(Photo by Dan Novac on Unsplash)

The World Travel & Tourism Council has estimated bookings for international travel to be up by 130 percent over last year. Are you planning on traveling abroad? Are you Prepared?

Our Round-up of Travel Abroad Tips:

• Make sure you have a signed, valid passport and visas, if required. Also, before you go, fill in the emergency information page of your passport.
• Read the Consular Information Sheets (and Public Announcements or Travel Warnings, if applicable) for the countries you plan to visit.
• Familiarize yourself with local laws and customs of the countries to which you are traveling. Remember, your rights as an American citizen do not apply outside the United States. While in a foreign country, you are subject to its laws.
• Make two copies of your passport identification page. This will facilitate replacement if your passport is lost or stolen. Leave one copy at home with friends or relatives. Carry the other copy with you in a separate place from your passport.
• Make copies of all bank and credit cards, passports, visas, or identification that you may have in your wallet during your trip. Scan those copies and have them in your email in case you need to access them.
• Leave a copy of your itinerary with family or friends who are in the United States so that you can be contacted in case of an emergency.
• Do not leave your luggage unattended in public areas. Do not accept packages from strangers.
• Prior to your departure, you should register with the nearest U.S. Embassy or consulate through the State Department’s travel registration website.
• Be sure to review Visa requirements prior to travel to see if you need one.
• Registration will make your presence and whereabouts known in case it is necessary to contact you in an emergency. In accordance with the Privacy Act, information on your welfare and whereabouts may not be released without your express authorization.
• To avoid being a target of crime, try not to wear conspicuous clothing and expensive jewelry, and do not carry excessive amounts of money or unnecessary credit cards.
• In order to avoid violating local laws, deal only with authorized agents when you exchange money.
• If you get into trouble, contact the nearest U.S. Embassy. To locate an embassy, visit usembassy.gov/.

Travel insurance can protect against financial losses if you’re forced to cancel, delay or interrupt your vacation. Let us help determine if this type of coverage is right for you.

What is Travel Insurance?

Travel insurance can protect against the loss of non-refundable travel costs, such as airfare, hotel and tour expenses. Other types of travel insurance offer protection against losses due to medical emergencies, damage to personal property and death, which may occur away from home on vacation.

The Basics

No travel policy can guarantee your safety when you’re traveling, but knowing you’re covered for medical emergencies or the loss of personal property may help you relax and enjoy your vacation.

In addition to a travel insurance policy, cruise and tour operators may offer cancellation waivers. Read all of the restrictions before you buy a cancellation waiver.

Your vacation may have taken months to plan. Ensure your investment in minutes for non-refundable losses with a travel insurance policy.

Major Types of Travel Insurance

Trip Cancellation/Delay/Interruption Insurance

• Trip cancellation: Reimburses you for pre-paid travel expenses if you aren’t able to take your trip because you or a family member becomes ill or dies.
• Travel delay: Reimburses you for pre-paid expenses if you aren’t able to take your trip because of a travel delay, such as a flight delay or cancellation.
• Trip interruption: Reimburses you for prepaid expenses if your trip is cut short because you or a family member become ill or die or because of any other misfortune listed in policy. Covered reasons might include bad weather, airline strikes, terrorism, bankruptcy, jury duty or damage to your home.

Medical/Accidental Death Insurance

• Emergency medical expense: Reimburses you for medical and emergency dental expenses that you have because of an illness or injury while you’re traveling.
• Medical evacuation: Provides emergency transportation to take you either to a hospital near your area of travel or for transportation back to a hospital near your home.
• Accidental death: This coverage is usually split into three parts:
  • Air flight accident: Covers death or dismemberment during flight only.
  • Common carrier: Covers death or dismemberment while traveling on public transportation such as a plane, ferry, train, bus or taxi.
  • Accidental death: Covers death or dismemberment at any time during a trip.

ITA Data Release: January 2022 International Air Passenger Travel

If you would like more information on travel insurance or if you’d like to review your current coverages, please contact Rachel Good at (412) 754-3165 or by email at [email protected].

Please note that the information contained in this posting is designed to provide authoritative and accurate information, in regard to the subject matter covered. However, it is not provided as legal or tax advice and no representation is made as to the sufficiency for your specific company’s needs. This post should be reviewed by your legal counsel or tax consultant before use.