• 07
  Jun
  2010

• Gulf Coast Hotel Cancellations Can Be Costly Without Trip Cancellation Insurance

  
  Filed Under: Blogging
  Author: Blog Contributor
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A recent article on CNN.com tackled the subject of increasing hotel cancellations from visitors who had been planning to visit the Gulf Coast. If you are looking to cancel a trip to that area, you will want to be sure to be protected with trip cancellation insurance.

Many hotels and airlines will not offer even partial refunds on cancelled flights. So that means if you are put off by the tragic oil spill in the area and no longer wish to visit, then cancelling your bookings could result in simply losing some or all of the money you had invested in the trip. In this economy, who has extra money to just give away?

With trip cancellation insurance, you can cancel trips on short notice while getting reimbursed from your policy. so your investment does not go for naught, and you can make sure you are only traveling when and where you are comfortable.

The Gulf Coast tourism industry's members want visitors from around the world to know the area is still safe and desirable, but if current cancellations are a sign, then most people are not getting the message. If those travelers do not have trip cancellation insurance, they just may be out of their investment.

• 04
  Jun
  2010

• Gulf Coast Tourism Outlook Looking Bleak

  
  Filed Under: Blogging
  Author: Blog Contributor
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As the oil spill in the Gulf Coast caused by BP continues to create problems with no end in sight, local citizens who make their living in their tourism industry must deal with the realities of a bleak outlook. Tourists do not appear to be including the area in their travel plans, and many of those who were considering it are cancelling their plans.

An informal poll found at cnn.com/travel does not offer much hope to area residents. It shows that 92% of respondents will not be planning any travel to the region in the near future. Of that 92%, 13% had previously planned to visit the area but have cancelled or will be cancelling their travel plans. The remaining 78% are not even considering visiting the Gulf Coast.

It is certainly understandable that the area is no longer a viable tourist destination in the shirt term. Obviously no one wants to visit a beach that is polluted by oil, and as of right now BP employees and the U.S. government seem to have no idea how to repair this damage. Furthermore, many people working around the area are now complaining of health problems, so in addition to being unsightly the oil could potentially provide a health hazard.

Unfortunately many people in the area count on tourists to make a living. Without customers visiting their beachside shops, taking tours on the water, or staying in their hotels, motels, and lodges, these people have no source of income. This could have potentially catastrophic economic consequences not only for these individuals but for the region as a whole.

• 02
  Jun
  2010

• Summer Vacation Savings Start with an International Health Insurance Investment

  
  Filed Under: Blogging
  Author: Blog Contributor
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Many eager travelers are looking forward to summer vacations. Whether you have already booked yours or are still searching for a destination, you probably are very concerned about saving money. The best way to save money long term may be by purchasing international health insurance.

While it may seem strange to suggest that you should save money by spending money, the truth is that international health insurance can have a long term positive impact on your finances. Without insurance, getting health care abroad during your trip can be quite expensive. Your bills could easily reach the thousands of dollars depending on your specific medical issue, and that is likely not money you'd factored into your travel budget.

So while you can certainly net some nice savings by booking your travel plans through a price comparison web site, those savings may actually pale next to the amount you save on medical expenses thanks to international health insurance. Plus, you can research, compare, and purchase international medical insurance online just as you did with airfare and hotel.

While you may believe the odds of needing medical care during your trip are slim, the potential cost of seeking treatment is significant. The cost of international health insurance is quite low in compared with what uninsured health care costs, so it only makes sense to invest in it. If the time comes that you have to use it, you will be glad you have it on hand.