10% TID Coupon

Travel Insurance Direct have just emailed offering a 10% discount this Christmas. This is what they said:

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You, your family and friends can Save 10% on the cost of travel insurance with this offer from Travel Insurance Direct.

Just visit www.tid.com.au to get your quote and enter the code below to receive your exclusive 10% discount.

Promotion Code: TIDXMAS

TID offers great cover, great value travel insurance underwritten by Allianz, and has been voted Australia's number 1 online travel insurance by readers of www.productreview.com.au

Already purchased travel insurance? You can still save 10%

Even if you've already purchased travel insurance elsewhere, you can get a full refund within the cooling off period (provided you haven't commenced your journey or made a claim), so you can still take advantage of this fantastic offer. Visit www.tid.com.au and get a quote to find out how much you could save.

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So what are you waiting for! Get a travel insurance quote with TID today and save 10%.

TID Coupon Code

It looks like the last TID Coupon has expired so here is one for 5%:

TIDWIKID

Go to Travel Insurance Direct for a quote and enter the coupon code in the field provided.

Travel Insurance - 5 Features To Watch For

Medical Fees - Do you have to pay upfront?

When travelling overseas and need to receive medical treatment at a doctor or hospital your travel insurance doesn't always payout upfront. Quite often you'll need lodge a claim when you get home. Before seeing a doctor, or as soon as possible if its an emergency, call your insurance provider and inform them what is occurring. They'll be able to tell you if they have a recommended medical provide and what you need  to do to claim the costs back.

It is preferable to have the insurance pay for your hospital or doctors costs upfront as this saves you from putting the fees on your credit card or attempting to organise the money from friends or family, especially if its a high cost incident.

Overseas Emergency Assistance - Who to call?

All travel insurance companies have some form procedure for being notified of emergency events and how to handle them. Always look for a policy that offers local telephone numbers to call in a wide range of countries. This will make it easier to contact them if something goes wrong. Reverse charge numbers don't work in all countries so should be avoided if you are going anywhere slightly off the beaten track. Calling back to your own country can end up being hundreds or even thousands of dollars depending which country you are in.

Always ensure you have the emergency assistance contact information with you at all times while travelling and store a separate copy in your luggage and in an online storage or email account.

Excess

A small excess is very useful for comprehensive travel insurance because it allows you to claim on a wider range of items. Many policies offer an excess buyout for a fee (reduces the excess to $0). This is often a very good idea as it means that you are able to claim on anything that you are able to and will get the full amount back. If you are going for a backpacker or medical only travel insurance policy the excess may be of less importance as you will most likely only claim for high cost events where the excess is just a small percentage of the total amount.

Sports and adventure activity coverage

Certain adventurous activities are automatically covered by travel insurance policies, these are usually low risk sports or activities such as bushwalking, snorkelling, and cycling. Higher risk activities like sky diving, bungee jumping, and rock climbing may be covered for an extra premium but some policies do cover these as standard. You should confirm directly with the insurance company if you are doing any of these activities.

Pre-existing conditions

Many of us have certain medical conditions that could potentially cause problems when on holiday. Things like asthma, arthritis, allergies. Sometimes these will be covered by the insurance policy, other times they will not and some with stop you from getting the travel insurance policy. These are listed in the PDS and you should contact the travel insurance company directly if you have any pre-existing medical conditions.

Reviews

Reading customer reviews is very helpful as it provides an overview of the claims and assistance services that you can't get from reading the travel insurance PDS or from the businesses website. Make sure you take not of the ease and speed of claims and whether the company tries to get out of settling claims where ever possible.

New Travel Advisory for New Delhi, India

High risk of terrorism

DFAT have updated their travel advisories for New Delhi, India in the lead up to the Commonwealth Games in October. Remember to check frequently as the situation could change rapidly.

Here are some handy link to Smarttraveller:
http://www.smarttraveller.gov.au/zw-cgi/view/Advice/India
http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/zw-cgi/view/TravelBulletins/Commonwealth_Games,_New_Delhi,_India

As always, you should purchase travel insurance prior to travelling and review your travel insurance policy to make sure you are covered for these type of events.

TID Promotional Code - Spring

Travel Insurance Direct is one of the biggest online travel insurance providers in Australia and offer great prices. Need more information before making up your mind? Read a Travel Insurance Direct Review

Get 10% off with this coupon code:

TIDSPRING

Thailand updated

Do not travel to Bangkok advisory issued by Australia and other western governments. Due to the rapidly deteriorating situation in Bangkok all traveller are advised not to travel to Bangkok and to reconsider their need to travel to Thailand in general. Suvarnabhumi International Airport (Bangkok Airport) is exempt from the advisory and continues to be relatively safe but the situation could change at any time.

All the latest can be found at Smartraveller.gov.au and you can contact your travel insurance provider to see what level of cover they still provide in Bangkok and broader Thailand.

Updated Travel Advice for Bangkok, Thailand

Due to the increase in civil unrest in Bangkok, DFAT has issued a series of new warning for travellers to Thailand. The current overall threat level is "Reconsider your need to travel".

We advise you to reconsider your need to travel to Thailand due to the deterioration in the security environment caused by widening political unrest and civil disorder occurring in Bangkok and other parts of the country.
http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/zw-cgi/view/Advice/Thailand

The Thai army has declared a number of protest areas as "Live Fire Zones" so they are extremely dangerous and all tourists should stay well away from these areas.

Please consult your travel inusurance company if you are travelling to Thailand in the near future to see what level of protection it will offer you as far as travel or accomodation disruptions, medical treatment or evacuation.

What you need to know about Cheap Travel Insurance

Everyone should know that travel insurance is a must when on holiday or vacation. Medical emergencies can cost up to $100,000 or more if an evacuation is required. Cancelled plane, cruise or tour tickets can also cost a lot of money and often there is nothing you can do it avoid it. Even theft of baggage can be costly now that more people travel with notebooks and mobile phones.

Sometimes you may not want to pay the cost of travel insurance. For long trips it may actually cost more for insurance than it does for plane fare. This is especially true of backpacking holidays through places like South East Asia or Europe. Also backpackers may not have costly tour packages or luggage to be worried about. The standard comprehensive level of holiday insurance is often a waste for these people.

Many holiday insurance companies offer plans designed for the budget conscience and backpackers. These plans tend to cover general medical expenses such as hospital visits, doctor and surgical fees, dentist fees, and medical evacuation. Sometimes these will also offer minimal cover in other areas such as baggage, credit card and document replacement. It is up to you to decide if you want this as it will raise the price.

Some providers in Australia of budget and backpacker travel insurance are: iTrek Travel Insurance, Downunder Insurance, 1Cover Direct Travel Insurance, Insure4Less, and Travel Insurance Direct. Reading travel insurance reviews can help find the best insurance for you.

The excess is another thing to consider. The normal excess is often around $100 but some companies charge a higher excess in order to offer lower price. It is usually best to avoid high excesses as it discourages claiming. However, this tends to not be a problem on backpacker holiday insurance as it usually only covers costly medical expenses where the excess fee is only a fraction of what the bills would be.

Always review the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) before purchasing a travel insurance policy as levels of cover can have different terms and conditions. A PDS is mandatory in Australia and details all the conditions, exclusions and limits of the policy.

TID Promotional Code

Travel Insurance Direct is a very popular travel insurance provider here in Australia as they provide a good level of cover for a cheap price. With all travel insurance policies you should read the PDS prior to purchase to make sure that the policy is right for you. Use the coupon code below to save $10 on your policy

Save $10: TIDSAVE

Get a quote from Travel Insurance Direct or read reviews on Travel Insurance Direct.

Icelandic Volcano and Travel Insurance

Allianz and QBE have said that they will cover all reasonable costs as a results of the Icelandic Volcano: article on SMH

Other insurance companies may provide cover. Check directly with your insurer and find out what they are prepared to cover. Otherwise you may find yourself out of pocket substantial hotel and meal costs.

Remember to keep all receipts, get written proof from the airline that you are affected, and do all you can to minimise the claim.

If you are still looking to take out a travel insurance policy then try Travel Insurance Reviews Australia.

Travel Advice for Thailand

Due to the recent civil disturbances in Bangkok, Thailand the Australia Government has advised traveller exercise a "High Degree of Caution" when travelling to Thailand.

http://www.smarttraveller.gov.au/zw-cgi/view/Advice/Thailand

Many Travel Insurance companies have also issues travel advisories that outlines specific detail about their policies and the situation in Thailand.

We suggest that you check with your insurer to determine what you are covered for when visiting these areas.

Travel Insurance -- Essential Protection for Everyone

The conventional reasons that individuals purchase travel insurance is to cover their luggage against theft or incase the airlines lose it. What people often neglect is the necessity of having a travel insurance policy that extensively covers them for medical emergencies.

The Australian government travel advisory website, Smartraveller.gov.au, provides some examples of costs: hospital stays in South East Asia have exceeded $800 per day; repatriation of remains from Europe can cost $10,000; medical evacuations from the USA can cost up to $300,000 and from nearby Bali has exceeded $60,000.

These figures are painful because if you had to pay them without travel insurance you may end up financially bankrupt. It is not too difficult to find a good insurance policy that will cover you in case of a medical emergency. In Australia it is required for travel insurance companies to supply you with a Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) prior to purchase. A PDS details what the policy covers including what they will pay for certain incidents and any if there are any specified terms and conditions attached. If you have a pre-existing medical condition then you'll need to check to see if you are still eligible for cover.

In Australia all the major travel insurance companies have websites so it is easy to compare their price and cover. Some of the largest companies are: Insure4Less, iTrek, Travel Insurance Direct, World Nomads, 1 Cover, AAMI, Allianz, and Columbus Direct. Just search for them and others using your favorite search engine.

Look for the PDS once you are at their website. It will usually be on the quote and product pages. Open it up and don't be worried at how confusing it can look, scroll down to the Schedule of Benefits, a large take with lots of dollar values in it. Ensure that the sections labeled Medical Expenses and Medical Evacuation or similar are unlimited or in the millions.

Get a quote for have a policy that covers what you need. Narrow your search down to those that offer the lowest premiums for your requirements. Reading online reviews can be very helpful at this stage to make the final decision.

Need help with Australian Travel Insurance? Go read up at Travel Insurance Reviews and check out the Travel Insurance Direct (TID) Review.

Travel Insurance Direct - 10% off coupon

Travel Insurance Direct is one of the cheapest travel insurance companies in Australia. In addition to that they regularly have discount coupons. This one is valid at least through Easter 2010.

TIDEGG2010

Always read the PDS before purchasing travel insurance because not all policies will be appropriate for your circumstances. Take a look at Travel Insurance Reviews to help decide.

Travel Insurance - Common Pitfalls When Claiming Lost and Stolen Goods

Many of us will take out holiday insurance when going on vacation but do you know what to do when something goes wrong? Finding out upfront can save a lot of heartache in the future. Review the following tips so that you can be ready.

Proof of ownership

Travel insurance companies will often refuse to pay for lost or stolen items unless that you can prove that they are yours. The best way is with the original receipt. We might keep receipts for the expensive items but who has a receipt for every item you are packing!

Now, travel insurance companies are not amoral and will cover you for most things like clothing, makeup, and luggage but without proof of brand or model you'll often only get a fraction of the cost to replace them.

Digital cameras are cheap and most people will be taking them on holidays. So you should take a photo of everything that you are taking. Get the brand and model where possible. Record all this in a spreadsheet as well. Scan all receipts, manuals, warranty cards, or tags. You can wait till you get home but I’d recommend emailing all the images, scans and spreadsheet to a free email site like gmail or hotmail so you can claim in a hurry for expensive items.

Replacement value

It has become the trend for motor vehicle or home and contents insurance to offer new goods in place of old goods. Often this is not how travel insurance works. You'll typically be offered the cost of your items after depreciation. Usually you would be able to afford a second hand item with the amount offered. Occasionally some second hand goods don't lose much value and you actually won't be able to buy a replacement one for anywhere near the reimbursement the travel insurance company gives you. You should consider making a complaint with the company if this is the case. Provide proof of the real market value (e.g. from classifieds, second hand shops, or ebay). If the travel insurance company still refuses to cover the real cost then you have recourse through an ombudsman.

Stolen items and police reports

Travel insurance companies will generally not just take your word for it when something is stolen. They want some sort of proof. This is generally best in the form of a police report but can be a statement from the airline, cruise ship, etc if it happened there.

Police reports can be difficult to obtain in some countries. You may be asked to pay a fee for this service. If the amount is small then pay it to avoid any extra hassle. If it is larger then you may want to consult your guidebook or the internet to see if this is normal. If not then your embassy or consulate should be able to help. There may be tourist police who are best to approach in regards to this.

If you have trouble speaking the local language and the police can't understand you then you could try an online translation service (e.g. babelfish) or by finding a local or fellow traveller who speaks English and take them along (consider giving them a tip).

Unattended baggage

A major area in which travel insurance will not cover you is when your luggage is left unattended. You may think this would rarely happen as you usually don't leave your bags in random places but unattended is usually described as being left in an unlocked location or with someone you aren't associated with. Common scenarios are left luggage at hotels or hostels, with doormen, or with tour companies.

Need help with Australian Travel Insurance? Go read up at Travel Insurance Reviews and check out the 1Cover Travel Insurance Review.

Budget or Backpacker Travel Insurance

Travel Insurance can be expensive so many people are lured by Budget or Backpacker travel insurance due to the low cost. As long as you know the limitations of this type of travel insurance then it can be a great choice.

Budget Travel Insurance covers:

• Medical and Hospital Costs
• Personal Liability
• Emergency Dental costs
• Returning your remains to Australia

Budget Travel Insurance doesn't cover:

• Cancellation fees or lost deposits
• Lost or Stolen Luggage
• Delayed luggage
• Theft of money or credit cards
• Loss of income
• Death or disability

A good option for buget travel insurance is:
iTrek Travel Insurance

World Nomads 10% Discount

World Nomads are currently offering a 10% discount by using the following coupon code on checkout:

MELBXP09

World Nomads provide a solid level of cover and are recommended by Lonely Planet (plus others). As with all travel insurance make sure that you read the PDS and Schedule of Benefits to decide if it has the right level of cover.

Travel Insurance Direct - $10 Discount

Travel Insurance Direct are offering $10 off your travel insurance policy. Use the coupon code: TIDTHANKS when checking out.

Travel Insurance Direct is one of the cheaper travel insurance providers so make sure you read their PDS (Product Disclosure Statement) carefully before signing up and answer the following questions

• Are you covered for everything you need?
• Medical? Luggage? Cancellation?
• Are you taking expensive electronics like a notebook or iPod? are these covered?

Review the coverage for Travel Insurance Direct.

Don't forget to check around at other Travel Insurance companies. Just because one is running a promotion doesn't mean that it is the cheapest or the best.

Happy Travelling!