Here under Insurance you will find information and advice which will help you to choose the appropriate insurance for your trip.
A travel insurance policy to cover theft, loss and medical problems is a good idea. The policies written by STA Travel and other student travel organizations are usually good value. Some policies offer lower and higher medical expense options; like higher medical expense options; the higher ones are chiefly for countries like the USA that have extremely expensive medical costs. There is a wide variety of policies available so check the fine print.
Some insurance policies will specifically exclude "dangerous activities", which can include scuba, diving, motorcycling and even trekking. A locally acquired motorcycle license is not valid under some policies. You may prefer a policy that pays doctors or hospitals directly rather than you having to pay on the spot and claim later. If you have to claim later, make sure you keep all documentation. Some policies ask you to call back (revers charges) to a center in your home country where an immediate assessment of your problem is made. Check that the policy covers ambulance and an emergency flight home.
Driving Licence & Permits
Many non - European driving licence's are valid in Europe, but it is good idea to bring along an International Driving Permit (IDP, which can make life much simpler, especially when hiring cars and motorcycles.
Camping Card International
It is a camping ground ID valid for a year that can be used instead of a passport when checking in and includes third - party insurance. As a result, many camping grounds will offer a small discount usually 5% to 10%) if you have one. CCI are issued by automobile associations, camping federations and, sometimes, on the spot at the camping ground.
An International Student Identity Card (ISIC), a plastic ID - style card with your photograph, is available to young people under 26.
Student, Youth & Teacher Card
We have taken as an example the Euro26 Card - a popular card in Europe. Depending on where you are in the world, it may or may not be applicable to you; but you should always find a card offering similar advantages. It is valid for one year and can be renewed each year until the holder reaches the age of 26.
The card is issued in 35 European countries.
Wherever the card is issued, it carries the EURO 26 logo, which is used to mark the places offering advantages and provides discounts on many forms of transport (including airlines and local transport), cheap or free admission to museums and sights, and inexpensive meals in some student cafeterias and restaurants. If you are under 26 but not a student, you are eligible to apply for an International Youth Travel Card (IYTC, formerly GO25), issued by the Federation of International Youth Travel Organizations, or the Euro 26 card. Both go under different names in different countries and give much the sane discounts and benefits as an ISIC.
To buy a card, go along to one of the sales outlets in your region. You will be given your EURO 26 card and a booklet, listing the discounts and services and providing general information.
The Euro 26 logo ensures that these discounts are automatically accessible to all card holders throughout Europe. There are currently about 100,000 advantages including:
Shops: CDs, books, sports gear and a variety of goods
For the annual subscription which you pay for usage of EURO 26 card, package of insurance from accident is provided and also health insurance and for unlimited number of travels which is accepted in all countries in the World except in the countries which are not members of EU.
Accident InsuranceAmount of insurance in €
Expenses of medical treatment
10,000.00
Permanent invalidity
Up to 100,000.00
Death because of the accident
50,000.00
Health insuranceAmount of insurance in €
Expenses of medical treatment
Up to 5,000€
Expenses of rescuing
Up to 5,000€
Expenses of transportation of corpse
1,500€
All of these, combined with youth information mean that the Euro 26 card is opening doors for young people across the continent.
An International Teacher Identity Card (ITIC) offers similar deals.
All these cards are issued by student unions, hostelling organizations or youth - oriented travel agencies.
Seniors Cards
Many attractions offer reduced - prices admission for people over 60 or 65 (sometimes as low as 55 for women). Make sure you bring proof of age. For a fee of around 20 Euro, European residents aged 60 and over can get a Rail plus Card as an add - on to their national rail senior pass. It entitles the holder to train fare reductions of around 25%.
Copies
The hassles created by losing your passport can be considerably reduced if you have a record of its number and issue date or, even better, photocopies, of the relevant data pages. A photocopy of your birth certificate can also be useful.
Also note the serial numbers of your travelers checks (cross them off as you cash them) and take photocopies of your credit, cards, air tickets and other travel documents. Keep all this emergency material separate from your passport, checks and cash, and leave extra copies with someone you can rely on at home. Add some emergency money (eg. US$50 to US$100 in cash) to this separate stash as well. If you do lose your passport, notify the police immediately to get a statement, and contact your nearest consulate.
There is another option for storing details of your vital travel documents before you leave - Lonely Planet's free online Travel Vault. This method can be safer than carrying photocopies of your important papers. It is the best option if you travel in a country with easy Internet access. Your own password - protected travel vault is accessible online at any time. Create your personal travel vault at this Lonely Planet tool.
"The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page", St. Augustine said. Here at www.travel-university.org we believe that every page must be read and explored. Travel is an avenue of learning that no text or classroom can teach. The world is a living classroom and you the student. We invite you to the www.travel-university.org library where you can read general interest and detail oriented articles.
The card is issued in 35 European countries.
Many attractions offer reduced - prices admission for people over 60 or 65 (sometimes as low as 55 for women). Make sure you bring proof of age. For a fee of around 20 Euro, European residents aged 60 and over can get a Rail plus Card as an add - on to their national rail senior pass. It entitles the holder to train fare reductions of around 25%.