurance

While you certainly don’t want anything bad to happen, in the event that something bad does happen, it helps to have your insurance information with you. Pretty much any state you’re travelling through will require you to have some sort of car insurance, even if it’s just cheap car insurance. Making sure that you have your insurance information, whether it’s North Carolina car insurance, Virginia car insurance, or another state, is a good way to make sure that if the worst happens, you know what you’re covered against.

Before you set out you should also check to see what your insurance covers in the way of towing, roadside assistance, and rentals in the event something does happen to your car and you need help or another way to continue your vacation. Getting stuck at Grandma’s house because your insurance doesn’t cover a rental and your car exploded is no way to spend the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday.

Be Prepared

This is the holiday driving season, when the seeming entirety of the United States driving population will converge on the roads at the same time. Plan ahead to give yourself plenty of time, factoring in stops for food, gas, and just to stretch your legs. Leave early and expect to get to your destination early. Remember that for every great driver out there that will let you merge in front of them there’s somebody that will cut you off and cause an accident if you’re not paying attention. Stay on your toes, relax, and enjoy your vacation this holiday season.

Whether you are flying or driving there is a limit to want you want to take with you. It’s just common sense to travel as light as you can. Remember that everything you take with you, you have to take care of ( and haul around)… also, you want to have room to bring home a few treasures from the trip.
If you are flying, look at the airline’s web site for information and limits.

In your carry on luggage you want to have:

A passport, for all travel outside the U.S. and identification purposes.

Wallet containing:

Driver’s License and/or other proper photo identification required for domestic travel.

Insurance cards for both your medical and automobile insurance

Credit cards

Travelers checks

Airline, Cruise or Train tickets

Itinerary with confirmation numbers and addresses and phone numbers of where you’ll be staying.

Travel brochures and maps

Cash for tipping those folks that take care of you.

Any necessary medication. Carry your medication in their original bottles to help avoid security questions. Cameras, computers and electronics that you really feel that you can’t live without.

Valuables. Now, let’s be practical here, most valuables are better off locked up at home. By taking them with you you are asking to have them stolen or lost. Make sure your insurance will cover the loss if you just have to take them with you.

Carry a list of all of the items that you have with you on your trip, and leave a duplicate list at home, to help you file a complete claim form if your items are lost or stolen.

To keep things tidy:

Don’t over pack your bags.

Take the proper size luggage for your trip. Too big a bag will allow your items to move around and make damage and wrinkles more likely.

Unpack as soon as possible.

Most hotels and motels have an iron if you need it. Don’t pack liquids. Any town, anywhere has a drug store or Wal-Mart with an isle of travel sized toiletries, if your choice of lodging doesn’t supply them.

To Avoid Losses:

Never leave your luggage unattended

Learn your destination’s airport code and make sure the correct tag put on your luggage.

Avoid taking luggage with expensive brand names that will make the luggage more attractive to thieves.

Clearly label your luggage on both the inside and outside with your name and address.

Remove all items that are hanging on luggage that could get caught on conveyor belts, such as a leash for walking the rolling bags.

Place a trip itinerary in your luggage so your luggage may easily be returned to you.

Place an unique bright marking on your luggage so you can easily identify it. We use a strip of yellow duct tape on the handles of our luggage. Marking your luggage makes it easier to identify if it is lost, and keeps other travelers with similar luggage from taking it from the conveyor.

Cross pack a couple changes of clothes with a traveling companion. That way if your luggage is misplaced, youll have enough clothes to get by until it’s return.

Block the view of others when you are entering ATM or phone card numbers so thieves cant copy the codes and use them.

If an airline loses your luggage, file a claim before you leave the airport. Be sure to give them a copy of your itinerary and item list for that bag. Also, be sure to get a copy of the claim and phone number to follow up.

Consider purchasing trip insurance to protect your property. The more you travel, the more you know that traveling with the smallest possible amount of luggage is the best way to go. To travel light and still have what you need:

Call ahead to the hotel or view their web site to see if they offer laundry services, robes and toiletries to will reduce your packing needs.

Coordinate your outfits around a central color that allows you to mix and match your outfits and cut down on shoes and accessories.

Check the weather to account for seasonal temperature and precipitation fluctuations.

Plan your outfits so you can layer instead of bringing coats. Take a solid color sweater that matches your outfits to use to keep you warm.

List all the items you are taking. If you don’t need it, don’t take it.

Single trip cover insures you for a single holiday or business trip abroad. Where risks are higher, for example for the over 65s, then many companies will not cover for an entire year. Single Trip Travel Insurance, covers you for any medical emergencies or others during your trip abroad.

Not only does it cover you against the financial impact of an unexpected cancellation and problems such as illness or an accident whilst you’re away, but arranging single trip insurance needn’t take long. And it needn’t cost a lot either.

Such travel insurance provides an excellent level of insurance cover which is suitable for any typical holiday abroad. Features include:
Any destination
Ideal for typical holidays abroad
Any length of trip up to one year

Single trip travel insurance uk covers:
Trip Delays
Flight cancellation
Injuries/Illness
Illness/Injuries
Accidents
Lost/Stolen baggage, passports

You know that wherever you are travelling in the world, multi-lingual medical assistance is just a phone call away, 24 hours a day. You also have the reassurance of knowing that the range and levels of our travel insurance cover is among the most comprehensive available anywhere in the UK.

Comprehensive travel insurance package!

Full range of insurance cover and is our most popular product. Suitable for most types of holiday, it is competitively priced, whilst offering better cover than most other policies of this type. Whether it is for your family or just a single person, you have customised insurance policies for all.

Family travel insurance policies include an unlimited number of children under the age of 18, including step and foster children. In addition to this, those under 23 are classed as children on family policies if they are still in full-time education. Unmarried and same-sex couples are treated in exactly the same way as married couples, provided they have been living at the same residential address for the last 12 months.

Single Trip Travel Insurance flexible to your needs! If you want your insurance to be favourable to you, it is important that you tell your insurance experts if you have any existing medical conditions. Detail out all those that is likely to influence us in the assessment or acceptance of this insurance. Failure to do so may mean that you have insufficient cover in the event of a claim. All of our policies are designed to be flexible and gives enough insurance cover when you are travelling abroad.

American Express Credit Card: A Different Kind Of Credit Card

In the financial world, American Express or AMEX is one of the most widely renowned names. If you have a credit card in your wallet, chances are you own a credit card that has a VISA or MasterCard seal in it.

MasterCard and VISA rely on partnerships from different banks in the world and do not issue a credit card of their own. What these companies do is they are simply selling their payment methods.

MasterCard and VISA charge their partners a fee for using the payment systems in order to make money. Both these companies do not issue credit cards. It is important to remember that VISA and MasterCard are only payment systems used by thousands of banks worldwide.

In American Express, they have both the payment methods and issue their own credit cards.

This means American Express runs everything and is independent from credit card companies like VISA and MasterCard. They don’t need to rely on the payment systems of VISA and MasterCard because they already have their own payment systems for their credit cards.

VISA and MasterCard is by far, a more accepted payment method for a lot of people. This is because these two companies operate in around 20 million locations worldwide. However, American Express is more difficult to use because they still don’t have the payment systems that these other two companies have.

But, American Express is now upgrading their payment systems and considering opening up payment methods in other countries.

However, American Express has its advantages. American Express is widely popular in North America and Europe where this credit card can offer great credit card deals. Then can offer very attractive rates, great rewards, and also great customer service.

American Express is unique in its own way. Because of the great offers and great rates, American Express credit cards are well on its way to become one of the most popular credit cards used by people. American Express offers the “blue” card where it is gaining popularity for a lot of consumers in North American and in Europe.

They offer four different blue cards where it is different from each other. Here are the different blue cards that American Express offers their clients:

-American Express Sky Blue

The Sky Blue card that American Express offer is one of the best travel rewards card you can ever have. They offer great traveling benefits to their clients. It offers no black out dates and also no travel restrictions unlike other travel cards you would find in the market. This will mean that a Sky Blue card holder will be allowed to travel wherever they want and whenever they want. Not only that, the Sky Blue card offers 0% introductory APR and no annual fee.

Additional benefits of the Sky Blue card include airline tickets discounts, car rentals, hotel stays, and you can even have an insurance coverage for the rental card and travel accident.

-American Express Blue Cash

Blue Cash is also one of the best credit cards that American Express offers. The benefits get as much as 5% cash back from anything they purchase with a Blue Cash card unlike the 1% or 2% cash back cards from other credit card companies.

-American Express Blue Card

The Blue Card is the original card offered by American Express. Although it doesn’t have much of the features that the Blue Cash and Sky Blue cards offer, the original Blue Card is still a great choice. The Blue Card offers 0% APR up to 15 months. Other benefits are 4.99% APR on balance transfers and it also has great rewards program that can match other rewards program offered by other credit cards. Also, there is no annual fee with the Blue Card.

-American Express Jet Blue

The Jet Blue Card American Express offer gives you points whenever you use it to fly on Jet Blue Airways. For the first time users of Jet Blue, they will instantly get 5,000 points.

American Express truly gives what you want in a credit card. So, if you want a credit card with great benefits, great rates and great customer service, try getting an American Express credit card.

In the past we had to rely to a large extent on the services of a travel agent when planning and booking a holiday. This was particularly true if planning a trip abroad. However with internet sites and easy communication via email, it is possible to research and organise your holiday plans online using separate providers for accommodation, travel, insurance and so on. This freedom to shop around takes time but will save you money.

Accommodation

The greatest expense on holiday is likely to be the accommodation and travel. Accommodation at home and abroad can now often be booked direct with the owner. Thanks to the internet, owners do not have to rely on advertising through large companies, so prices are not inflated by agents fees. Of course some owners do not want to deal direct with customers and still use agents. You can often find small companies local to your chosen destination. They have fewer overheads so prices are lower and you can also benefit from their detailed knowledge of their properties and the area.

Travel

The increasing number of no frills budget airlines have, of course, made a big difference to many travel plans. Look out for offers online and in the media, particularly for off peak periods. If you are travelling to Europe then you may want to take your own car. Ferry crossings can seem expensive at first sight but remember the price quoted usually includes several passengers and you wont have to think about a hire car. Short crossings and the Channel Tunnel are cheaper but may involve more driving, depending on your holiday destination.

Travel insurance costs

Never try and save money by ignoring travel insurance completely. This could end up becoming a costly mistake if you have to cancel, need medical attention abroad, or a breakdown service. However, you do not have to use the policy offered by the travel company. Shop around for an independent deal from another source. Online comparison sites make this an easy process. If you are a frequent traveller you can save money by buying an extended travel insurance package. This works like a season ticket so you will be covered however often you travel during the agreed period.

Try to be flexible

If you are flexible with dates and locations it is possible to find very good last minute deals. There are websites which specialise in assisting with this. However, if you have to, or wish to, plan ahead then if at all possible avoid peak holiday periods. This will immediately give you huge savings.

Of course many people are tied to school holidays when prices are inflated but there are still things you can do to cut costs. Try to find accommodation with flexible change over days so that you can choose a ferry or flight mid week rather than the more expensive weekend options. Look out for reduced rates for children and book direct with the owner if possible.

How about trying something completely different? You may be used to all inclusive hotel holidays but self-catering does not have to be a chore. If you stay in a cottage, gite or apartment you do not have to produce elaborate meals. Take the opportunity to browse at local markets for fresh produce or make the most of the weather and barbecue. Shopping and preparing simple food can easily become part of the fun. Most children love the freedom of camping and many sites now have excellent facilities. Luxury ready erected tents and mobile homes are available and if you book direct with the campsite it will be cheaper than using a large company.

When you are on holiday

So what about once you have arrived at you destination? Although you may wish to have the freedom to travel around, it is worth booking at least some accommodation ahead. It is likely to be cheaper this way and will save you having to accept an overpriced hotel simply because you cannot find anything else when you arrive. Similarly if you know you want to hire a car dont wait until you arrive at the airport to organise a deal. There are many guide books available which are aimed at particular groups such as students. However, these can be useful information sources for anyone on a budget as they offer advice on good value accommodation, restaurants, and places to visit.

Choose a destination where you know the cost of living is reasonable and check the exchange rate is favourable. Beware of high commission rates and make sure you are not paying more than necessary. Make sure you dont become a victim of fraud by keeping your credit cards safe. Take necessary telephone contacts with you in case they should get lost or stolen and need to be cancelled.

And finally .

Whether you take an annual fortnight, opt for a number of short breaks, or you are looking forward to the long haul trip of a lifetime, holiday planning should be fun. The end result will be well worth the time invested in planning.

Planning A Trip And Enjoying Your Holiday: A Travel Check List

Common wisdom tells us that a death of a loved one and moving house are the two most stressful events a person can go through in the modern world. Not being an estate agent or a funeral director, I cant really comment on either of these but I do feel qualified to discuss another stressful area planning a trip and preparing to go on holiday.

Its ironic that a period of the year designed to promote rest and relaxation can actually be the cause of the most stress and strain present for the entire year. Things are usually completed in a rush, there is a lot to organise and theres packing time to consider and thats not even taking into account the stress families will go through looking after the kids during all of this! For this reason, Ive written a useful holiday check list to ensure you dont miss any of the small things which have a tendency to turn into bigger problems while youre away.

Simply work through my holiday check list and travel with peace of mind:

Before you go (planning your trip)

Always make sure you have full travel insurance, fit for the purpose of your trip and if you have an annual policy – check that it is still valid. Sometimes people who have purchased annual travel insurance forget to renew it, and assume they are covered whenever they wish to leave the country. Checking your travel insurance is right for the task can save you a lot of stress and tears in the long run, should the worst happen. It is also essential that you make your travel insurance company aware of any pre existing medical condition you have before you travel although it may increase your costs in the short term, you may find yourself without cover if you later need to claim on such an illness without having warned them of it!

If youre traveling within the European economic region, or in Switzerland, you should get a free European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). Its a common misconception that this is as good as travel insurance for giving you free health care, but it can entitle you to reduced costs, meaning you are not left out of pocket while you wait to be reimbursed on your policy.

When planning a trip, make sure the vaccinations for both you and your family are up to date especially if youre travelling outside of Europe. Your health care provider can advise you of any additional vaccinations youll need depending on where youre going.

Fill in the contact details at the back of your passport for the next of kin, or the details of someone who can be contacted in case of an emergency.

Make sure you are aware of the immigration and custom laws of the country you are traveling to when planning a trip. A visa may take a little time to come through, so be prepared and allow enough time to complete this procedure. Also you should note that in many countries your passport needs to be valid for at least six months after the date you travel, so check this in advance.

Tell someone where you are going and when they should expect you back. Try to leave an itinerary and details of where you may be able to be contacted during your time abroad, in case of emergency.

If you are planning on driving in foreign climes, take your full driving license with you. Make sure you are aware of the driving laws, license requirements and driving conditions of your destination before you set off.

When you are there

Be aware of security and take sensible precautions. If an area is advised against travelling to, the chances are theres a good reason for it!

Keep a note of the local embassy, high commission or consulate number. Although the chances are you will not need it, its always worth holding on to in the case of emergency.

Stay in regular contact with your family and friends, especially if you are travelling alone. This will ensure theyre always aware of where you are and should be, and can ensure they can contact you in the case of emergency.

Respect local customs and behave and dress appropriately. Although unlikely to cause disastrous problems, as a guest in a foreign culture, its only polite to try and fit in.

On return

Inform family and friends of your safe return, to end their worries and ensure no bogus emergency calls are made.

If you need to make any claims against your travel insurance make sure this is done at the earliest opportunity, for maximum chance of getting a positive result.

I hope this travel check list has been helpful. Although planning a trip in this much detail may seem like a lot of hassle, dotting all the Is and crossing all the Ts, it really is worth doing. In the end, following this holiday check list to the letter will ensure you are more relaxed and prepared to enjoy your holiday, and should the worst happen youll be well equipped to deal with it.

The California Insurance Commissioner has ordered Trip Assured to stop doing business in the state of California. This Tennessee-based travel insurance company was apparently defrauding companies. But Trip Assured claims that what they were selling in California was not travel insurance. The Commissioner finds their claim undeniable since what they were selling could easily fall into the insurance category or definition. Trip Assured ’s main marketing target is senior citizens.

California decided to take action once notice was taken that other states like Michigan, Texas, Florida, and North Carolina were taking similar actions against Trip Assured. Upon further research, Trip Assured denied 30 claims in California and there were 76 claims filed against them (in the last 36 months) with the Better Business Bureau (BBB). However the BBB states that those claims were addressed by Trip Assured although those that filed the claims would not agree with that assessment of the situation. There are also other travel insurance companies that have claims filed against them which is unfortunate since the travel insurance industry is growing rapidly, especially for those expensive vacation trips. The BBB in Tennessee has now revoked their (Trip Assured) membership – you would think that would mean something since the company is based in Tennessee.

Here is an example from one of the claims made against Trip Assured. Sylvia Resnick is a senior citizen that booked a trip just for herself to Europe as well as a cruise while in Europe. She purchased Trip Assured through her travel agency at the time of booking the trip. It had taken her a long time to save up for the vacation that was to be that trip of a lifetime. During the vacation, she suffered serious back injuries and had to cancel the cruise. As soon as she arrived home she saw her doctor and obtained a doctors note that stated that she could not continue with the cruise due to the injury. As required by the policy she sent that note to Trip Assured expecting to be paid out under the terms of the agreement. It came as a total shock when they denied her claim and thus did not return her money.

There are two questions here. The first is why would an insurance company that is supposedly aimed at satisfying their clients put this senior citizen through this? The second question is how could the BBB view this situation (and situations just like this) as resulting in a satisfactory outcome?

Be very careful the next time you invest in trip insurance. For those of you who have already purchased Trip Assured, you can contact their bank. It is First National Bank of Tennessee and the hotline number is 931-707-3561, but that hotline is only effective for MasterCard customers, but call nonetheless to see what non-MasterCard customers should do. Hours of operation are 6 am. to 2:30 pm. Pacific Time. If you want to make a complaint, contact the state Department of Insurance at 800-927-4357 or you can file a complaint online at http://www.insurance.ca.gov.