Travel Insurance Helps Protect Against Airline Change Fees

Travel Insurance Helps Protect Against Airline Change Fees

Travelers who have to cancel or change their flights because of illness or other emergency may be in for a surprise with the recent increase in airline change fees to $200 or more.

In addition to change fees, fliers may incur airline re-ticketing charges for arrangements purchased through a travel agent or through an online agency. Travelers are also responsible for paying any applicable increases in airfare on re-ticketed flights.

When a traveler has to cancel or change flight arrangements due to illness or other types of emergencies, the airlines are not responsible. So, what does a traveler do? Continue reading →

The Glowworm Cave of Te Anau, Part II

The Glowworm Cave of Te Anau, Part II

This is the second part of our post on my visit to the Glowworm Caves of Te Anau. Read Part I here. “Te Anau”  in Maori, is actually said to mean, “the cave with a current of swirling water,” which led to the Glowworm Caves’ rediscovery in 1948. After a walk crouched down low, the … Continue reading →

The Glowworm Cave of Te Anau, Part I

The Glowworm Cave of Te Anau, Part I

It kept spinning over and over in my head:  “The Glowworm Song” that I remembered as a kid. “Shine little glow-worm, glimmer, glimmer….”  It hit number one on the Billboard Charts in 1952, and there’s  a Youtube video of the Mills Brothers singing it on the Nat King Cole Show in 1957.     Since then, I’ve … Continue reading →

Eye-Saving Travel Tips from UStiA

Eye-Saving Travel Tips from UStiA

When it comes to your eyes, don’t let your guard down, advises the US Travel Insurance Association. Exposure to intense sunlight can cause problems for travelers at any time of year. Whether it’s a Caribbean beach trip or an alpine ski vacation, taking care of your eyes is especially important. Continue reading →

When Winter Storms Derail Travel

When Winter Storms Derail Travel

Each year winter blizzards and sudden snow storms strand thousands of travelers. With winter storms generally not predictable more than a week in advance, travelers need to plan ahead and protect their vacation investment. The US Travel Insurance Association wants travelers to know that they don’t have to spend the night on an airport cot, forfeit an expensive vacation deposit, or foot the entire bill for extra hotel nights because they’re stranded during a storm. Continue reading →

Travel and Flu Season

Travel and Flu Season

Update: As of January 12, 2013, New York State has declared the flu a public health emergency. With widespread flu activity reported in 24 states, travelers, in particular, need to protect themselves from the highly contagious illness that hospitalizes more than 200,000 people yearly, advises the US Travel Insurance Association. Continue reading →