Canada travels

A little while ago, I posted a list of destinations that travel insurance companies like (outside of Canada). They discount the insurance costs for a few reasons, one being dependent upon the total cost of the trip and the other because they are safer locations to travel to. I asked my friend for another list, going on the other side of the coin…. what are the most expensive travel insurance destinations?

Many of the “most expensive travel locations” surveys rely on the Mercer’s cost of living study, which in 2009 revealed the most expensive cities in the world to be:

1)    Tokyo, Japan (I know first hand, I lived in Japan from 1990 – 1991)

2)    Osaka, Japan (My mom flew over to visit me, we traveled to Osaka in 1991. We had tea at the ANA Hotel and it cost us 1200 Yen nearly 10 yrs ago, close to $12 CDN!)

3)    Moscow, Russia

4)    Geneva, Switzerland

5)    Hong Kong, China

6)    Zurich, Switzerland (I know from experience again… traveled here with hubby back in 1999. We went for pizza and the bill came to over $100 US!!)

7)    Copenhagen, Denmark

By virtue of cost alone, travel to these cities may require a more expensive travel insurance policy.

The sorts of dangers one may face in the location will also affect the cost of the travel insurance policy. According to Forbes, in 2008 the most dangerous travel destinations in the world included:

1)    Somalia

2)    Iraq

3)    Afghanistan

4)    Haiti

5)    Pakistan

6)    Sudan

7)    The Congo

Other dangerous locations included Lebanon, Palestine and Zimbabwe.

I like to travel but I do not have a desire to visit these places any time soon!

The other reason travel insurance will cost you more is due to the time of the year you decide to travel in.  For example…. I’d make sure my policy included refunds for natural disasters and reimbursement for medical care and accidents if I were going to an area of the Caribbean or southern Florida during hurricane season!!

Did you know that the US, Belgium and New Zealand have the highest traffic fatality rates and so it may cost more to insure a rental car in those places?! Or that current CDC warnings can result in higher travel insurance rates?!

I didn’t know so many things played such a huge role in how cheap or expensive my travel insurance was!! We’ve purchased everywhere from the credit union I worked at to CAA but then I found one online that could get me a free trip! Click here to enter to win a Family Cruise for 4!!

I know I just wrote about how great Canadian Winters are but I found an old post on my personal blog that had pictures that were too good to pass up.  I must be missing the powdery white stuff subconsciously… here we are nearing the end of November and it was 9C outside today!

Anyway… like I mentioned in the previous post, my hubby loves to go winter camping. Crazy — I know!! He’s just told me that he’s already booked his yurts for February 2010. A Yurt… a step up from Igloo, both of which my hubby has indeed slept in! Here’s the proof:

Winter Camping, February 2007

The boys returned safe and sound on Sunday evening from their rugged – “I am man hear me roar” – winter camping trip. Well… it wasn’t as rugged as years gone by but they had just as much fun. I am glad that my 8 year old, Q, was able to experience it with his dad.

They traded in their igloo making gear for a heated Yurt and the weather wasn’t a blizzard with freezing rain. That was last year! This year they had beautiful hiking weather and a wood stove to keep them warm at night. They were able to take up their favourite game, Settler’s of Catan, to play as a Yurt is more like a canvas cabin! The two younger boys (mine and a friend’s 11 year old son) watched movies on the portable DVD player. Yah, so not so rugged….

I know Q is looking forward to going again next year. He loves winter and loves being outside, he would have been fine and would have loved it if they did have to stay in an igloo! I can’t wait until my hubby can take all three boys — and our only princess as well!! I think I’ll stay at a spa that weekend….

Just in case you didn’t believe me about the igloo thing….

I – AM – CANADIAN!!

Have you ever been to Canada during the winter?

Whenever we travel abroad and tell people that we’re from Canada, they always ask us, “How cold does it get?”. That’s what most people equate with Canada… COLD!  Over the years I’ve had to defend my beautiful country more than a few times against the stereotypes like; we must live in igloos, ride on dog sleds and it’s always snowing!

Canada is not like that all year round but we do get our fair share of cold during the winter depending where in the country you live. Canada Eh, it’s a large place!

Well… we just so happen to live in a snow belt in Ontario so we tend to get a whack of snow during the winter months and even into the spring for that matter!! It has snowed on Father’s Day not so many years ago. So my hubby bought his very first snowblower this month, I’ll post a few winter shots for you to get the reason why he’s so excited.

Last year it was impossible to find a snow blower at a store anywhere after the first snow fall, we had mountains of snow and massive drifts at the end of our driveway that were higher than our mini-van.  We lost our eldest son a few times as he tried to shovel out the driveway.  So this year my husband wasn’t about to get caught having to push that heavy white stuff around again.

After 13 years of marriage and of shoveling thousands of pounds of snow around – I think he deserves it. No… I know he does!  Happy snowblowing hunny!

Here’s a list a friend of mine sent me – the 7 best travel insurance destinations (outside of Canada). Most of the places listed below feature two main points: friendliness towards English-speaking travelers and relatively safe crime areas.

Australia
If you’re thinking big and thinking of going south, then look no further than down under.  Australia, both its cities and beaches, offer an experience like no other.  You can surf and visit the Great Barrier Reefs.  There’s little worry about environmental health concerns, just reasons to enjoy a wonderful vacation in Australia.  In the cities, you’ll encounter some of the world’s safest and most cosmopolitan areas including an opportunity to visit the world-renowned Sydney Opera House.

Switzerland
Two words: Swiss Alps.  Switzerland is one of the world’s most beautiful countries, it’s also a nature lovers dream.  I should now… I’ve been there. My hubby and I backpacked through Switzerland with our first child when he was only 7 months old!  From hiking to skiing or relaxing at a lake, Switzerland is nature at its purest.  After a day camped in the Swiss Alps, you can return to a country who is equally known for spas and chalets that reinvigorate. Switzerland is also the world’s safest country and most of its cities carry the distinction of being among the safest in the world as well.

Beaches of Florida
Florida’s one of the most affordable vacations you can take.  Throw in the fact that your travel insurance for luggage and other reasons will be cheap.  Whether you’re visiting Fort Myers Beach, Key West, Miami, Clearwater or Daytona, Florida’s beaches give you the tropical pleasure without the expensive plane ticket prices (you could even drive!) or crime associated with the tropics.  Florida’s beach areas have low crime and good seasonal hotel rates.

Amsterdam
Amsterdam, in the Netherlands, is one of the most affordable European trips.  The city is also one of the safest in Europe. Amsterdam’s museums including the Anne Frank and Van Gogh museums deliver experiences not to be missed.  Amsterdam is also a safe trip with little to no reports of pickpockets.  Stay in a bed and breakfast outside or inside the city, either way you’ll be served one of the cheapest travel insurance destinations. It’s also an English-friendly country so if you need help, you can get it with just a few words.

London
London is perhaps the best traditional visit on this list. Most of the tourist spots carry low crime rates. London is a site to see even if you don’t enter a museum.  From Big Ben, to the redesigned Globe Theatre, London is  a pleasure to behold. For these reasons, it’s one of the cheapest travel insurance destinations.

Napa Valley
Most people forget about the wineries of California when planning a vacation.  Yet this wine rich environment boasts will give you a buzz without costing too many bucks. You’ll save for sure on travel insurance with Napa Valley.  It’s a safe spot for tourists and the tastiest non-food vacation you’ll experience.

Luxembourg City
The little city-state lodged between Belgium, France and Germany boasts the best of so many worlds.  It’s infused with the culture of all three of those regions.  You’ll taste the finest of French cuisine melded with the joviality only found in Germany.  Did I mention it’s consistently rated as one of the world’s safest cities?! That makes it one of the ideal insurance destinations.  Because of the variety of languages, the city possesses a lot of people who know English as a second language, making it very English friendly.

Have you been to any of these places? Do you have any other destinations to add to my list of inexpensive and safe??