Our very own Senior Vice President Curt Carlson will be taking on an adventure that is considered one of the toughest challenges for adventure travelers in the Western Hemisphere. Curt will be embarking on a mountain climbing trip that will take him over 18,000 feet. Yes, you read that correctly. He will be climbing mountains that are over 18,000 feet above sea level. That is cruising altitude for some airplanes! This blog post is the first post about Curt’s Adventure of a Lifetime. We will keep you updated on his journey with a series of blogs and social media posts. So, make sure you follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Trip Details
His trip will take him to Ecuador, where he will be taking on the “Avenue of Volcanoes” with mountain climbing experts Mountain Madness. The tour Curt chose is called Volcanoes Around Ecuador: Guided Mountaineering on Cayambe, Cotopaxi, and Chimborazo. His mountain climbing adventure will consist of 14 fun-filled days of climbing and sightseeing through the region. The first mountain he will trek is Cayambe, which is 18,996 feet above sea level. After a few days of resting and sightseeing, Curt will climb the world’s highest active volcano, Cotopaxi. If you didn’t think climbing an active volcano was crazy enough, Curt and his climbing partners will take on attempting the summit of Ecuador’s highest peak at Chimborazo.
Choosing the Right Travel Insurance
Mountain climbing is not a cheap hobby, especially if you are traveling to Ecuador for 14 days. Curt will have to pay for many things such as his flight, lodging, meals, equipment and guides. All of these items add up, making his trip an expensive one. Curt is not the average traveler. He is an adventure traveler looking to take on some of the most challenging mountains in the western hemisphere. So, his trip is going to cost way more than the average vacation trip. Knowing this and being a travel insurance expert, he has to decide on what type of travel insurance to purchase. Luckily for Curt, he is the Senior Vice President of Trawick International and played a huge hand in developing our SafeTreker Adventure Travel Insurance.
This type of insurance is designed to provide adventurers like Curt with the protection they need when traveling and taking on an experience like this. SafeTreker is an adventure travel insurance product designed to cover numerous sporting activities. This adventure travel Insurance offers varying levels of benefits and coverage, depending on your budget and travel needs.
The policy that Curt chose to protect his investment is SafeTreker Extreme+. He chose this plan because it covers his mountain climbing activity and provides up to $10,000 for Trip Cancellation/Trip Interruption coverage with up to $100,000 Accident and Sickness Medical Coverage, up to $3,000 for baggage, Search and Rescue up to $10,000 and Sports Equipment Rental protection up to $3,000. This insurance provides Curt with confidence knowing his eligible travel and adventure expenses may be protected so he can focus on getting his gear ready and training for this Adventure of a lifetime!
Follow Curt's Journey
There is nothing like a good adventure story and since Curt is one of us, we feel compelled to document his journey and help other adventure travelers understand more about our SafeTreker Adventure Travel Insurance. So, follow this blog series and follow Trawick International on social media to keep up with our guy. Good luck, Curt! You got this and stay safe!
By
Administrator at 1 Jun 2021
Italy has reopened its borders for international tourists!
Here’s what you need to know:
- You must be fully vaccinated.
Vaccinated travelers will be required to provide a negative COVID-19 test before initial departure and again on arrival to Italy. Yes, you read that right. Even if you are fully vaccinated, you must still provide negative test results multiple times before entering the country.
According to the country's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Luigi Di Maio, this will prevent travelers from ever going into a quarantine-type situation while traveling.
- You must arrive in Italy on a government-approved “COVID tested flight.”
Right now, the only two airlines offering these flights are Delta and Alitalia. These flights include departures from New York and Atlanta to Rome and Milan.
When should you travel to Italy
The best time during the year to travel to Italy is from April to June and mid-September to October. During these months, temperatures are usually comfortable, rain is not likely, and it will not be so crowded (unless it is during a holiday). The summer months from July to early September are usually hotspot times for tourists to visit.
August is said to be the worst month out of the year to visit Italy. Temperatures are at their hottest, and the entire country seems to be closed due to locals taking their vacation time. Many shops, restaurants, and some family-run hotels will be closed, making traveling inconvenient and lackluster.
Places to visit in Italy
You can’t miss the top 3 spots while visiting Italy, including Cinque Terre, Florence, and Rome.
Cinque Terre is a stunning coastal area of northwest Italy within Liguria. It includes a picturesque town built right into the side of a cliff, with colorful terraces on the rugged landscape overlooking the Ligurian Sea. You could easily call Cinque Terre one of the “most instagrammable” places in the world. Say for sunset and you will not be disappointed!
Next on the list of can’t miss places in Italy, we have Florence.
The number one most iconic thing to see in Florence is the Cathedral of Florence, formally known as the Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore. With some of the most intricate architectural designs globally, you will never find a dull building here.
Bring your most comfortable shoes for this trip because, in Florence, you will be doing a ton of walking and hiking up a ton of stairs. From the various museums and art exhibits to climbing to the top of Duomo, you will surely get your steps in each day.
Last but certainly not least, we have Rome.
This will be the city you might want to spend most of your time in due to the number of things you can see and do here. Arguably the most iconic site in Rome is the Colosseum. As the largest ancient amphitheater ever built, it was used for many things, including gladiator contests and Roman drama plays. This magnificent building was completed in 80 AD and still stands today.
Another piece of Rome you cannot miss is the Trevi Fountain. It is one of the most visited and most famous fountains in the world. It has appeared in many notable films and is a great spot for taking photos and making a wish or two!
This country has so much to offer. It’s no wonder tourists flock in from around the world. From gorgeous cities, ancient ruins, and excellent museums to spacious mountains, stunning beaches, and iconic architecture, you will never be bored on your trip here.
Prepare for your trip to Italy
With travel being so uncertain these days, the most important thing you can do before your trip is to protect your trip. Our Trip Cancellation plans protect the prepaid, nonrefundable trip costs in the event you are unable to travel for many unforeseen circumstances. For a fraction of your trip cost, you can alleviate the risk of losing money if something unforeseen gets in the way.
Another option is to buy Cancel For Any Reason coverage. This is a highly sought-after benefit that not many other travel insurance companies offer. Having this coverage truly can cover you for just about anything before your trip. As international trips can be very pricey, this is a good option for people who are still unsure about certain travel restrictions or people who have previous health conditions.
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 28 May 2021
Over the past few weeks, we have seen some exciting announcements from Europe about travel regulations for international travelers. Greece was the first European nation to announce that it would allow international travelers to visit if they can show proof of vaccination against the COVID-19 virus. This past week Italy announced that it would be opening immediately to international travelers who also can show evidence of immunization.
The announcement by Italy and Greece marks a huge milestone for international travelers who want to frequent Europe. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Europe was one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. To prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus, many European countries adopted travel bans for international travelers. To facilitate travel through Europe, many countries adopted a system to inform travelers about COVID-19. The system is called The Traffic Light Approach, but it has caused some confusion since launching a Digital Green Certificate. These two travel guidelines are very important and need to be understood before making travel plans to Europe.
Understanding Europe’s Traffic Light Approach to Travel
As noted by the Department of Foreign Affairs on October 13, 2020, Member States adopted the EU Recommendation on a coordinated approach to travel restrictions in the context of COVID-19. This ‘traffic lights’ policy provides for regions across the European Union (EU) and European Economic Area (EEA) to be categorized as green, orange, red, or grey, based on the risk levels associated with COVID-19. On 28 January 2021, a new dark red category was introduced on the weekly published map for areas where the COVID-19 virus circulates at very high levels, including more infectious variants.
To find out how each country is performing based on the traffic lights system, check out the Reopen Europe website. The site reports an overview of the health situation in European countries, based on data from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). The information is updated frequently and available in 24 languages. It enables you to follow the evolution of the coronavirus situation in your country and beyond. Re-open EU also provides information on the various restrictions in place, including quarantine and testing requirements for travelers and mobile coronavirus contact tracing and warning apps. Following the traffic light system should help you plan your travel in Europe while staying safe and healthy.
What is the Digital Green Certificate
The European Commission announced on March 17, 2021, presented a proposal to create a Digital Green Certificate to facilitate the safe free movement of citizens within the EU during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Digital Green Certificate will be accepted in all EU Member States. It will help to ensure that restrictions currently in place can be lifted in a coordinated manner. When traveling, every EU citizen or third-country national legally staying or residing in the EU, who holds a Digital Green Certificate, should be exempted from free movement restrictions in the same way as citizens from the visited Member State. Please note the Digital Green Certificate is only for EU citizens of member nations. If you are going to travel to Europe and you are not a citizen of EU member nations, you can’t use the Digital Green Certificate and will need to show proof of immunization from COVID-19.
Protect Your Investment with Travel Insurance
Vacations to Europe tend to be on the expensive side. As revealed by the Money We Have website, a typical European vacation can cost over $4,000 for two travelers. Be sure to protect your investment and buy a travel insurance policy from Trawick International. We provide customized travel plans that offer industry-leading benefits.
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 19 May 2021
Greece Is Opening Back Up For Summer 2021
Greece is known for its beautiful beaches, history, historical architecture, food, and one of the most romantic places on this planet to visit. Unfortunately, all tourism in 2020 stopped in Greece because the COVID-19 pandemic completely shut down all travel to Greece.
Reopening For Summer 2021
As reported by Travel & Leisure, Greece is planning to reopen its borders to international travelers on May 14, 2021. Greece intends to welcome fully vaccinated tourists and other foreign visitors with coronavirus antibodies or negative test results. To adequately prepare for the influx of expected travelers this summer, Greece will begin vaccinating tourism workers once it has completed the elderly and medically vulnerable populations. Vaccination rates are expected to ramp up in April when large shipments of Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer are scheduled to be delivered to the country.
European Union Plan To Open Up
As reported by the New York Times on April 25, 2021, tourists from America who have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19 will be able to visit the European Union over the summer. The policy change is because discussions have been going on for several weeks between European Union and the United States officials on how to practically and technologically make vaccine certificates from each place broadly readable so that citizens can use them to travel without restrictions.
What Does This Mean For International Travel
The planned reopening of Greece and the European Union is the beginning of much-needed good news for the travel industry. Travelers wanting to experience Greece should start to make their travel plans now since there will be a very high demand to visit the region once it reopens its borders. Just make sure to protect your investment in your planned vacation to Greece.
Travel Insurance Is A Must
As of now, there is no requirement to have travel insurance to enter Greece. Even so, we highly recommend that you purchase a travel insurance policy like our Safe Travels Voyager. This plan covers trips up to $100,000 for trip cancellation. It includes a $250,000 per person limit Primary Medical Coverage with coverage for Pre-Existing Medical conditions on plans purchased before or with final trip payment. Safe Travels Voyager also includes minimum coverage of $2,000 for potential accommodations/lodging expenses. COVID-19 MEDICAL EXPENSES may be covered and treated the same as any other sickness.
Also available is an optional Cancel for Any Reason benefit (CFAR) that provides reimbursement for 75% of the prepaid, non-refundable, forfeited payments you paid for your trip if you cancel your trip for any reason not otherwise covered by this policy. The initial policy must be purchased within 21 days of the initial trip deposit date, and the full, nonrefundable trip cost is insured. This plan is only available to U.S. Citizens and U.S. Residents and can be purchased for a trip cost of $0 to $100,000.
2021 is starting to become the year of the comeback for travel, especially with the positive news from Greece and the European Union. To be safe, make sure you speak to us at Trawick International before setting up on European vacation and receiving a customized travel insurance plan that meets your 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 11 May 2021
Be Sure To Insure Your Honeymoon
Travel insurance will protect your investment and provide coverage while traveling
The wedding venue has been reserved, DJ has been booked, flowers have been chosen, dress has been picked and the guest list has been sent out. Now you can focus on something that you truly deserve and want to put your best efforts into. It’s time to pick and book the honeymoon. Your honeymoon is the vacation that you and your significant other will remember for the rest of your lives. Some choose a quiet relaxing break in the Caribbean, while others try an adventurous trip and visit the Galapagos Islands. Heck, some people go to Europe and check out all of the historic sites. No matter what type of honeymoon you choose and where you will visit. You must protect your investment and purchase travel insurance.
Why you need travel insurance
As reported by Brides.com, the average honeymoon costs $4,500. The costs of honeymoons all over the world vary. For example, Honeymoons in the Caribbean and Mexico cost between $5,000 to $7,500. Couples spend anywhere from $6,000 to $25,000 for trips to Europe, Asia, the South Pacific, etc.
Now let’s put that in perspective of the average cost of a vacation for two costs. The average cost for two travelers to take a vacation cost $2,300, as indicated by Credit Donkey. So, the average honeymoon costs twice as much as an average vacation and sometimes much more depending on location.
The most important benefit of travel insurance is to protect your investment in your trip. Travel insurance could reimburse you if something unforeseen were to occur like travel delay, sickness, injury, and death of a family member.
Another reason why you should purchase travel insurance is that it can be a requirement to enter your destination. If you don’t comply with your destination’s travel regulations, you will not be able to enter the country and will be stuck in customs waiting for a flight home. So, before you make your travel arrangements review the COVID Controls website.
This tool will tell you everything you need to know about how COVID-19 is affecting travel. This site has indicated that the following countries require travel insurance before entering them: Anguilla, Antarctica, Aruba, Bahamas, Brazil, Cambodia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Egypt, French Polynesia, Iran, Jamaica, Japan, Lebanon. St. Maarten, Tahiti, Thailand, Turkey, Turks and Caicos, and the United Arab Emirates.
Make sure you get enhanced travel insurance benefits
Travel insurance protection varies between plans. We at Trawick International highly recommend that anyone booking a honeymoon should purchase a trip cancellation policy with the additional “Cancel for Any Reason Benefit" (CFAR). This benefit allows travelers to cancel their trip two days before they are scheduled to depart and provides reimbursement for up to 75% of prepaid expenses. In this world with so much uncertainty, a policy like this provides enormous dividends. We live in a COVID-19 world and anything can happen, so make sure you take the extra protection and purchase a trip cancellation policy that provides CFAR benefit.
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 27 Apr 2021
