Hurricane Season 2004--please read

"Charlie Hammond" wrote in message
...

Because of this, the general rule is NOT to insure any loss you can
afford to sustain. Well, if you can't afford the cost of your vacation,
then stay home.

Not wanting to lose the money hardly equates with not being able to afford
losing the money. And enjoying the fruits of a vacation that cost $10,000.00
is hardly the equal of simply losing $ 10,000.00.

Also keep in mind that you will probably NOT loose all of your vacation
money. Most resorts and airlines will (inspite of the original posters
statements) make a full or partial refund under most conditions --
certainly if a hurrican makes thier providing the contracted services
impossible.

Most resorts (as well as liveaboards) have very strict policies in place
that force the buyer to carry all the risk. You might get fortunate and get
a credit for future use, but even that is not assured.

These days, even most First Class airfares have restrictions. Unless you
have paid full boat First Class you will likely see NO protection from loss
in terms of a refund (and in most cases a change or credit will involve a
fee, just like Coach fares). Some non-US carries (particularly Pacific rim
carriers like Thai Air, Singapore Air, Air Nippon etc) have more liberal
policies in this regard, but generally you lose some money. And if you fly
coach, there are very few conditions under which a refund would be
forthcoming regardless of carrier.

My advice is to SAVE the money you would pay for trip insurance.
Every few years you'll have saved enough to treat yourself to a
better vacation -- maybe even a "free" one.

I used to believe this to be savvy policy, then I got ill two days before a
two week trip to the Solomons. Even considering premiums not paid on past
trips I still took a considerable loss. In this case trip insurance would
have been a good idea, in all other cases I would have paid for coverage not
utilized.

Basically it's a crapshoot. But whether or not you do buy it, it's still a
crapshoot played with your own money....the only questions is how much do
you want to play with: the cost of your vacation or the cost of the
insurance.

And if you travel a lot you never get to know if your loss will come on a $
15,000.00 3 week vacation to Europe, or on a $ 800.00 Apple Vacation to
Puerto Vallarta.

"Charlie Hammond" wrote in message
...
In article t,
(snip) Also keep in mind that you will probably NOT loose all of your
vacation
money. Most resorts and airlines will (inspite of the original posters
statements) make a full or partial refund under most conditions --
certainly if a hurrican makes thier providing the contracted services
impossible.

My advice is to SAVE the money you would pay for trip insurance.
Every few years you'll have saved enough to treat yourself to a
better vacation -- maybe even a "free" one.


I hear you and generally follow that route. However, on my last trip, there
was quite a bit of travelling involved, a number of different destinations
included. I wanted to make sure that I had travel interruption insurance.

In article et,
(Kurt Ullman) writes:

Paying for the vacation and sustaining the LOSS of the vacation
are two entirely different things. ...

Perhaps, but in context they are the same -- either way you no longer
have the money.

--
Charlie Hammond -- Hewlett-Packard Company -- Ft Lauderdale FL USA
-- remove "@not" when replying)
All opinions expressed are my own and not necessarily my employer's.

In article t,
"Skip Elliott Bowman" writes:

With all due respect, I disagree. If I understand you correctly, should
people save for twice as much as their vacation should cost? ...

However did you get that out of what I wrote?

... Airlines are not responsible for cancellations due to
inclement weather, and hurricanes qualify as inclement weather. They may
refund your money but legally they aren't obligated to do so.

Legalities aside, my experience is that airlines will issue a credit for
future travel for pretty much ANY reason. Your risk here is around
US$50-100 per person.


We take far too much for granted, and vacations are supposed to be memorable
not traumatic. IMHO Insuring a vacation to the tropics, especially during
hurricane season, is prudent at the very least.

Obvioiusly, opinions differ.
Mine is that the amount you pay for such insurance is not worth it.

--
Charlie Hammond -- Hewlett-Packard Company -- Ft Lauderdale FL USA
-- remove "@not" when replying)
All opinions expressed are my own and not necessarily my employer's.

(Charlie Hammond) wrote:

In article t,
"Skip Elliott Bowman" writes:


We take far too much for granted, and vacations are supposed to be memorable
not traumatic. IMHO Insuring a vacation to the tropics, especially during
hurricane season, is prudent at the very least.

Obvioiusly, opinions differ.
Mine is that the amount you pay for such insurance is not worth it.

I have to agree with Charlie. I have taken out trip insurance. But
once when it looked like I wasn't going to get to my flight home in
time because the travel agent screwed up the reservations from the
last stop to the airport I asked whether that would be covered, and
the answer was no it wouldn't.

So my view of insurance is that they won't insure you if they think
they will lose their money. So if they will insure you, you probably
don't need the insurance because either it is unlikely to be needed or
there will be some clause in the fine print that will allow them to
get out of paying.

The PRUDENT thing to do if you take a vacation during the hurricane
season is NOT to insure the vacation but to not spend any more than
you can afford to lose, and to have alternate plans. Also to ask the
places where you are going to spend your money what their policies are
BEFORE putting your money down - and then not going there if the
answer is not satisfactory to you.


grandma Rosalie

I got an "A" for Breasts 101 from the High School football team.
Oh, yeah, sure, look down your monitor to catch a peek.


On 18 May 2004 23:27:13 -0700, (Salty) wrote:

You say, "Look down your monitor to catch a peek." Let me clarify
here. You're saying look ** down ** ?? You're sagging that damn
much ??!!

No I am sitting down.

Yikes !! I think I'll pass on your sagging Breast 101. Thanks
anyway.

Anyone whose boobs are over 35, or has had children, that aren't
sagging, bought them.

In article , "Jess Englewood"
wrote:



I used to believe this to be savvy policy, then I got ill two days before a
two week trip to the Solomons. Even considering premiums not paid on past
trips I still took a considerable loss. In this case trip insurance would
have been a good idea, in all other cases I would have paid for coverage not
utilized.

My wife and figured out and if we have to cancel only 1 out of every 7
trips, we break even. The nice thing about insurance is if I have to cancel
out the Christmas trip, then I have the money to replace it at Spring Break.
If I don't, I don't.


--
"No"
Amy Carter when asked if she had a message for
the children of America.

In article ,
wrote:
In article et,
(Kurt Ullman) writes:

Paying for the vacation and sustaining the LOSS of the vacation
are two entirely different things. ...

Perhaps, but in context they are the same -- either way you no longer
have the money.

But if go on the vacation you get the value for your money, at least in
theory (g). If you sustain the loss of the money you get neither the money or
the value (memories, good food, seeing new places, etc.) You lose twice.

--
"No"
Amy Carter when asked if she had a message for
the children of America.

On 05/19/2004 12:10 PM Charlie Hammond plucked Senior Frog's Magic
Twanger and said:

In article t,
"Skip Elliott Bowman" writes:



Hurricane season is June 1 through November 30, with most gales forming
mid-July through November. While this is no reason not to go or to cancel
existing plans, a prudent option would be to hedge your plans with
insurance.


[emphasis added]


THERE ARE SEVERAL DIFFERENT POLICIES AVAILABLE AND ALL ARE A LOT
CHEAPER THAN HAVING TO LOSE YOUR $$ OR YOUR VACATION.



I'm sorry to point out that this last is not correct.
Casualty insurance alwasy cost more than it pays out.
This is becasue it has to pay sales commissions and other business
expences in addition to what it pays out. Insurance companies make money.

Because of this, the general rule is NOT to insure any loss you can
afford to sustain. Well, if you can't afford the cost of your vacation,
then stay home.

Also keep in mind that you will probably NOT loose all of your vacation
money. Most resorts and airlines will (inspite of the original posters
statements) make a full or partial refund under most conditions --
certainly if a hurrican makes thier providing the contracted services
impossible.

My advice is to SAVE the money you would pay for trip insurance.
Every few years you'll have saved enough to treat yourself to a
better vacation -- maybe even a "free" one.



My sister is an experienced travel agent. Airfare comes under "Act of
God" in the situation of a hurricane. If you miss your flight due to a
hurricane, there is no refund. It's not the airline's fault that a
hurricane prevented the flight from taking place. Likewise for any
connecting flights missed.

If you are at your destination when a hurricane strikes, the airline may
choose to reaccomdate you with a flight at their convenience after the
storm. Essentially, you are flying "standby". Most trip insurance
usually has an "Act of God" clause also. If you buy trip insurance,
always read the fine print to see what is covered and what is not.

--
________
To email me, Edit "xt" from my email address.
Brian M. Kochera
"Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once!"
View My Web Page: http://home.earthlink.net/~brian1951

"Charlie Hammond" wrote in message
...
O.K., opinions differ on whether trip insurance is good or worthless.
But there is another question lurking he

Should hurricane season or predictions be a factor in your choice to
purchase trip insurance?

My answer is no. Even in the hight of a bad hurricane season, the chances
that a particular location will have a hurricane in a particular 7-10
day span remains very low.

So I would say, if yoy like trip insurance, but it; if you don't, don't.
But don't base your decision on hurricane predictions.
--

Exactly MY point. After traveling for decades I have seen bad conditions
once or twice. Take it for what it is. If I insured each trip I would have
paid bigtime. Should anyone listen to the Evening News style of weather
reporting telling the worst possible condition and to alter their trip
because of it? NO. Has anyone ever canceled a well planned trip due to a
springtime hurricane season report? I don't think so. I live in the north
east of America where we hear of pending doom due to bloated snow reports
each season. Does it change my life style? NOT. Once again I ask has anyone
ever heard of a MILD hurricane season approaching? Now they are trying to
scare everyone with the GLOBAL WARMING effect being the cause. Just relax
and get on with your life.

Sam