An earthquake-tsunami combined catastrophe is among the most widely feared natural disasters today. Any place that has experienced such a terrifying event sustains heavy damage and suffers from a massive loss of life. One only needs to look at what happened to people from Aceh in Indonesia and Japan to know that these events are not a joke. It does not matter if one is a local or a visitor to the area. The disasters make no distinction on who they affect and kill. These relatively unpredictable disasters are periodic reminders why travel insurance is a necessity regardless of where you are going.

These kinds of disasters cause all types of disruptions for an unlucky visitor in the area. Other than kill, they seriously injure people in various ways to the extent a person needs intensive medical treatment or repatriation. An earthquake-tsunami combo can strand a traveller in the area long after they are supposed to go home or continue on in their journey. They will be forced to scramble with thousands of others in rebooking for their flight, and pay extra to their place of accommodation. They could also make people lose or destroy the belongings of a person in the midst of chaos and destruction of the area, not to mention money.

Dealing with the traumatic event and its accompanying problems is already very stressful. Facing them while uninsured, however, leads to a double-whammy that affects someone not only physically and psychologically but also financially. With travel insurance, Sydney-based travellers can expect the firms covering them to

a) cover the unexpected expense of rebooking a flight canceled by the disaster,
b) reimburse them for the alternative travel expenses they incurred trying to get away from the disaster zone,
c) assist travellers by covering the extra days you were forced to spend in your accommodation by the event,
d) pay for all medical expenses that were the result of serious injuries sustained in the earthquake-tsunami combo catastrophe,
e) recompense them for the money, bags, and other personal belongings that were lost, damaged, or stolen during the event,
f) compensate for accidental deaths that occurred during that time, and
g) reimburse them for the disruption to the journey the incident caused.

Insurance cannot make someone recover psychologically from these experiences. It does, however, allow them to not stress about the unexpected expenses they bring. This in effect frees up the mind of the covered person to worry about more important matters, such as getting help and going home. Getting travel insurance, Sydney residents, is easy and fast. It is affordable and can be done in a few minutes.

Major natural disasters such as an earthquake-tsunami combo can strike when you least expect it. They are tragically destructive reminders why people should never forget to get travel insurance. While it cannot protect you from the problems and trauma these events bring about, they can at least cover you financially, allowing you to worry about more important things. Keep that in mind next time you plan your trip abroad.

The author is a freelance travel consultant who has worked with various travel insurance firms in the country. Sydney residents needing more details on how getting insured can help one in times of disaster, please read up on travel insurance Sydney.

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With vacation season just around the corner, many of us are planning to enjoy time away from work and school for some much-needed rest and relaxation. Vacations are an integral part of maintaining mental and physical health, as those who vacation at least once yearly are half as likely to suffer a heart attack, and up to three times less likely to suffer an episode of mild to moderate depression. So it's important for your health and well-being to take regular vacations, but it's equally important to vacation smartly.

Most of us have little trouble remembering bathing suits and sunscreen as we prepare for fun in the sun, but there are a few other practicalities that make for a smooth and safe vacation experience. Here are a few tips.

Get a pro to do the planning

If you're like most of us, you don't relish the thought of jumping back and forth between the myriad travel booking engines available online. There are services that take care of the planning for you that don't charge nearly as much as a regular travel agency. If you're a Vacation Wellness member, you'll have access to several hundred professionally planned vacations each year. You can click to order complete vacations, available at discounts from 30% to 70% off of the regular online price.

Don't forget A2B transfers

A2B transfers are the leg of your trip that take you from the airport to your final destination. This service is also called a limousine service, depending on the area. Many travelers forget to book A2B transfers in advance, ensuring that they'll have to endure maximum wait times and high prices at their destination airport, waiting for shuttle transportation to the resort. Booking this leg of your travel in advance can save you considerable time and money.

Invest in holiday insurance

Life is full of unanticipated twists and turns, and it's best to protect your vacation investment. A holiday insurance policy will provide reimbursement in case you have to cancel your plans at the last minute, experience additional hotel stay costs due to schedule perturbations, have to purchase last-minute airfare due to an emergency, or even in cases where you experience a medical emergency while overseas. Be sure to read your holiday insurance policy's fine print, but don't leave home without one!

Plan for serious relaxation

Don't overbook your time while you're on vacation. It can be tempting to plan side trips, excursions, activities, and sightseeing tours until you drop. While you want to enjoy as much of the local color and culture as possible, it's important to schedule unstructured time to just unwind and relax. For every day you plan an event, outing, or excursion, you should also plan an entire day of unscheduled leisure. That way, you'll return rested, rejuvenated, and relaxed from your vacation.

Stephen M. Jameson is a frequent world traveler and global wanderer. He has lived in Asia and Europe, and traveled extensively throughout those continents over a period of years. He is webmaster for Zoescent's travel resources, with focus areas in holiday travel insurance and A2B transfers. A Colorado native, he has lived in 8 North American states and still travels frequently.

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