Good News for Travelers Visiting South East Asia
Over this past year, the travel industry globally has started to pick up. Most notably, we have seen New York City reopen and many European nations open to international travelers. If we remembered, last year, global tourism essentially came to a standstill. Cruise ships were docked, planes were placed in hangers and beaches were empty.
South East Asia has slowly reopened compared to Europe and the United States for international travelers. Many countries are still fighting the COVID-19 virus and have not fully opened up to international travelers. As of July 1st, the island of Phuket, which is one of the most popular tourist attractions in South East Asia, is reopening effective immediately.
What You Need to Know About Visiting Phuket
MSNBC reported that starting July 1st, tourists can visit Phuket without quarantining for the first time since March 2020. If you are unfamiliar with Phuket, it's the largest island in Thailand and is considered one of the most popular destinations in the region. To avoid quarantining for 14 days, international travelers must comply with the following requirements from the Travel Authority of Thailand:
Pre-arrival
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Travelers are advised to avoid at-risk areas or crowded places no less than 14 days before their travel date.
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Travelers must travel from countries/territories (list) approved by the Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA), per the guidelines of the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), as proposed by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports (MoTS) and TAT, and must have been in the said countries for no less than 21 days before their travel date – except Thai nationals and foreign expatriates returning from overseas. They must register their travel via the designated system or website, and have the following documents:
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A certificate of Entry (COE).
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A medical certificate with a laboratory result by an RT-PRC method indicating that COVID-19 is not detected no more than 72 hours before their travel date.
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Copy of an insurance policy in English covering healthcare and treatment expenses for COVID-19 per applicant for the whole duration in Thailand with coverage clearly identified as no less than US$100,000.
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Copy of the payment confirmation for no less than 14 nights stay and RT-PCR tests at hotels approved by the MoTS or TAT. In the case that the length of stay is less than 14 days, travelers must present a confirmed flight ticket out of Thailand and payment confirmation for accommodation and RT-PCR tests at hotels that cover their intended duration of stay.
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A certificate of vaccination against COVID-19 with a vaccine approved by the MoPH or the World Health Organisation (WHO) no less than 14 days before their travel date. Travelers under 18 years of age, traveling with their parents or guardians, must have a medical certificate with a laboratory result by an RT-PRC method indicating that COVID-19 is not detected no more than 72 hours before their travel date.
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Travelers must undergo exit screening before departure.
Arrival
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Entry screening and Immigration and Customs procedures:
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Download and install an alert application, as well as set the application on at all times for the whole duration in Thailand.
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Proceed directly to the reserved hotel on the approved airport transfer service.
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Undergo a COVID-19 test (RT-PCR method) at your own expense as per the following requirements:
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Taking the first test upon arrival and await the test results in the accommodation.
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Taking additional RT-PCR tests as per the following requirements:
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Travelers with the length of stay of fewer than 7 days are required to take another test on Day 6 or 7, or as per the MoPH's guidelines.
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Travelers with the length of stays between 10-14 days are required to take the second test on Day 6 or 7 and the third test on Day 12 or 13, or as per the MoPH's guidelines.
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In the case that travelers are tested positive for COVID-19, travelers will be referred to specified healthcare facilities for medical treatment, for which the expenses must be covered by the required insurance.
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If tested negative for COVID-19, travelers can go anywhere in Phuket.
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Travelers with an intended length of stay of fewer than 14 days must leave Phuket (Thailand) immediately on an international flight to another country on or before their intended departure date. (see FAQs)
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Travelers who have completed 14 nights in Phuket will be allowed to continue their journey to other Thai destinations.
How can Trawick International Help You Enjoy Phuket?
Trawick International offers multiple travel insurance plans that provide over $100,000 in travel medical benefits. Contact us today to get a quote so you can enjoy Phuket!
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. Contact us at 888-301-9289 or info@trawickinternational.com.
By
Administrator at 20 Jul 2021
2021 Is Shaping Up To Be The Most Volatile Hurricane Season On Record
With travel restrictions being lifted each month, many U.S. travelers are looking to take vacations to the Gulf Coast, East Coast, and the Caribbean. Travelers to these destinations need to be aware that from now until November 30, 2021, is hurricane season in the Atlantic. This year’s hurricane season is shaping up to be the most volatile on record with headlines such as “2021 Atlantic hurricane season breaking records already”, and many others.
What does this mean for travelers?
Travelers have to take proactive measures to protect their travel plans. The best way to do this is to purchase travel insurance. The question now is, what kind of travel insurance should they buy? The best type of travel insurance to purchase during hurricane season is Trip Cancellation insurance. Trip Cancellation insurance includes coverage for Trip Cancellation, Trip Interruption, Travel Delay, and more.
What does trip cancellation insurance cover?
Trip Cancellation provides reimbursement for unused, non-refundable, pre-paid trip costs if you are prevented from taking your trip due to certain unforeseen events that prevent you from traveling, such as a hurricane. For example, you are scheduled to travel to the Caribbean and a hurricane occurs. If you purchased Trip Cancellation insurance, you would receive a refund since you were not able to go on your vacation. Below are some factors that can cause your trip cancellation policy to be activated:
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Weather at departure site that causes a carrier delay of 12 hours or more
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Natural disaster at the destination that renders your accommodations uninhabitable
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Mandatory evacuation at Your trip destination due to hurricanes or other natural disasters
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Home is made uninhabitable by a hurricane or natural disaster
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Interruption of water, electric, sewage, or gas service(s) at Your destination, for more than six hours due to inclement weather or natural disaster
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Accommodations at destination made inaccessible by original mode of transportation due to hurricane or other natural disasters
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A closed roadway to or from your trip destination
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Arrival at trip delayed due to a hazard (including weather) that causes you to lose 50% or more of trip duration
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Cancellation of sporting competition due to weather which you traveled more than 100 miles from home to attend
How does trip interruption and travel delay work?
Once you depart for your vacation, you are eligible for Trip Interruption coverage. Trip Interruption provides reimbursement for unused land and water activities along with additional transportation costs used to return home or rejoin your trip if a hurricane were to occur.
Travelers should be aware that Trip Interruption and Travel Delay coverage complement each other.
If you’re delayed and stuck somewhere, chances are you are also missing a portion of your trip. Trip Interruption could provide benefits for unused travel arrangements and Travel Delay can provide coverage for additional out-of-pocket expenses incurred during the delay such as reimbursement for hotel accommodation, meals, telephone calls, and local transportation while delayed.
When to purchase travel insurance for hurricane season?
You MUST purchase your policy before a storm is named. The development of a hurricane usually goes as follows: the system starts forming and becomes a tropical disturbance, a tropical depression, a tropical storm, and then finally transforms into a hurricane. Once a storm is named, Trip Cancellation and Interruption coverages are lost for that named storm. So, to ensure that you are covered for every possible reason, it is important to book your policy as soon as you book your trip.
With the proper coverage, travelers now have peace of mind and protection when they are traveling this hurricane season. To obtain a quote for Trip Cancellation Insurance, please visit Trawick International.
Work With The Best
Trawick International was rated one of the best travel insurance providers for 2021 by Forbes Advisors.
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. Contact us at 888-301-9289 or info@trawickinternational.com.
By
Administrator at 6 Jul 2021
Travel Insurance Is Necessary For 2021 Cruisers
For over the past sixteen months, we have been dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic has greatly affected everyone across the globe. Unfortunately, one industry that was greatly hindered by the COVID-19 virus was the travel industry. If you look back over the past 16 months, countries closed their borders, amusement parks went dark, hotel rooms stayed empty and cruise ships remained in port.
Luckily, we have started to see countries reopen for travelers from abroad over the past few months. We have witnessed vaccinations across the globe start to roll out. With each positive step forward, more and more people are looking to travel again. One thing that potential travelers need to focus on is the need for travel insurance.
A 2018 report issued by AAA indicates that travelers’ behavior has dramatically changed towards purchasing travel insurance. More and more potential travelers are buying travel insurance before 9/11—only 10% percent of travelers purchase travel insurance. Today we are seeing almost 40% percent of travelers who are booking trips are buying travel insurance. The reason for this is two-fold. Numerous countries across the world require travelers to have some form of travel insurance to enter their territory. The other reason is travelers want more protection than in the past to protect their investment in their trip.
Why Is Travel Insurance Necessary For Your Upcoming Cruise?
The world that we live in has drastically changed since last March when the COVID-19 pandemic began. Cruise lines were completely shut down last year because of the fear of spreading the virus. However, this year after an immense amount of safety precautions were implemented, the cruise industry set sail again. This is a great thing, but all travelers embarking on a cruise must protect themselves if something unexpected occurs.
That is why we highly suggest travelers looking to take a cruise in 2021 should make sure they purchase a trip cancellation plan with the “Cancel for Any Reason” benefit. This benefit allows travelers to cancel their trip up to two days before it starts and the insured can be reimbursed for up to 75% of their prepaid, non-refundable, insured travel expenses. The cruise industry's state is still in flux and having the Cancel for Any Reason benefit provides additional protection. Trawick International is one of a handful of Travel Insurance providers that offer a Cancel for Any Reason benefit. In addition to our Trip Cancellations offering, we provide a full suite of travel insurance products such as Emergency Travel Medical, Emergency Medical Evacuation, Trip Interruption, Travel Delay, and Baggage Protection. You may not need all of these plans but getting the correct type of protection for your investment is imperative.
Should you buy the insurance offered by the cruise line?
We recommend that you work always work with a travel insurance provider when purchasing travel insurance. When you work with a travel insurance provider, such as Trawick International, you will obtain a travel insurance plan that meets your cruising needs and for a better price. For example, If you are booking a flight, hotel, cruise, and excursions, you should buy a travel insurance plan from Trawick International. Our plans make sure you are covered for all parts of your travel experience, from when you leave your house to the time you return home. When you purchase travel insurance from the cruise line, you will be paying a higher price and its insurance plan does not offer a wide range of benefits. It only includes coverage while on the cruise. To learn more about the differences between obtaining travel insurance from a cruise line and a travel insurance provider, see our blog post on the topic.
Travel Insurance is now a Requirement for Unvaccinated Travelers On Certain Cruise Lines
A recent report by MSNBC stated that Royal Caribbean now requires all guests over the age of 16 sailings from U.S. ports, except those in Florida, to be fully vaccinated. Starting Aug. 1, the rule will apply to all guests over 12. Passengers leaving from Florida ports from Aug. 1 to Dec. 31 who are not vaccinated will need travel insurance. Royal Caribbean is the first cruise line to make travel insurance mandatory for unvaccinated travelers. Over the next few weeks, we believe other cruise lines adopt this policy, making it imperative to have travel insurance before going on a cruise.
Work With The Best
No matter what cruise line you are looking to embark on this year, make sure you contact Trawick International to get a customized travel insurance quote. Trawick was rated one of the best travel insurance providers for 2021. Remember to look at plans that offer a Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) option, so you have the opportunity to cancel if you just decide not to travel (learn more about CFAR travel insurance).
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. Contact us at 888-301-9289 or info@trawickinternational.com.
By
Administrator at 1 Jul 2021
2020 was a year to forget for travelers. The COVID-19 global pandemic significantly hampered travel last year because many countries closed their borders to international tourists to stop the spread of the virus. As a result, the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) reported that global tourism suffered its worst year on record in 2020, with international arrivals dropping by 74%. Destinations worldwide welcomed 1 billion fewer international arrivals in 2020 than in the previous year.
With summer travel season quickly approaching and more international destinations opening up for travelers abroad. A recent Forbes article stated that America’s largest city would drop restrictions on restaurants, retail, stadiums and other businesses by July 1, 2021. The loosing of regulations will make it the ideal tourist attraction for domestic and international tourists. Please remember that New York City was locked down in March 2020 before suffering the worst Covid-19 outbreak in the nation. Since then, New York has been under some of the strictest Covid-19 regulations in the country to combat the pandemic.
Another popular destination for international travelers across the globe is Italy. As noted by Travel Agent Central, Italy is ready to welcome back visitors from across the world, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi said after a G20 tourism ministers meeting in early May. If you remember correctly, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in April 2020, New York and Italy struggled with containing the virus. So to see both destinations recover and preparing to open for tourists shows just how far the world has come against the COVID-19 pandemic.
Are you required to buy travel insurance?
Travel insurance can be a requirement depending on the country your planning on visit and even if it’s not a requirement, it’s still a good thing to have. Travel insurance can protect your investment in your trip and provide additional benefits such as protection for lost luggage and protection for unforeseen events like the death of family members and many other items covered under your policy.
Not all travel insurance providers are created equal
Trawick International does not care about your relationship status. So if you are married, in a domestic partnership or just in something complicated, you and your partner are eligible to receive coverage from Trawick International. If you can provide the following information, such as evidence of cohabitation, shared financial assets and obligations for at least the previous six months and an affidavit of domestic partnership, if recognized by the jurisdiction within which you reside. You and your significant other will be able to have all the benefits available that are offered on the Trawick International insurance plan.
Get a quote & buy travel insurance
2021 is the year of the comeback for travel, especially with the exciting news from New York and Italy. Just remember, before you take a bite of the big apple or navigate the canals of Venice, make sure you speak to us at Trawick International to receive a customized travel insurance plan that meets you and your partner's needs.
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. Contact us at 888-301-9289 or info@trawickinternational.com.
By
Administrator at 18 Jun 2021
This is not an article on a great 80’s martial arts movie but a blog post to discuss how Trawick International has taken the travel insurance industry by storm during one of the most difficult years for an insurance business. Over the past year, we have implemented a strategic growth strategy focused on growing our organization's capabilities and focusing on our most important asset, our customers. Due to our hard work client-centric approach, the industry has taken notice and we have been awarded numerous prestigious industries awards from Forbes Advisors.
In total, we received top honors in four different categories by Forbes Advisors for this calendar year. Each award type was based on Forbes Advisors’ rigorous, data-driven methodology. We as an organization could not be prouder of the accolades but realize we could not have done this without our customers' trust and belief in our services. Everything we do at Trawick International is based on our pledge to our customers: Our promise to our customers is to provide affordable travel insurance products that meet clients' needs traveling domestically or internationally. We will continue to provide the best possible customer service to each and every person so they can focus on traveling worry-free, wherever they may go.
Best of May 2021 Awards
Forbes Advisor awarded Trawick International top honors in their Best Travel Insurance Companies list for consumers. Out of 15 travel insurance companies ranked by the financial news outlet, Trawick International came in first, based on Forbes’ rigorous, data-driven methodology. The scoring criteria were based on each plan’s coverage for Covid-19; benefit levels for baggage, trip delays, and cancellations; coverage for medical expenses and emergency medical evacuation; and the option to cancel for any reason.
Trawick International was ranked as one of the top provider’s senior travel insurance by Forbes Advisors compared to 24 other insurance providers' plans. The travel insurance plans were rated by coverage for medical expenses, medical evacuation, travel delays, and baggage.
Once again, Trawick International was awarded top honors for our cruise insurance plans by Forbes Advisors. We were judged against 24 other insurance providers' cruise insurance plans based on the plan's coverage limits of $100,000 in travel medical coverage and at least $250,000 in medical evacuation.
Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) travel insurance is one of the most elusive policies for travelers to procure. We are extremely proud to offer this increasingly popular benefit to our customers and be ranked as the top provider by Forbes Advisors. The scoring criteria for this award were based on plan benefits offers, which we are proud to say are the best in the travel insurance industry. If you are not familiar with CFAR, this plan benefit allows you to cancel your trip up to two days before you are scheduled to depart for your trip for any reason. Our plan allows up to 75% of reimbursement to customers for the pre-paid parts of their vacation.
Work With The Best
Trawick International wouldn’t be here today if it were not for our customers, who time and time again rely on us to provide them with the necessary insurance offerings so they can travel worry-free domestically and internationally. If you are interested in working with Trawick International, contact us today!
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. Contact us at 888-301-9289 or info@trawickinternational.com.
By
Administrator at 11 Jun 2021
