The cost of travel is going up. Plane tickets, gasoline prices, accommodation, meals and excursions are all more expensive today than a year or two ago. For families looking for ways to reduce the overall cost of a vacation with kids, travel insurance is oftentimes considered an unnecessary extra. However, travel insurance is the one thing that can reduce, or completely eliminate, unexpected and extraordinary expenses.

When considering travel insurance, emergency medical expenses and last-minute cancellations immediately spring to mind. Yet, there are many other costs that can be reimbursed through a travel policy. Many cover lost and stolen luggage and missed connections as well as natural disasters and severe-weather-related delays and impediments.

It won’t happen to me??
Travel insurance is no different than fire insurance – a decision to forego either is an assumption of risk. Without travel insurance, you stand to lose much more than cost of the trip. While the cost of a serious accident overseas may be less than the cost of rebuilding the family home, emergency medical treatment and hospitalization as well as out-of-pocket expenses such as phone calls, new clothes, medication, and penalties for changing flights can quickly add up. According to TravelSafe.com, roughly 16% of U.S. travel policy purchasers have filed a claim.

What type of coverage do I need?
The type of family vacation you take will, to a large degree, determine the type of coverage you require. A relaxing beach holiday in Hawaii will presume different risks than a trekking expedition in a remote area of Pakistan. Select a policy that covers the activity you intend to engage in.

The frequency with which you travel will also influence your choice. Families traveling once a year may prefer a policy that covers a specific trip. On the other hand, families that take to the road or the skies frequently may find that an annual policy provides a more comprehensive coverage at lower price.

The starting point for any review of travel insurance, whether for health or safety, should begin with a review of your existing medical, car and credit card coverage. In addition to determining the maximum your insurer will pay, find out if there is a minimum deductible. Read the fine print, and pay close attention to all claim procedures, requirements and deadlines. Incidents that aren’t covered will be clearly spelled out. Keep in mind that a family policy likely only covers your spouse and your children.

Buying online?
Traditionally, travelers have purchased insurance through their local broker or their neighborhood travel agent. But, thanks to the internet, an online search is both more convenient and could also lead to cheaper rates. Before you purchase a travel insurance policy on the web, do your due diligence and assess the insurer’s credentials. Their license number and membership in national or international travel associations should be readily available on their website. If you have selected an insurer domiciled in a foreign country, make sure it is a regulated by a local insurance board. Use insurance brokerage websites to review insurance company ratings online. And don’t hesitate to check references, read testimonials and pose questions on travel forums.
Always remember, in the event of a perceived risk the cost of insurance may be small.

Where to take the kids is one of the most frequently asked questions on family travel forums and travel safety is one of the most emotive. Taking a child changes even the most seasoned travelers perspective on everything from health hazards to street crime. And while each family will assess risk differently there a few things to consider when you trade in your backpack for a child carrier.

Research your family travel destination thoroughly before you book a plane ticket or guided tour. Consider both health risks such as drinking water and infectious diseases and safety concerns from petty theft to terrorism. Find out what other family travelers have to say.

First thing is select a destination you feel comfortable traveling to. If you are apprehensive before you depart you are likely to be anxious on the trip. And while you may miss out on an opportunity to introduce the kids to a foreign language or a new adventure chances are the kids will perceive your discomfort and be uneasy too. Build your confidence in baby steps and extend your reach a bit with each family trip.

Investigate air safety policies at all departure points and pack your suitcases and hand luggage accordingly. Keep an eye on your luggage at all times and introduce the children to airport security rules before you leave home. Entrusting a favorite stuffed animal to security personnel or a conveyor belt may be terrifying for a toddler.

Consider travel insurance. Find out what your health, auto and credit card policies cover and determine what additional insurance you require. Bear in mind your travel destination as well as the type of adventure planned.

Make two copies of all travel documents – passports, insurance cards, emergency medical numbers, credit cards and itinerary – pack a copy in your suitcase and leave one with a relative or close friend.

Apply the same rules on the road as you would at home. If you don’t allow the kids to swim unattended in your backyard don’t permit them to do so in the hotel pool. If they wear a life jacket in a local lake they should wear one in a foreign ocean.

Don’t forego safety simply because the solution is cumbersome. Bring or rent a car seat if you plan to travel by automobile (car rental or taxi) whether you are touring a city or exploring country roads. Pack helmets if the rental bike company does not offer them.

Keep a close eye on your children at all times. Hold their hands in crowded markets, squares and streets and don’t let them wander about alone. Carry a recent picture of each child and equip each kid with an identification card, a document with the child’s name and parents name as well as the name, address and telephone number of your hotel.

Don’t assume pedestrian rights are analogous everywhere. In many countries a zebra crossing or crosswalk is merely an opportunity. Don’t step off the curb until you are sure the traffic will stop.

Take the same precautions on a family vacation as you would on a solo trip. Dress modestly and don’t tour your travel destination wearing expensive jewelry or a camera around your neck. In addition to the loss of the article and any bodily harm, witnessing a theft could be traumatic for the children.

These are tips to remember to have a same trip… I hope these tips help you a lot..  Just be active while traveling and watch out fo the things what will happen in your sorroundings.. And you must also think twice and advance..

A GROUP of local travel agencies on Wednesday offered help to the Department of Tourism in developing and propping up tourism in Mindanao after this industry was identified as a possible key to peace and progress in the country’s second biggest island.

In the same light, President Arroyo enjoined some 175 municipal mayors from Mindanao to invest in solid-waste management facilities, using their internal revenue allotments (IRA).

Naitas chairman emeritus Robert Lim Joseph said this offer of assistance is a gesture of support to Sen. and former tourism secretary Richard Gordon, who proposed tourism as a possible solution to Mindanao’s problems.

Joseph said Mindanao has a rich history and culture in addition to the many scenic places like lakes and waterfalls in the central part and beautiful beaches in the southern portion.

These places in Mindanao also offer opportunities for extreme and nature adventures and aquatic sports, which have not been spoiled by crass commercialism.

“Add the hospitable people, only ruined by image of war and kidnapping, and tourists can have a high-value vacation at very low rates,” Joseph said.

At the Mindanao leg of the Zero Basura Caravan in Davao City, about 175 municipal mayors from Regions 11, 12 and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao made a commitment to close down all existing open dumps in their area as part of compliance with Republic Act (RA) 9003, otherwise known as the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act.

The caravan, a joint project of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the National Solid Waste Management Commission (NSWMC), is part of the Green Movement Agenda: Strategies for Local Action which aims to accelerate the provisions of RA 9003.

The President exhorted the local government units (LGUs) to invest in material-recovery facilities or MRFs in their barangays, urging them to use their IRA to fund these facilities; the program aims to reduce waste generation by as much as 50 percent.

Right now, tourism in Mindanao is a chicken-and-egg situation because of the peace-and-order problem, but the vicious cycle can be broken if tourism can be used to drag its residents out of hunger and poverty by providing them jobs and livelihood in tourism, Joseph said.

“This will make the Moros stakeholders in the industry, which they will now serve to protect and promote by safeguarding tourists and travelers,” he added.

The tourism-industry leader said that trade and commerce will be promoted by tourism because the growth of transportation will be hastened and sale of local goods, especially souvenirs, will be boosted. He said the first most likely step is to cultivate a culture of tourism among communities in Mindanao, where residents can be involved in promoting and protecting their respective tourist areas.

Joseph said Naitas can provide seminars promoting the culture of tourism in key areas in Mindanao as the group has been doing this in many places in the country for several years already.

The national government can provide the necessary infrastructure to make the tourist spots accessible and convenient to travelers, he said.

Joseph said the recently enacted Tourism Act of 2009 can be used as an instrument for the development of tourism by providing incentives to investors to set up shop in Mindanao.

NSWMC executive director Gerardo Calderon, who has been leading the caravan from day one, said  the mayors in attendance also drew a plan which includes the immediate phaseout of open dumpsites and converting them to sanitary landfills and then to ecological parks. As of the second quarter of 2009, there are 901 open dumpsites across the country as compared to 936 dumpsites in the fourth quarter of 2008.

He added that many LGUs are investing in modern landfills and converting some of them into ecoparks. Davao City, for one, has invested in a P216-million modern sanitary landfill, which is the first in Mindanao. It has a 3.8-hectare, 46-meter pit with high-density polypropylene liners that will prevent leachates from seeping underground.

Calderon, who is also a DENR assistant secretary, explained that the facility also has retention ponds for leachates, plus drainage canals and ponds which will prevent seepage of waste materials to adjoining waterways. The landfill is designed to handle residual waste or trash that can no longer be recycled or reused.

Calderon also cited Santo Tomas municipality in Davao del Norte, which has established its own ecopark. The eco-park was formerly a controlled dumpsite turned into a processing center where trash is recycled and converted into compost or other reusable materials. The former dumpsite is now a lush green picnic ground frequented by tourists and visitors.

The need to minimize garbage is borne out of the growing concern on climate change as methane, which is the byproduct of decomposing garbage, is a greenhouse gas which has a warming potential 20 times greater than carbon dioxide.

How can I get a better rate on my Airline tickets?

- Make your reservations as soon as you have decided on travel plans. Airlines give discounts for early bookings at least 21 days in advance. The best rates are often those that include a Saturday night stay and have travel dates during the week.
- Shopping the Internet can be the quickest and easiest way to compare many different Airlines’ rates to find the best deals. – If you can be flexible about when you travel, do so. It can bring big savings. Even changing a flight’s time during the same day can effect the rate. Often the less popular early morning or late evening flights have lower rates.
- The best rates tend to be found during the off season and at other times when the Airlines are flying at less than capacity.
- Check into splitting your trip into two roundtrip sections. A stopover at a midpoint could save you over flying a direct route. Although, make sure the saving are large enough to warrant the extra hassles of the stopover.
- Check into booking your travel plans as a package. You might be able to save by booking your Airline tickets along with your hotel room or rental car.
- Ask if this is the best rate that they have available when you are booking your reservation.
- Apply any special discount programs for which you are eligible.
- When you reach check-in, ask to see if any special upgrade deals are available.
- Take some time to look for the best rate, a little research can bring big savings. Airline ticket prices vary wildly and you want to be the one that paid $200.00 roundtrip, not the guy in the next seat that paid $600.00.

What types of special discount programs are available?

- Check for special deals with your membership in associations or clubs.
- Memberships in premium or loyalty clubs and frequent flyer programs can offer discounts.
- Some credit cards have special discount agreements with certain Airlines.
- Package discounts can be found when booking your Airline ticket along with a certain hotel, cruise line, or rental car company.
- Discounts are available for some age groups, young and old, as well as, students.
- Discounts are often available for large groups traveling together.
- Discounts are often available for government, military or corporate employees. Some Airlines will even extend these discounts during leisure travel.

How can I find other businesses that have partnered with my Airline to provide me even greater rewards for using their services?

- Check out your Airline’s web site. They should have a list of other businesses they have partnered with that can reward you with bonus points or miles and discounts or other special offers. These other businesses are usually found on your Airline’s web site in a special travel partners section or they can be listed under their membership program section as participants or partners.

How can I beat the best rate flying into my destination?

- Check into another destination. You might be able to fly into a nearby neighboring city at a much lower rate. Remember to allow for other costs when you consider this option. You could lose the airport shuttle, and your rental car costs, gas, etc., may change. This might also take a little more travel time.

Should I buy someone else’s frequent flyer awards, vouchers or unused tickets?

- No, there are lots of ways you can get burned doing this. Most Airline programs have rules against this activity and you’ll be denied boarding if you are caught. With computer checking systems and rules requiring proper I.D., your chances of getting caught and losing your money are good. Many of these items are also easy to copy or fake and you might just end up the victim of fraud.

How will I know which is the best Airline for me?

If it’s a onetime flight, you can probably see who flies the route for the cheapest rate. If you are looking for more of a relationship, you’ll want to consider some of the factors listed below:

- You’ll still want to consider ticket prices.
- See if you belong to any groups that entitle you a special deal with a particular Airline.
- Investigate the Airline’s on-time, safety and customer service record.
- Evaluate frequent flyer programs to see which will allow you to earn free tickets or upgrades the quickest.
- You might want the Airline with the more lenient luggage policy.
- Pick an Airline that has strong routes and flight options available for the area where you’ll be doing most of your traveling.
- Find out what Airline partnerships they have to see if they will provide you further flight options.
- Find out what other partnerships they have that could save you money in other areas. Many Airlines have agreements with hotel chains, rental cars or credit card companies.
- Find out which Airline is most willing to help with your special requests.

Though overseas travel promises a lot of fun and excitement, it also poses several risks that could put you in helpless situations where you may feel helpless and not know what the next step is. Hence, medical insurance for travelers is an absolute must to handles these unexpected situations that could otherwise ruin your trip.

Travel insurance plan is like a contract between you and the insurance provider which states in the agreement that the insurance company would cover the costs of certain risks as mentioned in the policy if you pay a certain premium amount in advance as stated in the policy document.

The person who takes a travel health insurance policy can either pay the premium at one go or in multiple installments as agreed with the provider.

There are various reasons why you should take travel health insurance especially during a trip overseas. Most of them points to ensuring a safe and secured trip instead of worrying about the major risks and the related expenses. There are various choices of travel health insurance policies which offer different coverage options. It is important that you go through the policy document and also do adequate groundwork on the benefits it offers.

Travel insurance plan comes very handy in the case of illness especially when you are away from your homeland. It covers the major medical expenses, hospitalization costs, medical procedures and doctor consultation fees in case you suddenly fall seriously ill.

In addition, in case of the death of the insured, the insurance also covers funeral expenses and the death benefits for the beneficiaries. Hence, it is necessary to designate a beneficiary while you purchase a travel insurance plan policy.

Travel insurance plan covers loss of baggage but the limits is predetermined. Hence, while choosing your insurance policy, you need to take enough care to ensure that you are fully protected in case of any unexpected emergencies.

While many of us enjoy traveling abroad, it would be a clever step to take enough precautions than repent later about not securing for the trip and keep medical insurance for travel as the top priority in the checklist.

Being a responsible budget traveler
Tourism in developing countries can be both a blessing and a curse – each individual leaves his or her mark upon a place.

Small decisions that we make along the way as travelers insure that future travelers find a place as welcoming and magical as we did.

Travel and tourism should be planned and executed as a means of individual growth and development. When practiced with an open mind, it is an awesome source of self education, mutual tolerance and for learning about the diversity and wonderful nuances that make our planet such an interesting place.

Everyone has a responsibility for creating and promoting responsible travel and tourism. Governments, business and communities must shoulder their share of the load, but as a budget traveler you can support this in many ways that make a huge difference:

1. Open your mind to other cultures and traditions. It will transform your trip and you will earn respect and welcome of the local people. Be tolerant and respectful, making sure to observe social and cultural traditions and practices.

2. Respect human rights. Exploitation in any form conflicts with the fundamental purpose of travel.

3. Help preserve natural environments. Leave things the way you found it – or better.  Protect wildlife and habitats and do not purchase products made from endangered plants or animals….this includes animal products, novelty insects, etc…

4. Respect cultural resources. Activities should be conducted in a way that respects the artistic, archaeological and cultural heritage of a place.

5. Support the local economy – they need it. Purchase local handicrafts and products using the principles of fair trade. Bargaining for goods should reflect an understanding of a fair wage – don’t fall victim to traveler scams, but that merchant probably needs the difference more than you do.

6. Get up to date about the destination’s current health situation prior to departure and be assured that your health and personal security will not be threatened. Make sure that you have the means to remain healthy and happy before you arrive in a new place.

7. Learn as much as possible about your destination and take time to understand the customs, norms and traditions in an effort to avoid accidentally offending the local population.

8. Learn the local laws so that you do not accidentally break them. Refrain from all trafficking in illicit drugs, arms, antiques, protected species and products or substances that are dangerous or prohibited.

Responsible travel is not complicated.  Getting into the mindset that you are going to leave a place in better shape than you found it by doing your part and encouraging others, will ensure that the doors will be kept open for future budget travelers!

Summer means fun in the sun. School is over for kids, adults are on vacation and it’s time for outdoor activities. However, one must be cautious because summer is also a peak time for accidents. One must be aware emergencies are just around the corner even though how small they are. It is good to remember that to enjoy summer is to bare safety in mind.

• One of the best ways to stay safe this summer is to wear a helmet and other safety gear when doing rigorous outdoor activities like biking, skating and skateboarding, and when riding scooters, all-terrain vehicles, and horses. Studies on bicycle helmets have shown they can reduce the risk of head injury by as much as 85 percent.

• Use layers of protection to prevent a swimming pool tragedy. This includes placing barriers completely around your pool to prevent access, using door and pool alarms, closely supervising your child and being prepared in case of an emergency.

• When cooking outdoors with a gas grill, check the air tubes that lead into the burner for any blockage from insects, spiders, or food grease. Check grill hoses for cracking, brittleness, holes, and leaks. Make sure there are no sharp bends in the hose or tubing. If you ever detect a leak, immediately turn off the gas at the tank and don’t attempt to light the grill until the leak is fixed.

• Make sure you have a safe surface because falls are likely the cause for playground injuries. Concrete, asphalt or packed dirt surfaces are too hard. Use at least 9 inches of wood chips or mulch.

• To prevent serious injuries while using a trampoline, allow only one person on at a time, and do not allow somersaults. Use a shock-absorbing pad that completely covers the springs and place the trampoline away from structures and other play areas. Kids under 6-years-old should not use full-size trampolines.

• Don’t allow a game of hide-n-seek to become deadly. There have been reports of numerous suffocation deaths involving children who crawled inside old cedar chests, latch-type freezers and refrigerators, iceboxes in campers, clothes dryers and picnic coolers. Childproof old appliances, warn children not to play inside them.

• If summer plans include camping and you want heat inside your tent or camper, use one of the new portable heaters that are equipped with an oxygen depletion sensor (ODS). If oxygen levels start to fall inside your tent or camper, the ODS automatically shuts down the heater before it can produce deadly levels of carbon monoxide (CO). Do not attempt to use alternative sources of heat or power to warm a tent or camper. Traditional camping heaters, charcoal grills, camping lanterns, and gas generators also can cause CO poisoning.