Travel Insurance, please don't leave home without it!

So I'm writing this in between Kleenexes as I fight off the last vestiges of a bout of common cold.  I've been coughing and sneezing my way through this week and, to make matters worse, the rest of my family is now starting to show symptoms.  Soon they will also know the inconvenience and irritation a simple illness can bring.  Luckily, I didn't have any travel plans this week- no cruise or tour booked.  If I had, I might have considered cancelling it.  "What? Cancelling it!" I hear you through my laptop , "You would have been crushed with cancellation penalties!"

Nope. I never travel without Travel Insurance. One of the benefits of a Travel Insurance policy is the Cancellation Protection.  With valid proof of an illness, travel insurance will reimburse you whatever cancellation penalties you incur from the travel suppliers.  I've used it before, when my wife became ill right before a Bahamas cruise.  It took about 30 days to process the claim, but the money was reimbursed.

I hear from clients, all the time, when discussing insurance- "Oh, we're going no matter what."  That's very easy to say when you're feeling great!  But it doesn't take much of an illness to change your mind about that cross country flight or that cruise that's gonna go uuup and down and uuup and down. Also, keep in mind that many travel providers have restrictions about travelers who are ill-  it doesn't take much to be DENIED BOARDING at the pier.  Cruise ships do not want even mildly sick people on board, because their closed environment makes illnesses easy to transmit.  You've probably heard the stories about outbreaks of norovirus on cruise ships- this one way it happens.

Another fairly common scenario is when a family member falls ill- say an elderly parent- and you find yourself in the situation of deciding whether to stay by their side or eat a huge cancellation penalty.  Any travel insurance policy worth its salt will cover not only the travel party but close family members as well.  I never hope you never have to be in the situation of  having to decide to care for your sick relative or go on your 14-Day Tour of Ireland, but if you are, it's great to know that you've covered your travel with a great insurance policy.

Travel Insurance does much more than just protect you from cancellation penalties.  It protects you in case you run into unexpected medical situations while traveling- including air evacuation, it covers loss of baggage, and offers you a 24 hour hotline to get emergency help in a foreign country.  It's a lifeline I wouldn't leave home without.  Coverage may vary by state, so you'll want to get the specifics on your policy.

AMS Travel Sales uses Travel Insured International, an insurance company that has been trusted with thousands of trips.  They are a great company to work with and make the claims process as easy as it can be.  With AMS Travel Sales working with you through the claim, you can know it will be handled correctly.

Cache the Waves 2018- Alaska!

Cache the Waves!

Why we will go:

Hey Geocachers, when we met with you at the amazing Going Caching 2017 event in Rome, GA last month, it inspired us to create an event of our own!  We want to invite YOU to our very first Cache the Waves Geocaching Cruise!  We'll be combining some amazing elements into this cruise, including finding great geocaches, fun social events, and some very creative surprises.  Not only will we have fun on land, we'll give you the chance to get your brain in gear onboard as well!  If you like puzzles, you'll love what we are cooking up for you! You'll even have the opportunity to visit Geocaching Headquarters in Seattle, and you know that's a treat!  So many of our new friends from Going Caching told us they wanted to see Alaska- and add that great state souvenir to their collection.  Here is your chance!

Where we will go:

Our cruise ship is scheduled to take us from Seattle to two ports of call in Alaska- Skagway and Juneau.  We'll also visit Victoria in British Columbia.  Each port is filled with great geocaches to find!  There will be something for every skill level and ability!  

Along the way, we'll cruise through the Alaska Inside Passage and Tracy Arm Fjords to see a beautiful glacier.  You'll want your cameras ready for the beautiful vistas you'll be sure to see as we pass through by the mountainous coastlines.  

We will return to Seattle, where you'll have the opportunity to visit Geocaching HQ and do some caching around town.  You know the geocaching is going to be epic in Seattle!

I want to know more about this cruise!

When we will go:

The cruise is scheduled to depart on June 15, 2018 and arrives back to Seattle on the 22nd.  We'll visit HQ directly after the cruise.  We will recommend that everyone plan to arrive in Seattle on the 14th and depart on the 23rd.  Our expert travel planners at AMS Travel Sales will handle the details for you!

How we will go:

We will be cruising with Royal Caribbean International on the amazing Explorer of the Seas.  This is a fantastic ship with tons of activities to offer all ages.  This ship has all kinds of great features you would expect from Royal Caribbean- it has a FlowRider Surf Simulator, a rock climbing wall, an ice skating rink and more!  So much to see and do on this ship!  After a long day of caching you'll really enjoy letting your hair down in one of the 15 bars and lounges.   In the evening, take in a show at the theater or a stroll along the deck in the brisk Alaskan air. 

If you want to know more about this great adventure, take a look at the AMS Travel Sales website here, which has full details and pricing on the adventure!