Know About Travel Insurance?

What You Need To Know About Travel Insurance

Preparing for a major vacation or getaway requires you to pay all your travel expenses, such as cruises, airplane tickets and package tours in 100% advanced payment. The first two options require you to plan ahead of schedule. To avoid penalties, cancel your trip 60 days ahead of schedule. Companies, however, impose high penalties if you cancel close to your departure time.
Problems at home or diseases can also force you to drop the whole trip, so this can’t be avoided, which means you will try to get your money back. Additionally, your travel guide may also try to bail for his own reasons. Because these bail outs are inevitable, a lot of travel agencies in the industry have been forced to close down.
This makes travel insurance a very important part in planning a travel or a vacation. If you needed to cancel the trip halfway, it is good to have travel insurance so you could circumvent the issue. Among other things, travel insurances also cover for medications. After the September 11 terrorist attack, travel insurance become more of a demand. Years later, what used to be only 12% of travellers asking for travel insurance became 30%.
You have to see to it that your plans include; If you cancel the trip with an acceptable reason, the company will cover all of your expenditures. For example, if you become injured or sick, or a family member dies, it’s likely that you’ll be covered. Other reasons include deciding on the safety of your destination in the last moment, and the likes. If your travel agency somehow closes down, you should be compensated for supplier default. Also, your policy should include terrorism coverage which will reimburse you should your destination become a target of terrorism. Some insurance companies do not include medical care, and this can be really expensive, so you have to make sure it is included. Duplicating your previous health plans may result to conflicts of interest, so make sure you review the details painstakingly. Travel policies also need to include your previous medical conditions in the coverage.
You must buy the policy within a specified number of days after making your first trip payment; otherwise those conditions may be excluded. Finally, consider emergency medical evacuation coverage which provides for transportation in the event of a serious illness or injury. Your emergency medical insurance coverage should also include the transportation expenses of bringing you to the closest facility.
Travel insurance is not a priority for all situations, however. Travel insurance is necessary when; you are taking a multi-leg journey; you’re travelling to an area of unrest; or your trip is particularly expensive. Your travel agency should provide you with more information regarding coverage.
Courtesy by : travelarticles.org

New Thai Smile

Thai Airways to Launch Thai Smile

Thai Airways has confirmed it will launch a new low-cost carrier as it seeks to boost market share in Asia.
The Thai flag-carrier revealed Thai Smile will launch in 2012.
Earlier this week Qantas said it too would launch a new low-cost carrier, based in Japan, as it seeks to boost its offering to a growing class in the region.
Thai Airways chairman, Ampon Kittiampon, explained the carrier is part of Thai Airways’ expansion plan.
The plan comes as the airlines seeks to turn itself around after years of losing market share in a region where swelling middle classes, fast economic growth and liberalised air policies provide opportunities for higher earnings.

Statue of Liberty to Close for a Year

Statue of Liberty to Close for a Year

United States secretary of the interior, Ken Salazar, has confirmed the Statue of Liberty will close for a year to undergo refurbishments.
The $27.25 million renovation – which includes long-planned safety and other critical facility renovations – will begin in late October.
“Two years ago, when we reopened Lady Liberty’s crown to visitors for the first time since the September 11th attacks, I promised that we would continue to upgrade the interior to make it safer and more accessible for all,” Salazar explained.
“With today’s announcement, we are taking a major step in bringing a 19th Century icon into the 21st Century.”
The National Park Service awarded the work to Joseph Natoli Construction Corporation of Pine Brook, NJ, to install code compliant stairways within the monument, update mechanical, electrical and fire suppression systems, replace the elevators, and rehabilitate restrooms.
The improvements will also allow for increased visitor access to the monument, including the pedestal and the museum.
The National Park Service will keep the monument open to the public through the October 28th celebration of the 125th anniversary of the statue’s dedication.
It will be closed the following day as work commences; however, Liberty Island will remain open during the project and views of Lady Liberty will remain largely unobstructed during the year-long upgrade to the statue’s interior.
Secretary Salazar re-opened the crown of the Statue of Liberty to visitors on July 4th, 2009 after it was closed following the 9/11 attached for safety and security reasons.
For safety considerations, the National Park Service has to limit the number of visitors to the crown to groups of no more than ten visitors at a time.
With approximately three groups ascending the crown per hour, an average of 240 visitors climb to the crown each day.

Discover Wolgan Valley

Discover Wolgan Valley and the best of the Blue Mountains

In a bid to encourage international and domestic guests to discover the famous and iconic Blue Mountains region, Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa, the internationally-recognised luxury conservation-based resort, has released a year- round accommodation and transport package that includes a tour through the scenic area.

The Blue Mountains Experience offer includes three nights’ accommodation in a Wolgan Valley luxury suite with double-sided fireplace and private heated pool, gourmet breakfast, lunch and dinner daily, all non-alcoholic and selected alcoholic beverages with lunch and dinner, wireless internet and two on site nature-based experiences per person each day.

To highlight the region, the package also includes private touring transfers from Sydney to Wolgan Valley in a luxury 4WD vehicle to take guests through the lower Blue Mountains and to the township of Katoomba, with a stop to view the famous Three Sisters rock formation.

A guide will accompany guests to remote sightseeing locations, share local knowledge and interpretations of Aboriginal dreamtime stories; and promote the stunning views the Blue Mountains World Heritage listed region has to offer.

“Famous for its spectacular blue-hazed beauty, dramatic cliffs and deep canyons, the Blue Mountains Experience offer showcases the incredible and unique region that Wolgan Valley proudly sits within,” said Joost Heymeijer, General Manager, Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa.

“We encourage our guests to explore the beautiful surroundings and quaint, friendly townships while they’re in this iconic region; and arrive in Wolgan Valley to immerse themselves in the world-class luxuries offered at the resort,” concluded Mr Heymeijer.

Nestled between two National Parks and bordering the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area, the international award-winning, carbon-neutral resort features 40 individual suites reminiscent of traditional Australian homesteads. Nature-based experiences offered at the resort include guided bush walks; four-wheel drive wildlife safaris; horse-riding and mountain bike excursions; spotlight wildlife spotting and stargazing; and visits to the resort’s Wollemi Pine Grove.
**Blue Mountains Experience** 
Discover the unique Blue Mountains region in New South Wales on a private tour and enjoy three nights’ all-inclusive accommodation at the luxurious Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa starting from A$2,890* per person on a twin sharing basis.

The Blue Mountains Experience package includes three nights’ accommodation in a luxurious double Heritage Suite or Wollemi Suite with private indoor outdoor swimming pool, gourmet breakfast, lunch and dinner daily, all non-alcoholic and selected alcoholic beverages with lunch and dinner, wireless internet, two on site nature-based experiences per person each day, and private touring return transfers from Sydney to Wolgan Valley.

Private touring transfers from Sydney to Wolgan Valley include Katoomba and the Three Sisters and from Wolgan Valley to Sydney include the Bells Line of Road (or vice versa- as directed by guests on booking).

To book please contact the Wolgan Valley Reservations team on 02 9290 9733 or email reservations@wolganvalley.com

*Subject to availability at time of booking. Minimum three-night stay applies. Valid for travel until 31 March 2013. Extra nights can also be booked from A$780 per person twin share. Private touring transfers can be operated in the reverse order if preferred. Hotel pick up times confirmed at time of booking. Airport pick-up and departure times based on applicable flight times.

Touring transfer: Sydney to Wolgan Valley via Katoomba and the Three Sisters
Duration: 4.5hrs

Guests are met by an experienced guide at their Sydney hotel or on arrival at Sydney Airport for their private transfer to Wolgan Valley in a luxury 4WD vehicle. Travelling from the city, the drive takes guests through the lower Blue Mountains and on to the township of Katoomba, with a stop to view the famous Three Sisters rock formation. The guide will speak of Aboriginal Dreamtime and interpret their unique and complex culture.

Remote sightseeing locations are accessed along the way to ensure guests can enjoy the stunning views the Blue Mountains World Heritage listed region has to offer. A beautifully prepared morning tea is provided before continuing on to Mount Victoria and the quaint township of Lithgow. Heading east, the road descends into the Wolgan Valley with its sheer rock escarpments and rugged geography.

KQ famine relief efforts

Kenya Airways launches famine relief efforts

Kenya Airways has launched nine initiatives aimed at helping Kenyans affected by the famine in parts of the country.
This includes a cash donation of over £66,000 to the Kenya Red Cross for short term interventions for drought stricken areas. In addition, it has donated cargo space on KQ planes for use by the Red Cross to transport donations from Europe and Africa over the next two months.
“With a staff complement of over 4,000, we are confident that we can raise a substantial amount of money to help feed and clothe those in need. Additionally, our staff members will participate in our CSR initiatives in order that they may get a better understanding of the situation and also be part of the solutions,” said Kenya Airways CEO, Dr Titus Naikuni.
The national carrier is also encouraging staff to donate to the charity by doubling every shilling donated and allowing them to contribute any unused leave into cash towards the Famine Relief kitty.
Passengers can make voluntary cash contributions to the Famine Relief kitty on KQ’s website, or onboard flights.

New Card Charge

Lufthansa introduces new Card Charge
Lufthansa and Swiss will introduce a £4.50 fee on all economy class bookings made through a travel agent with a payment card.
This charge will apply to both credit and debit card bookings from September 5 for short-haul and long-haul flights. The levy will not apply on any premium class bookings.
Advantage’s corporate director Ken McLeod said this move comes as no surprise, as British Airways introduced a charge on credit card bookings through agents earlier this year.
“Lufthansa and Swiss are simply realigning themselves with the largest carrier in the UK,” he said.
The Lufthansa spokesperson confirmed that the airline has a policy of following the national carrier’s lead in all European markets regarding this additional charge.
However, McLeod said that BA which only levies the fee on credit cards, not debit cards.
Lufthansa said its system is unable to distinguish between credit and debit cards, so it has to levy the charge on all economy class bookings made with any card.  
McLeod said: “This latest news has been met with a sigh of frustration from our members but we are used to airlines using any method to generate more revenue.”

New Service of A380 to Rome

Emirates’ A380 Double-Decker to serve Rome
Emirates, one of the fastest growing airlines in the world, announced that the historic capital city of Rome will be the next destination slated for its flagship A380 aircraft. The daily A380 service will start 1st December 2011.
The announcement of Emirates’ first permanent scheduled A380 service to Italy comes on the back of its momentous June 6th landing at Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci airport to mark the celebrations for its 50th anniversary, while commemorating 150 years of Italian unification.
“The permanent service of the Emirates’ A380 to Rome underscores our commitment to Italy, having served this ever-growing market since 1992. The new A380 service will enable travellers to enjoy the unparalleled on-board amenities in all classes and the great connectivity of our network via the Dubai hub,” said Salem Obaidalla, Emirates’ Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations, Europe & Russian Federation.
“We would like to express our gratitude to the airport authorities who have strategically upgraded their infrastructure to accommodate the A380. This purposeful investment will help to strengthen the economic ties and tourism links between the UAE and Italy,” he added.
“This is a further confirmation of the successful relationship between Emirates and Aeroporti di Roma,” said Elia Pistola, Aviation Director of ADR. “This represents a further development of the Emirates’ presence at Leonardo da Vinci Airport. Rome airport is the first Italian airport that can accommodate an A380 with the complete operating infrastructure. The new dedicated double bridge is a strategic investment for our airport, since the A380 is the best aircraft to serve the growing key markets where Emirates operates via Dubai.”
Rome is currently served twice daily by Emirates. Coupled with a double daily service to Milan and a daily flight to Venice, the 35 weekly frequencies contribute to a $4.6bn trade relationship between Italy and the UAE.
The A380 service will operate daily as EK 97, departing Dubai at 0910hrs (local time) and arriving at Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci airport at 1235hrs (local). The return flight, EK 98, departs Rome at 1435hrs (local) and arrives in Dubai at 2305hrs (local). The arrival time of the A380 in Dubai will allow passengers from Italy to connect to its extensive network of destinations in the Far East.
With 15 A380s currently in its fleet, Emirates is the largest operator of the environmentally friendly double-decker aircraft, operating services from Dubai to London Heathrow (double-daily), Manchester, Paris Charles de Gaulle, Toronto, Seoul, Bangkok, Beijing, Shanghai, Jeddah, New York, Hong Kong, Sydney and Auckland.
From 1st October 2011, the A380 will begin serving Johannesburg, followed by Kuala Lumpur as of 1st December and then from 1st January 2012, the A380 will be deployed on the Munich route.
So far in 2011, Emirates has launched passenger flights to Basra and Geneva. Services to Copenhagen will commence on 1st August and St Petersburg will be launched on 1st November, followed by Baghdad on 13th November, and Rio and Buenos Aires in January 2012.

QR Daily Flights to Kolkata

QR’s 12^th Destination in India Operates 95 Passenger Flights
Qatar Airways has widened its passenger flight network in India with the launch of daily non-stop scheduled services from Doha to Kolkata.
Formerly known as Calcutta, addition of the latest route reaffirms the carrier’s commitment to India where it now operates 95 flights a week across 12 destinations.  In addition, the Doha-based airline also operates twice-weekly freighter services to Kolkata, one of six Indian destinations where Qatar Airways already offers dedicated cargo flights.
The inaugural flight QR 294, carrying a full load of passengers including international media, arrived at Kolkata's Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport earlier today to a traditional water salute welcome following its five-hour flight from the capital of the State of Qatar.
Kolkata, capital of West Bengal state in eastern India, is the country’s third largest city with a metropolis population of over 15 million people.
It is also the commercial capital of eastern India taking advantage of its lucrative location on the Hooghly River, and is regarded as the country’s cultural and intellectual capital. Kolkata also once served as the capital city of India.
Home to a rich mix of creeds and cultures, Kolkata boasts colonial buildings, monuments, elegant buildings and India’s only tram system – the oldest operating electric tram in Asia – reflecting the days of the British ruling India.
With excellent connections from Europe, Middle East, Africa, United States and Canada, Qatar Airways’ newest passenger route is expected to appeal to expatriates returning to Kolkata, as well as the international business community having strong commercial links with the city and surrounding areas.

Kolkata now becomes part of Qatar Airways’ large family of routes in India that also covers Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Trivandrum, Cochin, Kozhikode, Goa, Amritsar and Bengaluru (Bangalore).

Recently named Airline of the Year 2011 by global industry audit Skytrax, Qatar Airways now flies to over 100 diverse business and leisure destinations across Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific, North America and South America with a modern fleet of 98 aircraft. By 2013, Qatar Airways plans to serve more than 120 destinations worldwide with a fleet of over 120 aircraft.
The airline’s aggressive 2011 expansion programme has so far seen the launch of 10 new routes – Bucharest (Romania), Budapest (Hungary), Brussels (Belgium), Stuttgart (Germany), Aleppo (Syria), Shiraz (Iran), Venice (Italy), Montreal (Canada), Medina (Saudi Arabia) and, now, Kolkata.
Over the next few months, Qatar Airways launches flights to the following destinations, further extending its global reach. Sofia (Bulgaria) on September 14; Oslo (Norway) on October 5; Entebbe (Uganda) on November 2; Baku (Azerbaijan) and Tbilisi (Georgia) on November 30.