Posts Tagged ‘Europe’

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Europe Travel Medical Insurance – Should You Purchase a Policy Offered by a Europe Tour Operator?

Saturday, December 5th, 2009

I had a call from a client in Salt Lake City, UT. She was ready to sign up for an escorted Europe tour. Her concern was to have ample insurance coverage, both medical and baggage, while traveling through Europe.

She wanted to know if the Europe Travel Medical Insurance offered by the Europe tour operator provided ample insurance. Well I said the answer to this question depends on many things, and each person needs to carefully select insurance for their specific needs.

I asked the following 3 questions:

1.) Are you currently on Medicare or does your current medical insurance policies apply overseas?

I have experienced in the past that most of my clients report that their medical insurance, PPO or HMO do not provide coverage overseas, but it is always prudent to check with your current medical insurance provider to see if you might be covered overseas. If they do cover for overseas travel, then also double check if they cover evacuation, as that usually is not covered. Most supplemental party insurance providers put limits on evacuation to a maximum of $5000 for a return international air ticket back home. In many cases last minute international air tickets can cost much more. In my past experience, the policy provided by most tour operators provided ample medical insurance when someone is hospitalized and needs to be evacuated (flown back home to the states.) Based on my client’s situation they were on Medicare so that was one reason to seek supplemental Europe medical travel insurance, since Medicare does not extend benefits internationally.

2.) How often do you travel internationally?

If you travel internationally often, (or even just 3 times per year) it might be cheaper to go with an annual policy instead of the one offered by the tour operator. In many cases these policies cover you for all travel for a full one year period. Since I am a travel agent, I personally have one of these policies and they are great! Now based on my client’s trip, they are planning to celebrate their 35th wedding anniversary and this will be their only international trip this year, so again the Europe travel medical insurance offered by the Europe tour operator provided what they needed for this one trip they were taking.

3.) Do you have any pre-existing conditions?

Many 3rd party travel medical insurance providers limit the amount of any pre-existing condition coverage unless you paid significantly more to upgrade the coverage, and some did not even cover pre-existing coverage. With many tour operators you are able to cover pre-existing conditions when you purchase the insurance at time of deposit. Currently, my client said she did have diabetes but she has it under control. Again I reminded her that since her condition could be considered a pre-existing condition with the remote possibility it could get worse, purchasing the insurance from the Europe tour operator at the same time she pays her deposit would cover this pre-existing condition.

Based on the above answers to my three questions I highly recommended to my clients to take the Europe travel medical insurance that is offered by the tour operator, instead of going with supplemental insurance from someplace else, this way they not only get a customized tour, but they are also getting a customized insurance policy! I have been asking these same questions for many years, and 9 times out of 10 my clients and I agree to opt for the insurance provided by the Europe tour operator.

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Travel Tour to Europe – Travel Insurance For Europe

Friday, December 4th, 2009

There are always many risks involved with traveling outside your own country and travel insurance for Europe is essential, despite the fact that you may think it is not a very “exotic” location. You may always fall ill, suffer an accident, or have a sudden change of plans, no matter where you are in the world. The peace of mind that you purchase with travel insurance for Europe is, in my mind, absolutely priceless. Just think about it: when you are on holidays, you simply want to be able to have a carefree time without needing to worry in the back of your mind. Of course, should anything detrimental actually occur, it may spoil your vacation regardless. However, the degree to which it may affect you will be determined by your travel insurance coverage.

There are many types of coverage for travel insurance to Europe. There is medical coverage for illness and accidents, trip cancellation/interruption coverage for unforeseen circumstances that alter your plans and baggage insurance for your possessions. You must determine what you may require for yourself because the combinations of coverage are many. In general, it is always a good idea to purchase some form of medical insurance, even if it is the most basic coverage. You do not want to have to pay out of pocket for hospital and medical bills if you become sick abroad. If you have chronic conditions or are of a certain age (over 50) then it is smart to purchase further protection with a more comprehensive medical plan.

Trip cancellation/interruption coverage is also pretty standard for travelers. People think that they do not need it, but the twist of irony is that it covers “unforeseen” circumstances. Hence, you are unlikely to predict that you will require this coverage. For example, imagine if a close relative died all of a sudden. If you need to get home, of course you will forfeit the rest of your trip because of family priorities. But, it is best to protect yourself beforehand and to be able to recover your costs later with travel insurance to Europe that has trip cancellation/interruption coverage.

Baggage insurance is an iffy one. The airlines usually cover you for a certain amount, ranging from $600-3000; they are liable to give you some sort of compensation if they lose your bag. That being said, certain travelers carry very expensive items around like top-of-the-line cameras. If this is you, then you need to consider taking out additional travel insurance for Europe to cover your particularly dear luggage. Otherwise, I would not worry excessively about having baggage insurance for Europe.

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Europe Travel Medical Insurance – Should You Purchase a Policy Offered by a Europe Tour Operator?

Friday, December 4th, 2009

I had a call from a client in Salt Lake City, UT. She was ready to sign up for an escorted Europe tour. Her concern was to have ample insurance coverage, both medical and baggage, while traveling through Europe.

She wanted to know if the Europe Travel Medical Insurance offered by the Europe tour operator provided ample insurance. Well I said the answer to this question depends on many things, and each person needs to carefully select insurance for their specific needs.

I asked the following 3 questions:

1.) Are you currently on Medicare or does your current medical insurance policies apply overseas?

I have experienced in the past that most of my clients report that their medical insurance, PPO or HMO do not provide coverage overseas, but it is always prudent to check with your current medical insurance provider to see if you might be covered overseas. If they do cover for overseas travel, then also double check if they cover evacuation, as that usually is not covered. Most supplemental party insurance providers put limits on evacuation to a maximum of $5000 for a return international air ticket back home. In many cases last minute international air tickets can cost much more. In my past experience, the policy provided by most tour operators provided ample medical insurance when someone is hospitalized and needs to be evacuated (flown back home to the states.) Based on my client’s situation they were on Medicare so that was one reason to seek supplemental Europe medical travel insurance, since Medicare does not extend benefits internationally.

2.) How often do you travel internationally?

If you travel internationally often, (or even just 3 times per year) it might be cheaper to go with an annual policy instead of the one offered by the tour operator. In many cases these policies cover you for all travel for a full one year period. Since I am a travel agent, I personally have one of these policies and they are great! Now based on my client’s trip, they are planning to celebrate their 35th wedding anniversary and this will be their only international trip this year, so again the Europe travel medical insurance offered by the Europe tour operator provided what they needed for this one trip they were taking.

3.) Do you have any pre-existing conditions?

Many 3rd party travel medical insurance providers limit the amount of any pre-existing condition coverage unless you paid significantly more to upgrade the coverage, and some did not even cover pre-existing coverage. With many tour operators you are able to cover pre-existing conditions when you purchase the insurance at time of deposit. Currently, my client said she did have diabetes but she has it under control. Again I reminded her that since her condition could be considered a pre-existing condition with the remote possibility it could get worse, purchasing the insurance from the Europe tour operator at the same time she pays her deposit would cover this pre-existing condition.

Based on the above answers to my three questions I highly recommended to my clients to take the Europe travel medical insurance that is offered by the tour operator, instead of going with supplemental insurance from someplace else, this way they not only get a customized tour, but they are also getting a customized insurance policy! I have been asking these same questions for many years, and 9 times out of 10 my clients and I agree to opt for the insurance provided by the Europe tour operator.

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Europe Train Travel Tips

Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009

If you want to really see Europe, train travel is by far the best choice. There is no better way to see a place than a leisurely train ride where you can see everything, from the countryside to the mountains to the dazzling lights of European cities.

Furthermore, Europe is made for train travel. Trains conveniently link every city from Athens to Helsinki (and everything in between).

There are many ways to organize a European railroad trip. There are Eurail passes that cover the entire continent, as well as more limited ones if you only want to visit certain parts of Europe. Which you should choose depends, of course, on your schedule, preferences and budget.

There is no “best time” to visit Europe, as there are advantages to going in every season. Summer is most convenient for many people, though it will be crowded and more expensive. Winter is great if you like sports like skiing. Fall and Spring offer both moderate temperatures and fewer crowds. But there are unlimited activities throughout the year in Europe.

If you plan a train trip to Europe, the most challenging thing is choosing the right train ticket or pass, as there are many choices. If you only get to visit Europe rarely, or if this is a once in a lifetime trip, you should see as much as you possibly can.

The great thing about Europe is that you have many countries close together with distinct language and cultures (even if most of them use the same currency now).

If you are traveling to Europe from another continent, you may want to fly into London and take the Eurostar to Paris. England and other parts of the UK are not part of the same train system as continental Europe, so your Eurail passes will not be honored there. Still, a trip to Europe is not complete without seeing London.

You can visit Eastern Europe as well as Western, though you will have to get a separate train pass for some of these countries. There is one pass that allows you to go to Austria, Hungary, Slovakia, Poland and the Czech Republic.

If you get a train pass in Europe, make sure that any train you board will honor it. Not all trains do, and if you find yourself on a train that does not accept your pass you will have to pay for an extra ticket.

When visiting Europe, train travel is the way to see the most scenery, meet the most people and absorb as much as possible of the continent’s myriad of natural and cultural sites.

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Travel Cheap to Europe – The Best Airline

Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009

Far from being an article thought only for the Americans and Europeans to be able to travel from here to there, I want to focus it to a worldwide audience, as crossing the Atlantic is something very common when traveling around the world, and specially if you are taking a Round the World trip. As well, of course, it is the way for Americans to access Europe for a very low fare, and for Europeans to visit the US or Canada for nearly nothing.

Far from being an open article in a way that we can discuss the possibilities I am going to present it as a completely closed article. If anybody discovers anything better, please let me know, but up till now this is by far the best option.

Zoom Airlines was created in 2002 with the purpose of becoming Canada’s most popular airline. I don’t really know how close are they to get this objective, but sure they are in the good way. The possibilities that link the two continents are many. For Canada residents, you can reach Europe departing from Vancouver, Calgary, Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Halifax, with possibilities to arrive to London, Cardiff, Belfast, Glasgow, Manchester and Paris.

At same time, for all US residents and Europeans, it is highly important this first time that a low fares airline links London with New York. Also they have established a route between London and Bermuda.

Now the question you are all asking. What are the prices? Well, to start with a real bomb, I will tell you that you can make the round trip with taxes and everything included from New York to London or vice-versa for just 343 Euros (498 dollars). And no, I am not hiding any cost. I am not important enough as to get commissions from them still!

The important thing is the fact that this trip will cost you just 498 dollars if you book in advance. This are common fares in the months of March and April, but even in the summer you can find some deals for just 550 dollars under the same conditions.

For the guys in Canada, I know you are also waiting. And of course, all Europeans looking to visit this beautiful country. Well, the price for the longest trip possible, London to Vancouver, can be found as low as 468 Euros, 679 US dollars, or 665 Canada dollars. The same conditions apply, this is the price for the round trip with all fees, surcharges and everything included. The rest of the possibilities are found lower than this price level.

Of course you can be looking at traveling at superior economy class, and in this case you will need to pay more. But for the travelers that like me do not mind about the quality of the seat or service but do mind in getting from one place to another for the lowest price available and then spend the money in the location, I am sure this opportunity is for you.

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Europe Train Travel Tips

Sunday, November 29th, 2009

If you want to really see Europe, train travel is by far the best choice. There is no better way to see a place than a leisurely train ride where you can see everything, from the countryside to the mountains to the dazzling lights of European cities.

Furthermore, Europe is made for train travel. Trains conveniently link every city from Athens to Helsinki (and everything in between).

There are many ways to organize a European railroad trip. There are Eurail passes that cover the entire continent, as well as more limited ones if you only want to visit certain parts of Europe. Which you should choose depends, of course, on your schedule, preferences and budget.

There is no “best time” to visit Europe, as there are advantages to going in every season. Summer is most convenient for many people, though it will be crowded and more expensive. Winter is great if you like sports like skiing. Fall and Spring offer both moderate temperatures and fewer crowds. But there are unlimited activities throughout the year in Europe.

If you plan a train trip to Europe, the most challenging thing is choosing the right train ticket or pass, as there are many choices. If you only get to visit Europe rarely, or if this is a once in a lifetime trip, you should see as much as you possibly can.

The great thing about Europe is that you have many countries close together with distinct language and cultures (even if most of them use the same currency now).

If you are traveling to Europe from another continent, you may want to fly into London and take the Eurostar to Paris. England and other parts of the UK are not part of the same train system as continental Europe, so your Eurail passes will not be honored there. Still, a trip to Europe is not complete without seeing London.

You can visit Eastern Europe as well as Western, though you will have to get a separate train pass for some of these countries. There is one pass that allows you to go to Austria, Hungary, Slovakia, Poland and the Czech Republic.

If you get a train pass in Europe, make sure that any train you board will honor it. Not all trains do, and if you find yourself on a train that does not accept your pass you will have to pay for an extra ticket.

When visiting Europe, train travel is the way to see the most scenery, meet the most people and absorb as much as possible of the continent’s myriad of natural and cultural sites.

Tags: ,
Posted in Travels Articles | No Comments »

Travel Cheap to Europe – The Best Airline

Friday, November 27th, 2009

Far from being an article thought only for the Americans and Europeans to be able to travel from here to there, I want to focus it to a worldwide audience, as crossing the Atlantic is something very common when traveling around the world, and specially if you are taking a Round the World trip. As well, of course, it is the way for Americans to access Europe for a very low fare, and for Europeans to visit the US or Canada for nearly nothing.

Far from being an open article in a way that we can discuss the possibilities I am going to present it as a completely closed article. If anybody discovers anything better, please let me know, but up till now this is by far the best option.

Zoom Airlines was created in 2002 with the purpose of becoming Canada’s most popular airline. I don’t really know how close are they to get this objective, but sure they are in the good way. The possibilities that link the two continents are many. For Canada residents, you can reach Europe departing from Vancouver, Calgary, Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Halifax, with possibilities to arrive to London, Cardiff, Belfast, Glasgow, Manchester and Paris.

At same time, for all US residents and Europeans, it is highly important this first time that a low fares airline links London with New York. Also they have established a route between London and Bermuda.

Now the question you are all asking. What are the prices? Well, to start with a real bomb, I will tell you that you can make the round trip with taxes and everything included from New York to London or vice-versa for just 343 Euros (498 dollars). And no, I am not hiding any cost. I am not important enough as to get commissions from them still!

The important thing is the fact that this trip will cost you just 498 dollars if you book in advance. This are common fares in the months of March and April, but even in the summer you can find some deals for just 550 dollars under the same conditions.

For the guys in Canada, I know you are also waiting. And of course, all Europeans looking to visit this beautiful country. Well, the price for the longest trip possible, London to Vancouver, can be found as low as 468 Euros, 679 US dollars, or 665 Canada dollars. The same conditions apply, this is the price for the round trip with all fees, surcharges and everything included. The rest of the possibilities are found lower than this price level.

Of course you can be looking at traveling at superior economy class, and in this case you will need to pay more. But for the travelers that like me do not mind about the quality of the seat or service but do mind in getting from one place to another for the lowest price available and then spend the money in the location, I am sure this opportunity is for you.

Tags: , ,
Posted in Travels Articles | No Comments »

Travel Cheap to Europe – The Best Airline

Tuesday, November 24th, 2009

Far from being an article thought only for the Americans and Europeans to be able to travel from here to there, I want to focus it to a worldwide audience, as crossing the Atlantic is something very common when traveling around the world, and specially if you are taking a Round the World trip. As well, of course, it is the way for Americans to access Europe for a very low fare, and for Europeans to visit the US or Canada for nearly nothing.

Far from being an open article in a way that we can discuss the possibilities I am going to present it as a completely closed article. If anybody discovers anything better, please let me know, but up till now this is by far the best option.

Zoom Airlines was created in 2002 with the purpose of becoming Canada’s most popular airline. I don’t really know how close are they to get this objective, but sure they are in the good way. The possibilities that link the two continents are many. For Canada residents, you can reach Europe departing from Vancouver, Calgary, Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Halifax, with possibilities to arrive to London, Cardiff, Belfast, Glasgow, Manchester and Paris.

At same time, for all US residents and Europeans, it is highly important this first time that a low fares airline links London with New York. Also they have established a route between London and Bermuda.

Now the question you are all asking. What are the prices? Well, to start with a real bomb, I will tell you that you can make the round trip with taxes and everything included from New York to London or vice-versa for just 343 Euros (498 dollars). And no, I am not hiding any cost. I am not important enough as to get commissions from them still!

The important thing is the fact that this trip will cost you just 498 dollars if you book in advance. This are common fares in the months of March and April, but even in the summer you can find some deals for just 550 dollars under the same conditions.

For the guys in Canada, I know you are also waiting. And of course, all Europeans looking to visit this beautiful country. Well, the price for the longest trip possible, London to Vancouver, can be found as low as 468 Euros, 679 US dollars, or 665 Canada dollars. The same conditions apply, this is the price for the round trip with all fees, surcharges and everything included. The rest of the possibilities are found lower than this price level.

Of course you can be looking at traveling at superior economy class, and in this case you will need to pay more. But for the travelers that like me do not mind about the quality of the seat or service but do mind in getting from one place to another for the lowest price available and then spend the money in the location, I am sure this opportunity is for you.

Tags: , ,
Posted in Travels Articles | No Comments »

Europe Travel Medical Insurance – Should You Purchase a Policy Offered by a Europe Tour Operator?

Tuesday, November 24th, 2009

I had a call from a client in Salt Lake City, UT. She was ready to sign up for an escorted Europe tour. Her concern was to have ample insurance coverage, both medical and baggage, while traveling through Europe.

She wanted to know if the Europe Travel Medical Insurance offered by the Europe tour operator provided ample insurance. Well I said the answer to this question depends on many things, and each person needs to carefully select insurance for their specific needs.

I asked the following 3 questions:

1.) Are you currently on Medicare or does your current medical insurance policies apply overseas?

I have experienced in the past that most of my clients report that their medical insurance, PPO or HMO do not provide coverage overseas, but it is always prudent to check with your current medical insurance provider to see if you might be covered overseas. If they do cover for overseas travel, then also double check if they cover evacuation, as that usually is not covered. Most supplemental party insurance providers put limits on evacuation to a maximum of $5000 for a return international air ticket back home. In many cases last minute international air tickets can cost much more. In my past experience, the policy provided by most tour operators provided ample medical insurance when someone is hospitalized and needs to be evacuated (flown back home to the states.) Based on my client’s situation they were on Medicare so that was one reason to seek supplemental Europe medical travel insurance, since Medicare does not extend benefits internationally.

2.) How often do you travel internationally?

If you travel internationally often, (or even just 3 times per year) it might be cheaper to go with an annual policy instead of the one offered by the tour operator. In many cases these policies cover you for all travel for a full one year period. Since I am a travel agent, I personally have one of these policies and they are great! Now based on my client’s trip, they are planning to celebrate their 35th wedding anniversary and this will be their only international trip this year, so again the Europe travel medical insurance offered by the Europe tour operator provided what they needed for this one trip they were taking.

3.) Do you have any pre-existing conditions?

Many 3rd party travel medical insurance providers limit the amount of any pre-existing condition coverage unless you paid significantly more to upgrade the coverage, and some did not even cover pre-existing coverage. With many tour operators you are able to cover pre-existing conditions when you purchase the insurance at time of deposit. Currently, my client said she did have diabetes but she has it under control. Again I reminded her that since her condition could be considered a pre-existing condition with the remote possibility it could get worse, purchasing the insurance from the Europe tour operator at the same time she pays her deposit would cover this pre-existing condition.

Based on the above answers to my three questions I highly recommended to my clients to take the Europe travel medical insurance that is offered by the tour operator, instead of going with supplemental insurance from someplace else, this way they not only get a customized tour, but they are also getting a customized insurance policy! I have been asking these same questions for many years, and 9 times out of 10 my clients and I agree to opt for the insurance provided by the Europe tour operator.

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Posted in Travels Articles | No Comments »

Travel to Europe – France and the Benelux

Saturday, November 21st, 2009

If you are decided to do a trip to Europe, or you are a European inhabitant planning to tour the continent, the first decision you should take is to know exactly which part of it do you want to explore, or which cities you are planning to stay in. To give a bit of guidance in your decision, this article looks at one of the popular regions in Europe: France and the Benelux, being this last one the area that includes Belgium, Holland and Luxembourg.

One thing is for sure if you are visiting this zone of Europe. You must be in love with city tourism. If your passion is for the landscape, sightseeing, high mountains, lakes and running crystal water streams, this is probably not your place. Of course France has many interesting natural places to visit, but what I really mean is that you have better places to do this kind of tourism, such as Austria or Switzerland, which are discussed in another of my articles.

Again, the main attractive you will find in this region is the cities themselves. France has by far some of the most beautiful cities you can encounter, many of them with interesting cathedrals, churches and squares. Starting from Paris, next to the worldwide famous Eiffel Tower that so many tourists come to see from everywhere, you can walk up along Champs Elysees, considered one of the most romantic avenues in the world. Visiting the Louvre Museum will give you an insight into the past, as many treasures from the whole world are kept there inside.

Going to Belgium, you will find out that Brussels is such an impressive city too. It is not only about the monuments, but it gives this kind of cozy feeling when walking through its narrow streets. Simply enjoy every corner, and cross your fingers to claim for good weather, as it happens often that you will miss the blue of the sky. Luxembourg is a very small country placed just next to Belgium, but the capital claims for itself to be an independent region. Far from being of the size of Paris or Brussels, it gives many sightseeing opportunities.

One thing to know about this region, even if the train transport can be very good, is that at same time it will be incredibly boring. The landscape is pretty much always the same. Unless you are one of those rail lovers, I highly encourage you to take one of this quick Ryanair flights to cover the big distances. In any case, the train will be useful for the short rides, or in case you have bought one of this rail passes for the whole region.

The similarity that puts together all this people is their language. In any case, we can find very big differences between its habitants. While the French nation has adopted a kind of more luxurious and fashionable life-style, their partners in Belgium are a lot more into the casual way of life. When it comes to characters, you will find the French more arrogant, while the people in Belgium and Luxembourg are from my point of view the most nice guys you can find in the whole Europe.

Whatever you do, in conclusion, take with you the reminder that you go this region to specially admire architecture and beautifully designed cities with a lot of history to tell you. Forget a bit about the natural spots as you can find them in other places in Europe and… Practice your French!

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