Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Travel the World!

By Robert Nickel


They say the world is a book and those who do not travel are illiterate. Without knowing who 'they' are, that analogy may be a little severe. Many things hold people back from traveling the world. A lack of money may be the primary reason, or the inability to take time away from work and family. Some are even afraid of travel. They may be unsure of the method of transportation or uncomfortable with foreign places. Most of the time these fears are based on experiencing or hearing something negative during travel or at a destination.

Validating the fears of a non-traveler is important. They need to know their feelings are not unfounded, but can be overcome. There are things every traveler can do to prevent problems from occurring, and the first step is educating oneself. Learn about the destination. Study the cultural differences, local customs, the language, currency, the geography of the region, transportation and the food. Then go see the doctor to find out about vaccinations. Many developing countries so popular with travelers require visitors to have vaccinations against certain illnesses.

Then it is time to obtain travel insurance. The cost is not large, but the potential usefulness is massive. Imagine stepping off a curb in Punta Cana and breaking your ankle. Not only are you saddled with the extra cost of medical care, but there is also the potential for your holiday to be cut short incurring additional travel costs. Travel insurance can help cover all those expenses, and even include follow up care once you arrive back home. Spending a little more on travel insurance can mean the difference between a disastrous trip and a little blip on an otherwise memorable experience.

The first and most important task when taking on travel insurance is reading your policy from cover to cover. Ask questions if you don't understand all the terminology. In that moment when you realize there will be a need to make an insurance claim, knowing the specific criteria and limits of your policy will make a huge difference. How long is it good for? What expenses are not covered? Will you need to pay upfront and be reimbursed or will the company pay at the outset? These are all vital questions to learn the answers to BEFORE leaving home.

The world may be a book to discover and learn from, but if you find yourself unable to travel it doesn't mean you are illiterate. Take a look at online travel booking sites and find out the real cost of traveling to your dream destination. It will probably be a lot more affordable than you think!




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