So far we have covered how to access your money, and using your mobile phone abroad.

Now, it’s time for:

3. Tips for choosing Travel Insurance

Ahh travel insurance: the thing that we all know we should have, but don’t really want to pay for! I’d definitely never advise to travel without it.

How much cover do I really need? Doesn’t my credit card offer it for free? What’s the difference between all these options and companies?

I’m going to try to shed some light on the top things to look for, when choosing an insurance policy.

Benefits

-Not all policies are equal here. Yes, most these days offer unlimited medical assistance but, does it cover you for medical evacuation?

-“Additional expenses” is a tricky one. Most insurance policies will cover the person who may be ill in hospital, but check to see if the travelling partner will be covered for re-arranging their plans to look after them.

-Will you be covered if you need to come home to a sick, elderly relative?

What is the excess?

-A policy with $1000 excess will be cheaper than a policy with a nil excess. An “excess” is the amount you need to pay before the insurance policy awards your claim.

Have you checked there is enough cover for all your personal items?

-Laptop, camera, jewellery etc

Does the policy cover you for the activities you’ll be doing?

-Skiing, cruising, car and scooter hire etc

Assistance

-Is there a 24/7 emergency number to call?

-Does the insurer make payments directly to hospitals

-Is there anyone who can assist you in submitting claims? If your Travel Insurance has been booked through Mosaic Travel – we will assist you! There’s no need to worry if a problem arises.

Credit Card

-Is there a minimum $$ on the credit card before the insurance is valid?

-Do I have a policy number and a phone number to call in an emergency?

There’s a lot to consider!

The best travel insurance policy for you will depend on your age, where you’re going, for how long, and what sort of activities you’ll be participating in. 

I recommend you do some thorough internet research before purchasing insurance or, let me take care of it for you!

A tailor-made insurance quote is one of the included services when you’re a Mosaic Traveller!

Last in this series, we will look at fluctuating flight prices and the best time to book!

To book your next adventure, call Rosie at Mosaic Travel on (03) 5275 4583

The post Preparation Tips for your Next Adventure! – Part 3: Travel Insurance appeared first on Mosaic Travel.

Part 2 of our series looks at the all important mobile phone and the best ways to use it while travelling.

Using your mobile phone while abroad

First things first, unless you want to come home to a huge bill that will make you never want to travel again, don’t use your phone as normal!

There are several ways to stay connected without having to sacrifice your next trip:

Purchase a roaming plan

Most Australian networks offer a plan for as little as $5 extra per day, to continue to use your phone as normal.

This is a great option for those who are travelling for a short time, really like to stay connected, and don’t mind the cost. This is the most expensive option.

Call your mobile provider to activate this service.

Purchase a local SIM card

Depending on the country you travel to, this can be easy or difficult. For example, SIM cards can be bought from newspaper stands in Croatia and Vietnam, but in Turkey and Spain, it is a complicated process involving registration, photocopies of your passport etc. Once you have this SIM card, staying connected is cheap and easy.

This is a great option if you’re travelling for a long time in a particular country.

Use only WIFI (for more details on how to do this, see below)

With WIFI readily available in most parts of the world, switch off your phone’s mobile data and simply reply on wifi. You can even make calls over wifi, using apps like WhatsApp and Skype.

This is the perfect option for those who don’t need to stay connected 24/7, but like to check in on occasion.

How to turn off mobile data on your iPhone and iPad and why it’s important while travelling.

We’ve all heard a horror story of a traveller forgetting to turn of their mobile data while overseas and come home to a HUGE phone bill!

To clear up any worries and hesitations, follow these easy steps to ensure your phone bill will be safe while you’re travelling.

Click on “Settings”

Scroll down to “Mobile”

Turn the “Mobile Data” toggle to the off position.

Alternatively, from the lock screen swipe up and tap the mobile data symbol so it turns grey as shown here ————–>

So what can your phone do while it’s in this mode?

Phone calls: you can still make and receive calls although this is strongly discouraged due to high roaming costs. It’s good for an emergency though.

Text messages: you can still send and receive texts, although at a slightly higher cost.

Internet: this is the main difference! You will only be able to connect to the internet in places where you have a wifi connection. These days, you’re able to connect to wifi in almost all hotels, restaurants, shops, airports and even some service stations.

So don’t worry, using one of these options won’t cost you the world and will still ensure you’re able to send holiday snaps to jealous relatives back at home!

Next up, we delve in to what to look for when choosing Travel Insurance!

To book your next adventure, call Rosie at Mosaic Travel on (03) 5275 4583

The post Preparation Tips for your Next Adventure! – Part 2: Phones appeared first on Mosaic Travel.

Here at Mosaic Travel, as well as planning your trip, we can help to make it as smooth as possible with solutions to some frequently asked questions.

Over a series of blogs, I’ll discuss the top travel planning questions we hear at Mosaic:

1. What is the best way to access my money while overseas?

Travellers cheques are almost useless these days but never fear – there are 3 great alternatives!

Credit Card

You can use these in ATMs to withdraw the local currency and to pay for things in shops and restaurants.

Look for a credit card that offers no ATM withdrawal fees – most are pretty good these days.

I like Citibank Visa card – no I’m not being paid! I’ve been using this card for years. Not only do they have no fees, but their currency conversion rates are seriously good.

Pros: Quick and convenient

Cons: Not all shops and restaurants accept credit cards

– Withdrawal fees can add up, so be sure to choose the card that’s right for you.

Travel Money Card

Most major banks (and even the post office) offer these travel money cards. You load up the card in advance with your selected currency, and use it like a debit card while overseas.

Pros: You can lock in a good exchange rate when the time is right.

– It’s easy to keep track of how much you’ve spent.

– You’re issued with 2 cards, so if you lose one, you can log in to your banking app, cancel it and use the other.

Cons: Although they advertise zero fees, some ATMS still charge a fee, and the currency conversion rates aren’t great – you will generally lose some $$ in transactions.

-There is a big fee to withdraw any remaining cash when you return home.

Cash

In some countries, cash can be the only option – particularly in Africa and South East Asia. In other countries, paying in cash can see a good discount!

It’s a good idea to get at least some local currency in advance, to ensure you can hit the ground running.

Obviously, it’s not a good idea to carry big amounts of cash around!

Pros: Everywhere accepts cash!

– No extra conversion fees when paying via eftpos

– You can choose the time to withdraw/exchange cash at a good exchange rate

Cons: Carrying a lot of cash can be worrisome 

– Most travel insurance companies don’t cover lost or stolen cash.

Your bank is likely to have a security feature which scans your account for any suspicious activity. For example, if your recent transactions have been $50 of petrol, $30 at the local cafe and $70 of groceries, the 100Euro dinner in Spain the next day will look very out of place!

It’s best to notify your bank of any overseas travel before you depart to prevent a “fraud lock” being placed on your account.

Stay tuned for the next post about mobile phone usage abroad!

To book your next adventure, call Rosie at Mosaic Travel on (03) 5275 4583

The post Preparation Tips for your Next Adventure – Part 1: Money appeared first on Mosaic Travel.