Essential Travel Tips for the 2010 FIFA World Cup
The World Cup of Soccer is one of the most heavily watched, heavily betted, talked about sporting events every four years. It gets more publicity and generates more advertising dollars than any single sport at the Olympics, but it is run just as often. The atmosphere at the World Cup is always absolutely electric! Unfortunately, though, soccer is not known for the calmness and rationality of certain segments of the fan base. This year the host nation is South Africa, and while the FIFA World Cup committee is certainly hoping the violence-troubled nation can overcome its reputation for a fun, non-controversial World Cup, there are no guarantees. If you are travelling to South Africa for the FIFA World Cup, we look over some of the issues you’ll face and the recommended level of travel insurance cover for the event.
Learn more »
Essential Travel Tips for Canada’s Winter Olympics
The Canada Winter Olympics in 2010 is promising to be quite an event. It seems every year that opening ceremonies get bigger, brighter and more spectacular; world records are broken in a more amazing fashion, and crowds get bigger. However, there is also heightened awareness of security every year, especially in the last decade. If you’re travelling to Canada’s Winter Olympics, we give you some of the inside info on travel insurance.
Learn more »
Travel Insurance for Thailand: Land of Smiles and Unrest
Each year, tens of thousands of Australians travel to Thailand, which is known as the land of smiles. There are plenty of positives for tourists in Thailand – it has an amazingly warm and stable climate, the unique regional economy means that our dollar can buy much more in Thailand, the locals are generally friendly, and tourism is one of the backbones of the country. However, there is also plenty to be cautious of in Thailand. Threats that don’t exist at home, from bird flu to frequent and violent government demonstrations mean that travel insurance is a must for the region. We look at the considerations for travel insurance holders going to Thailand.
Learn more »
4 Important Facts About Getting an International Driving Permit
Our lives at home are made so much easier, more efficient, and richer by our cars. They are one of the things that international travelers most miss – so while some complain about spending much of their vacation time waiting for public transport or paying exorbitant amounts for taxis, others get an International Driving Permit and decide to take matters into their own hands. Today we are looking at how to get an International Driving Permit, and 4 important facts relating to driving overseas and your travel insurance that travellers should know.
Learn more »
Working Overseas and Travel Insurance – What You Need to Know
The cost of going overseas is enormous compared to the cost of your everyday life … when you factor in flights, paying for accommodation nightly instead of monthly, the cost of eating out many nights, renting a car rather than owning it, and incidentals like travel insurance and passports, the bill is staggering. Working overseas is a great way to not only meet people and learn about other cultures, but may be the only thing that makes it possible for you to live overseas. If you’re planning on backpacking around the world, we have some tips on working overseas, and how it may affect your travel insurance.
Learn more »
Inform Yourself as a Form of Travel Insurance, with Smartraveller
Taking an overseas trip will always engender equal parts excitement and panic … and that is not necessarily a bad thing! That nagging fear of the unknown is what prompts us to take measures to inform and protect ourselves, like making inquiries, taking out travel insurance, and being vaccinated. Making assumptions when you are overseas can be a quick route to hospital, jail, and in extreme cases, a coffin. When it comes to informing yourself, nobody has better, more comprehensive and trustworthy evidence than the Smartraveller site run by the Australian government. Here we look at the site’s main sections and features, and why they create a form of primary travel insurance for you!
Learn more »
Travel Insurance as a Social Service
Travel insurance has been called many things since it was invented. It has been named a ‘necessary evil’, and has often been called ‘another gosh-forsaken bill to pay’. However, insurance has also been called the handmaiden of industry, and many people don’t actually realize how much the conveniences and technologies we enjoy today are due to that crazy concept, engendered many decades ago, to help spread risk and loss in the case of adverse events. In its own way, the concept of travel insurance has helped you sit on your computer right now, on the internet, live in a house with heating (possibly your own house), have a job you enjoy, and come home with delicious Indian takeaway to sit in front of the television and watch amazing documentaries and informative news. And the bonds between insurance and these phenomena are not tenuous … let me explain!
Learn more »
Claiming on Your Travel Insurance – What to Do Before You Get Home
Travel insurance is a necessity when you are overseas, covering you for all sorts of adverse circumstances. If you need to make a claim on your policy, you should be aware that there are quite a few things which you’ll need to arrange before you get home. In some cases, if you return home before getting the necessary supporting documents, your insurer will have to reject your claim. Familiarise yourself with what is necessary before you get caught up in the excitement of travel – here we are looking at the general documents required for most travel insurance claims.
Learn more »
Seven of the Strangest Travel Insurance Claims
You understand that travel insurance will cover you if something unfortunate happens while you are overseas – if you have a heart attack, if your hotel burns down with your suitcases in it, or if you rental car is stolen, insurance will probably take care of it. But did you know that travel insurance can also cover you if monkeys make their way through your open window and steal your belongings? Travel insurance will cover your return trip if your hotel ends up being infested by fleas, and will cover you for goats eating your identity documents. However, some odd travel insurance claims must be rejected. We were going to list the top 4, but found there were just too many hilarious travel insurance claims to stop there … so here are the top 7 oddest travel insurance claims around!
Learn more »
Travel Insurance Policies – Do You Have One Already?
Every different type of insurance is necessary, or at least advisable, for different categories of people. Homeowners should take out home and contents insurance, car owners will need third-party damage cover at a minimum, and sole income earners in a family should have income protection insurance. Overseas travelers should have travel insurance – however, if you are a generally well-insured person, you may not need as much travel insurance as the general spiel would have you believe. Today we are looking at the insurance policies you may already have that cover adverse overseas events and the associated costs. We also look at the events that travel insurance is the only way to cover, and the circumstances when you should still get more than the base level of cover. Please note that in all of the following, you should speak with representatives of your current insurers for assurance that you have cover.
Learn more »