Travel insurance is one of those things that many people pay little attention to but is critical when traveling abroad for extended periods. Travel cover essential in many circumstances which many include when you have to cancel your trip, receiving emergency medical treatment or problems with your airline while travelling.

A wide variety of things can go wrong on a trip abroad. There are many travel insurance brands and each with distinct policies. Below is a brief guide about what you should consider when shopping for travel insurance.

Where are you going?

The cost and travel insurance and level of cover will vary considerably depending on the region(s) in which you are traveling. For this reason, insurance companies may consider some areas to be greater concern than others. You have to familiarise yourself with your travel destinations. 

Always ensure that you are informed of the risks against which against which you want your cover to protect you. Not all policies cover for epidemics, pandemics or civil commotions. If you are traveling to multiple countries, you need to get a policy that guards you for every country you will be visiting.

How long are you going to be away?

Most people are best served by a one-off policy for a set number of days. However, if you happen to be a regular traveller, a good value solution is an annual multi-trip policy or credit card travel insurance. These types of cover often restrict the length of travel allowed. 

Depending on the insurance brand, this can range from 30 to 90 days. A long-term standalone insurance policy is necessary if you are traveling for a period of more than 3 months.

The purpose of the visits

It is very important to note that some activities will not be included in a travel insurance policy. As such, you should go through the list of activities that the insurance provider covers.

This way, you can determine which activities you will have to pay extra for. It is advisable to keep alcohol and drug consumption to a minimum since an adverse event under intoxicated circumstance may not be covered by your policy.

Valuables

You first have to decide whether you need cover for valuable items such as the laptop or other electronics. The extent of cover for valuable items can vary considerably and in some cases, valuable item cover will only be provided in the form of a higher premium. 

Different travel insurance providers have different policies on an exclusion of cover for valuable items. For this reason, it is vital that you do your research on the policies of the selected travel insurance brands. Remember that the devil is always in the details!

One more important aspect to consider is any medical conditions that pre-exist the purchase date of your travel insurance policy. Some providers may not provide cover in this instance. Contact the insurance to determine if they have automatic cover or require an assessment to provide cover.

Remember, Mayfair Cares.

Travelling is one of the most exciting things to do. But when the world is seeing an increase in the number of apparently random terrorist attacks, travelling has its risks. So, whether it is a business trip or a holiday it is important to plan, prepare and exercise caution in every part of the world simply because when you are in unfamiliar surrounding is when you are at your most vulnerable. 

April 2016 statistics in Ireland alone showed that more than 800 tourists were victims of attacks or robbery. Allowing for the fact that this should be one of the secure places in the world, these statistics are worrying. This raises the question, “How then can one safeguard themselves when they are travelling?”

At the other end of the scale in Europe during 2016 we have seen terror attacks in Paris, Brussels Nice and Normandy; random attacks across Germany, Ukraine, Turkey and in London with tourists, often being caught up in the violence.

The perception is that European countries are dangerous places to visit either on business or for a holiday – but is this factual or is it the widespread publicity that these dreadful incidents attract that is creating an exaggerated perception?

The United States, Africa, The Middle East and Asia all have their issues as well so what are we to do when planning a business trip or holiday? These are our thoughts

There is a certain euphoric feeling about being away from home in a foreign country, and this is a logical explanation as to why a lot of people forget to exercise caution when it comes to ensuring that their safety is paramount. Regardless of whether you are on a business or leisure trip it is important to protect yourself because you are oblivious of what danger looms in your surroundings. 

There are different measures that one can employ when it comes to keeping yourself safe. |We examine a few:

Keep your itinerary private

One of the most important safety measures when on a business trip in a known problem area is ensuring that your movements are not monitored or predictable. For this reason, your schedule should be confidential as it will minimise the likelihood of being targeted.

Always have a contact person who can be accessible at anytime

It is important always to have someone who can come to your rescue if you get into trouble when in the foreign land. It does not matter whether this person is family or a friend but the fact remains that they should be readily available on the phone. 

Watch your suitcase at the airport

Most people fall prey of robbery at the airport, railway, or bus station. Many thieves will use distraction techniques to target bags, wallets and other valuables. Be on your guard at all times when you are carrying all your valuables.

Consult your hotel management

If you want to take a tour of the new city, the best alternative is to ask your hotel staff for safety tips. Needless to stay keeping your travel safe is a collective effort and you might need the guidance of someone who knows the place better than you do. 

Blend with the locals

Easier said than done but one of the reasons why people travel is to interact and meet new people and learn a little of a different way of life. It is not only exciting to meet new people but socialising, and mingling with others makes you less vulnerable. Making friends is also a way to learn the areas to explore and those not to explore. 

Do not drink and drive

Even though this is a universal rule everywhere, drinking and driving are even more dangerous when in a new environment. 

Insurance

Hopefully you will have a trouble free trip abroad but if you are unlucky it is important to have comprehensive travel insurance to fall back on. Check your policy before you go and perhaps even make a phone call to the insurer to be certain that you are covered for your destination.

In summary, travelling can be great fun and please don't be put off by the publicity generated by admittedly terrible events across the World but if you can, minimise the risks to maximise a positive experience of your foreign travel and remain vigilant at all times.

Good luck, have fun and remember – Mayfair Cares.

References

www.itb-berlin.de/...all/...all...all...all...all.../ITB_World_Travel_Trends_Report_2015...

http://www.thejournal.ie/tourists-attacked-and-robbed-in-dublin-2701644-Apr2016/

Travelling overseas on business to places you haven’t been before can be exciting, but it can also be overwhelming and there is much to consider. 

As a business person you are there on behalf of your company but safety and not business should be your first priority.

Although your company may have done all the homework and researched the area you should double check to ensure that you are travelling to a safe region or country. The stakes of foreign travel are high and there is need for you to take concerted efforts to protect yourself.

Even when travelling to regions or countries that are considered safe, you still need to actively protect yourself against several risks. Here is a list of 6 dos and 6 don’ts of foreign travel:

The Dos

1.     DO your research- Safety, etiquette and culture differ from region to region and it is best that you consult your embassy, consulate or internet sources to know about a region’s security situation, culture and other circumstances you are likely to encounter.

2.     If you are UK based then the first place you should consult for travel and safety tips and warnings is the Foreign Office. This link will take you straight there https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice

3.     DO keep important documents in a safe place- Always keep your credit cards, passport, ID, insurance policy, some emergency cash and a copy of your airline ticket in a safe and secure place separate from the other luggage. You should also leave a copy of these documents with a friend or relative at home.

4.     DO be aware of what is going on around you and watch out for distractions such as someone asking for directions or bumping into you.

5.     DO label your luggage-It is important that you label your entire luggage with your contact details and name both inside and out in case it is lost or misplaced.

6.     DO cater for a worst case scenario and have a safety plan- A safety plan that includes having contact details of your nearest embassy or consulate and emergency numbers of the local police and hospital. The safety plan also involves updating your business partners, friends or family about your whereabouts in a foreign country.

The Don'ts

7.     DON’T drive a rental car that has the company rental stickers all over it. It is great advertising for them but it also advertises you as a tourist as well.

8.     DON’T ever give anyone a lift unless you know them. Doing favours for hitchhikers no matter what the circumstances is to be avoided.

9.     DON’T take out large sums of cash in public- Large sums of cash attract attention and expose you to risks. Always pay your bills with small sums of cash. You should wear a money pouch/belt to carry your money instead of carrying cash in your back pocket or wallet. A money pouch/belt is easy to hide under a layer of clothes.

10. DON’T use your smartphone in the street unless it is absolutely necessary.

11. DON’T walk or visit unfamiliar, dimly-lit or isolated places. In addition, try to hold your business meetings during the day and in company office or public places.

12. DON’T leave your belongings unattended. You should also avoid storing your medicine, money or other valuables in your luggage.

This list is by no means exhaustive and a lot of it is common sense - foreign travel is interesting as long as safety is your first priority. You can avoid risks by being cautious, vigilant and self-aware having carried out your research and prepared fully for your journey.

If you would like to discuss any aspect of travelling abroad on business with us please don’t hesitate to contact us here:  mayfair.uk@mayfairworldwide.com