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Thursday, November 02, 2006

Mexico Vacations Are Great If You Know How To Avoid The Tourist Traps

When looking for a Mexico vacation, travelers must consider their desires. Mexico offers sunny beaches, incredible sightseeing, and delicious cuisine. While some tourists prefer to lounge on a sunny beach while sipping a cold alcoholic beverage, other travelers delight in exploring architectural wonders. Travelers should consider their needs before choosing their Mexico vacation because some areas are definitely tourist traps while others are remote and less crowded.

Many hotels in Mexico offer all-inclusive packages. All-inclusive hotels make sense on a tight budget, as all meals, drinks, and many activities are included in the room rate. For this reason, visitors on a budget love planning a Mexico vacation. A traveler can visit a foreign country while keeping expenses to a minimum. Typically, an all-inclusive Mexico vacation can be found for a fraction of the cost of a visit to Hawaii or Tahiti.

Mexico’s largest city is Mexico City. Though the crime rate can be slightly higher in Mexico City, the city is working hard to increase police patrol. Tourism to this city is growing. People looking for a Mexico vacation often consider to Mexico City for the rich selection of attractions. The old-world feel and amazing architecture draw tourists in. Many Aztec ruins are on display throughout Mexico City. The wide array of restaurants, shopping boutiques, concert halls, and museums help place Mexico City high on tourists’ Mexico vacation lists.

If sun and fun is on a traveler’s mind, Cozumel, Cancun, Mazatlan, Puerto Vallarta, and Acapulco are fantastic choices for a Mexico vacation. Cozumel and Cancun are located on the eastern tip of Mexico. All-inclusive hotels abound ensuring that tourists match an inexpensive Mexico vacation with incredible beaches and surf. On the western side, Mazatlan, Puerto Vallarta, and Acapulco are slightly higher in price, but the scenery is different. Older buildings meld seamlessly into the scenery creating stunning visuals along side gorgeous beaches.

Travelers that are more adventurous can head to the more remote sections of Mexico for their Mexico vacation. Merida was built over the Mayan city of Ti’ho. The architecture in Merida takes the tourist back to the days of the Mayan empire. Many of the residents are of Mayan ancestry. They speak the language, lean towards Mayan cuisine, and dress in Mayan style clothing. Merida is an excellent Mexico vacation choice for history lovers.

Taking a Mexico vacation can be exhilarating. To enter Mexico, a passport is necessary. Tourists must ensure that they have a valid passport before leaving on their vacation. Beyond that restriction, tourists are open to visit any Mexican area.

Tuesday, October 31, 2006

The Annoying Expense Of Travel Insurance And Why You Need It

Travel Insurance' is an insurance policy that covers different problems that can occasionally be associated with traveling. This insurance covers cancellation of trip due to illness, personal accident, medical expenses and all other expenses that may arise as a result of loss, damage, injury or difficulty occurring between the dates specified in the policy at the point of purchase.

Yes, we are talking about a contract here that will be engaged between you the happy traveler, and the insurance company of which you must pay a certain amount of money or "premium" to claim certain benefits you'll require that may or may not be associated with traveling. It is very important to choose the correct type of policy before traveling with family for vacation or for a business trip. Ensure the policy you decide to go with provides adequate coverage in case of delays , cancellations of transportation and lost baggage.

Types of Coverage available in Travel Insurance

You can determine which insurance is best for you and your situation by learning about the different kinds of coverage offered by the insurance companies your familiar with. By simply phoning to get more information you'll 'learn the lingo' and discover the options available for your particular type of trip and destination.

***Please Note: ensure you get more than one opinion if this will be your first time travelling or going to a certain country. I've found many times in travelling myself that each agent knows different information depending on their experiences and length in the industry, plus depending on your length of travel and location you may want to find someone that's travelled there recently. Quite often each country will have it's own set of regulations and you'll shortcut your research simply by talking to someone that has done the trip before you. P.S. - if you go this route the person you talk to will also know many of the best places to visit and the ones to avoid like the plague to best maximize your time.

Among all the coverage the most important to arrange for is medical expenses. Coverage can also be found for mishaps in different sports and adventures like skiing, diving or hiking. Different insurance companies offer different amounts of coverage and some specialize in certain areas so due diligence may pay off for you depending on your trip.

Some common types of coverage with typical travel insurance policies are stated below:

Cancellation of Trips: The most common coverage offered by an insurance company and covers non-refundable payments from airlines and other types of transportation routes. Cancellation insurance will cover you if the trip is cancelled or interrupted due to bad weather, illness or any unforeseen circumstance.

Delay of Trips: Expenses that arise in case of the delay of trips can also be covered in your policy.

Personal Liability: Covers a legal liability claims made by others against you for whatever reason.

Medical Expenses: The insurance policy covers reasonable medical costs for treatment in hospitals, road ambulance and other treatment done by any registered paramedic, doctor, hospital in case of any injury or illness during the journey. In some countries the small cost of your policy will pale in comparison to spending one night in a hospital if needed.

The benefits of travel insurance are as long as the days on the beaches of Maui, for most it's the peace of mind that if something does happen they won't have a shocking and expensive bill to handle down the road.

Travel Insurance - Is It Necessary?

Have you ever purchased travel insurance? If you have not, you are not alone. Most people never purchase travel insurance and many of those experience few difficulties as a result. But there are some instances where it is definitely in your best interest to purchase insurance to protect you when you travel. This type of insurance can cover lost luggage and valuables, injury and illness, car accidents, and cancelled or interrupted trips among other things. Choose your travel insurance carefully to meet the needs of you and your family.

Before you purchase insurance you will need to evaluate the overall expense of your trip. If you are just taking a quick trip that you found a great deal on, it may not be worth it for you to purchase travel insurance. On the other hand, if you are heading out for a month long trip to the Greek Isles, you should probably consider getting insurance. Think about how it would affect you in the pocketbook if something were to happen.

Many home owner, medical, and auto insurance policies cover travel to some extent or another so you may not need travel insurance for these areas. Your home owner insurance may cover the loss of valuables. Auto insurance often covers damage to rental cars, but you may have to get an endorsement if you are traveling out of the country. Health insurance policies vary greatly on coverage in different localities, so check with your provider for options before you get this additional coverage on travel insurance.

Purchase your travel insurance from an insurance company that is not affiliated with your travel provider. This way, if you lose your trip due to cancellation or bankruptcy of the travel company, you will still be able to get a refund.

If you have children you should take an extra look at insurance for your trip. Children may get sick, break bones, etc. and you will want to have protection.

Make sure that you have read the fine print on any policy before you sign. Every policy has different exclusions and limitations and you will need to be aware of them. If any of the exclusions concern you, you may want to look for another insurance provider or policy.

Why Buy Travel Insurance?

When you choose to travel, you take the risk of lost luggage, flight cancellations, reservation cancellations, theft and many other situations which may cause anxiety. Planning a vacation is stressful enough without having to worry about something going horribly wrong. Purchasing travel insurance will ensure that you are compensated if anything goes wrong on your trip. When trying to determine whether or not to purchase travel insurance, keep in mind the points listed below which may make your decision much easier.

Many forms of travel insurance will cover you in the following areas:

1. Medical Emergencies – Travel insurance will provide you with financial help should you encounter a medical emergency while traveling. If you become ill or are injured while on vacation, your travel insurance will provide you coverage in both situations.

2. Cancellations or Delays – If for any reason (beyond your control) your trip is cancelled or delayed your travel insurance will provide you with financial coverage. This includes coverage if your airline goes bankrupt or out of service. Your travel insurance will either compensate you for the money you lost or provide you with new means of transportation.

3. Theft – If anything belonging to you is stolen while you are on vacation, your travel insurance will provide you with financial assistance to replace the items which were stolen.

4. Damage or Loss of Personal Property – This is likely to happen while on vacation. If your luggage is lost or damaged while on vacation, your travel insurance will definitely cover at least some percentage of the property that is missing. Depending on the insurance plan, it may financially cover all the items that are missing.

5. Lost Passport – If you lose your passport or it is stolen while you are on vacation, travel insurance will provide you with the means to get a temporary one. Your travel insurance company will inform you on how to get in contact with your country embassy so that you can arrange to receive a temporary passport.

Depending on the insurance plan you choose, you may be fully or partially covered in the areas listed above. Choose your policy according to what you think the possibility will be that you will require the assistance on your trip.

For many vacationers, travel insurance eliminates any worry that an unforeseen circumstance may arise in which you do not have the money or means to take care of.