Keep kids safe when you travel

Even though Children who travel the globe are susceptible to a number of infections and injuries, a new study shows that while 59 percent of adults had gotten pre-travel medical care, only 49 percent of children had.

In a study of more than 34,000 international travelers who sought medical care for travel-related ills, researchers found that children most often suffered bouts of diarrhea, skin injuries, fevers and respiratory infections, and were more likely than adults to be hospitalized for their conditions.

Experts recommend that parents discuss their travel plans with their child's pediatrician about four to six weeks in advance, to leave enough time for any necessary vaccinations, medications, or drugs used to prevent things like malaria. Parents can also get advice on how to self-treat common problems like diarrhea and respiratory infections — and how to recognize when a child's symptoms are serious enough to warrant medical care.

Children are at greater risk of animal bites, CLM, respiratory infections and certain causes of diarrhea — like bacterial infection and acute gastroenteritis, a stomach infection often caused by food poisoning.

Traveling is a great experience for kids, and Insurance Services of America policyholders have just one more reason to love our plans.

Parents can add up to 2 kids under age 9 to their Travel Medical policy, completely free of charge.

You give your kids the world. We’ll give them worldwide protection.

Insurance Services of America

What a Week!

File this under anything-can-happen-when-you-travel.

There was a ton of bad weather invading the US last week, which caused plenty of delays and cancellations, but the weather had nothing to do with a canceled flight scheduled from Rochester, New York to Atlanta. Apparently two flight attendants were fighting and the scuffle was enough for the pilot to call the whole trip off. Some passengers reported that the two flight attendants were actually engaged in a fist fight. Passengers trying to escape Rochester for warmer climates were pretty aggravated, and they had a difficult time making alternate travel plans due to the weather. Some passengers were trying to get married, others had non-refundable cruise tickets, and a few just wanted to enjoy some umbrella drinks on the beach.

Just as long as they weren’t planning on visiting a beach in Greece…

Violence broke out between police and protesters in central Athens Thursday as an estimated 30,000 people gathered as part of a nationwide general strike.

Riot police fired tear gas and percussion grenades after clashing with several hundred anarchists, who responded by throwing projectiles. Hooded youths representing Greece’s anarchist movement also attacked shop fronts, smashed the windows of one hotel and set a car on fire just off one of the city’s main streets. Flights have been grounded, public transportation has stopped, and ferry and rail service has been suspended.

Think that’s bad?

An American Airlines flight was recently delayed due to some stowaways on the airplane. The flight attendant told a passenger, "There are actually 50 roaches and they found a colony on a curtain between first class and the pilots."

According to a spokesperson for the National Pest Management Association, the places you'd most likely see cockroaches on board include "in the bins that hold the luggage or just around the humans that are traveling on the airliner. But they're also going to be looking for food sources so it would not be uncommon to find them in the galley where the meals are being prepared."

Did you know that roaches can live up to a month without their head?
I know, I wish I hadn’t read that either.

The troubles didn’t end with air travel, though.

Guests arriving at the Radisson Paraiso hotel in Mexico City were not expecting to see picket lines, and at the risk of losing their pre-paid reservations, made the uncomfortable decision to cross those lines. This decision, however, was not the only discomfort they endured, as striking workers not only picketed the hotel, they locked guests out as well.

The workers started the incident by running through the corridors and yelling “Fire!” Once all the guests were outside, they were not allowed back into the hotel.

For two days.

Even to retrieve medicine, money, passports or anything else.

You might be thinking these are isolated incidents, folks, but all this happened just last week. Truth is, you never know what can happen when you travel, and when you’re in a foreign country, things can be even hairier. Anyone who thinks they don’t need trip insurance because they are healthy, or will only be gone a short time, etc. are not immune to the crazy things that happen when you travel.

A trip insurance plan from Insurance Services Of America will protect you from the things that haven’t even occurred to you yet. Insurance Services of America’s policyholders need only make one quick phone call while our 24/7 travel assistance team handles the rest.

Give us a call before your next vacation and enjoy the trip!

800.647.4589

How I Spent My Spring Break

Dear Mom and Dad,



Spring Break is a blast, wish you were here. The ocean is just beautiful, and the water is so clear you can almost see the jellyfish before they sting you. Boy those little suckers really hurt! I think I might remember where I left my wallet, too. I sure hope so, cause for the past few days I have been existing on a diet of Chicklets that I purchased from one of the roadside natives here. I tell ya, people can be very friendly to tourists. Just yesterday, some people told me to take a hike. I thought that was very nice of them to suggest recreational activities. Unfortunately, since the airline lost one of my bags on the way down here, I didn't have my hiking boots, and when that lizard bit my ankle, it hurt almost as bad as falling down that hill afterwards.



Thankfully, my friends were able to assemble a makeshift stretcher to help me get back to the main road, and boy were we ever relieved when that nice man in the truck came by to give us a ride to the clinic. At least, I think it was a clinic. I mean, there were cots there with a bunch of sick people laying on them, and I really think that if we had waited just a little longer, someone would have assisted us eventually. I'm really not sure. I was kind of beginning to pass out from the pain and none of the people dressed like nurses spoke English. My buddy had his translation dictionary with him, and although he tried to get help, it seems the clinic wouldn't treat me unless I paid them first. Unfortunately, they did not accept Chicklets.



Don't worry about me though, my foot is still black but I am beginning to get the feeling back in my toes which is certainly a good thing when you're sleeping outdoors. There are some crazy insects around here! I sure wish the hotel wouldn't have lost my reservation.



You know what mom and dad? I've been thinking about how you told me to get trip insurance from Insurance Services of America. I guess I didn't think I would need it, but it sure would have been nice to have someone who could have gotten me a new hotel room, or some emergency cash when I lost my wallet, or bought me some new boots, or paid the clinic so they would treat me and get me back home safely. Just like you would have done yourself if you were here. For under 2 bucks a day, a travel medical plan could have protected me and given you peace of mind, too. But don't worry about me, mom and dad! I think I might be coming home soon. I found a company that does medical evacuations, and although it is a bit costly, at least I'll be safe. And I promise, I will totally pay you back the Fifty Thousand Dollars just as soon as I can.

See you guys soon,

Your Son.

Save Money When you Travel During The Off-Season

Planning to visit Hawaii, Aspen, New York, Paris or Napa, might require a hefty vacation budget, but if you time it right, you can visit these destinations when these places are at their most affordable. The best time to travel varies from destination to destination. That can mean shoulder season or off season, or finding that window in high season when rates take a dip, if only for a couple of weeks. And it's worth the effort, because the savings can range from 20 to 50 percent off high-season prices. They may not be truly "cheap”, but certainly more affordable.

Take London for example; both airfares and hotel rates fall between Oct. 15 and March 31, with the exception being the Christmas-through-New Year's holiday period.
The caveats here: weather and daylight. Wet, rainy and cold weather is to be expected, and the lack of daylight might turn off some travelers. In mid-winter the sun sets in London at 3:45 p.m. But if you accept that museums, the theater and restaurants are where you'll spend most of your time, you probably won't mind it so much.

Then there's Hawaii. Go now, while recession continues to leave thousands of empty hotel rooms throughout the state. If you're willing, postpone travel between September and early December, which has long been the low season for the Aloha State.

The month of May is a great time for Caribbean travel. By then prices could have dropped as much as 50 percent from winter highs, the weather is still terrific and the spring break crowds are gone. The weather gets warmer in June, but it can still be a terrific time to go. While July and August are quite hot, they might still be preferable to the weather in the U.S. at the same time. (Certainly cooler than our Arizona office!) September through November are the quietest time in the islands.
Of course there is one caution to heed in the Caribbean, and that's hurricane season, which extends from June through November. You should have travel insurance and stay at a hotel that has a hurricane policy (with refunds clearly spelled out).


Skiing in Aspen without dipping into your retirement fund? Go in early December. A rate at a popular luxury hotel was $219 a night for a mid-December stay in a basic room. In February that same room had jumped to $439 per night. Other dates worth looking at are the entire month of January, except Martin Luther King Jr. weekend.

Balmy breezes and empty beaches make Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket best during May and June. Before the private jet set arrive on these pricey islands every summer and fall, most hotels offer weekend deals to entice us regular folk. You'll especially see a lot of midweek deals. You can stroll these island beaches during May and June, but the waters don't really begin to warm up until July.

A trip insurance plan from Insurance Services of America fits nicely into your budget-conscious vacation plans. Since trip insurance rates are based on the cost of your trip, saving money at your destination means saving money on your coverage.

Call the experts at Insurance Services of America.

Show us your plans, and we'll show you ours!

800-647-4589

Spring Strike!

The friendly skies? Not so much.

Lufthansa pilots just had a strike. British Airways flight attendants are planning a strike. Now French (and possibly Greek) air controllers are on strike. French air traffic controllers are in day two of their action and air traffic is suffering from all of the above.




As Spring break approaches, what better time for air controllers to call a five-day-long strike? On Tuesday, France’s civil aviation authority ordered airlines to cancel 25 percent of the flights at Paris’s Charles de Gaulle Airport, which is a major hub for air travel in the European Union. At this time, intercontinental flights are expected to operate. But short and medium-haul flights were disrupted Tuesday and significant cancellations and delays are anticipated today and until the end of the week.




Fifty percent of flights at Orly, Paris’s smaller airport, which serves destinations within the European Union, French overseas territories and North Africa, have been canceled. Some smaller French airports have closed completely.



This strike follows Lufthansa’s main pilots’ union agreeing to postpone its strike until March 9th. Even though the German airline agreed to return to the bargaining table, its flight schedule has already been disrupted. Air travelers should expect to be victims of the domino effect.



As of Wednesday morning, flights from Paris to the U.S. are operating, but expect delays.



In the UK, the union representing more than 12,000 British Airways cabin crew members voted Monday to strike over changes introduced late last year to employees’ contracts and a proposed two-year pay freeze. Air traffic controllers in Greece planned a 24-hour strike today to protest planned government budget cuts — the second such strike in less than a month there. Athens International Airport warned on its Web site that all flights into and out of the Greek capital would be canceled as of midnight.




Before leaving for the airport, confirm that your flight is operating and be prepared to wait.



A trip insurance from Insurance Services of America is designed to protect you if a strike hinders your travel plans. Naturally there are some exclusions, and policy wording can be confusing, so for regular folks like you and me, here’s how it breaks down:

In order for you to be covered in the event of a strike, you must purchase your trip insurance at least 14 days before you depart, and if a strike has already been announced prior to you purchasing coverage, it will not be covered. (This goes back to the old cliché about purchasing homeowners insurance while your house is on fire.)

So what can Insurance Services Of America policyholders expect if they get stuck due to the strikes? While their fellow stranded passengers clamor for the ticket counter, our clients need only make a quick phone call while our travel assistants take care of business.



Due to the worldwide financial crisis, travel experts do not anticipate things getting better any time soon, in fact, they say it will probably get worse. Right about now, you might be planning your summer travel, and there is no better time to make sure your trip insurance is in place before another strike is announced.


Call the experts at Insurance Services Of America to help you find the perfect plan for your travel needs.

800-647-4589

Spring Strike!

The friendly skies? Not so much.

Lufthansa pilots just had a strike. British Airways flight attendants are planning a strike. Now French (and possibly Greek) air controllers are on strike. French air traffic controllers are in day two of their action and air traffic is suffering from all of the above.

As Spring break approaches, what better time for air controllers to call a five-day-long strike? On Tuesday, France’s civil aviation authority ordered airlines to cancel 25 percent of the flights at Paris’s Charles de Gaulle Airport, which is a major hub for air travel in the European Union. At this time, intercontinental flights are expected to operate. But short and medium-haul flights were disrupted Tuesday and significant cancellations and delays are anticipated today and until the end of the week.

Fifty percent of flights at Orly, Paris’s smaller airport, which serves destinations within the European Union, French overseas territories and North Africa, have been canceled. Some smaller French airports have closed completely.

This strike follows Lufthansa’s main pilots’ union agreeing to postpone its strike until March 9th. Even though the German airline agreed to return to the bargaining table, its flight schedule has already been disrupted. Air travelers should expect to be victims of the domino effect.

As of Wednesday morning, flights from Paris to the U.S. are operating, but expect delays.

In the UK, the union representing more than 12,000 British Airways cabin crew members voted Monday to strike over changes introduced late last year to employees’ contracts and a proposed two-year pay freeze. Air traffic controllers in Greece planned a 24-hour strike today to protest planned government budget cuts — the second such strike in less than a month there. Athens International Airport warned on its Web site that all flights into and out of the Greek capital would be canceled as of midnight.

Before leaving for the airport, confirm that your flight is operating and be prepared to wait.

A trip insurance from Insurance Services of America is designed to protect you if a strike hinders your travel plans. Naturally there are some exclusions, and policy wording can be confusing, so for regular folks like you and me, here’s how it breaks down:
In order for you to be covered in the event of a strike, you must purchase your trip insurance at least 14 days before you depart, and if a strike has already been announced prior to you purchasing coverage, it will not be covered. (This goes back to the old cliché about purchasing homeowners insurance while your house is on fire.)

So what can Insurance Services Of America policyholders expect if they get stuck due to the strikes? While their fellow stranded passengers clamor for the ticket counter, our clients need only make a quick phone call while our travel assistants take care of business.

Due to the worldwide financial crisis, travel experts do not anticipate things getting better any time soon, in fact, they say it will probably get worse. Right about now, you might be planning your summer travel, and there is no better time to make sure your trip insurance is in place before another strike is announced.
Call the experts at Insurance Services Of America to help you find the perfect plan for your travel needs.

800-647-4589

Those Darn Monkeys

In my line of work, I hear some pretty crazy travel stories.

Many travelers figure they won’t need travel medical or trip insurance. I hear things like, “I’m extremely healthy”, or “I won’t be gone very long”, but what folks don’t realize is that anything can happen when you travel, regardless of your physical condition or what precautions you take.
Take for example the seasick traveler, whose false teeth fell out while he vomited over the side of a cruise ship, and put in a claim to his travel insurers for new dentures under “lost baggage”.

Take a gander at these actual claims made on a Travel Insurance policy:

Two vacationers in England filed a claim for damage to the paintwork of their car after it was licked by a herd of cows.

Two children visiting the beach with their family buried their parents’ video camera in the sand to prevent it from being stolen while they went swimming, but could not remember where. Thankfully, the insurers paid out.

A young British traveler, distracted by the appearance of a group of women in bikinis, broke his nose when he walked into a bus shelter in Athens. The insurance company paid the hospital bills.

A couple on vacation in Malaysia returned to their hotel to find that monkeys had stolen their clothes and scattered them all across the neighboring rainforest. Yup, the insurance company paid the claim.

A vacationer in Sri Lanka needed hospital treatment after a coconut fell on her head while she was reading in the shade below. Her insurance covered her medical expenses.

Destination wedding? A bride's dream Caribbean wedding was ruined after her dress caught fire on the barbecue. The groom picked up his wife and threw her into the ocean.

If you are planning a trip, big or small, BE PREPARED~ A comprehensive travel medical plan from Insurance Services of America will be all the protection you’ll need from the unexpected.