Graduation Adventure Safety

Graduation is an exciting milestone. Many people take overseas vacations with family, friends, or sports teams in celebration of this important life event. As exhilarating as travel can be, it is imperative to act responsibly and always be aware of people and surroundings.

USA Today recommends taking a few simple steps to increase your trip safety:

  • Choose your ground transportation wisely  – Did you know that the number one cause of death for US citizens abroad is motor vehicle crashes? (World Health Organization) Travel in a vehicle that is in good condition and has working seat belts whenever possible. Research the safety records of transportation companies prior to using them.
  • Check in with the state department – The state department provides up to date safety information for every country in the world, from suggested vaccinations to local laws and travel warnings. Register your travel plans using the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) and you will be contacted and guided in the event of an emergency.
  • Review the escape route in your hotel – Take a look at the hotel’s emergency escape routes soon after arriving. It is obviously more appealing to check out the amenities right away, but if an unexpected emergency arises, you’ll be glad you prioritized safety first!
  • Leave an itinerary and emergency contact – Eliminating outside contact while on vacation can be liberating but try not to go too under the radar (especially if you’re traveling alone). Give a copy of your itinerary to a trusted family member or friend, even if its as simple as what city you are visiting and when you will return. Try and check in as much as possible so if something happens, they can alert the authorities on your behalf.
  • Scan a copy of your passport – Scan a copy of your passport and take a photo of it to save on your phone before leaving for a trip. If you need your passport while you’re out and about but its locked up in the hotel safe, you will still have full access to all your details. This will also make getting a replacement easier if your passport is stolen.
  • Don’t flash your cash or valuables – Keep your cash in a separate safe place when you go out and only take a little bit at a time. That way, you aren’t showing off a big wad of cash every time you pay for something. Use a credit card instead of a debit card because the anti-theft protection is usually better.
  • Save emergency numbers – You can’t call 911 everywhere; find out what the local emergency hotlines are and save them to your phone. Research the closest U.S. embassies or consulates and save those address and phone numbers also.

The FBI has provided a brochure that introduces possible threats that may be faced while traveling and provides tips on avoiding unsafe situations.

 

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Destination: Wedding!

Image courtesy of ayodyaresortbali.com

Destination weddings are not just “altar alternatives”: they are epic, once in a lifetime vacations for the happy couple and their entire guest list.

Many honeymoon-friendly resorts and cruise lines worldwide have made it easier and more alluring to wed on-site. Most have full-time wedding coordinators on staff and offer wedding packages that take care of ceremony essentials. Destination weddings also give you a chance to really put some personality into your big day, and do not have to be limited to a beach.

Believe it or not, the affordability of a destination wedding is more realistic than you might think. A couple can fly to an all-inclusive resort in the Caribbean, get married, and stay for a luxurious week-long honeymoon for a few thousand dollars. Compare that to a wedding with a guest list of 150 people (which can cost about $35,000 and easily soar much higher in a lot of big cities), not including the extra few thousand for a honeymoon.

Brides.com shares top tips for destination weddings from professional planner Koby Bar Yehuda:

  • Consider the guests before you start planning – Choosing a venue is more than just picking the most beautiful spot you can find. Have your guests in mind when considering your location: Ask yourself if the destination will be affordable for guests to fly to and if there are multiple different hotel options for all budgets.
  • Do your research – Be prepared to do in-person research. Pictures and videos can give good insight, but when traveling for your celebration, it is well worth the investment of money and time to first visit the location in person. A language barrier may pose an issue, consider hiring a local person to serve as both a guide and translator to show you around and help communicate with the locals and venue staff.
  • Work with a professional – Remote places often have limited resources, which is why the help of a professional is sometimes crucial. A professional event planner will be able to give you an idea of what the cost of bringing in necessary resources will be. To make the process even more trouble-free, look for a planner who does it all including design and production. Fewer vendors to hire means fewer chances for misunderstandings or miscommunications.
  • Communication is key – Language barriers, different time zones, and sometimes thousands of miles between you and your venue make communication undeniably important. Make the time for video conference calls two to three times per week to check in and go over details throughout the planning process. Many remote destination weddings are planned over the course of at least a year, so persistent communication will ensure that you and your team remain on the same page.
  • Know the destination – Do your research. If your ceremony is religious, find out if the country chosen allows religious ceremonies to occur outside of a place of worship. Find out what the marriage license requirements are and be flexible if that means you must tie the knot legally at home.
  • Embrace the setting – “No one wants to fly to the Maldives for a wedding that would fit better in a chateau in southern France”. To enhance your experience and make the most of the surroundings, immerse yourself and your guests in the place you have brought everyone to.
  • Information is precious – With long distance travel involved, the more you can tell your guests to help them prepare for your wedding, the better. In addition to including the dress code for any events or activities, share suggestions for flight itineraries, local transportation, currency exchange, and a basic local vocabulary list.

Planning a destination wedding? Let TravelersAlly take care of the trip details, making your day stress free and blissful.

Image courtesy of brides.com

 

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Honoring Black History Month in 2018

Honoring Black History Month in 2018

Posted by Catherine Wardach on Thu, Feb 01, 2018 @ 09:45 AM

 

Image courtesy of browngirlsfly.com

Beginning on the first of February each year, our nation spends the month honoring the history and contributions of African Americans. The theme for Black History Month 2018 is “African Americans in Times of War”, spotlighting the brave men and women who served their country in the armed forces, especially those who made the ultimate sacrifice while protecting the American principles of freedom and democracy.

More than 2.5 million black men registered for the draft during World War II and one million served as draftees or volunteers in all branches of the armed forces. A majority of black men were assigned to segregated combat groups a decade before the American civil rights movement even started. Recognition of the African-American contribution to the war effort would eventually lay the foundation for the civil rights protests of the 1950s and 60s.

Alonzo Herndon was an African barber and entrepreneur who was also founder and president of the Atlanta Life Insurance Company, one of the most successful black-owned businesses in the nation. He was distinguished for his involvement and support of local institutions and charities devoted to evolving African American business and community life. Although born into slavery, at the time of his death in 1927, Alonzo was Atlanta’s wealthiest black citizen, owning more property than any other African American.

John Merrick was also born into slavery and relied on his social knowledge, entrepreneurial spirit, and inner drive to achieve great personal affluence. He founded various companies, most notably the North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company. Through philanthropy, portions of his wealth were guided back into the black community. Merrick’s business insight and social awareness made him one of the most influential members of the African-American community in his lifetime.

Whether your trip is simple or luxurious, TravelersAlly will help find the perfect plan to keep you protected.

Topics: international medical insurance, international travel, Travel, black history month

WRITTEN BY CATHERINE WARDACH

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The Dangers of Non-Disclosure

Image Courtesy of dreamstime.com

Many travelers are confused about which pre-existing conditions they need to declare when taking out travel medical insurance. Others fail to declare in attempts to cut costs. As a result, it seems that some decide to relinquish insurance or hide their past from the insurer. Stacy Williams is the Director of Client Relations at MissionSafe and spent years leading mission trips to destinations all over the world. She shared her firsthand experiences of the chaos that ensues when an individual fails to disclose certain health conditions on their enrollment:

  • Risk Not Getting Coverage – By failing to disclose a pre-existing condition, you run the risk of not being able to claim for a situation that is a result of, or could be tied to an undisclosed condition. You also put yourself at risk of not being covered for any possible complications that arise during treatment that are a result of the pre-existing condition.
  • Delays the Team – The team can’t proceed with their scheduled activities because someone is too sick or too unstable to travel. In situations that occur towards the end of a trip, someone will need to stay behind with a sick person while the rest of the team returns to the United States.
  • Pulls Leaders Away from the Team – Typically, a team leader plus an “in country host leader” must go with a sick person for treatment which is sometimes in another city.  Or, they will have to stay at a guesthouse/hotel or hospital with a sick person as they get treatment. All leaders want to be out in the field to experience situations with their trip participants. Leaders need this perspective to help their teams work through what they are seeing because they are often involved in circumstances that are very difficult to process.
  • Difficult Decisions – Team leaders are often required to come up with additional funding to cover medical expenses and must make hard decisions on whether to keep someone back at the hotel/guesthouse. A leader will rarely leave a sick person alone, so that means two people lose a day or days of their trip.
  • Distracts the team – Teams are fatigued after traveling, even to destinations close by like Haiti. Most psychological issues arise early on in a trip and people who are not mentally stable just seem to “freak out”. I don’t know if it’s the exhaustion or their mental instability, but we see it right away most of the time. I’ve had people threaten to kill themselves and demand to be put on the next flight home. Unfortunately, there is only one flight per day to some of the international locations. This is a total distraction for the entire team because they are concerned about the person, the situation, and confused about what to do: that is NOT how you want to start a mission trip. Teams are usually nervous anyway about what is ahead, and most have first time trip participants who are already on edge because of the “unknown” in visiting a foreign land. Having someone on suicide watch means that a fellow team member must stay up all night (sometimes after traveling for 24 hours) to make sure the individual doesn’t really do what they are threatening.
  • Events Happen in Countries 8 Hours Ahead of U.S. EST –  If a team is on the other side of the world, there are time differences to deal with. This causes the U.S. sending organization to work during the night or after hours in addition to working regular day hours.
  • The U.S. Office and Our International Office Must Scramble –  In a serious situation, the Country Directors or Executive Directors will have to get involved.  They must drop what they are doing and many times travel to be in the physical presence of the sick person, in addition to dealing with logistics.
  • Everything Else Stops – Literally. Everything comes to a halt and many people are pulled into the mix. If an organization has a Crisis Management Team (and all should), that team is “activated”, pulling them away from normal tasks to handle the situation (logistics, insurance, family in the U.S., etc.)
  • Unexpected Costs are Incurred – Due to unplanned expenses, (hotel, additional staff to monitor, transportation in country, medical expenses, flight home, etc.) someone must make all the arrangements and money is always involved. Then it comes down to who is going to front the cost and how quickly money can be wired or arrangements made through insurance.
  • U.S. Families are Disrupted – No one wants to receive a call that their loved one is unwell and sustain unexpected expenses when they must fly overseas: we can’t put a sick or distraught person on a plane by themselves, so someone must either cut their trip short to fly home, or a family member must come and retrieve them.
  • People can DIE – Failure to disclose medical conditions means being completely unprepared in the event of an emergency, which can result in catastrophe.

Many of the circumstances discussed are specific to mission trips, but extremely similar rules apply to ANY situation that involves traveling abroad. Knowing what medical information to share is not as straightforward as one might think. A good rule of thumb is to disclose any part of your medical history (or that of your travelling companion) you would be concerned about not being able to claim for. When it comes to your health and well-being, it is imperative to be safe rather than sorry. TravelersAlly can provide worry-free travel medical insurance for the world traveler, no matter what the purpose of the trip is.

Topics: Understanding Travel Medical Insurance, Travel Blogs, international medical insurance, travel abroad, Travel

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Top Five Reasons Why Your Travel Insurance Claim May be Denied

Know what your coverage is BEFORE, so you aren’t surprised DURING or AFTER your trip!

Before buying insurance, it is crucial for consumers to understand what it does and does not cover. Do not just assume that you are inevitably covered for anything that goes wrong. Make sure that any specific concerns you have are covered by your policy prior to purchase.

Misinterpretation of a policy can lead to an automatic denial when the time comes to file a claim. It is essential to understand the common reasons claims are denied so you can give yourself the best chance of getting your claim approved.

Why a travel insurance claim may be denied:

  1. Doesn’t Cover Inconveniences – Or if certain planned activities don’t work out: trip must be cancelled, cut short, or delayed by a circumstance listed in the policy. (know the difference between inconvenience and interruption)
  2. May Not Be Eligible – Consumers sometimes purchase without first knowing if they are eligible for the coverage they want. If the policy was purchased after issues preventing the trip have risen, those issues will not be covered by the policy.

If a traveler is already too sick to travel upon purchasing the policy, any claim relating to that illness will be regularly denied.

  1. No Receipts – simple lack of documentation (essential to prove in documentation that you sustained the expenses you are claiming) credit card statements and the bank can prove that the payments you are claiming for were made, but the process is a lot faster if receipts are kept.
  2. Pre-certification – some expenses may not be covered because the proper procedures that the insurance company has stated were not followed. In some plans, benefits can be reduced by 50% if a treatment is not pre-certified.

If an individual falls ill they will simply return home and expect all expenses to be covered because they have “travel insurance”, but transportation must be approved and coordinated by the insurance company which is part of pre-certification.

  1. New Claims Not Covered Under Continuation of Coverage – Some plans have a benefit of “continuation of coverage” upon returning to their home country for a limited period of time. This benefit applies to an eligible sickness or injury that may need continuing care even after the policy expires. It would not apply to a new claim after the policy expires or if care was never initiated while still outside of your home country while under the coverage.

All too often, we find that most claims are not covered because the appropriate documentation was not provided, and the insurance company cannot complete the claim process. Like any insurance policy, travel insurance doesn’t always pay every claim.

TravelersAlly educates without overwhelming and won’t leave you with any unexpected surprises.

 

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Inbound U.S. Travelers Face Additional Screening to Increase Airline Safety

Image courtesy of LinkedIn

U.S. bound travelers should expect a longer check-in process for flights at numerous global airlines as anti-terror measures are increased worldwide. Part of the new screening includes a more detailed approach to the detection of explosives in electronic devices, as well as additional screening questions.

Possible discussions include the purpose of a trip, if a bag has been in the traveler’s possession at all times, if the traveler packed their own bag, and others that have not been disclosed by the government.

For several U.S. airlines, the requirement has minimal impact because such interactions have already been in motion with U.S. bound passengers on many flights. The U.S. Travel Association said that travelers will benefit in knowing that the policy changes are caused by “specific vulnerabilities” in aviation security.
“The world should hear that they are not intended to discourage travel generally, and that legitimate business and leisure travelers are as welcome as ever in the U.S.,” – USTA Executive Vice President Jonathan Grella.

The security of airline passengers and staff is the number one priority, and The White House has insisted that the new controls are designed as anti-terror defenses. U.S. lawmakers from the House Homeland Security Committee have recently visited airports in Europe and the Middle East to inspect security conditions and discuss counter-terror collaboration.

“The timing of this visit to Europe and the Middle East was critical, as terrorists remain intent on taking down aircraft,” said Representative John Katko in an announcement Wednesday. “We must do all that we can to stay ahead of the evolving threat to the global aviation sector.”

Travel medical coverage should be a part of planning your trip. Unexpected health care costs can be an expensive interruption to your visit. Protect yourself and your wallet with Inbound Cover from TravelersAlly website here.

 

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10 Tips for Surviving Holiday Travel

Surviving Holiday Travel:

For some crazy reason, you have chosen to travel during the holiday season and you’re going to need a life line to make it through. Here are some tips and advice to help survive that journey. Surviving your family though…you’re on your own.

Here are our top ten tips for surviving holiday travel:

Tip 1: Ear Plugs

A popular life hack that some have been using for years. Reduce airplane noise and block out the noisy passengers around you by keeping a pair of ear plugs in your carryon. Have you ever made the mistake of booking a cruise cabin above the night club or noisy neighbors? For those rustic (run-down) hotels in the middle of a city, pop these in for some restful sleep from the vibrant (noisy) nightlife.

Great Ideas:

Tip 2: Patience is a Virtue

Holiday travel can be a beast but getting angry only hurts you in the end. Don’t forget that it’s a holiday too for airline personnel, car rental agents, and hotel staff…and they have to work. A smile can go a long way to help them (and you) make a frustrating day go a little bit better, and a tip might just get you special treatment.

Great Ideas:

Tip 3: Embrace Technology

Download the airline, bus, or train app to monitor your plans. Push notifications may be annoying but while you’re traveling allow the app to send you notices and updates about their services. Stay on top of schedule changes, cancellations, and even deals. Keep in mind that data service charges may apply, especially while outside your home country.

Great Ideas:

Tip 4: Travel on Off-Peak Days

If you can be flexible with your travel days and your hosts can too, book your flights before the holiday weekend or afterwards. Flying midweek around a holiday can be hundreds of dollars cheaper. Try eating that turkey a few days before or after.

Great Ideas:

Tip 5: Ditch the Drama

Skip unwrapping presents with crazy aunt Judy by taking a last minute cruise or vacation package. If you can stop, drop, and sail on a few days notice, you could pick up some hot deals when hotels and travel carriers try to fill empty bookings.

Great Ideas:

 

Tip 6: Dress the Part

Travel with shirts and pants that have lots of pockets, such as cargo shorts. Keep your passport, ticket, and ID in your front pockets. Keep anything else you need often in those pockets so you don’t have to dig through your overhead carry-on later. It’s like a second carry-on.

Great Ideas:

  • Keep aspirin, Benadryl, and Ambien in those pockets. Especially on long flights.
    Turn a fluffy coat into a pillow.
  • Hoodies and pullovers can block out the light.

Tip 7: It’s a Wrap

Don’t pack pre-wrapped gifts, they may be opened by TSA.  Use bags, boxes that fold flat and pop up bows that can be handled quickly at your destination and still give a nice holiday flare.

Great Ideas:

Tip 8: Google Maps

Going someplace new and need to know how to get around but don’t have an international date plan? Google has a great feature to download a zoomable map. Start by selecting the map area you want and then type “OK maps” into the search box. You can download the map and use it even without a data connection. You can use this function in Android and iOS. Take screenshots of areas of interest or information to save it in your photos.

Tip 9: Road Tripping

If you are driving long distance make sure you don’t neglect your transportation. Nothing ruins a holiday like car trouble. Make time to get it done: oil changes, tune-up, tire pressure or new tires, and a good cleaning inside and out for your own comfort. When driving around Christmas, make sure to winterize your car. Pack emergency and first-aid kits all year long.

Great Ideas:

Tip 10: Buy Trip Cancellation Coverage

Getting travel insurance right after you book your trip is important. There are usually benefits when you purchase coverage within 10-14 days of your initial down payment such as waived pre-existing exclusions and the option to cancel for any reason. Expect to pay 10-20% of the total cost of your trip package for insurance. It’s worth the cost to invest in your trip.

Great Ideas:

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Images of Countries Starting With the Letter M

Here are some amazing images from countries starting with the letter M:

Hopefully this will inspire you to see the world. Think you have what it takes to visit them all?

M
Macau

Macau

Macedonia

Macedonia

Madagascar

Madagascar

Malawi

Malawi

Malaysia

Malaysia

Maldives

Maldives

Mali

Mali

Malta

Malta

Marshall Islands

Marshall_Islands

Mauritania

Mauritania

Mauritius

Mauritius

Mexico

Mexico_3

Micronesia

Micronesia

Moldova

Moldova

Monaco

Monaco

Mongolia

Mongolia

Montenegro

Montenegro

Morocco

Morocco

Mozambique

Mozambique

Myanmar

Myanmar

 

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Visiting Barcelona? Go inside Sagrada Familia, it’s worth it.

If you are in Barcelona, you will probably visit the legendary Sagrada Familia temple. Don’t just take pictures of the outside, for God’s sake go inside and see it in all its glory.

The world-famous temple was the masterpiece of one of Spain’s most famous architects, Antoni Gaudi. Started in the 19th century, Sagrada Familia is still unfinished to this day. Gaudi worked for over forty years on the temple, until his death in 1926.

His work is carried on by architects and artists, and should be completed around 2026. If you would like to learn more about the history and architecture of Sagrada Familia please visit sagradafamilia.org.

I’m not saying that the the outside of this structure isn’t amazing, but I am saying you should spend some time inside as well. In fact, the video below is a 3d rendering of what the temple will look like once it’s finished.

This video illustrates the unfinished design stages of the temple in a very Game of Thrones kind of way.

While the outside of the temple features amazing relief sculptures and biblical scenes that could keep you occupied for hours, the inside is in stark contrast with perfect geometric forms and amazing displays of structural engineering. Being inside La Sagrada Familia gives you a sense of how meticulous Gaudi was in his architectural planning. Each column is beautifully designed and structurally sound.

See the difference below.

Sagrada Famila outside

Outside

 

Sagrada Familia Inside

Inside – photo courtesy of sagradafamilia.org

 

So, if you are in Barcelona, make sure you give yourself some extra time to see the inside of La Sagrada Familia. It’s worth the extra time. Buy tickets and schedule your visit early to avoid the large tourist crowds because there is a lot to see. ‘

 

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International Medical Insurance and Transgender Travelers

Transgender_Travel_-01

 

On October 6th, Bhumika Shrestha became the first transgender to travel internationally with a passport marked ‘other’ in the gender section:

Bhumika Shrestha is a citizen of Nepal, and is one of three citizens who are officially recognized as belonging to a third gender after a Supreme Court ruling in December of 2007. Anya is the official term used in Nepal, which is translated as third gender. Anya describes any biological male who identifies or expresses as a female, or any biological female who identifies or expresses as a male.

The decision to recognize a third gender was a victory for Bhumika and The Blue Diamond Society, an organization that supports awareness, equality, and dignity for the LGBT community and other gender minorities in Nepal. The ruling was further evidence of Nepal’s progressive stance on these issues. Nepal joins Australia, New Zealand, India, and Pakistan to offer passports with ‘X’ or ‘other’ as an option next to (M) for male and (F) for female.

 

Bhumika-105173-edited

Photo courtesy of: www.outandaround.com 

On top of being an activist, counselor, member of The Blue Diamond Society, a pageant winner, and an elected official member of Nepal’s congress, Bhumika is also a world traveler. Bhumika travels to attend conferences and speak on behalf of transgender people all over the world. Just accessing health care, buying a house, or getting a job in your home country can be difficult when you are transgender. Imagine the difficulties a transgender person would face trying to travel internationally with security checks and customs. Bhumika explains how being transgender affects her everyday life in an interview with Out & Around:

“When I go to the bank I have to give my ID card. Same when I travel. When security people check [and see my male ID], they think I am a fraud and I am cheating. When I visited the U.S., they did not believe me. I just tell them, I was a boy and now I am a girl. We face so much blame.”

While Western countries such as the UK are still debating the subject, Asian countries seem to be leading the charge to define and recognize ‘other’ gender categories. About 2-5 million individuals in India alone identify themselves as hijras, and are officially recognized by the Indian government, which means they will receive health care, education, and other rights given to males and females.

Gender_Quote_revised

As more countries begin to officially recognize other genders, they will have to rethink the way laws are written to accommodate more than two defined genders. The health care industry will have to determine what changes they need to make as well; especially, for those people seeking international medical insurance when they travel abroad. Often, gender is the determining factor in deciding the type and price of medical coverage offered to an individual. How will insurance underwriters handle travelers who claim to be neither male nor female?

Some of the issues to watch for in the insurance industry are:

  • How will gender selections be offered for transgender or third gender travelers who apply for travel coverage?
  • How will rates be affected or adjusted to accommodate additional selections?
  • What new benefits will change or be extended to the transgender/ third gender community?
  • How do individuals handle government documents after medical tourism when their gender has changed?

As this topic continues to grow, insurers will have to discover plan options that cover individuals from countries that recognize third genders. We here at TravelersAlly are dedicated to helping EVERYONE travel safely. We are currently raising this issue with several large insurance providers, and awaiting more information. In the meantime, please contact us for questions regarding coverage options.

 

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