Travel for 2007…

Yes, you should be planning for 2007 trips now. When you book early you get the best pricing and selection of staterooms. We still have room on our Alaska and Mexican Riviera groups for Solera residents and friends. Both will be great trips and affordable.

Beautiful Alaska Cruise Tour

June 5, 2007 to June 16, 2007

See Fairbanks, Denali National Park, Mt. McKinley

…then Cruise the Inside Passage on the Sapphire Princess

Exciting Mexican Riviera

March 15 to March 23, 2007

Visit Acapulco, Ixatapa and Manzanillo

Sail On Carnival’s Spirit - Round trip San Diego.

Insurance…

Yes, I do always recommend insurance. In this world, who knows what will happen next. I have heard stories of people having to cancel without insurance close to sailing and then losing all their money since it is too late to cancel without penalty. Generally you will start to lose you money 90 days before sailing or traveling. To be sure, check your individual case with your travel company.

I have been on 2 ships in my 11 cruises where people were taken off by helicopter due to illness. I have also seen people who had to leave escorted tours several times due to illness. Insurance pays for emergency medical transportation as well as medical treatment and cancellation due to traveling companions or their families becoming ill.

The next question is when to buy. If you buy the Travel Guard Assist insurance within 15 days of booking your tour, it will cover pre-existing conditions, as well as many other possible concerns, such as lost baggage, travel delay, terrorism incidents and even financial insolvency.

I believe many of us do not have a good understanding of what pre-existing illness means. According to the people at Travel Guard, pre-existing is any illness not controlled by a physician for 60 days prior to buying the insurance. They do not consider illnesses if they are under control by your doctor’s treatments and medication.

Think about this for a minute. If you are taking a trip next spring, you are entitled to a full refund if you cancel prior to the final payment date; with a few exceptions for fees announced at booking. Final payments are due about 90 days before the trip. Now think about getting a medical condition in November. That is now a pre-existing condition and would be treated as such when buying insurance. They will look back 60 days to evaluate your medical condition.

Some people choose to buy their insurance more than 60 days before their final payment date to be sure they will have coverage. That way they can cancel before final payment if necessary or will be covered by insurance since the illness is no longer considered pre-existing after 60 days. It is worth a little of your time to evaluate – you must make your own decision. Travel companies own insurances differ greatly and must be studied. Some have no clause at all for pre-existing illnesses.

I always buy insurance.

SLAC Member Bob Green
480/664-7354