2020

Turks & Caicos Destination Information

Check Out the Hottest Caribbean Destination Because of COVID-19

Did you know that since the beginning of the pandemic, Turks and Caicos have seen a 303% increase in the number of travelers from the United States, as reported by Squaremouth? The report also noted for the first time, Turks and Caicos is the fastest-growing international destination, making it the fifth most popular destination overall, up from 60th in 2019. While The Bahamas had been the most popular destination for United States citizens the past decade, it was surpassed by Turks and Caicos following the COVID-19 pandemic.

So what is making Turks and Caicos such a popular destination? A recent Travel Pulse story about Turks and Caicos explains why the islands are in such demand. Turks & Caicos is arid compared with other Caribbean destinations; the island receives less than 50 inches of rainfall annually and generally lacks the lush landscape found across other Caribbean nations. Still, the islands are consistently favored by sunshine and cooling breezes, and the beaches rank with the Caribbean’s best. The Turks & Caicos’ primary appeal is its status as a mostly undiscovered and not overly developed tourism destination.

While visiting these two beautiful islands, tourists can experience the following activities:

Enjoy some of the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean

Many consider Turks and Caicos’ beaches and water to be the most beautiful in the world. While visiting the world-renowned beaches, travelers can enjoy exquisite reefs for diving and snorkeling, extensive marine wetlands that are perfect for kayaking and birdwatching, and incredible coastal environments.

Participate in all the water sports you can dream of

While enjoying the beaches, why not try the following water sports scuba diving, snorkeling, kayaking, paddle boarding, fishing, jet skiing, tubing, flyboarding, and sailing, to just name a few. Turks and Caicos have always had an excellent reputation for scuba diving, supported by some of the best wall diving in the Atlantic.

Try some deepwater fishing

Turks and Caicos provide perfect conditions for deep sea fishing in all of the Caribbean. There’s a range of private fishing charters to choose from, with vessels ranging from large and luxurious sportfishing boats to smaller and fast wahoo boats.

Wide variety of land sports and activities to choose from

You can experience horseback riding, cycling, golf, ATV tours, and tennis. One thing that many do not know about Turks and Caicos is that it’s home to a vast array of birds, such as flamingos, herons, egrets, pelicans, West Indian whistling duck, peregrine falcon, and the frigatebird.

Travel Insurance Is Required To Travel To Turks & Caicos

Just remember, travel insurance is a mandatory requirement for anyone wanting to visit Turks & Caicos. If you do not have valid Turks & Caicos Islands Tourist Board approved travel health insurance, you will not be allowed to enter the islands. If you do not have travel insurance, you may purchase a plan from us, since we are one of the recommended travel insurance providers that have been approved by the Turks & Caicos Islands Tourist Board.

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Founded in 1998, Trawick International is a full-service travel insurance provider specializing in protecting travelers of all types worldwide. We offer various travel insurance plans designed specifically by types of coverage, including comprehensive travel protection insurance, international travel medical insurance, visitor’s insurance, and international student insurance. Our company's mission is to deliver superior travel and medical insurance products that offer the best 24/7 emergency assistance services available. To become a Trawick International partner, call 888-301-9289 or email info@trawickinternational.com.

By Administrator at 20 Nov 2020

Buying Direct vs Airline Travel Insurance

Spend Your Money Wisely. Learn Why You Should Purchase Travel Insurance Directly From a Travel Insurance Provider.

Travelers today are looking to protect their vacation with travel insurance more than years passed. A recent survey conducted by the US Travel Insurance Association (UStiA), found that before 9/11, only 10% of leisure travelers purchased travel insurance, while today, more than 30% of leisure travelers buy it. When asked why, the top three reasons are: peace of mind, protection against the unexpected, and concern over losing the financial investment in a trip.

In the COVID-19 world that we are living in today, many things are uncertain, especially for someone or a family looking to travel during these times. As noted in the UStiA survey, protection against the unexpected is a significant factor in why travel insurance is being purchased. Travelers have the option of buying insurance from the airlines or from a travel insurance provider.

The airlines make it simple and convenient to get insurance when purchasing flights. This seems like an added benefit; however, the customer must be aware that the convenience they are receiving by working with the airlines doesn't provide them with the best travel protection. Working with a travel insurance provider offers a variety of plans that will provide enhanced protection that the airline coverage does not match.

The below chart represents what a customer will get when they purchase Trawick International’s (a travel insurance provider) Safe Travels Voyager policy. 

 

Now compare that to Delta’s Deluxe Domestic Trip Protector II Policy (an airline’s travel insurance policy) below.

 

 

After comparing the two policies, one from Trawick International and Delta. You can see a significant difference between the policies in what they offer and the coverage that they provide. Working with a travel insurance provider, you receive higher reimbursement for baggage coverage and no max amount of coverage for trip cancellation coverage and trip interruption coverage. 

When working with a travel insurance provider, the customer can obtain customized coverage for their entire trip where the airlines have a one size fits all. So what does that mean for the customer? This means the customer is stuck with a policy that the airlines have created for everyone with no flexibility to customize their coverage based on their individual needs. 

The below chart shows the optional coverage a customer can purchase when working with Trawick International.

 

 

As noted in the chart above, the customer can customize the policy to meet their specific needs when traveling. These added features allow the customer to receive the best possible protection when traveling and mitigates against unforeseen circumstances.

With uncertainty becoming the norm, it’s crucial to have the best possible coverage. That is why you should purchase insurance with a travel insurance provider. Taking that extra step will allow you to have peace of mind when traveling. To obtain a Safe Travels Voyager quote and purchase this product, please visit the Trawick International Safe Travels Voyager product page or one of our independent representatives for a quote today.

By Administrator at 12 Nov 2020

Checklist For Traveling Abroad During COVID-19

How To Properly Prepare To Travel Abroad During COVID-19

Before you take a trip abroad, you should put together a plan to travel safely.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends potential travelers take these important necessary steps.  In addition to the CDC’s recommendations, we wanted to provide potential travelers an additional resource to help them travel safely.

As a leading international travel insurance provider, we have a successful track record of working with some of the best firms in the business who handle all aspects of travel-related emergencies.  Our partner On Call International is a leading firm that provides fully-customizable travel risk management and assistance services, protecting millions of travelers, their families, and their organizations anywhere in the world, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

On Call International created a Travel Emergency Checklist to help travelers plan for the uncertainty of traveling.  Here are the key takeaways:

1. VERIFY DESIGNATED REPRESENTATIVES: These individuals are the point of contact for anyone going abroad and should be formally introduced to your travelers through education and orientation initiatives.  These individuals will be the point of contact in case of an emergency abroad. 

2. PROVIDE AUTHORIZATION: It’s essential to give your designated representatives the ability to authorize expenses. Why? Costs may occur that fall outside of an insurance/assistance coverage the traveler may hold.  If you’re prepared for this possibility, a designated representative or your travel risk management (TRM) firm can reach out directly for authorization and ensure that expenses are handled so as not to delay medical care.

3. PROVIDE HEALTH & SAFETY INFORMATION: One of the best ways to protect your travelers’ health and safety is to provide them with information about their destinations before they leave.

4. EDUCATE ON AVAILABLE RESOURCES: Confirm your travelers are aware of the nearest local hospital or emergency facility. If they are traveling internationally, do they have access to the destination’s local emergency numbers?

5. CHECK ITINERARIES: Once a trip has been booked, make sure you have your travelers’ itineraries, including any layovers and lodging details. Request to be kept in the loop should there be any cancellations, delays, or problems.

6. COMMONLY FORGOTTEN ITEMS: There are several things travelers may not think to provide to their organizations in advance, but in the event of an evacuation, having a copy of vital documents is crucial.  Such as passport or photo identification.

Now that you understand the benefits of using a Travel Emergency Checklist, please go ahead and create your very own checklist before traveling abroad.  By taking these small actions, it can make a tremendous difference for you or your loved one who is traveling abroad and caught in an emergency.

If you are traveling and need travel insurance, Trawick International has policies to cover trip cancellation, interruption, travel medical, medical evacuation, repatriation, travel baggage, and more. Get a travel insurance quote today.

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Founded in 1998, Trawick International is a full-service travel insurance provider specializing in protecting travelers of all types worldwide. We offer various travel insurance plans designed specifically by types of coverage, including comprehensive travel protection insurance, international travel medical insurance, visitor’s insurance, and international student insurance. Our company's mission is to deliver superior travel and medical insurance products that offer the best 24/7 emergency assistance services available. To become a Trawick International partner, call 888-301-9289 or email info@trawickinternational.com.

By Administrator at 9 Nov 2020

COVID-19 Impact On Air Travel This Thanksgiving

How COVID-19 Will Affect Air Travel This Thanksgiving

Like much of 2020, Thanksgiving travel will be heavily affected by COVID-19. As noted from a press release by AAA, more than 55 million travelers took a trip of 50 miles or more away from home for Thanksgiving in 2019. Last year was the second-highest Thanksgiving travel volume since AAA began tracking in 2000, trailing only the record set in 2005. Unfortunately, this year we will not see the same amount of travelers due to COVID-19.  It is expected that we will see a significant decline in airline travel.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) reported that they saw a record-breaking number of travelers during the Thanksgiving holiday in 2019, screening more than 26 million passengers and crew members during the holiday travel period, from Friday, Nov. 22 to Monday, Dec. 2. On the busiest day, Dec. 1, more than 2.8 million travelers passed through TSA security checkpoints nationwide. With 2,870,764 travelers screened, it marked the most active day ever in the 18-year history of the agency.

Even though the airline industry is bracing for a much smaller turnout this year, they are offering more flights in November than October to meet the expected need of Thanksgiving travelers.  As noted in a recent Business Insider article, Delta was the first of the big three US airlines to adjust its November schedule. The airline has scheduled 93,233 domestic flights, about 5,400 more than it will fly in October, but down from 139,771 in November 2019.

So what should we expect this Thanksgiving holiday?  USA Today article states prices will be lower for the most part. The steepest declines are for air travel. The average price of nonstop round-trip flight tickets is down more than 30% for both Thanksgiving weekend compared to 2019. Hotel rates are down 10% for Thanksgiving weekend.

If you are considering traveling for Thanksgiving this year, please make sure to be prepared for a very different experience than last year.  Be prepared for enhanced health screenings at the airport and hotels. Make sure to pre-plan your arrangements for holiday activities and events as they may be affected by the ongoing pandemic.

Trawick International wants everyone to have the best possible Thanksgiving experience they can have.  That is why we highly recommend travelers purchase a travel cancellation insurance policy that covers COVID-19 related losses.  For more information about how Trawick International travel insurance covers COVID-19, check out our COVID-19 FAQ Page.

By Administrator at 29 Oct 2020

Diwali Is Approaching

Diwali Is Approaching. Are You Protected To Celebrate?

Diwali will be celebrated on November 14th and last for five days this year.  Diwali is a beautiful time for Hindu families to come together and celebrate by having elaborate feasts, lighting diyas, and just being together.  This year, unfortunately, many who celebrate Diwali will not have the opportunity to travel to India because of COVID-19 travel restrictions and celebrate with family.

Luckily, there are no restrictions for visitors from India to visit the United States.  Over the past 30 years, the popularity of Diwali has increased in the United States.  This is no surprise that Diwali observance is on the rise because there are over 2.23 million Hindus in the United States now, according to the Pew Research Center. Hinduism and Buddhism are the fourth-largest faith groups in the country behind Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. 

Travelers will need to take additional precautions to protect themselves and their families when traveling to the United States to celebrate Diwali this year.  We at Trawick International highly recommend that if you are visiting the United States from India or another country that celebrates Diwali, you should purchase a travel medical insurance policy.  Unlike many countries, the United States does not provide healthcare insurance for travelers abroad.

What is travel medical insurance, you ask?  Travel medical insurance is a type of insurance designed to cover emergency health care costs incurred while traveling or vacationing abroad.  For example, you slip and hit your head and are rushed to the hospital.  You will be responsible for covering all the costs associated with your visit to the hospital out of pocket.  Now, if you were to purchase travel medical insurance, the price of a local ambulance to transport you to the hospital, your emergency room co-payment, the bill for your hospital room and board, and all other eligible medical expenses would be covered under your travel medical insurance policy.

Trawick International offers several plans for non-US Citizens/Residents to purchase.  Our Safe Travel USA, Safe Travel USA Coast Saver, and Safe Travels USA Comprehensive medical plans provide coverage for COVID-19 related expenses and treat it the same as any other sickness.  Since the beginning of the pandemic, Trawick International has insured COVID-19 and will continue to do so to make sure that families from across the world can be together to celebrate life’s special moments.

Visit Trawick International for more information about our Inbound to the USA Travel Medical Insurance or obtain your Travel Medical Insurance Quote.

By Administrator at 23 Oct 2020