Travel Protections You Owe Yourself

If you travel often, here are five ways you can better protect yourself and make your trips less expensive.

• Give yourself a higher level credit card with complete car insurance.  Compare what you paid for rental car insurance over several trips to what is included in a Platinum level Business Card.  Consider using UBER or Zipcar, if your travel needs are somewhere between lots of taxis and a rental car.

• Make sure the rental car you choose is properly equipped.

We recommend the following:

• GPS system
• Auto information booklet in the glove compartment (many do not come with one)
• A mobile phone charger.  (Or, buy yourself a cheap phone charger – some are sold at check-out points of major drug stores. They cost pennies and can save you serious time and money in gas
• AAA — or similar — break down coverage

• Purchase comprehensive travel insurance with primary coverage for both domestic and overseas travel.

If you get sick while traveling, insurance with primary coverage will pay your bills up front.  Lower levels of insurance require you to pay the doctor/hospital bills, etc. upfront and collect when you get back home.

• Register for higher levels of hotel frequent stay plans like Hilton Honours.  In addition, sign up for all hotel/airline plans individually that might serve you. If they use the words: “express” or “fast,” that usually means there is a quick check in/check out system.

• Try to make your lodging reservations at a hotel chain which is known for being safe for women travelers.  

Ask to be put in the hotel location that has one of the following:

• an outdoor café
• restaurants on the same block
• popular stores nearby

BONUS: Two more final tips:

• Do not accept hotels in financial districts that might be dark and deserted at night.
• Ask what variety of eating establishments the hotel offers for all meals. (Be aware that some overseas hotels do not serve a coffee shop type light dinner. That means that if your hotel is located in a gritty neighborhood and only offers expensive meals, you are stuck. )

Phyllis Stoller Group Travel

Phyllis Stoller, NABBW’s Group Travel Associate is founder of The Women’s Travel Group, a tour operator which specializes in smart vacations for smart women, was recently honored as one of the 14 most influential women in Group Travel by Group Travel Magazine. The Women’s Travel Group works with travel agents and is a strategic partner of Sky Vacations.