Bermuda – Hotels and Resorts that belong to the Bermuda Hotel Association all offer a Hurricane Guarantee Program that will allow travelers to cancel their vacation without penalty if a hurricane is predicted to pass within 200 miles of Bermuda within three days of your vacation.  The Bermuda Weather Service will make the storm determination.  Travelers can apply for a refund or a credit applied to a future vacation.  If the island is affected by a hurricane during your stay which disrupts normal service, hotels will offer rooms at no charge along with food and beverages.  Find all the hurricane policy details at GoToBermuda.com

Cayman Islands – 25 properties on the islands of Grand Cayman, Little Cayman and Cayman Brac offer a Worry Free Hurricane Guarantee that allows travelers to cancel their vacation in the event of an impending hurricane or in case of vacation disruption.  Exact policies vary, so check with Cayman Islands.ky for all the details.

SuperClubs- have TWO guarantees.  Supe Clubs offer Guaranteed Getaways during hurricane season at their Breezes and Hedonism resorts in Jamaica, Curacao, Brazil, and Bahamas.  Travelers receive a refund of any disrupted night’s stay and a voucher for a future stay during the same season the following year.  SuperClubs also offer a “Sunshine Guarantee” which offers a voucher of a free night’s stay for any day the sun doesn’t shine.  The Sunshine Guarantee is offered at the resorts year-round.

Club Med – Club Med Resorts offer a Hurricane Protection Program that provides future travel certificates in the event your vacation is disrupted or prevented by a hurricane.

Starwood Hotels and Resorts – The Starwood Brand of hotels and resorts including Sheraton, W, Westin, Le Meridien, St. Regis, etc offer a Travel Interruption Policy that protects vacationers in the event of airport closure.  Each property may have slightly differing policies, so your best bet is to check directly with the resort you will be staying at.

Couples Resorts -  Couples Resorts offer a comprehensive Hurricane Policy which offers vouchers for future stays (typically within 30 days of original dates) to guests who encounter airport closures due to a hurricane.

These individual Caribbean Resorts also offer Hurricane Cancellation Policies:
Grand Case St. Martin
Bolongo Bay St.Thomas
Nisbet Plantation Nevis
Holiday Inn Sunspree Montego Bay

All properties and destinations will have somewhat differing terms and conditions to their Hurricane Policies.  Be certain to check with the property directly to confirm their policies.

As hurricane season fires up in the Atlantic, it reminds us that the prudent among us invest in Travel Insurance to protect their hard earned vacation dollars.  Unfortunately, we’ve all heard the frustrated stories of travelers who have purchased travel insurance only to find that their claim is denied for some obscure violation of the voluminous terms and conditions of the policy.  Here are 6 important considerations that will save you significant money on your next insurance purchase and ensure that you have the coverage you need.

1) Buy Only The Coverage You Actually Need
You may be surprised at how much coverage you already have between your credit card benefits, home owners, car, and medical insurance. Call your insurance broker and get the details before purchasing a comprehensive travel insurance policy.  Then purchase just the coverage that you actually need.

Many premium level credit cards provide baggage loss and delay coverage, accident insurance, medical assistance services and rental car coverage.  You can save significant dollars by reviewing your credit card benefits prior to paying for a trip and choose the card that gives the most coverage to pay for your trip.

It’s likely that your home owners policy provides coverage for items you may loose while traveling – but be sure to check your deductable as it may be well above any loss you may encounter.

Your motor vehicle insurance policy may already cover you for rental car damages and loss – well worth checking on.

Most important of all is to check your medical insurance policy to see if it covers you for medical expenses while traveling out of the country.  If you are on Medicare or Medicaid you are only protected within the United States (and possibly Canada and Mexico) unless you purchase a “medi-gap” policy.  Other types of policies may provide full coverage when traveling.

It’s always a good practice to make a list of the items you wish to insure (airline tickets, hotel costs, tour costs, medical coverage etc) and then go about pricing only the items you actually need.

2) Purchase From an Insurance Company not an Insurance Provider.
There is a very big difference between these two types of insurance policies.  Insurance Companies and their agents are licensed and regulated and their policy payouts are closely monitored.  Insurance Providers are unregulated and are often owned by tour companies.  Their coverage is “underwritten” by another company and they have earned a reputation for finding endless red tape excuses for not paying out claims.  Further, if a tour company issues a policy and then claims bankruptcy it will renege on the policy as well as the tour.  When in doubt, check with the Insurance Rating Website – AMBest.com

3)   Cancellation coverage is the most expensive – do you really need it? Unless you are paying for a trip in full, and in advance, (like a cruise) you may not need as much coverage as you think.  Can your airline tickets be refunded or changed for a reasonable fee?  What is the advance cancellation time frame for your hotel room and rental car?  You may find that much of your trip could be rebooked for reasonable sums.  Purchase insurance only for the items that could not be rebooked at reasonable costs. On the other hand, having the ability to cancel a fully paid for trip if need be is very reassuring. ‘Cancel For Any Reason’ coverage is quite expensive, but sometimes the peace of mind is worth it.  Be sure to ask how much of the trip price is covered by the ‘Cancel For Any Reason’ policy.  Most people assume it’s the entire price – but they would be wrong.  Typically these policies only refund 50 to 75% of the trip cost!  Also make sure you know the advance notice deadlines – they are likely to vary from 2 weeks to 2 days prior to trip departure.

When purchasing cancellation ‘for medical reasons’ policies it is VITAL that you ask about a waiver of pre-existing conditions before purchasing your tour, and insurance policy. Typically policies with a pre-existing condition waiver must be purchased within two weeks of making your first payment on a trip or cruise.  If pre-existing conditions are not waived you may find that your claim is denied because of medications you are taking or long ago diagnosed medical conditions.  If you cannot have pre-existing conditions waived for yourself AND your family members, ask how long the company’s “look back” term is.  In other words, if you make a claim, how many years or months do they look at your medical records?

4) What unforeseen events should you insure against?
The answer to this question will depend on the time of year you are traveling and the region you are traveling to.  Is your trip planned for hurricane or typhoon season?  Is the region susceptible to civil unrest or strikes?  Insurance can protect you from many perils, but only when the events are “unforeseen”.  Once a storm has been named or an event has been warned about, it is too late to purchase insurance against it.  Hurricane coverage must be purchased 24 hours prior to a tropical storm being named.  Read our article on the top tips for buying and using Hurricane Insurance. In most cases, there must be a U.S. State Department warning about a volatile area to activate cancellation options or an official declaration of an Act of Terrorism.

5) How to secure the most effective medical and evacuation insurance.
After you have reviewed your at-home coverage to determine how effectively you are already covered, you can decide whether or not to purchase out-of-country medical coverage.  THE MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION TO ASK IS – is the policy a primary or secondary payer? Primary payer policies take care of all covered expenses, assist you with finding doctors and facilities, and you pay nothing out of pocket.  A secondary payer policy requires you to pay for medical treatment and then submit bills (in English!) to the insurance company for reimbursement.  This process can involve tedious paperwork and delays in generating payments.  It is also important to determine the policy payment limits – some are as low as $1,000 – you may wish to secure considerably more.

If you have adequate “at-home” medical insurance that will cover you while traveling, you can put your mind at ease about finding an English speaking doctor (or other language) by joining IAMAT.  This is a non-profit organization that can be joined for as little as $10.  They will provide you with an extensive pocket-size directory of English speaking doctors (by specialty) in almost every country of the world, along with their contact information and commitment to a reasonable fee schedule.

Medical Evacuation – benefits for these policies provide transportation to the nearest ‘first world’ medical facility or to your home city whenever you are 150 miles or more from home.  An important question to ask is, does the policy cover transportation for your traveling companion as well.  If your partner became gravely ill, you would certainly want to terminate your trip and accompany them to the medical facility.  Noted companies that provide stand-alone Medical Evacuation Insurance are Medex and Medjet Assist.  Alternatively, a full year family medical evacuation policy can be purchased from Divers Alter Network – DAN for much less than $100.

6) New types of coverage, and how to find the best policies and prices.
As world events and lifestyles change, so do travel insurance options.  You can now buy coverage for cancellation caused by unforeseen Business Reasons, Job Loss or Layoff and Political Unrest.  You can also be covered for pet care expenses if your trip return is delayed (remember those volcano eruptions!), for ID theft, and financial default of any of the travel companies you are dealing with.  Also inquire about new rental car coverage offered for specialty vehicles, drivers over 70 years of age, and rentals for more than 30 days.

The internet has made it much easier to compare travel insurance policies.  Two websites stand out for their convenience and range of products:  InsureMyTrip and Squaremouth.  On these sites you can educate yourself about the different types of policies, check off the options you need and receive price quotes from a variety of companies at once.  And of course, consulting with your personal insurance agent is also an excellent tactic for finding options that do not duplicate coverage you already have, which could save you considerable sums.

• Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock
  This SPF 55 sunblock lotion goes on extra light and smooth leaving a powdery feel on the skin.  Hurray….  I no longer have to look like an oily mess after putting on suntan lotion!  The lotion spreads out evenly and leaves a matt finish on your skin, making it especially perfect for using on faces.  It comes in a 3 oz tube, is waterproof and PABA free.

Neutrogena Pure & Free Liquid Sunblock
For those with sensetive skin or anyone who hates putting lotions filled with chemicals on their skin, this new sunblock comes to the rescue.  The light liquid sunblock uses 100% naturally sourced sunscreens which absorb immediately into the skin.  It gives 50 SPF “Pure Screen” protection and comes in a 1.4 oz bottle with a squirt top to deliver lotion in a very fine stream so you can make every drop count.  There is very little odor and it leaves no sheen on your skin – which means it’s perfect to use under makeup.  The sunblock is hypoallergenic, waterproof, sweatproof, fragrance free and won’t clog pores.  This is definitely my new sunblock for my face!!

Neutrogena Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes
I used these little beauties 3 times a day while we were out on our sailing trip!  Unlike other moist towlettes that have harsh alcohol ingredients, these cloths are gentle on your skin, have a great clean fragrance and moisturize your skin leaving it soft and glowing.  I confess, I didn’t use them to remove makeup (because I wasn’t wearing any) but they did wonders for removing that salty, sandy, sticky glaze that comes with going to the beach and being by the sea.  These would be perfect in any travel bag for a quick refresher or ‘sponge bath’, as well as great for removing makeup.

So three for three – I loved them all!

Rick Steves’ Audio Europe App – A legend in his own time, Rick Steves has been guiding travelers through Europe for decades.  No one does a better job helping travelers find unique and interesting places.   Now Rick brings a free travel app to the iPhone and Android markets.  This app includes 29 audio guided walking tours of popular European destinations including all the prominent historic sites. You’ll also find over 200 travel tips and cultural insights from Rick’s radio shows and PDF maps that can be printed out to accompany your tour.  The app can be downloaded and used at home or on the road.  Running the app does not require WiFi access – so you won’t need to worry about European data charges building up.

RailEurope App – Take the stress out of finding rail schedules on 35 European rail systems and book your tickets with a few clicks on your mobile phone. The free RailEurope app connects you with rail services in 32 countries; giving you digital schedules, pricing, alerts, seamless ticket purchasing, seat selection and even suggests side trips based on your geolocation.  So as their slogan says, “Don’t stand in line – Go Online!”

Viator – Member-Only Tour Discounts via iPhone App Viator is the web’s leading resource for local sightseeing tours and destination experiences.  I always visit Viator when pulling together an itinerary to see what kind of tours are available in the city I’ll be visiting.  They have now launched Member-Only Deals that offer exclusive discounts of 20 – 75% off their regular prices. Unlike the “Groupon” model, Viator members can search for activity deals by destination and specific dates. Discounts are offered from 60 days to just hours in advance and change quickly as tours are filled.  If you’re a traveler who likes to wait until the last minute to see what the weather will be like before booking an outdoor activity – this app is for you.  Member-Only Deals are being introduced in 25 major tourist destinations and can be accessed by registering and downloading Viator’s free iPhone App.

HotelTonight Same-Day Hotel Booking App.  This free app, now available for both iPhone and Android users, delivers up to 70% savings on last minute hotel rooms in 18 major US cities.  All hotels have been personally vetted and photographed by the folks at HotelTonight, and only those fitting their criteria are listed.  Users can book rooms until 2:00 a.m. and can select from elegant to basic properties.  This is an incredibly great app for anyone who travels frequently and has ever found themselves stranded at an airport looking for a last minute room! Take $25 off your first booking by entering promo code FREE25 when registering and booking a room within the app.

Medjet Assist Free First-Aid App Every traveler whether venturing near or far,  should download this free app for medical emergencies – it is available for both iPhone and Android use.  Medjet Assist is the nation’s leader in offering  medical evacuation membership programs, and has developed a comprehensive first-aid guide with categories such as Life Threatening Emergencies, Chest & Back, Allergic Emergencies, Insect, Snake & Marine, Fractures & Dislocations and more.  The app also stores your medical information.  The entire app can be accessed offline and does not require a cellphone signal or connection to the internet.  This app is a must for every prudent traveler.

St Vincent and The Grenadines may be an exotic island nation in the deep Caribbean, but they are right on top of the Travel App scene! SVG has recently introduced a great new app packed with information on their 32 island region that can be accessed at the iPhone Store, Android Marketplace, and on the Web at DiscoverSVG, as well as via QR Code (two dimensional bar code) – Everybody’s covered!  Islands of SVG that you may be familiar with include St. Vincent, Bequia, Mustique, Canouan and Tobago (among many others).  SVG is known worldwide as a yachting paradise and secluded paradise that attracts A-listers seeking privacy and exceptional natural beauty.  They’re now building the first international airport and welcoming a number of luxury resorts and boutique properties to already famous properties like Raffles and private islands of Palm Island and Petit St. Vincents.  A destination definitely worth getting to know!

Learn the Basics
Every culture’s traditional cuisine has some distinctive characteristics; Greek food features olive oil, herbs and Mediterranean vegetables while Thai food blends spicy, sweet, bitter and sour and makes use of rice as its primary ingredient. Familiarizing yourself with the basics of the local cuisine will go a long way toward preparing you for your travels. Pay special attention to the staple ingredients used.  Travel health insurance will often cover emergency treatment of allergic reactions, but not preventative treatment, so keep on the lookout for problem ingredients. Many travel insurance providers make pre-trip destination information available, as well as translation and travel document assistance. Any information you can find before your trip will reduce the likelihood of culinary disaster. If you’re allergic to peanuts, you might have trouble with some Thai dishes, like Pad Thai, that include chopped peanuts. If you’re gluten intolerant, however, then you’ll have no problem with Thai food, since few dishes contain gluten and the noodles are made with rice.  You should also be on the lookout for any ingredients you would object to eating. Tarantulas and monkey brains might not sound appetizing to someone from the United States, but they are a part of certain Cambodian dishes.

Get To Know Food Specialties
One of the best things about the modern world is the spread of cultures. You can easily find a dozen or more restaurants serving foreign food in any large city. Before a trip to Greece for instance, why not visit a local Greek restaurant to familiarize yourself with the cuisine? Make sure it’s as authentic as possible; generally, someone who has emigrated from another country and opens a restaurant dedicated to their native cuisine will very proudly display that fact. Talk to the owner or chef and ask questions about the food in general and any dishes you like in particular. What variations of dishes might you encounter? Are there any foods that exemplify their food culture? Ask for tips and customs that most visitors to the country wouldn’t know. Maybe they can even recommend an excellent restaurant at your destination. Try a variety of dishes to find several foods that you enjoy. Many restaurants will provide smaller portions if you ask, so you can sample several at once. Once you’ve figured out which meals you enjoy the most and have gleaned whatever interesting facts you can, write them down so you’ll be prepared during your trip.

Know (some of) the Language
Hopefully you’re already preparing for your trip abroad by brushing up on the local languages, but you should spend some time in particular learning food names and ingredients, especially if you need to deal with allergies. Your focus should be on the words for different types of meat, such as beef, chicken or pork, and types of dishes, such as bread, pasta, soup or curry. If you know the basic terms, you can substitute ingredients to better suit your needs and tastes. Work on your pronunciation, as well. Everyone likes being spoken to in their native language and you may end up with better service if you show that you’ve taken the time to study the culture and language of the country you’re visiting.

Visiting a foreign country can bring a great deal of stress, even in the midst of fun. With careful preparation dining doesn’t need to be a trial,   you can impress the people in your host country and ensure that you always get a plate of food you’ll enjoy. By developing a taste for the food before you arrive, you make it easier to relax and enjoy yourself during your travels.

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Article by Guest Author:  Kenneth Brothers
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Currently Concentra Urgent Care Centers has over 20 locations at international airports across the country.  So the next time you need medical attention or advice while traveling, stop at one of these airport medical centers:

ATL, BOS, BWI, DTW, EWR, HNL, HOU, IAD, IND, LAX, MEM, MHT, MKE, ORD, PDX, PHL, PHX, PWM, SAT, SDF

Can I Bring Food Fom Home On A Plane?
Yes, as long as it’s solid, sealed and cannot spill while going through the x-ray machine (and if you don’t mind having your food x-rayed).  A sandwich, chips and banana are all expamples of acceptable items that can be taken on an airplane.  If the item is not solid, it will fall under the 3.4 oz rule, so don’t take jellies, syrups, sauces or dips – they would have to go in your 1 quart liquids bag.  Let the TSA screener know in advance of going through the machine that you have food items.

Can I Take Coffee and Water On A Plane?
You will need to purchase the coffee or beverage AFTER you pass through airport security in order to avoid the 3.4 ounce liquids rule.  Then you can sip your beverage at leisure and take it aboard the aircraft if you wish.

Can I Take Alcohol On An Airplane?
Yes and no…  The TSA won’t mind if you bring ‘nips’ through in your liquids bag (as long as you are over the age of 21), but most airlines have rules stating only flight attendants can serve alcoholic beverages.  If you decided to bring your own shot bottles onboard in your carry-on bag, you would need to be very discreet about consuming them, or they will be confiscated by the crew.  For bottles larger than a nip, they would have to be packed in your checked baggage.

Can I Take Liquid Medications On An Airplane?
The TSA waives the 3.4 ounce restrictions for both perscription and over-the-counter medications that are necessary for a traveler’s health.  You should speak with the screener in advance and let them know that you have a medical condition that requires medication and identify it for the screener.  You should pack the medication  in a see-through bag that is seperate from your 1 quart liquids bag.

Can I Take More Than 3 ounces Of Baby Food On An Airplane?
Yes, certainly in reasonable quantities, unopened, and as long as you are traveling with children.  You should alert the TSA screener that you are traveling with baby food and where it is located in your carry-on, prior to the bag going through the x-ray machine.

What Are The Rules For Taking Breast Milk And Formula On An Airplane?
You may take as much liquid milk, formula, and juice as your child will need during the flight.  Again, make the TSA screener aware of the quanities and locations of these items prior to them going through the x-ray machine – they may require further screening.

Can I Take A Cigarette Lighter or Matches On An Airplane?
Common lighters are now allowed, but you cannot carry on a lighter that produces a torch like flame.  Torch lighters are most often used for lighting cigars or pipes and cannot be carried onto an aircraft.  Common cigarette lighters are allowed and it does not have to be in your liquids bag.  A book of safety matches is allowed – strike anywhere matches are banned.

Can I Take Tools On An Airplane?
Sharp implements are banned.  If the tool you wish to take is not sharp or is under 7 inches, it will probably be allowed.  Check the TSA’s specific regulations about tools to be sure.

Can I Take My Knitting Needles On The Plane?
Yes, knitting needles and other equipment for needlework projects are allowed.  Sharp blades to cut the threads however may not be permitted, so be sure that you have short snub nosed scissors.

Can I Wear Gel Inserts In My Shoes On An Airplane?
No, unfortunately not.  You will need to remove any gel shoe pads prior to going through airport security.

What Pets Are Allowed on Airplanes?
Every airline has different regulations about what pets (and what size animals) are allowed either in the passenger compartment or the baggage compartment of the airplane.  You should phone the airline in question to obtain the precise information, and medical screenings required to fly with your pet.  You will be allowed to walk your pet through TSA screening – they are never put through the x-ray machine!

The TSA has an excellent website that gives specific information about what is and is not allowed to go through airport screening. You may find their Traveling With Specialty Items link helpful in preparing for your trip.  The TSA has also recently introduced a Mobile App MY TSA that not only gives you information about what is allowed to go through airport screening, but also shows wait times are airport screening lines – a good app to have!

Cucumbers imported from Spain are suspected to be the most likely source of the bacteria at the moment, although further testing is ongoing.  Suffice to say, you should choose your salad ingredients very carefully while traveling in Europe this summer and avoid eating cucumbers altogether.  If  For more in-depth information about the E.coli outbreak, read this excellent article,  Killer Bacteria Outbreak Out of Control in Germany reported by Global Travel Industry News.

This clearly is an app everyone with a health condition should have on their mobile devise!

Watch the video explaining how the App works.