Every year we read horrific statistics of people who have been killed or injured while on the roads during the summer rush for holidays. While some of those accidents were just that, an accident that was caused by something simple that could not be avoided, there are ways that many of us can cut prevent accidents. If you have an older car that is always in need of repair, make sure that you have a thorough checkup before heading out for that summer road trip this year.

But even if you have the most recent model of AMG Mercedes, it is always wise to get your mechanic or local dealership to check it out for wear and tear before heading for the open road. Beyond this, there are a few basic safety tips you can follow to help keep you and your family safe when on the road this summer.

Drive with Attention and Care

When we head out with our family for the summer road trip, it can be a time of great distraction. You may have kids in the back who are quarreling among themselves or a partner in the front seat who is fiddling with the radio. All of these distractions need to come second to paying attention to the road in front of you.

All it takes is a moment of distraction with your eyes off the road to have consequences that will haunt you for the rest of your life. A simple act like turning your head to talk to one of the kids in the back seat can cause your hands on the wheel to turn and the car to drift across the lane and into oncoming traffic. Impatience with the car in front of you that causes you to pass them in a dangerous area with a blind turn can lead to the same situation. Take your time, stay focused and leave the distractions to others in the car.

Buckle Up!

Seatbelts remain the number one safety feature in every car, so don’t hesitate to demand that everyone in your car is wearing one. Kids can be restless in a car during a long ride, so make sure you insist that they continue to wear them even if they want to sit in a way that doesn’t allow them to buckle up.

The bottom line is always safety and their comfort is not as important as their safety. If they become restless, more frequent stops along the way can help. Which leads us to the next safety tip.

Plan for Rest Stops and Scenic Views

Sometimes we get so caught up in getting to our destination that we forget that the journey there is part of this holiday trip. When you are planning that long road trip, be sure to factor in plenty of time to stop along the way. There are road side rest stops along most major highways, and they are usually marked on any road map or if you are using Google Maps to plan your route.

You can also plan to stop at interesting places along the way. When I was a child we always stopped at the little towns that dotted our highways and had a picnic lunch in the town’s main town park. It gave us a bit of a release from highway driving, a stop in a cool green shady place and a bit of a walk through a little town we could explore a bit before heading back on the highway. Always plan to take a bit of a detour to make the road trip a bit more interesting and give the driver a break.

When you follow these tips, you will find that you have an enjoyable road trip instead of a dangerous one. The roads are littered with people in too much of a hurry to be careful, so don’t be one of them. Take your time, drive safely and get to your destination ready to enjoy the rest of your holiday.

Every country is known for some kind of food and drink. There are many iconic drinks that have come out of many different countries and been co-opted by others. Some of the drinks are actually not very popular in the country but have become associated with them by those outside of the country.

For example, beer is iconic of Germany, bourbon of the United States, whiskey of Ireland, and the list goes on. When you think of Spain, you probably don’t think of beer, though you should. Spain has several advantages over other countries when it comes to beer. Spain produces great beer in many different areas, and it also imports excellent beer from around the world.

Spanish Domestics

Spain has some incredible beers that are produced in the country. If you are visiting somewhere such as Barcelona, you should look for different kinds of beer made in Barcelona. There are many Barcelona offers for domestic as well as imported beers. To understand why Spain has such great beer, you need to understand how beer is made, which will also give you an understanding of why you should definitely visit Barcelona.

At its simplest, beer is made from water, barley, and hops. The barley is allowed to germinate so that it releases its sugars, after which it is then roasted and ground. The roasted barley is mixed with water to create wort. Yeast is added last, as the yeast eats the sugar and then releases alcohol.

At the end of this process, you have beer. It’s that simple, though there are certain complexities. To grow the best barley and hops, you need certain conditions. Spain has many of these conditions, which also make it a great spot for holidays.

Spanish Climate

The climate in Spain is perfect for growing wheat and barley, as they need a lot of sun and regular rainfall (but not too much). Spain is a warm, sometimes more arid country that does not actually get too dry for wheat nor too wet either. That means it is great for growing hops as well. It’s also great for a holiday because you can trust that that weather will be nice for most of the days while you’re there.

Spain is also great for beer because it is centrally located in Europe. Parts of Spain border France and Portugal but it’s also only a few miles away from the Moroccan coast. As well as being on the Atlantic Ocean, Spain is also on the Mediterranean Sea, as are Italy, Eastern Europe, Lebanon, Cyprus, Greece, and dozens of other incredible places which all have great food, great drinks, and great cultures. If you want to experience all of it, you should start in Spain.

Through a quick boat ride, you can visit any one of three different continents – that’s how quickly you can get from Spain to anywhere in the world. Spain gives you a central location from which you can find great experiences. Also, if you never even leave Spain, you will still have access to all of the different cultures on the Mediterranean and throughout the world.

When it comes to planning for a holiday or even a business trip, it is in your best interests to do yourself a favour and check out some kind of travel insurance. Generally speaking insurance coverage has been designed to protect travellers in the event of an emergency, or an event that may cause any kind of problem or disturbance to their holiday plans.

Cruise Example

Say for example you are looking at taking a holiday or trip that involves a sea cruise. Insurance will come in very useful should a voyage be either cancelled completely because of bad weather, political circumstances arise, or maybe even cut short for both reasons. Many cruise lines do not always afford any type of refund or remuneration when these things occur. Cruise insurance will definitely help to fill that void, providing not only compensation for the cancellation of the cruise, but also providing resources that assist in covering any travel expenditure to and from the port of origin of the voyage.

Coverage

Travel insurance is also beneficial in any medical emergencies with regards to transportation and you are covered in two ways. Firstly, if you get severely sick during a holiday, the insurance will cover all medical costs, including the arrangement of return transportation to your home country if need be. This is vitally important when travelling abroad, as not all health insurance policies provide such full coverage outside of one’s own country. And secondly, if a close relative, such as a spouse or child, become seriously ill back in your home country, the insurance can also help the traveller in paying for transportation on your travel back. Get cheap travel insurance quotes and find one which suits you perfectly.

Accommodation Happy

Some insurance policies also help out with accommodation expense issues. Should a hotel reservation somehow become lost or unavailable, due to some kind of mistake, travel insurance can help to provide support in sorting out the problem, and securing other accommodation. This helps to ensure that an entire trip is not ruined, and that the traveller is happy and can still manage to enjoy their holiday or make any scheduled business appointments.

Homework

A great insurance company will protect you against a broad range of events that just might spoil a trip and make travel difficult. This minimises any problems, and makes sure that whatever may happen to pop up, you will encounter only a minimum of financial loss as well as inconvenience. Some insurance companies offer a range of different types of affordable coverage, so it’s in your best interests to check them out and figure out exactly the types and limits of coverage that you will require. Good deals are out there waiting just for you!

Peace of Mind

Affordable insurance is easy to obtain and is both a practical and an important part of planning any type of holiday or trip. Have a great trip!

Travel insurance can be beneficial when you are miles away from home. It is designed to help those who love to visit far off places in many ways such as reimbursing expenses if a trip needs to be cancelled on short notice or paying for medical care if you become injured while on holiday.

There are several policies available that are designed to meet your own insurance needs, for those who travel for business frequently, and for those who are over the age of 65 and have made traveling a new hobby during their retirement years.

Why Everyone Needs Medical Travel Insurance

Travel insurance is ideal for anyone to have because you never know when you may be involved in an accident or when you may become ill and require emergency assistance. However, it is possible to find a quality insurance plan for individuals who already have pre-existing medical conditions.

Many people may believe that because they have health conditions such as diabetes, cancer, or heart disease, it would be difficult for them to get good travel insurance plans. But that is not the case. It turns out that there are several companies out there that cater to avid travellers who have established health concerns. You just need to know where to find them.

What Does Pre-Existing Traveller’s Insurance Cover?

Technically, most traveller’s insurance policies do not cover any pre-existing medical conditions. Instead, they provide coverage in the form of what is known as an exclusion waiver since travel insurance policies automatically exclude coverage for pre-existing health conditions.

Travel insurance policies don’t cover the costs for existing health problems. These could be anything from a disease or illness that occurred before the planned date of your trip or one for which you received a diagnosis from a medical professional.

There are several traveller’s insurance policies that will reimburse medical fees in relation to a pre-existing health condition if you have a waiver. Choosing a plan that offers pre-existing condition coverage means that the medical coverage provided by your policy will be in effect, thanks to the exclusion waiver.

Where to Find Traveller’s Insurance When You Have a Pre-Existing Condition

If you are trying to get coverage and are struggling due to your age or your medical history, you need to visit a website such as Medical Travel Compared that compares travel insurance plans based on pre-existing medical conditions. When planning a trip and looking up traveller’s insurance plans, it can be frustrating when you are faced with high premiums and plans that don’t meet your own specific needs. However, when you find a company that focuses on medical travel insurance, you will have a better chance at finding exactly what you need.

What Is Defined as a Pre-Existing Medical Condition?

Even though the specifics regarding pre-existing medical conditions will vary from one insurance policy to the next, the basic definition is that it is any type of medical condition that manifested on its own, became acute, or showed symptoms that would have caused one to seek diagnosis, treatment, or care. It could also cause the individual to seek medical advice, a diagnosis, care, or treatment if recommended by his or her own or another physician. It can also be defined as a condition that requires an individual to take prescribed drugs or medication unless the condition for which the medication is taken remains controlled without any change in the prescription during the 60, 90, or 180-day lookback period prior to the day that you purchase an insurance policy. The condition does not have to be diagnosed.

Understanding the Look Back Time and Medical Stability

There is a specific period that can help determine whether your insurance company will define your current health condition as pre-existing. If they find that you were considered healthy during that time, known as the “look-back” period, then your health issue may not be considered pre-existing.

Your health condition may not be considered pre-existing if you have had no changes in your symptoms and no changes in the medication that you take as prescribed by your doctor during the time determined by your insurance company. You will need to be healthy at the time of your travel insurance plan purchase if you must file a claim.

The “look-back” period will vary from one policy to the next. It is typically between 60 to 180 days. If you had a serious health issue that came up during that time, it would be considered an established condition. This is also the case if you had signs, you were treated by a doctor, or your prescribed medication was switched to something different.

What Are Examples of Possible Pre-Existing Health Conditions?

If you have heart disease and have been under the care of a physician or you were prescribed medicine for your heart but you haven’t had any issues over the past few years and there has not been any change to the medicine that was prescribed by your family doctor, this may not be considered a prior-existing medical problem by your insurance company because you were stable during the “look-back” time.

However, if you have cancer and you are doing well enough to travel but you take medication each day for your condition, you have seen the doctor within the past 60 days, and the doctor has put you on new medication, then this would be considered a pre-existing health problem because you would not be considered stable medically since the changes occurred within two months of your trip.

Be Sure to Get in Touch with a Reliable Traveller’s Insurance Company Today

If you have any type of health problem, it is important to learn all the details about traveller’s insurance while you are making plans for your next holiday. Be sure to consult with a travel agent or other traveller’s insurance expert to learn more about the terms and conditions. One of their representatives will be pleased to help you find the right solution for your insurance needs. Doing so could help you save on costly medical expenses while you are away from home.

When it comes to travelling, some people travel on a very tight budget, staying in hostels and low-cost budget accommodation. There are others though, who prefer to travel in style, staying in good quality hotels that are nice and comfortable. It might take longer to save the required money to take the trip, but it is more worthwhile when it can be done in comfort and style. It is more stress free and allows for a more enjoyable trip.

Amenities

It is very important to some people to have good amenities available when they travel so that it is more of a home away from home. Travel becomes more of a pleasure and more time can be spent exploring the local attractions.

Attentive staff are very important, as are having fresh linens daily on the bed and in the bathroom. There is nothing like getting into a beautifully made bed each evening when the day has been busy shopping, seeing the sights, or dining one’s way around a new city. It might be the intention to read or watch some television to relax, but if the bed is beautiful and fresh, it won’t be long before comfort takes over and sleep prevails.

Quality Hotels

Regardless of which city is being visited, there are always quality hotels available. It is recommended to do an online search before travelling to see what is available, and to make an early booking. This will avoid arriving in a new city with nowhere to stay.

Some cities get very busy at certain times of the year, and if accommodation isn’t booked in advance, it will either be extremely expensive or not available at all. It is always best to book ahead. This allows for a more stress-free vacation. If the accommodation is taken care of, then all that needs to be looked at are the local attractions one would like to visit and which restaurants are worth eating at!

It is great to be organised so the holiday can be enjoyed and taken advantage of.

Passports and Documentation

Before travelling, it is essential to have the correct documentation ready to avoid any hassles at customs or entering a new country. It is much easier to travel internationally now than ever before, and it is always exciting going to a new country.

Some countries require visas and other countries don’t. It depends on the country of origin and the country or countries that are the desired destination. It’s very wise to check before leaving. Authorities are quite strict in some countries, and it is easy to be prepared beforehand.

There are only a few things on the checklist that need to be taken care of before travelling in style. Save money first, even if it takes a little longer, because the extra comfort will be worth it. Book accommodation in advance, and make sure all required travel documentation is ready. It’s time for take-off!