Counting the costs

INSURING a trip can save travelers from huge financial losses when the unexpected happens, but many take the risk rather than adding the expense of an insurance policy. Travel insurance comparison site, Squaremouth, shares 3 hacks to save money on a travel insurance policy, proving coverage doesn't need to come at a huge cost.

Insure Only Non-Refundable Trip Costs - Travelers insuring the cost of a trip can expect to spend 4-10% of their trip cost on a travel insurance policy, so it is important to remember: the lower the trip cost, the lower the premium.

To save from spending too much on a policy, travelers should only insure expenses they would lose if they are unable to travel as planned, such as airfare and hotel costs. For example, if a hotel requires travelers to pay a 50% penalty to cancel a hotel reservation, they should insure just that amount, rather than the full cost of the hotel.

Skip Cancel For Any Reason Coverage - While the Cancel For Any Reason upgrade can offer greater flexibility if a traveler needs to cancel their trip, it typically increases the cost of a policy by as much as 40% and only reimburses a portion of the trip cost. Since most common Trip Cancellation concerns are covered by standard cancellation policies, there is no reason for travelers to pay more for the benefit unless they have a unique concern that isn't otherwise covered.

Compare Your Options - The best way for travelers to find the least expensive policy that fits their needs is by shopping around and using a third-party comparison site, such as Squaremouth.com, to compare premiums and coverages. While policies typically have similar benefits, premiums vary widely depending on the insurance provider. Travelers who are offered a policy through their cruise line, airline, or credit card should compare it with other policies on the market to make sure they are getting the coverage they need at the lowest cost.


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Website for Travelers Visiting Japan

All Nippon Airways (ANA) announces the introduction of a new website "Japan Travel Planner" aimed to help travelers visiting Japan discover the beauty of the country by obtaining valuable travel information.

The two informative current websites "ANA Experience Japan" and "Taste of Japan" were integrated into the new " Japan Travel Planner" website which offers enhanced research and travel plan creation functions making it easy to find the best ways to get to sightseeing spots. By selecting a location and the desired traveling time, a recommended itinerary of the trip will be created and an option to make a reservation for an air ticket will be given.

Through this new "Japan Travel Planner" site, ANA will introduce not only the most popular sightseeing spots, but also many hidden attractive locations throughout Japan, strongly contributing to the accomplishment of the Japanese government tourism target of reaching 40 million overseas visitors to Japan in 2020.



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Information at the touch of a virtual button

LOS ANGELES International Airport (LAX) is offering guests a fun and innovative way to stay informed with the launch of self-assistance kiosks in two of LAX’s terminals, Terminal 2 and the Tom Bradley International Terminal. The AskLAX kiosks provide a wealth of information at the touch of a virtual button across a 36-inch touch screen. 

This includes terminal maps, concession and retail information, emergency information, transportation options, and traffic conditions. Guests can even take email-able selfies. Additionally, guests can speak directly with a knowledgeable LAX GEM (Guest Experience Member) over video chat in real-time. 

The kiosks are another way LAX is providing information to travellers during the busy travel season, complementing our Guest Experience Members and Volunteer Information Professionals, who can be found throughout LAX’s nine terminals.

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It's all in the preparation

WHETHER you're taking your first international trip or you just need a refresher on how to prepare, OneTravel.com is sharing some tips to make sure travelers have fun, memorable, and safe global getaways this summer.

Purchase travel insurance: It's no secret that international trips are expensive. Purchasing insurance may ensure you're able to recuperate the cost of your trip in case something goes unexpectedly wrong. Though most travel insurance policies don't cover when a passenger arbitrarily cancels a trip, they do cover occurrences like sickness, injury, natural disaster, or terrorist incident. All travel insurance policies are different, so make sure you read what exactly is covered under your policy.

Let your bank know you're traveling: Identity security is a top priority these days, especially for financial institutions, so it's not unusual for a bank to freeze or cancel your credit or debit card if it sees unusual activity. To avoid being locked out of your accounts, give your bank a call before you leave to let them know when you'll be out of the country and what countries you'll be visiting.

Print hotel, car, or activity confirmations: Even if you are traveling with an international phone plan, it's a good idea to have your email confirmations printed out just in case. Printing them before you leave will also force you to review your reservations to make sure all of the booking information is correct.

Make copies of important documents: If you fall victim to theft, it is critical to have photocopies of your travel documents and other important items in your wallet. Having a copy of your passport helps with getting a replacement for your return trip. Photocopies of other items in your wallet will provide back-up identification and will remind you of any credit cards you need to cancel.

Study up on your destination: Whether you think so or not, you will likely stick out as a foreigner when you are traveling abroad. Before you leave, look at a map and try to get an idea of the layout of your destination city. It's also recommended to learn some of the basic customs and laws to make sure you are acting appropriately. To go the extra mile, learning key phrases in the local language is always appreciated by locals.

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Worry free trip to the Cayman Islands

WITH an unpredictable hurricane season around the corner, the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism continues to give its visitors peace of mind with the destination's "Worry Free Hurricane Guarantee," a specialty promise made by on-island partners to cover any cancellations made prior to arrival and compensation if vacation time is cut short due to inclement weather during a #CaymanIslands getaway.

The Worry Free Guarantee includes a full refund of accommodation fees at participating hotels, condos and villas island-wide, with a maximum one-night penalty at most for cancellations made up to 48 hours prior to check-in as soon as a hurricane watch is issued by authorities. Additionally, many properties on-island are offering a free replacement stay throughout the summer months, allowing guests to rebook for the same duration as the initially-booked stay, regardless of how many days were affected by a hurricane or storm.


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Hawaii open for business

AS dramatic video footage is shown daily from the island of Hawai'i of lava flowing, new fissures opening and ash plumes, Hawai'i Governor David Ige reassured people worldwide that #Kīlauea volcano is being closely monitored and stated emphatically: "Travel is safe to the Hawaiian Islands."

"All of Hawai'i is open for business and welcoming visitors with the hospitality, aloha, warmth and picturesque settings visitors seek in our islands. This includes Hilo, Pāhoa and the Kona and Kohala coasts on the island of Hawai'i. The one area that people need to avoid is lower Puna where the eruption is ongoing."


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Norwegian cabin crew and pilots reveal their top tips to stress-free family travel

WITH the main school summer holidays just around the corner, families are preparing to jet off into the sunshine for a well-deserved break. Parents can often worry about the ‘joys’ of flying with their young children so Norwegian’s cabin crew and pilots, who have a lot of experience of travelling with little ones, have shared their top tips to a stress-free journey – happy flying!

Liliana Chantre, Senior Cabin Crew: “Bring noise cancelling headphones for new-born babies and toddlers – it helps them to feel calm and relaxed as well as helping with the pressure change”
Robert Kennedy, Cabin Crew: “Pack lots of time consuming snacks for them to eat which will keep them occupied for as long as possible! I always bring dry alphabet cereal or cheerios”
Joost Smits, Pilot: “Write a contact phone number on their arm in case they wander off”
Meriel Taylor, Ground Instructor: “Invest in an inflatable booster seat that meets Norwegian’s regulations for child safety restraint systems – you can use it on the aircraft and in a hire car at your destinations. It looks no different when blown up to the real thing, apart from the fact you can deflate it and pop it in your handbag... fantastic!”
Lee Allen, Cabin Crew: “I always pack lavender balm. Just put a touch on the kid’s temple to keep them calm. On a night flight, the soothing smell helps induced sleep”
Andrew Huddleston, Relief Captain: “Take a compact backpack as hand luggage that enables you to store it under the seat in front – then you don't need to keep getting out of your seat to retrieve your items”
Anders Halvgaard, First Officer: “I always give my kids something to suck or chew on during take-off and landing. The distraction, as well as the chewing, can help prevent any problems with pain due to pressure changes. For small babies, a bottle helps a lot”
Christine Bergles, Chief Ground Instructor: “Don’t forget to bring some over the ear headphones – perfect for kid’s watching a movie or playing games on their tablet and it means they won’t pull them out or block their ears”
Sira Llorente, Senior Cabin Crew: “When travelling with my daughter I always pack her favourite things especially food, including a few treats and her favourite toys to make sure she is entertained the whole flight”

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Picture Credit: Norwegian Air

Free ride in Palm Springs

A new free trolley service is available for visitors and residents in Palm Springs, California, playfully called “The BUZZ”.

The trolley runs every Thursday through Sunday from 11 am to 1 am. 

With stops along the route from just north of the Riviera Resort to the Saguaro Hotel, where the trolley turns around and heads back through downtown.

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Unmapped expands partnerships

AN award winning travel itinerary management platform, Unmapped has expanded partnerships in 11 countries including Canada, US, Australia, Portugal, Spain, Italy, UK, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, and New Zealand.

Umapped helps leading global brands and travel advisors engage with their customers throughout their travel journey by delivering interactive, media-rich consolidated mobile itineraries with relevant offers, content, messaging and advice from collaborations with with leading tour operator suppliers including Ski.com, Globus, and Ultimate Jet Vacations.

umapped.com

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Fearless Flyer

easyJet, Europe’s leading airline, will be launching its “Fearless Flyer” course for the first time in Birmingham next month.

The course, which has now helped more than 3,500 people nationwide to overcome their fear of flying since launching in late 2012, will take place at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole hotel at the NEC on Saturday 12 November, followed by an experience flight to and from Birmingham Airport on Sunday 13 November.

Around one in six people have a fear of flying, with #aerophobia estimated to affect millions in the UK alone.

easyJet's Fearless Flyer course is one of the best priced aerophobia courses in the UK at just £189. Participants can also invite a companion with them on the flight if they wish for just £69.

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