November

Thanksgiving Travel Tips

Here Are A Few Tips To Help You Travel Safely During Thanksgiving

With Thanksgiving quickly approaching, many people across the country will be traveling to visit their friends and families; it will just be different than years passed.  A recent Fox News article reported some fascinating trends for travel this Thanksgiving.  Half of Americans polled – 56% – intend to leave home for the holiday amid the ongoing outbreak of COVID-19.  Of those, 75% said they plan to drive to their destination.  In another tweak to tradition, 22% said they'll stay in a hotel or vacation rental to socially distance themselves from loved ones.  According to the data, Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 26) is expected to be the busiest departure day, as 26% of travelers venture out. The busiest return date is predicted to be Nov. 27 (aka Black Friday), as 31% of travelers head back home.

To prepare for traveling this Thanksgiving holiday, here is an excellent article from ABC 7 in San Francisco that highlights seven tips to help you travel this Thanksgiving holiday season safely.  Here are their tips with some additional information from Trawick International:

Tip 1:  Get a COVID-19 test

To provide you with peace of mind and put your family at ease.  You should consider getting a COVID-19 test before traveling anywhere this Thanksgiving.  You can visit your state or local health department's website to look for the latest local information on where COVID-19 testing is being offered.

Tip 2: Travel with safety gear

Before you embark on your travels, you should put together a small travel medical kit with gloves, hand sanitizer, and masks.  Your kit should have also include bandages, first-aid ointment, hydrocortisone, and pain relievers.

Tip 3: If driving, make a plan

If you are driving, make sure that you plan to stop in advance to prepare yourself and your family to be exposed to different surroundings.  For example, make sure you know what restaurant you will stop out and where you will be going to the bathroom.

Tip 4: If flying, make sure to know about all the requirements you will need to travel

Be prepared to encounter some crowds at airports. You might want to consider printing your baggage tag, if that option is available, to keep your experience as contact-free as possible. Remember, you will likely not have meals on your flight. Most airlines will require you to keep masks on at all times.

Tip 5: Know the rules

Each state, county, and municipalities have different rules for dealing with the pandemic.  Make sure that you know what to expect.  For example, the regulations in Florida are very different than the rules in New York.

Tip 6: Take advantage of the upside of travel

This year will different and sometimes that is a good thing.  Take advantage of the opportunity to visit a destination you would have stayed away from because of holiday crowds.  Just make sure to protect yourself and your family.

Tip 7: Have a good attitude

Thank your taxi driver, the airport workers, the flight attendant, the waiters, and everyone you encounter on your travels.  Just having the right attitude could go a long way and help make a difficult situation better.

One last thing before you start your holiday travels, make sure you reach out to Trawick International to obtain a customized travel insurance plan that meets your needs!

 

 

By Administrator at 22 Nov 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