​As a travel advisor, who is constantly on the go, I learned that having the right travel items can make all the difference in having a comfortable and stress-free travel experience. Clients ask for packing lists and recommendations all the time, whether they are headed on an Alaskan Cruise or a Multi-City European adventure!

As I prepare for a weeklong River Cruise down the Danube with AMAwaterways, I am making my list! I am staying a night pre-cruise in Budapest, Hungary and post cruise in Nice, France. I am so excited to bring all my essentials with me as I stayed in 5 different countries in 10 days!
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Here are a few items that I consider must-haves for any trip:

​Packing Cubes - Staying organized is crucial when packing for trip with multiple stops, and I find packing cubes the best way to sort and access my clothes. I brought the 6 Set of Various Colored Packing Cubes in 4 Sizes that I have had forever! Rather than packing my things in one cube and my husbands in another, I prefer to pack a day or 2 for each of us in each cube so that if luggage is lost or stolen, we both still have clothes. I always suggest having at least 1 outfit per person packed in your carryon and the various sizes in this pack make that very easy.​

Travel insurance is something people groan about all the time!
Since the cost of the insurance is based on the total cost of the trip (and your age), it is usually quoted last and a forgotten expense. So try to remember to include insurance in the vacation budget!

Why Would I Need It?

• Natural Disasters such as storms and hurricanes. Remember 2017? There were 10 hurricanes in the Atlantic with 6 of them being category 3 or more! Many countries in the Caribbean were affected and many vacations were canceled as a result.

• Illness or Injury - my friend stepped off a curb in Italy and broke her ankle. She needed  x-rays, an overnight stay in the hospital, and ultimately came home early. Most health insurance policies do not cover medical outside the US and they likely won't help pay to get you home. 

• Assistance in a foreign language - don't discount these services, even the smallest problem can be a big one if you can't tell anyone the problem. Travel insurance provides help communicating in the native language of the country you are visiting.

• Smaller Inconveniences - so maybe you're thinking there won't be a major problem. But even something small can ruin a vacation. My very active and healthy brother-in-law stepped on something sharp in the ocean and needed a tetanus shot. Totally unexpected! His vacation wasn't ruined, but it did require a visit to the medical facility on site as well as treatment.

• 24/7 Help - Insurance companies have people standing by in case of emergency. The agents are multilingual and available to help you handle all kinds of travel emergencies from finding local medical and legal professionals, arranging to send a message home, helping with missed connections and lost/stolen travel documents, and much more.

How much will it cost?
The cost of a policy is determined by age, level of coverage and cost of trip. There is no one size fits all when it comes to insurance coverage for a trip. For example, a domestic vacation may not require the medical benefits that you want with an international trip.  There are many choices of policies, so ask an insurance professional which plan is right for you.
Can I wait to buy it?
Generally speaking, if you want a pre-existing condition waiver included in the policy, you will need to purchase within 7-14 days of initial payment on your trip. Otherwise, you may purchase a policy up to 1 day prior to departure. It is in your best interest to purchase the policy as soon as possible so that the coverage begins before an emergency takes place. Again, each plan is different so be sure to know the specific terms of the policy you are considering.
What is Cancel For Any Reason?
Some companies offer cancel for any reason as an optional benefit. This type of coverage adds to the cost of the policy and you should check the reimbursement percentage, it can start at a mere 50%.  If you think that you may cancel for a reason not typically covered (think Zika scare a few years ago) then definitely consider looking into this option.
​Which Travel Insurance Companies do you recommend?
There are several reputable travel insurance companies available to you. I personally work closely with Travel Guard and Allianz. 

The most important benefit of travel insurance is peace of mind. It's tough to relax and fully enjoy your vacation if you're worried about hurricanes, getting sick, losing your passport or missing your flight. Choosing an insurance policy is a personal matter, everyone's needs are different and there is a policy for every need. I am happy to answer questions or refer you to a trusted partner who can help.

So you had a vacation planned and it's just not going to happen. Whether it was a local trip to visit an aunt or an international trip of a lifetime, COVID 19 has put a damper on all our travel plans.


Maybe you already cancelled or perhaps you have been playing chicken with the supplier holding your reservation. Either way, there is a right way to unravel those vacation plans and I am here to help:

1. BE PATIENT.

GENERALLY speaking, if you wait for the supplier (the company that holds your travel reservation) to cancel the trip - they will offer a refund of your money. If YOU are the one to cancel, while the trip remains intact, you will likely be offered a voucher for future travel.
This can be frustrating and difficult, believe me, I understand. But if you want most or all of your money back in cash, it is essential to pay attention to the cancellation terms and dates.

1. CONSIDER ALL THE COMPONENTS

Often times, trips have more than one component. Consider a trip to Europe, you may have a flight, transfer, hotel, train to another city, another hotel, activities and insurance. Don't forget to cancel all the components of your trip - you are probably entitled to a refund or a voucher for each piece of the puzzle. And don't discount insurance. If there isn't a claim on the policy, they may be offering a voucher for the premium to be applied to a future trip.

1. CHECK, AND RECHECK, POLICIES

Not to sound like a broken record BUT… these are unprecedented times. The policies for tourist attractions are changing rapidly. If you don't check and recheck, you are bound to miss an important update that could affect the outcome of your cancellation status.

1. FOLLOW UP

Travel companies are inundated with cancellation requests. Make sure you know when the refund/voucher will be issued and mark that date on your calendar. If you don't see it, follow up to be sure you are in the system and your cancellation is being processed.


Of course, if you were working with a travel professional, all this would be taken care of for you. Why would you want to sit on hold with multiple companies fighting for your money back when you could simply make one short phone call to a person you know and then get back to sipping wine while it is all sorted on your behalf.