Taking your gadgets on a trip? Document everything!

by Scott Carmichael on

If you plan to take any of your valuables with you on a trip, it might be a good idea to create a file with of all the serial numbers, dates of purchase and prices of the items you are carrying.

Once you finish packing, it’s not unlikely that you are carrying over $2000 worth of equipment. Even the lowest tech traveler can easily reach $1000 with just a mobile phone, digital camera and iPod.

In my case, I simply made an Excel sheet and documented the item name, place of purchase, date of purchase, method of payment and the purchase price. I then add a photo of the item including a photo of the receipt and serial number.

When you are entering your belongings into the file, don’t forget to include anything else of value, including your luggage, any expensive toiletries, jewelry and even clothes.

Once you are done creating the list, print it out and save it in a safe place. When I travel, I carry the file on a small USB memory key, as well as a printed version in my carry-on. If all else fails, I even have a version stored online.

If disaster strikes, and you need to make a claim for lost items, you’ll be able to access your nifty spreadsheet and won’t have to worry about forgetting anything. Keeping track of your payment method could also help file a claim if you made the purchase using a credit card with damage/loss protection (like some American Express cards).

Another, often overlooked advantage is that you’ll be able to provide evidence if you get stopped at the customs line when you arrive back home. Customs officials are often on the lookout for people bringing high priced items back into the country. Of course, with the current US exchange rate, buying expensive electronics overseas is no longer very appealing.

No Wrong Turns: Insurance for a Road Trip

by Kelsey Mulyk on

Before we left on this trip, I just about had a nervous breakdown when it seemed like no insurance company would cover us. Most places won’t insure for more than 6 months at a time and when I mentioned we were driving to South America the usual response was silence followed by an incredulous “You’re driving?”
Turned out the insurance options are quite limited for a long road trip…who knew?

The company we chose, or I guess I should say they chose us since they agreed to insure us, is STA Travel. Unlike the average insurance company, they are focused on the backpacking set and they offer travel insurance for up to 13 months. STA offers assistance to backpackers in numerous countries.

I chatted with a very helpful customer service agent who walked me though their standard plan. Not only will they cover up to $1500 of lost or stolen baggage but, if you upgrade your plan for a measly $5.50, you can apply this chunk of cash to electronics such as laptops, ipods, cameras, etc. The majority of travel insurance companies refuse to cover these types of items at all. But if you have homeowners insurance your personal computer is covered under it and American citizens can insure their computers with a company called Safeware.

STA also offers Adventure Sports Coverage, a great option for those into extreme sports. Thrill-seekers should be sure to read the fine print as not all adventure sports are covered. According to Justin, my STA buddy, one stipulation is that you must be attached to the ground. For instance, if you bungee jump you are covered because technically you are attached to the ground but, if you want to skydive (why you’d jump out of a plane at 13,000 feet is beyond me) you would be out of luck since you are hurtling towards the ground rather than being attached to it. Either way it is imperative that travelers fully understand what their insurance plans will cover-no one wants to end up in a foreign hospital with a shwackload of medical bills to pay. On that note you can also upgrade your medical coverage, again for a mere $5.50, to provide emergency evacuation.

Since we live in a rather precarious time with terrorist acts becoming more common, I inquired about coverage related to terrorism should something unpredictable happen. Apparently, you can purchase the Protection Plan, which covers your evacuation costs if this type of incident occurred. But any trouble due to an “act of war” is not covered. So if you see tanks rolling in my suggestion would be to roll yourself right out of there.

“No Wrong Turns” chronicles Kelsey and her husband’s road trip — in real time — from Canada to the southern tip of South America in their trusty red VW Golf named Marlin.

Travel Insurance Might Cover Your Divorce

by Catherine Bodry on

It’s important to read the fine print on your travel insurance policy, obviously. That being said, there weren’t too many surprises on George Hobica’s list of travel insurance’s exclusions and exceptions. Acts of war aren’t covered, but they generally aren’t in regular policies. (After 9/11 Bush declared the attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon acts of war, and people were in an uproar because it meant huge limitations on their insurance policies.) And if you’re protesting something and get sprayed with tear gas or beat with a club, don’t go crying to your insurance company for coverage. You won’t get it.

Also listed are pet injuries (duh?), canceled tours, pre-existing medical conditions, pregnancy and birth (hmmm…), and self-inflicted injuries. But the biggest surprise is not that a canceled trip due to divorce or legal separation isn’t covered, it’s that it’s becoming increasingly covered.

Buying travel insurance to cover a possible impending divorce? Am I crazy, or this completely insane? (That’s not a rhetorical question; I really want to know).

Travel Insurance Policies Offer More Than Ever

by Catherine Bodry on

As an accident-prone twenty-something traveling around the world, there was no way I was going anywhere without some form of travel insurance. I chose a policy that cost around $300 for my 10-month trip, and was pretty much only good for emergencies.

Although I visited the emergency room twice and got sick three other times, I never used the policy since most countries I visited had some form of universal health care. But at least I knew that if I lost an arm and/or I needed to be sent home, I was covered. Health care is always in the back of my mind, since I live in a country that doesn’t offer it to its citizens. As I contemplate becoming a full-time freelance writer, one of my biggest concerns is how I’ll find affordable yet comprehensive health insurance.

Well, the good news is that travel insurance is becoming more comprehensive. That’s a good thing for me, because my work policy doesn’t cover much abroad.

USA Today ran a report on new options popping up in travel insurance policies. The downside of all these new choices, the article claims, is that there are so many it’s difficult to choose one. Not a huge downside in my book. Many of the options aren’t medical in nature, like trip cancellation or trip delay coverage, but are nice to have anyway.

Read the article here for a full list and a breakdown of prices.

GADLING’S TAKE FIVE: Week of July 15

by Adrienne Wilson on

Here we are again at another weeks end. As quirky as we are at times it seems there are still many good practical pickings out there to explore. If you need tips to arrive alive or help in a travel insurance purchase check out some of these. Oh, and if you need someone to do the sight-seeing for you we’ve found a little something in that department too.

5. Americano To Go (Away from Forbidden City):
If you plan your vacations based on the number of Starbucks locations per city, you may very well be out of luck with this particular destination.

4. Think You’re Covered? Top 10 Things Travel Insurance Might Not Foot the Bill For:
This is an excellent post everyone should read! While purchasing travel insurance for your trip to Kilimanjaro can offer some peace of mind make sure you’ve read the fine print. Surprisingly, it does not cover everything you may have previously thought.

3. Vacation Surrogate Will Vacation for You:
Um, I have to agree with many of the comments on the plug above. I don’t get it. I wouldn’t do it, but I’m sure it works for someone out and there and kudos to Sara Thacher – San Fran’s Vacation Surrogate for being clever enough to develop a way for those who can’t travel to the city. I’d rather go on my own though.

2. Airline Hackers: Inside the World of Mileage Running:
I love finding ways to increase my mileage on various airlines, however mileage running hasn’t been one of my methods. This option works well if you’ve got a flexible schedule and a burning desire to collect as many sky points as possible, but there are other easier ways. Read further to find out some tips to mileage running if you’re all packed and ready to go!

1. Six Tips to Stay Awake on Road Trips:
Driving late at night or at dusk and yes, even in the day can be tiring when on a long road trip. If having the windows rolled down with blasts of cool air hitting at your face while the Iron Maiden pumps out from the stereo doesn’t work in keeping you awake, look into some of these other helpful tips.