Travelers seeking an experience that emulates the feel of being a local are increasingly forgoing hotels in favor of renting another person’s home. While this can make for a unique experience, there are personal safety issues to keep in mind in such a scenario.
For starters, make sure you thoroughly read the contract so that you know exactly what is included. For example, the contract may stipulate that you will lose any deposit you’ve put down if you don’t clean up after yourself. Before signing anything, make sure that the host is legally able to rent out the home. In today’s age where websites like Airbnb attract thousands of users, there have been many legal situations involving property owners and travelers. Ask for documentation; if the person is reputable they have nothing to hide and will be forthcoming with proof.
Any payments and communications should be done via the rental company website instead of directly with the property owner. This will add another level of security and significantly reduce the odds of fraud or your identity and credit card information being stolen.
The home you’ll be renting will likely have security measures in place like an alarm and the standard door locks. As you would when visiting any foreign place, use common sense and proper judgement. Keep your valuables at home, thoroughly inspect the references and be aware of your surroundings. If it feels sketchy or unsafe, have a backup plan. This is also a helpful step should the host be a no-show.
This update is provided by travel insurance provider Trawick International. Some of our travel insurance plans include international and domestic inbound and outbound travel insurance, missionary travel insurance, trip protection and cancellation, visitor insurance, and Schengen Visa. Call 877-233-4591 for more information.
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Administrator at 19 Aug 2016
Cybercrime, hacking, your mobile device is always susceptible to threats. For many travelers—especially business travelers—your smartphone is arguably the most essential item when traveling as it allows us to stay connected when overseas. Since most people own either an Android device or an iPhone, these platforms are often targeted by criminals, but you can breathe a little easier by simply taking a couple of precautions when you’re traveling.
It may be slightly inconvenient, but one of the easiest things you can do is to password protect your phone, preferably something that’s harder to guess than simply using “password”. Better yet, use your phone’s fingerprint scanner if it has one as this will provide an additional layer of security.
Before you leave for your trip, make sure your phone is running up to date software. Manufacturers typically release software updates when vulnerabilities are discovered that could allow third party intrusion and you’ll have more peace of mind knowing that you’ve “sealed the cracks”.
As time goes by, you’ll probably start to accumulate a large number of apps or leisure games that will go unused. It’s a good idea to delete these old apps as they often store information about you and will track your location, in some cases even when you aren’t using them. On that note, make sure to thoroughly review apps prior to downloading them by checking the comments and reviews. Malicious apps often look legitimate to try and fool users.
This update is provided by travel insurance provider Trawick International. Some of our travel insurance plans include international and domestic inbound and outbound travel insurance, missionary travel insurance, trip protection and cancellation, visitor insurance, and Schengen Visa. Call 877-233-4591 for more information.
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Administrator at 11 Aug 2016
Luxury travelers are playing major roles in the travel industry as demand for unique and meaningful travel experiences grows. In fact, personalized experiences are among the hottest trends happening in travel right right now as tourists seek experiences that are out of the ordinary and defy convention, such as celebrating birthdays while watching elephants. Let’s take a look at a few other trends that are quickly emerging.
Perhaps the most obvious is the rise in technology as travelers—luxury or otherwise—have come to depend heavily on mobile devices to book and manage all of their travel plans, making changes as necessary while on the go and staying consistently updated.
Affluent millennials are increasingly looking to travel in groups with their friends and family, preferring spaces that can accordingly accommodate. Spacious living and dining areas, outdoor spaces, multiple bathrooms, itineraries that can be heavily customized to individual preferences are another trend.
Business and leisure should not be mutually exclusive, and the rise in working vacations among travelers reinforces this. Dubbed “bleisure”, luxury travelers are taking the time to explore the local area and bring other people along on the trip, adding vacation days so that their trip lasts beyond the duration of their work responsibilities.
This update is provided by travel insurance provider Trawick International. Some of our travel insurance plans include international and domestic inbound and outbound travel insurance, missionary travel insurance, trip protection and cancellation, visitor insurance, and Schengen Visa. Call 877-233-4591 for more information.
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Administrator at 10 Aug 2016
As a parent, you’re probably aware of how important it is to have funds set aside for major life events such as your child’s college fund and their wedding. If you really want to stay ahead when it comes to your financial planning, it’s also important to consider a travel fund.
Many of today’s parents are avid travelers that would like their children to have similar experiences. Instead of having to wait for them to be old enough to “leave the nest”, these parents would rather share the travel experience together, instilling a sense of wanderlust while also creating fun, potentially educational adventures.
Children exposed to travel generally have a better awareness of the world that a textbook cannot provide and they often choose careers that may be considered more meaningful. By the time your child is eight years old, they can begin to develop some understanding of a country’s history, the differences in culture and will therefore have a better grasp of what traveling is all about as they get older. As they develop more of a comprehension of how different the world is, they may want to take up a new language as a teenager by visiting a certain country, which is something to keep in mind if your future travel plans aren’t flexible.
For children between the ages of eight to twelve, you could consider visiting the jungles of Costa Rica or meeting wallabies in Australia. Preteens might enjoy an excursion to New Zealand for a Lord of the Rings like experience. Young adults will likely appreciate Iceland’s mysterious Northern lights or some whitewater rafting in Peru.
This update is provided by travel insurance provider Trawick International. Some of our travel insurance plans include international and domestic inbound and outbound travel insurance, missionary travel insurance, trip protection and cancellation, visitor insurance, and Schengen Visa. Call 877-233-4591 for more information.
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Administrator at 2 Aug 2016
Will you be traveling abroad anytime soon? Safety remains a major priority for international travelers, and taking a few simple precautions can mean not only enjoying a safer trip, but also having some peace of mind while you’re out and about exploring new locations and meeting fascinating new people from different walks of life.
Recent attacks in Nice, Orlando, and Paris have had at least one thing in common: crowds. Always be attentive of your surroundings, stay away from venues where there are few security measures, and consider having a plan should something unforeseen happen.
Before heading off to your international destination, check the U.S. State Department to see whether there are any travel alerts that have been issued. You may also wish to check out the website of the U.S. embassy or consulate in the area you’re planning to travel to see if any security updates have been issued. Registering for the U.S. State Department's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) is also a good idea as this will allow an embassy to contact you should an emergency arise.
The State Department recommends that you travel with health insurance coverage to cover theft, loss, or trip cancellation. Many foreign healthcare providers require cash payments and an emergency medical evacuation can cost upwards of $100,000 in some cases.
This update is provided by travel insurance provider Trawick International. Some of our travel insurance plans include international and domestic inbound and outbound travel insurance, missionary travel insurance, trip protection and cancellation, visitor insurance, and Schengen Visa. Call 877-233-4591 for more information.
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Administrator at 28 Jul 2016
