Deciding to vacation to Bermuda isn’t difficult. The island is beautiful, with its pink beaches and great weather. Nearly everyone speaks English, and the traditional foods include great ingredients such as bananas, beans, fish and brandy or wine. When you need a break from the beach, there are attractions such as the Crystal & Fantasy Caves, the Bermuda Aquarium, Natural History Museum and Zoo, and the Bermuda Maritime Museum.
Plus, it’s not a long trip from most East Coast locations. That means it is accessible not only by plane or cruise ship – and those are great ways to get there – but also by private yacht.
But as you check items off your Bermuda vacation to-do list, make sure you haven’t forgotten a couple of important ones. Everyone remembers prescriptions and trip itineraries. But there are some arrangements that could have slipped your mind.
For example, remember that the island, despite that proximity to the U.S., is considered a foreign country. That means, first off, that you’ll a passport. In addition, have you thought about letting your bank and your credit card companies know that you’ll be out of the country for a few days? If not, you face the possibility of having your accounts frozen when you need them the most.
Another important matter to take care of before you leave home on that trip is travel insurance. It might not sound exciting, but it can save you a pile of money and be a literal lifesaver. This is particularly important if you’re taking a commercial flight or cruise to Bermuda.
Picking the right travel insurance
However, make sure you have the right travel insurance. The best policies offer several types of protection, including trip cancellation. This is the coverage you need if you become ill or there is a natural disaster in the country you’re visiting. You also should make sure you have flight delay coverage. Your provider will cover hotel costs and make new travel plans on your behalf under this coverage.
You should also make sure you are protected for baggage loss or theft. Otherwise, you could wind up stuck in Bermuda with no clothes, no prescriptions and maybe even no identification. That can mean paradise lost, too. A good travel insurance policy can help with all that. It can also help if you lose your passport or other travel documents or money.
Insurance is Protection
But possibly the biggest reason to get travel insurance is to give yourself protection in case you become ill or injured in a foreign company. What could happen? Say you get in a wreck when you’re traveling the island in search of some of its unique animals, such as tree frogs, sea turtles and tropical birds. Your health insurance – including Medicare – likely won’t pay for medical care overseas, which could cost thousands. In addition, hospitals in some countries want payment up front. A good travel health insurance policy, regardless of whether your destination is Bermuda or somewhere else, also will pay to evacuate you if you need specialized care, again saving you thousands of dollars.
The best reason to buy travel insurance is to make sure that you enjoy the beaches and calypso music and everything else that Bermuda offers to its guests. Purchasing a good travel insurance policy will help make sure you have the opportunity to cash in on golf, scuba diving and all the other activities that are available.
The cost? It’s likely lower than you think. Coverage will run between 4% and 8% of the total price of your vacation. The more important question might be this: How much could it cost you NOT to have travel insurance?