Comments on: So where should I buy my travel insurance? http://www.elliott.org/blog/so-where-should-i-buy-my-travel-insurance/ The travel troubleshooter. Mon, 22 Mar 2010 01:46:06 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Sarah http://www.elliott.org/blog/so-where-should-i-buy-my-travel-insurance/comment-page-1/#comment-26476 Sarah Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:43:31 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=9265#comment-26476 I have always used insuremytrip.com. I like that I can easily compare plans, costs and coverage there. I strongly believe in purchasing trip insurance for any costs that I would be out if something happened right before I left. However, I also like purchasing from a third party, other than the cruiseline, airline or hotel chain. It often costs much less and covers much more. I have always used insuremytrip.com. I like that I can easily compare plans, costs and coverage there. I strongly believe in purchasing trip insurance for any costs that I would be out if something happened right before I left. However, I also like purchasing from a third party, other than the cruiseline, airline or hotel chain. It often costs much less and covers much more.

]]> By: Nomadic Matt http://www.elliott.org/blog/so-where-should-i-buy-my-travel-insurance/comment-page-1/#comment-26435 Nomadic Matt Wed, 04 Nov 2009 10:34:16 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=9265#comment-26435 I think for travelers, world nomads offers the best service and coverage at a fair price. I really enjoy using them and they have a high customer service rating! I think for travelers, world nomads offers the best service and coverage at a fair price. I really enjoy using them and they have a high customer service rating!

]]> By: cherie http://www.elliott.org/blog/so-where-should-i-buy-my-travel-insurance/comment-page-1/#comment-26416 cherie Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:13:24 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=9265#comment-26416 Very true article --be very careful of "travel protection". Even very reputable travel companies like Grand Circle will try to sell you "travel protection" which is NOT insurance... all you will get is a travel voucher with them with an expiration date and not transferable. Very true article –be very careful of “travel protection”. Even very reputable travel companies like Grand Circle will try to sell you “travel protection” which is NOT insurance… all you will get is a travel voucher with them with an expiration date and not transferable.

]]> By: Lisa S http://www.elliott.org/blog/so-where-should-i-buy-my-travel-insurance/comment-page-1/#comment-26383 Lisa S Mon, 02 Nov 2009 19:05:17 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=9265#comment-26383 Chris, thanks for all the links. I find it a somewhat frightening experience to buy travel insurance because of all the fine print and unreputable companies. You piece was very helpful. Chris, thanks for all the links. I find it a somewhat frightening experience to buy travel insurance because of all the fine print and unreputable companies. You piece was very helpful.

]]> By: Destination Weddings http://www.elliott.org/blog/so-where-should-i-buy-my-travel-insurance/comment-page-1/#comment-26375 Destination Weddings Mon, 02 Nov 2009 17:41:12 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=9265#comment-26375 most people go to travel agents they feel comfortable with and trust anyways and many of us have return clients that know where to come for the best prices and best service. if you're just searching the internet or yellow pages you have a much better chance of getting ripped off. talk to your friends and get recommendations on agents that they've worked with before. that's the best way to find someone you can trust. or if you do find someone online ask for referrals and go from there. most people go to travel agents they feel comfortable with and trust anyways and many of us have return clients that know where to come for the best prices and best service. if you’re just searching the internet or yellow pages you have a much better chance of getting ripped off. talk to your friends and get recommendations on agents that they’ve worked with before. that’s the best way to find someone you can trust. or if you do find someone online ask for referrals and go from there.

]]> By: Steve Cousino, ACC, CTA http://www.elliott.org/blog/so-where-should-i-buy-my-travel-insurance/comment-page-1/#comment-26365 Steve Cousino, ACC, CTA Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:13:42 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=9265#comment-26365 As a professional travel consultant, I work on a slightly different business model, one that is based on true consulting with the client. Depending on their needs and depending on the details of the travel situation, one policy/company may be right for them over another one. I have a good knowledge of who the "good" insurers are and who likes to take their sweet time paying a legitimate claim. There's even one travel insurance company who automatically denies a claim, but most often than not an appeal is successful the first time around! It's this knowledge, plus my assistance in selecting the right policy, plus my support in the event a claim is necessary, that my professional consulting fee covers (among many many other things). The commission from the travel insurance supplier is extra revenue, yes, but by not relying solely on that commission, I prevent myself from pushing one policy or company over another simply because I get paid more. That said, I agree with your advice not to buy the first policy offered. As a professional travel consultant, I work on a slightly different business model, one that is based on true consulting with the client. Depending on their needs and depending on the details of the travel situation, one policy/company may be right for them over another one. I have a good knowledge of who the “good” insurers are and who likes to take their sweet time paying a legitimate claim. There’s even one travel insurance company who automatically denies a claim, but most often than not an appeal is successful the first time around! It’s this knowledge, plus my assistance in selecting the right policy, plus my support in the event a claim is necessary, that my professional consulting fee covers (among many many other things). The commission from the travel insurance supplier is extra revenue, yes, but by not relying solely on that commission, I prevent myself from pushing one policy or company over another simply because I get paid more.

That said, I agree with your advice not to buy the first policy offered.

]]> By: christy Jourdan http://www.elliott.org/blog/so-where-should-i-buy-my-travel-insurance/comment-page-1/#comment-26361 christy Jourdan Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:35:44 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=9265#comment-26361 Good article, albeit a little harsh towards we travel agents (although I wish I didn't always have to defend my industry, it's or own fault - Professional Travel Agents have not done enough to regulate our end of the business, and the travel suppliers of this world don't all require some sort of license or certification to represent their products - but that's a different conversation...) At www.shipsandripstravel.com we are very thorough when it comes to travel insurance, and we always price and compare multiple sources, in addition to checking the coverage against sites like insuremytrip.com. The travel insurance companies do pay us a healthy commission to sell thei products - sometimes 25% - but at our company, where we don't charge any booking fees or administration charges, that extra bit of commission pays for the time we put into helping our clients choose the best plan to suit them - their type of trip, their age, their needs. And although I always love and extra $50 in my commission check, I'm more concerned with keeping our clients happy so they come back to us and refer their friends. The implication that an unscrupulous travel agent might "pimp" a bad but profitable travel coverage plan just doesn't fit us at all. Our business plan relies on happy customers referring more happy customers, and we don't do that by selling overpriced and useless "extras". Good article, albeit a little harsh towards we travel agents (although I wish I didn’t always have to defend my industry, it’s or own fault – Professional Travel Agents have not done enough to regulate our end of the business, and the travel suppliers of this world don’t all require some sort of license or certification to represent their products – but that’s a different conversation…) At http://www.shipsandripstravel.com we are very thorough when it comes to travel insurance, and we always price and compare multiple sources, in addition to checking the coverage against sites like insuremytrip.com. The travel insurance companies do pay us a healthy commission to sell thei products – sometimes 25% – but at our company, where we don’t charge any booking fees or administration charges, that extra bit of commission pays for the time we put into helping our clients choose the best plan to suit them – their type of trip, their age, their needs. And although I always love and extra $50 in my commission check, I’m more concerned with keeping our clients happy so they come back to us and refer their friends. The implication that an unscrupulous travel agent might “pimp” a bad but profitable travel coverage plan just doesn’t fit us at all. Our business plan relies on happy customers referring more happy customers, and we don’t do that by selling overpriced and useless “extras”.

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