You have booked and paid for your vacation that you planned for over a year. You are packing and know that nothing can go wrong. But things do happen more often than you realize. Flights are delayed because of weather or mechanical issues. Luggage is delayed or lost. A family member becomes ill and has to be hospitalized. There is a hurricane in the Caribbean. We read about these incidents every day. And the online forums are filled with the stories of people who did not buy travel insurance that would have protected them.

More travelers than ever are taking the extra step to make sure they are covered for costly issues before and during their vacation – by purchasing travel insurance, also known as travel protection. Planning a beach vacation should be an exciting time – not one filled with worry and stress. To help make sure you have a smooth journey, we have put together some essential tips to help you get the most out of your travel insurance.

Travel Insurance: What It Is and What It is Not

Travel insurance is not a substitute for major medical insurance. It covers emergency medical expenses you may incur while traveling, such as hospital stays and doctor visits.

Travel insurance will reimburse you for some or all expenses when you must cancel or interrupt a trip for certain reasons. Called “covered reasons” by the insurers, these include reasons such as a serious illness, accident, or death of you, or a traveling companion, or loved one.

Most policies cover you if you are called to jury duty. Many will reimburse a part of the costs for missing luggage or lengthy travel delays. Some have cancellation clauses for work related issues. 

Many policies have added benefits like an 800 number or concierge to help with issues like lost passports or documents or help in locating clinics or pharmacies. There are some policies with apps where you can file claims immediately on your phone. 

Tip: Always pay by credit card, not debit card, as it improves your chance of getting your money back.

Protect Yourself

When people think of Travel Insurance, they think about coverage for a medical emergency. This is just one benefit and especially important one. Here are a few examples of unexpected medical expenses while on vacation.

We had a family member on a cruise who became ill, but not seriously. The cost for simple tests and medications onboard medical services was over $2000.

Recently a woman became ill on vacation and needed fluids administered. The cost was $1600.

The cost to be medically evacuated can be $20,000 to over $100,000 depending upon the distance and mode of transportation. 

In most cases, a person will pay out of pocket for any medical services (even on a cruise ship). Their personal health insurance may or may not reimburse them. Or the service can be considered “out of network” in which case only a portion of the cost is reimbursed. 

A travel insurance policy can cover the out-of-pocket costs for these situations.

Seniors Take Note!! You Need Travel Insurance

Medicare does NOT cover most foreign medical expenses. Seniors should always buy travel protection that will cover them for medical emergencies when outside of the U.S. Also, look for policies that will cover those extremely expensive medical evacuations should it become necessary.

Some foreign hospitals will not treat you without an upfront payment. There are travel insurance policies that will cover this and pay the hospital directly.

Do You Have a Pre-existing Condition?

Are you planning a trip and have a pre-existing medical condition? If you are taking blood pressure medication or a cholesterol lowering drug, that can be considered a pre-existing condition. Don’t let that stop you from traveling! Many travel insurance policies offer coverage for pre-existing conditions, but you will need to buy the insurance within a certain period after booking your trip. It is usually within 2 to 3 weeks of paying the initial deposit for your trip. With the right policy, you can travel with peace of mind and enjoy your vacation with confidence!

We can help you find the plan that is right for you.

Protection Against Terrorist Action

Are you planning a trip soon? While many travel insurance policies don’t include automatic coverage for terrorism, you can easily add it on for extra peace of mind. Let us help you get the protection you need, so you can relax and enjoy your trip.

Beware: Your Credit Card Coverage May Not Cover You

Many people assume the coverage from their credit card will take care of them. And sometimes it does. Other times, it might not provide the coverage you need. People often find that their credit card travel insurance was not enough to cover expenses. Take the time to read through the details and make sure you know what is and isn’t covered. You don’t want to be left without the protection you need!

Want To Cancel for Any Reason?

These plans exist. Insurance that lets you Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) typically needs to be paid within the first week or two after reservations are deposited. These policies tend to be expensive and often only cover only a percentage of your costs. If you want it, ask for a quote before you put down your initial deposit for your trip.

Should You Buy from the Cruise Line or Airline?

It is easier to buy travel protection from your cruise line, airline, etc. and they sometimes offer more than a travel insurance plan. However, it can be more costly. We are more than happy to provide you with a quote from one of our trusted providers so that you can compare this to the coverage offered by a cruise line, airline, or tour group. 

If a supplier provides the insurance, but then goes bankrupt, will you still have coverage? Will you have help getting home? Many travelers were left stranded when Crystal Cruises suddenly abandoned operations due to financial default. Some travelers were left to find their own way home.

To protect against this, look for policies that cover “financial default of supplier.” We do recommend insurance through the cruise lines at times, but only those we trust with a solid financial record. For many people, buying through a third party is the best choice.

Our Best Tip: Do you travel more than twice a year?

Buy a plan that covers you all year long. This is what we do. An annual plan that covers all your trips can be a great way to save money and reduce stress when it comes to traveling. They are surprisingly cost-effective, and you must only purchase it once a year. It covers all the trips you take in that year, including those within 100-200 miles from your home. 

We highly recommend this approach, as we often find that buying an annual multi-trip plan is cheaper than buying a single trip plan from a travel supplier. Of course, we work with only the most reliable and trustworthy insurance providers to ensure you get the best value for your money.

Learn more about the ins and outs of travel insurance in this excellent Washington Post article.

The post Why You Need Travel Insurance: 2026 Edition appeared first on Far Far Away Travels.

More travelers than ever are taking the extra step to make sure they are covered for costly issues before and during their vacation – by purchasing travel insurance, also known as travel protection. Planning a beach vacation should be an exciting time – not one filled with worry and stress. To help make sure you have a smooth journey, we have put together some essential tips to help you get the most out of your travel insurance.

Travel Insurance: What It Is and What It is Not

Travel insurance is not a substitute for major medical insurance. It covers emergency medical expenses you may incur while traveling, such as hospital stays and doctor visits.

Travel insurance will reimburse you for some or all expenses when you must cancel or interrupt a trip for certain reasons. Called “covered reasons” by the insurers, these include reasons such as a serious illness, accident, or death of you, or a traveling companion, or loved one.

Most policies cover you if you are called to jury duty. Many will reimburse a part of the costs for missing luggage or lengthy travel delays. Some have cancellation clauses for work related issues. 

Many policies have added benefits like an 800 number or concierge to help with issues like lost passports or documents or help in locating clinics or pharmacies. There are some policies with apps where you can file claims immediately on your phone. 

Tip: Always pay by credit card, not debit card, as it improves your chance of getting your money back.

Protect Yourself Against This

When people think of Travel Insurance, they think about coverage for a medical emergency. This is just one benefit and especially important one. Here are a few examples of unexpected medical expenses while on vacation.

We had a family member on a cruise who became ill, but not seriously. The cost for simple tests and medications onboard medical services was over $2000.

Recently a woman became ill on vacation and needed fluids administered. The cost was $1600.

The cost to be medically evacuated can be $20,000 to over $100,000 depending upon the distance and mode of transportation. 

In most cases, a person will pay out of pocket for any medical services (even on a cruise ship). Their personal health insurance may or may not reimburse them. Or the service can be considered “out of network” in which case only a portion of the cost is reimbursed. 

A travel insurance policy can cover the out-of-pocket costs for these situations.

Seniors Take Note!! You Need Travel Insurance

Medicare does NOT cover most foreign medical expenses. Seniors should always buy travel protection that will cover them for medical emergencies when outside of the U.S. Also, look for policies that will cover those extremely expensive medical evacuations should it become necessary.

Some foreign hospitals will not treat you without an upfront payment. There are travel insurance policies that will cover this and pay the hospital directly.

Do You Have a Pre-existing Condition?

Are you planning a trip and have a pre-existing medical condition? If you are taking blood pressure medication or a cholesterol lowering drug, that can be considered a pre-existing condition. Don’t let that stop you from traveling! Many travel insurance policies offer coverage for pre-existing conditions, but you will need to buy the insurance within a certain period after booking your trip. It is usually within 2 to 3 weeks of paying the initial deposit for your trip. With the right policy, you can travel with peace of mind and enjoy your vacation with confidence!

We can help you find the plan that is right for you.

Protection Against Terrorist Action

Are you planning a trip soon? While many travel insurance policies don’t include automatic coverage for terrorism, you can easily add it on for extra peace of mind. Let us help you get the protection you need, so you can relax and enjoy your trip.

Beware: Your Credit Card Coverage May Not Cover You

Many people assume the coverage from their credit card will take care of them. And sometimes it does. Other times, it might not provide the coverage you need. People often find that their credit card travel insurance was not enough to cover expenses. Take the time to read through the details and make sure you know what is and isn’t covered. You don’t want to be left without the protection you need!

Want To Cancel for Any Reason?

These plans exist. Insurance that lets you Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) typically needs to be paid within the first week or two after reservations are deposited. These policies tend to be expensive and often only cover only a percentage of your costs. If you want it, ask for a quote before you put down your initial deposit for your trip.

Should You Buy from the Cruise Line or Airline?

It is easier to buy travel protection from your cruise line, airline, etc. and they sometimes offer more than a travel insurance plan. However, it can be more costly. We are more than happy to provide you with a quote from one of our trusted providers so that you can compare this to the coverage offered by a cruise line, airline, or tour group. 

If a supplier provides the insurance, but then goes bankrupt, will you still have coverage? Will you have help getting home? Many travelers were left stranded when Crystal Cruises suddenly abandoned operations due to financial default. Some travelers were left to find their own way home.

To protect against this, look for policies that cover “financial default of supplier.” We do recommend insurance through the cruise lines at times, but only those we trust with a solid financial record. For many people, buying through a third party is the best choice.

Our Best Tip: Do you travel more than twice a year?

Buy a plan that covers you all year long. This is what we do. An annual plan that covers all your trips can be a great way to save money and reduce stress when it comes to traveling. They are surprisingly cost-effective, and you must only purchase it once a year. It covers all the trips you take in that year, including those within 100-200 miles from your home. 

We highly recommend this approach, as we often find that buying an annual multi-trip plan is cheaper than buying a single trip plan from a travel supplier. Of course, we work with only the most reliable and trustworthy insurance providers to ensure you get the best value for your money.

Learn more about the ins and outs of travel insurance in this excellent Washington Post article.

While We are Talking About Money

Check out our Money Do’s

And Travel Money Don’ts

The post Travel Insurance: Boring But Necessary: 2025 Edition appeared first on Far Far Away Travels.

Tip 1. Understand What Your Airfare Covers.

Don’t be doomed to the dreaded middle seat. You need to understand the different fares and what they don’t include. Every fare will get you there, eventually. Nowadays many airlines not only charge you for a checked bag, but will even charge you for a carry-on bag.

When you see a low advertised price, it is usually for a “basic fare.” Basic fares mean you cannot choose your seat, and often you will have to pay extra even for a carry-on bag. You may start with a basic fare then decide to pay a fee for a carry-on, and a checked bag, and an assigned seat. Before you know it you have paid more than if you had booked a higher fare class. Nowadays, even regular main cabin fares usually do not include a free checked bag, which is why you see people trying to stuff enormous carry-ons into overhead bins.

Tip 2.  The Best Way to Save Money on Airfare: Research

To save on airfare it is essential to do research. Go to Google Flights and enter your information. Once you find a flight or two that meets your needs, hit the “Track Prices” button and enter your email address. As prices go up and down, you receive alerts. Google Flights even tells if the prices are typically high or low for that flight.

If your plans are flexible, there is a grid that lets you to see the lowest priced date combinations to get the best price on your airfare.

Then double check the fare on the airline’s website.

Next book the flight. If you book directly with the airline most U.S. airlines will give e-credits for the difference if the fare comes down because they no longer charge cancellation or change fees. Just make sure the airline you select does that.

Important Note: This does not work if you book “basic economy” so be sure to book main cabin or better.

As long as you are willing to accept e-credits for future flights, you can now relax because you will get the best fare. The flight alerts make it easy. Doing this has saved us thousands of dollars. 

We set alerts for our personal travel after we have booked a flight. Be sure to only use airlines that let you rebook with no cancellation fee. If the flight price drops, we go to the airline site and adjust the fare. (Sometimes you might need to make a phone call.) Then, we have hundreds of dollars in e-credits ready to use for our next flight. Sometimes it will be better to cancel the flight, get the e-credit, and use the e-credit to book the flights at the new rate. Either way, you will end up with e-credits in your account.

Best of all, you can book that airfare now and relax in the knowledge that if the fare comes down, we can take advantage to save some money. And if the fare goes up, as it often does, you can appreciate how smart you were.

Tip 3.  Credit Card Perks Help Save on Airfare

Consider getting an airline credit card to save on airfare. Most of the major airlines offer a no-fee credit card for a year. Usually, they include free checked bags and other amenities. This alone can save you $70-$80 per checked bag per trip. It can be worth your while even if you only fly once a year. 

Tip 4. Sign Up for Airline Programs

This is an important tip to save on airfare. Even if you think you will never fly with them again, sign up for the airline’s frequent flier program. It costs nothing and you can get extra perks. For example, with Delta you will get free wi-fi on your flight and your Delta Skymiles will never expire. 

Here’s where you can sign up quickly and for free. We keep our clients frequent flier number on file so there is no need to remember them.

By the way, with most programs you can sign the kids up too. if you are paying for a seat, why not?

Click the airline to go to their page to join.

Delta Skymiles, United Airlines, American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Frontier, Jetblue, Spirit, Southwest, Icelandair, Air France, British Airways, Turkish Air, SAS, TAP Air Portugual, Emirates, Quantas

Tip 5. Taking a Cruise? How To Save on Airfare

Most cruise lines offer airfares at discount prices. Check to see what the cruise line is offering for the exact same flight you picked out earlier. Surprisingly, the cruise line price is sometimes lower.  The downside of using the cruise line is you have a bit less control over the booking. Be sure to book “flexible” or cancellable tickets if you can.

Tip 6. Understand Your Rights

The U.S. Department of Transportation has this helpful dashboard. It is important to understand them. In general, you will have fewer rights when the delay or cancellation is not controllable by the airline, like severe weather. Controllable delays within the airline’s control include maintenance or crew problems, aircraft cleaning, baggage loading, fueling, etc.

Tip 7: Travel Insurance Can Save You Money

While we strongly recommend travel protection, do not buy it from the airline, and rarely from the cruise line. Instead ask for quotes from reputable third-party insurers. And if you travel more than once a year, consider a very affordable annual multi-trip plan. You can learn more here.

Ready To Fly?

Don’t forget our tips for surviving air travel.

The post How to Save Money on Airfare 2025 appeared first on Far Far Away Travels.

Tip 1. Understand What Your Airfare Covers.

To save on airfare understand the different fares and what they don’t include. Some fares not only charge you for a checked bag, but also will charge you for a carry-on bag. They often will not let you choose a seat in advance, which can doom you to the dreaded middle seat.  When you see a low advertised price, it is usually a “basic fare.” Basic fares mean you cannot choose your seat, and often will have to pay extra even for a carry-on bag. You may start with a basic fare then decide to pay a fee for a carry-on, and a checked bag, and an assigned seat. Before you know it you have paid more than if you had booked a higher fare class. Nowadays, even regular main cabin fares usually do not include a free checked bag, which is why you see people trying to stuff enormous carry-ons into overhead bins.

Tip 2.  The Best Way to Save Money on Airfare: Research

To save on airfare it is essential to do a little research. Go to Google Flights and enter your information. Once you find a flight or two that meets your needs, hit the “Track Prices” button and enter your email address. As prices go up and down, you receive alerts. Google Flights even tells if the prices are typically high or low for that flight. Also, if your plans are flexible, there is a nice grid that allows you to see the lowest priced date combinations to get the best price on air.

Then double check the fare on the airline’s website.

Next book the flight. If you book directly with the airline most U.S. airlines will give e-credits for the difference if the fare comes down because they no longer charge cancellation or change fees. Just make sure the airline you select does that. Important Note: This does not work if you book “basic economy” so be sure to book main cabin or better.

As long as you are okay with accepting e-credits for future flights, you can now relax because you will get the best fare. The flight alerts make it easy. Doing this has saved us thousands of dollars. 

We set alerts for our personal travel after we have booked a flight. Be sure to only use airlines that let you rebook with no cancellation fee. If the flight price drops, we go to the airline site and adjust the fare. (Sometimes you might need to call.) Then, we have hundreds of dollars in e-credits ready to use for our next flight. In some cases, it will be better to cancel the flight, get the e-credit, and use the e-credit to book the flights at the new rate. Either way, you will end up with e-credits in your account.

Best of all, we can book that airfare now and relax in the knowledge that if the fare comes down, we can take advantage to save some money.

Tip 3.  Credit Card Perks Help Save on Airfare

Consider getting an airline credit card to save on airfare. Most of the major airlines offer a no-fee credit card for a year. Usually, they include free checked bags and other amenities. This alone can save you $70-$80 per checked bag per trip. It can be worth your while even if you only fly once a year. 

Tip 4. Sign Up for Airline Programs

This is an important tip to save on airfare. Even if you think you will never fly with them again, sign up for the airline’s frequent flyer program. It costs nothing and you can get extra perks. For example, with Delta you will get free wi-fi on your flight and your Delta Skymiles will never expire. 

Here’s where you can sign up quickly and for free. If you are one of our clients and you send us your frequent flier numbers, we keep them on file for you so you don’t need to remember them.

By the way, with most programs you can sign the kids up too.

Click the airline to go to their page to join.

Delta Skymiles, United Airlines, American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Frontier, Jetblue, Spirit, Southwest, Icelandair, Air France, British Airways, Turkish Air, SAS, TAP Air Portugual, Emirates, Quantas

Tip 5. Taking a Cruise? How To Save on Airfare

Most cruise lines offer airfares at discount prices. Check to see what the cruise line is offering for the exact same flight you picked out earlier. Surprisingly, the cruise line price is sometimes lower.  The downside of using the cruise line is you have a bit less control over the booking. Be sure to book “flexible” or cancellable tickets if you can.

Tip 6. Understand Your Rights

The U.S. Department of Transportation has this helpful dashboard. It is important to understand them. In general, you will have fewer rights when the delay or cancellation is not controllable by the airline, like severe weather. Controllable delays within the airline’s control include maintenance or crew problems, aircraft cleaning, baggage loading, fueling, etc.

Tip 7: Travel Insurance Can Save You Money

While we strongly recommend travel protection, do not buy it from the airline, and rarely from the cruise line. Instead ask us for quotes from reputable third-party insurers. And if you travel at least one hundred miles away from home more than once a year, consider a very affordable annual multi-trip plan. You can learn more here.

Ready To Fly?

Don’t forget our tips for surviving air travel.

The post How to Save Money on Airfare 2024 appeared first on Far Far Away Travels.

We’re Growing! Ready to Plan Your Next Trip?

Thanks to you, our loyal clients, Far Far Away Travels is growing. Our big travel news in November is that we are happy to announce that Karen Dziadosz-Evans is joining Far Far Away Travels.  Karen will be focused on theme parks in Orlando: Disney, Universal Studios, Sea World, and Discovery Cove. She visits Orlando often and keeps abreast of the continually changing theme park environment.  And of course, she knows Disneyland and Universal California too.

Remember Fast Passes? Gone. It can take hours and hours of online research to figure out even a simple Disney or Universal trip. Karen does the work, so you don’t need to.  You can reach her at Karen@farfarawaytravels.com.  She will be sharing many tips for saving time and money. 

Karen has the highest level of training with Universal, SeaWorld, and the Disney College of Knowledge. 

As always, please reach out to Nichole, Gretchen, and Karen with any travel questions. 

Karen Dziadosz-Evans on her last Virgin Voyage

Travel Abroad, the Travel News You Need This November

We understand that the Israel-Hamas War, along with the war in Ukraine, causes concerns about traveling abroad for some. Personally, since these wars have broken out, we have traveled to Germany, Iceland, and Norway without incident or concern.

However, we recognize that everyone has a different tolerance level.

We always suggest checking the Department of State site for alerts about specific countries.

Finally, it is interesting to remind ourselves that some countries warn their citizens that travel to the United States can be dangerous.

Whether you travel at home or abroad, you should always take normal precautions and buy travel insurance.

Global Entry Just Got Better!

We have long said that Global Entry is a great deal. There is great travel news this November about this exceptional program.

When returning to the US, Global Entry lets you breeze through Passport Control in minutes, letting you bypass the very long lines of those without it. We estimate it easily saves us 30 minutes or more of wait time whenever we use it. It includes TSA Precheck for domestic travel and costs only $15 more than Precheck alone.

Now Global Entry is even better. You can download a free app on your phone, fill out the needed information, and upon arrival take a picture of yourself, submit it into the system and you get a digital receipt to show the agent. Amazing!

For now, the Global Entry app is only available for use by travelers arriving at seven airports. Hopefully, the list will grow.

• Seattle–Tacoma International Airport
• Los Angeles International Airport
• Miami International Airport
• Orlando International Airport
• Washington Dulles International Airport
• Pittsburgh International Airport
• Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport

And Global Entry without the app can be used at a long list of airports.

Remember, many major credit cards will fully reimburse you the cost of Global Entry so be sure to check your card’s benefits.

The only drawback is the background check and initial interview where you are fingerprinted. This year though, we were able to renew with a video interview.

Too busy to schedule an interview? They will let you interview upon your next return to the U.S.

News from Delta

Are you a Delta Medallion member? We can book you through Delta Vacations and you earn toward Medallion® Status on your flights, hotels, cars and activities.

Travel News November: Visiting Europe

This is a great time to visit Europe. The currency exchange rate is exceptionally good as the Euro and the dollar are generally at par. In past years, Americans would pay a 30-50% premium. We recently wrote about the joys of the Christmas market.

If you have followed matters, you know that Americans were slated to have to file for an electronic visa before visiting Europe beginning in 2024. However, that has now been postponed until 2025.

Eventually, international travelers will need to seek pre-approval prior to their journey into the group of 30 EU countries.

Ready for More Great Travel Tips?

We share our favorite travel secrets and tips every week. You can see them all here.

The post Important Travel News November 2023 appeared first on Far Far Away Travels.