Travel Insurance or Not?
Do you travel without insurance? Have you ever wondered what would happen if you were injured while vacationing in another country? What if you needed to cancel your vacation after you have made your final payment and at the very last minute? Well it would not be as easy as simply showing your health insurance card and the nurses station in the emergency room as we do here in the US! Nor can you cancel at any time and expect a full refund.
Take this scenario for example...
John and his friends were enjoying their annual "fellas retreat" as usual, when suddenly he is injured in a parasailing accident. Well John is rushed to the nearest emergency room. He has insurance from his job but guess what... It is only valid in the US!!!!! Before John can be treated he has to show proof of travel insurance or make his out of pocket payment of $27,000 (which he does not have!!!) So John cannot be seen at this hospital...
Here's another scenario...
Tanya is all packed up and ready for her Girls Getaway 7 day Caribbean Cruise when suddenly her child becomes ill and needs to be hospitalized. Tanya is in cancellation penalty phase with the suppliers and is not eligible to receive a refund due to the terms and conditions as stated in the booking contract.
The above scenarios are just examples of the many reasons clients need to seriously consider purchasing travel insurance to protect their investments. There are insurance companies that offer various levels of coverage and many of the travel suppliers also provide vacation protection for use in case of emergency. Travel insurance rates will vary based on provider, length of vacation, age, type of coverage, and more. The average price for travel insurance can start as low as approximately $49 and up. Many times supplier coverage does not cover your entire vacation. So always make sure you have enough coverage to fit your needs.
Are US Passports Really Necessary?
When do I need to use a passport? Why can’t I just use a passport card? Where can I purchase my passport?
Well… the answer to the first question is as follows, if you are a US resident, WHENEVER YOU TRAVEL OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES, YOU NEED A US PASSPORT! This includes any foreign countries that are not US Territories. Some US Territories are Puerto Rico, Guam, US Virgin Islands, etc. So yes, in order to visit Mexico and Canada, US CITIZENS will need a US PASSPORT! For these two countries, it depends on how you are traveling that determines if you need a US PASSPORT BOOK or if you can use a US PASSPORT CARD.
A US PASSPORT CARD can be used for travel into Canada and Mexico ONLY if you are driving across the border. It CANNOT be used to fly into any foreign countries. A US PASSPORT CARD can be used for cruises returning from Mexico, Caribbean, Bermuda, or Canada back to the US.
There are many authorized passport acceptance facilities in which you can apply for your US Passport. You cannot apply for passports online at this time but you can complete an application, print and take it to an authorized acceptance facility, Many US Post Offices, city clerk/village townships/government offices, etc. will accept applications with official documents. Some official documents such as certified birth certificates, government issued photo id, marriage license, etc. are needed to apply. These documents must be accompanied by a completed application along with the correct fees. The average turnaround time is approximately 4 weeks to receive your passport and other official documents from the Department of State. For official details regarding applying for a US Passport, please visit the Department of State’s website at http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english.html .
Travel Radiantly with Rahsaan
Travel Insurance or Not?
Do you travel without insurance? Have you ever wondered what would happen if you were injured while vacationing in another country? What if you needed to cancel your vacation after you have made your final payment and at the very last minute? Well it would not be as easy as simply showing your health insurance card and the nurses station in the emergency room as we do here in the US! Nor can you cancel at any time and expect a full refund.
Take this scenario for example...
John and his friends were enjoying their annual "fellas retreat" as usual, when suddenly he is injured in a parasailing accident. Well John is rushed to the nearest emergency room. He has insurance from his job but guess what... It is only valid in the US!!!!! Before John can be treated he has to show proof of travel insurance or make his out of pocket payment of $27,000 (which he does not have!!!) So John cannot be seen at this hospital...
Here's another scenario...
Tanya is all packed up and ready for her Girls Getaway 7 day Caribbean Cruise when suddenly her child becomes ill and needs to be hospitalized. Tanya is in cancellation penalty phase with the suppliers and is not eligible to receive a refund due to the terms and conditions as stated in the booking contract.
The above scenarios are just examples of the many reasons clients need to seriously consider purchasing travel insurance to protect their investments. There are insurance companies that offer various levels of coverage and many of the travel suppliers also provide vacation protection for use in case of emergency. Travel insurance rates will vary based on provider, length of vacation, age, type of coverage, and more. The average price for travel insurance can start as low as approximately $49 and up. Many times supplier coverage does not cover your entire vacation. So always make sure you have enough coverage to fit your needs.
Are US Passports Really Necessary?
When do I need to use a passport? Why can’t I just use a passport card? Where can I purchase my passport?
Well… the answer to the first question is as follows, if you are a US resident, WHENEVER YOU TRAVEL OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES, YOU NEED A US PASSPORT! This includes any foreign countries that are not US Territories. Some US Territories are Puerto Rico, Guam, US Virgin Islands, etc. So yes, in order to visit Mexico and Canada, US CITIZENS will need a US PASSPORT! For these two countries, it depends on how you are traveling that determines if you need a US PASSPORT BOOK or if you can use a US PASSPORT CARD.
A US PASSPORT CARD can be used for travel into Canada and Mexico ONLY if you are driving across the border. It CANNOT be used to fly into any foreign countries. A US PASSPORT CARD can be used for cruises returning from Mexico, Caribbean,
Bermuda, or Canada back to the US.
There are many authorized passport acceptance facilities in which you
can apply for your US Passport. You cannot apply for passports online at
this time but you can complete an application, print and take it to an
authorized acceptance facility, Many US Post Offices, city clerk/village
townships/government offices, etc. will accept applications with
official documents. Some official documents such as certified birth
certificates, government issued photo id, marriage license, etc. are
needed to apply. These documents must be accompanied by a
completed application along with the correct fees. The average
turnaround time is approximately 4 weeks to receive your passport and other official documents from the Department of State. For official details regarding applying for a US Passport, please visit the Department of State’s website at http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english.html .