Seasonal Travel: Protect Your Investment (NAPSA)—More than a third of all Americans will make the most of the winter and spring travel sea- son, whether that meanshitting the slopes, relaxing on a beach or visiting family and friends, accord- ing to a recent study by American Express. While this time of year is growing in popularity for travel, what starts out as a joyride could turn into a badtrip for travelers who are not prepared for the unforeseen circumstances that winter and spring can holdin store. “Winter and early spring are great times for travel, from snow sports to warm-weather getaways,” said Beth Godlin of Access America, a leading travel insurance provider. “Savvy travelers are particularly careful to protect their vacation investment during this time of year. If you are plan- ning a trip this season, consider buying insurance that safeguards against bad weather, traffic accidents, and natural disasters at homethat preventtravel.” Purchasing a refundable ticket is a costly way to protect yourtrip against the unpredictable, be- cause it often is much more expen- sive than travel insurance and comes with somerestrictions. The price of a non-refundable ticket plus travel insurance is usually considerably less. “Travel insurance is a safe and Travel insurance can protect your trip investment and save you moneyif an emergency occurs. economical way to protect your trip,” Godlin said, adding “when you buytravel protection, you'll get a lot more coverage for your money.” Talk to your travel agent about what type of insurance is best for you. When purchasing travel insurance, be sure to ask about coveragethat protects against: Bad weather conditions and natural disasters that prevent traveling; e Traffic accidents before or during your vacation; e Airline, tour, cruise or other supplier bankruptcy; e Missed connections; and e Travel or baggage delays. For more information on travel insurance, talk to your travel agent or visit www.accessamerica.com.
