Travel Warning Issued for Colombia

Source: U.S. Department of State

The Department of State reminds U.S. citizens of the dangers of travel to Colombia. Security in Colombia has improved significantly in recent years, including in tourist and business travel destinations such as Cartagena and Bogota, but violence by narco-terrorist groups continues to affect some rural areas and large cities. This replaces the Travel Warning for Colombia issued July 22, 2011, to update information on recent security incidents and terrorist activity.

Terrorist activity remains a threat throughout the country. On June 16, 2011, a satchel bomb exploded at a local monument in uptown Bogota, resulting in some damage to adjoining buildings, but no fatalities or injuries. On October 5, 2011, a grenade Read More »

Minnesota Couple Stuck in Costa Rica

In this story from Minnesota NBC affiliate KARE-11, we learn that two vacationers are stuck in Costa Rica while receiving medical treatment for a severely broken leg due to a road accident. We’re glad everyone’s going to be OK, but stories like these remind us why travel medical insurance was designed.

If you’re ever headed overseas or even traveling within the US, please call us at (800) 647-4589 or ask a Client Advisor for a free quote. This insurance is surprisingly affordable and can help alleviate situations just like these poor folks are experiencing now.

Not Your Ordinary Evacuation

Many clients ask me how medical evacuations are handled? My response: No two evacuations are the same.

When there is a medical emergency and the insured is not able to receive adequate local care, then he or she must call the 24 hour telephone assistance number. A crisis manager will begin asking the insured questions regarding his or her location, contact information, a description of injury or illness, policy information and if there is an attending physician. All this information will determine how, where and when the evacuation will be orchestrated.

On January 9th, our client, who was in Haiti, received a needle stick while providing care to patients. Read More »

Preparing for My Trip Overseas: Helpful Tips You Can Use

I recently returned from a trip home to Vietnam to celebrate the Lunar New Year with my family. Here’s a list of all I did to help prepare for my long trip home: Read More »

Travel Warning Issued for Mexico

Source: U.S. Department of State

The Department of State has issued this Travel Warning to inform U.S. citizens about the security situation in Mexico. General information on the overall security situation is provided immediately below. For information on security conditions in specific regions of Mexico, which can vary, travelers should reference the state-by-state assessments further below.

This Travel Warning supersedes the Travel Warning for Mexico dated April 22, 2011 to consolidate and update information about the security situation and to advise the public of additional restrictions on the travel of U.S. government (USG) personnel.

General Conditions:

Millions of U.S. citizens safely visit Mexico each year for study, tourism, and business, including more than 150,000 who Read More »

Plan for The Worst, Expect the Best

Even with our Roundtrip travel insurance and a well-prepared itinerary, you will eventually suffer a delayed or late flight, an airplane mechanical problem, inclement weather, traffic or a host many airport delay problems which will “ground” you. Here are a few tips that can help you with an unexpected trip interruption:

• Plan for the worst – leave plenty of time to arrive at the airport as well as layovers for connecting flights
• Print out all your important travel documents – don’t depend on internet connections to view your itinerary, download boarding passes, look up your airline reservation telephone number or a map to your hotel.
• Charge all your electronics the night before in case you can’t find a convenient power outlet at the airport
• Travel with stamps and use the time before or between a flight as an opportunity to write a postcard or letter
• Include a change of clothes, toothbrush and toothpaste in your carry-on.
• If your flight is going to be delayed for more than three hours, call the 24 hour telephone number on your Roundtrip ID card for live assistance to help you rebook flights, reserve a hotel room for the evening and manage the rest of your itinerary

When I travel, I plan for the worst and expect the best. These tips have helped me when the unexpected happen. Please feel free to share your own tips.

Happy Travels.

Updated US State Dept Travel Warning for Brazil

by Adam Bates

This message is to update US citizens about security concerns in Salvador, Bahia and surrounding areas stemming from a state-wide work stoppage by the Military Police in the State of Bahia. Brazilian national security forces were deployed into Salvador on the morning of Friday, February 3. Nevertheless, the homicide rate in Salvador reportedly has risen significantly during the past week. In addition, there have been reports of significant increases in the rates of property crimes, including lootings and car thefts. All private schools in Salvador were closed on Monday, February 6. Public schools remained open, but report very low attendance.

Read More »

Another European Airline Goes Bust: 7,000 Stranded

Many of our ISL clients are traveling over the next couple months. Please remember you have trip cancellation/delay benefits with your policy.

Hungary’s Malev Airlines ceased operations early this morning, becoming the second European airline to fold in the past week. Spanish carrier Spanair ceased operations last Friday, stranding about 22,000 passengers.

Read the full story at USA Today

As always, if you have questions about what your insurance plan covers or are interested in purchasing this type of coverage, please call to speak with an Insurance Services of America Client Advisor: (800) 647-4589 or (480) 821-9052

2 American Tourists Kidnapped in Egypt Today

USA Today reports the abduction of two American women and their Egyptian guide at gunpoint along a major highway in Egypt’s Sinai peninsula early Friday:

The two tourists were among a group of five people traveling from Saint Catherine’s monastery in central Sinai to the resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh when a vehicle carrying men with machine guns stopped their small bus, the Christian Science Monitor reports.

Last month, Bedouin seized 50 German and British tourists whose bus accidentally crossed a roadblock they had set up as a protest against the governor of South Sinai. Read More »