• 23
  Mar
  2010

• How to Save Money on Travel (Without Sacrificing Insurance) V: Insurance Types

  
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Most international travelers purchase a vanilla travel insurance plan to cover themselves against the costs of unplanned illnesses. However, there are several types of travel insurance, and choosing the best option for your needs can also save you some much-wanted money.

If your international trip is one of many you will likely undertake in a given year, consider annual travel insurance. This plan covers you for an unlimited number of trips, and can save you a lot of stress and money. This is especially useful if you are a businessperson who travels overseas often.

You can also consider purchasing missionary insurance if you will undertake intermittent trips abroad, with short periods back at home. This kind of plan offers a bunch of benefits, including home country coverage between trips. It also offers some mental health benefits.

On the other hand, if you are traveling abroad as part of a group, consider group travel insurance. The group does not have to be a formal group; it can even be a family trip. That can save you a bunch of money, although the coverage cannot be customized individually in most cases. Selecting the right kind of plan can save you some money.

Travel tip: If your group has many people in different age groups, you can split the group based on age or required coverage for more savings.

• 22
  Mar
  2010

• How to Save Money on Travel (Without Sacrificing Insurance) IV: The Plan

  
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When you are traveling abroad, you need not go without travel insurance to save costs. In fact, you can save a lot of money just by choosing the right international travel insurance for you. Purchasing travel insurance can be a simple process.

When you are looking for travel insurance, consider the following: Purchasing insurance online is usually much cheaper than buying insurance through an agent. Because online comparison web sites also provide a great way to compare plans and rates, you can be assured that you can choose the plan that you want. You can save some money there.

Sometimes, with choice comes confusion. Choose the maximum benefit and deductible that you will need. What will help in this regard is doing just a little bit of spadework in finding out how much health care costs at your destination.

For example, heart surgery costs around $6,000 in India and $40,000 in the U.K. So, if you’re traveling to India, you may not need a high maximum benefit. With just some planning, you might be able to save money not just on travel and hotel, but also on travel insurance itself!

Travel tip: If there is no chance that you will participate in adventurous sports, for example, avoid purchasing the additional coverage.

• 19
  Mar
  2010

• How to Save Money on Travel (Without Sacrificing Insurance) III: Accommodation

  
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Saving money on travel can start as soon as you look around for accommodation, and there is no need to skimp on travel insurance just to save a few bucks. These days, the international traveler has a ton of options to choose from, ranging from the more conventional package deals to more adventurous options such as couchsurfing.

Opting to book accommodation and your rental car along with your air travel can save you big bucks. However, remember to check the fine print, as many featured hotels are simply not as good as advertised. Travel review sites can help you get some taste of reality as far hotels go.

If you’re looking to get a feel of the local place, you could try renting a couch, or a room,by logging on to sites that help you connect with those offering informal accommodation and B&Bs. However, bed and breakfasts are not a common feature in many countries, and you might not receive the same quality of service that you might at home.

For those really cash-strapped, hostels are a great way to bunk down for the night. Not all hostels are dormitories, and for couples (yes, even those with children), there might be options that include private rooms. And that will leave enough room for savings!

Travel tip: When booking accommodation, always remember to ask about cancellation policies. Busy tourist spots sometimes do not have much penalty for cancelled reservations.

• 18
  Mar
  2010

• How to Save Money on Travel (Without Sacrificing Insurance) II: The Tickets

  
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Saving on international travel, without thinking of skimping on travel insurance may seem like a good deal, but in fact, there are several other good deals that can net you a lot more savings! Especially on airfare.

If you’re looking for tickets for international flights, first things first, you’d want to look for the best rates possible. Needless to say, for many of us, the first stop is actually a comparison web site, similar to insurance comparison web sites.

When shopping for tickets, check and see if there are dates around your preferred dates for a lower price. Very often, Saturday flights are cheaper than Friday flights, and might be a good option for international flights, especially if you are taking many days off work anyway.

Also, if you have the risky streak in you, look for last-minute airfares. These are typically much lower than regular published fares, but you also run the risk of not getting good deals for your particular sector. Another way to notch up great airfares on comparison sites is by monitoring prices even after you purchase them. You might get a refund of the difference if you just ask.

Travel tip: When booking a flight online, most sites offer trip insurance as a package, along with the ticket. Be careful about selecting the insurance without reading the fine print.