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Are Women 'Travel Victims'?
News about crime abroad seems to focus on women. Though rape in India is less frequent than in most developed countries, the press covers it disproportionately. The latest article about an unfortunate American woman in India, who was raped, includes that she got into a truck with three strange men. Obviously she did not deserve to be raped or hurt anyway, but would you get into a truck with strangers of any type and anywhere?
My issue with the coverage is that the media uses her case to publish endless articles about women and safety, describing us victims.…
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Cancelling your Vacation to Turkey?
The question is always the same: is news on a headline or a reality that will prevent you from a safe trip? Here are some guidelines to follow:
—–Find out if your travel insurer has qualms or is no longer insuring trips to Turkey.
—–Ask your operator if all their departures are going ahead as planned.
—–Look up UK, Canadian, or other English speaking Foreign Government advice on the area for tourists. Each country will have a different take on the situation.… -
Theft on Airplanes Strikes Women
Theft on planes remains an issue. Women, especially, are the victims. We think that carry on is the be all and end all. We trust passengers merely because they could afford a ticket. Finally we feel ‘safe; in the confines of a plane’s cabin. Theft on airplanes is fairly common. Most companies do not cover you for theft in the airplane cabin.
Some mistakes women make are here in no particular order.
Women experience theft on airplanes, because they leave their valuables near their seats, even when they leave the seat.…
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Tour Operator Bankruptcy
What an awful thing to happen to people: they are booked and paid up and the tour company goes bankrupt. If paid by credit card, and not stranded overseas, most people get their $$ back.
I have just booked a trip with my husband’s college and the college requires payment by personal check. So how do I protect my money?
Some travel insurance policies do protect against bankruptcy. But here is what consumers do not know: they do not cover all tour companies and airlines.…
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Airline Prices Have Fallen: it is Taxes which are the Culprit
Many travelers do not know that airline prices have fallen over the years. It is taxes which are the culprit for high prices. Today I got an email from a airline ticket consolidaror, giving out deals from Los Angeles.
Here is the shocker:
LAX to Europe was around $265, taxes were $650. So it is the taxes which are the big piece. Sites selling airline tickets are now required to add the taxes to the amount you see before you click.… -
What Travel Insurers Do Not Tell You About Terrorism
They do not necessarily fly you home if there is a terrorist act in your destination, if your itinerary can skip the one area. Read the small print please!
They do not tell you what to do if the act is before you leave and the US State Dept has not issued a warning yet. Learn the difference between a warning and an advisory and the other vague language used by officials.
So how do you decide if you should go ahead with your trip?…
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Why is a Compliment from Arthur Frommer Important?
What does it mean when a travel icon like Arthur Frommer compliments your company?
It means literally The World, especially if unsolicited and permanently on the web. Those of us who have been in the travel business for eons, need a way to differentiate ourselves from the upstart internet tour companies. The ways to show we are for real are to include a compliment from an authority like Mr. Frommer. It is also significant to be accepted into a selective industry membership like IATAN and to have the right to sell travel insurance.…
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Why Your Credit Card Overseas Might be Rejected
Most of the articles are written about fees for foreign credit card transactions. Few mention that a PIN is required for many credit card expenditures in Europe. If you plan on spending using plastic, bring Amex which does not require a pin. Amex is not accepted everywhere as merchants say it is more expensive, that is a forewarning. If you have to pay cash and use the ATM, try to avoid Fridays as the dollar/foreign currency rate is highest before a weekend.…