Travel Guard Offers Tips for Making the Most of Spring Travel

STEVENS POINT, Wis., March 8, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- With school breaks on the calendar and a desire for winter to end setting in, many families in need of fun in the sun will be taking off on spring break trips to warm weather destinations. To help travelers make sure their spring vacations run as smoothly as possible, Travel Guard (www.TravelGuard.com), a leading provider of travel insurance solutions, offers the following tips:  

Keep an eye on the weather: Just because it's spring break doesn't mean that you are safe from the perils of winter weather. According to Weather.com, the month of March has a notorious history of storms, including the Superstorm of 1993; the greatest Nor'easter of the 20^th century, which took place on March 6-8, 1962; and the Blizzard of 1988, which brought 58 inches of snow to parts of New York, just to name a few[i].  If bad weather is threatening the area where you live, monitor the status of your flight closely by signing up for text or email alerts from your airline. If your flight is scheduled to take off as scheduled, give yourself plenty of time to get to the airport. Also, be sure to check the weather before returning home to see if there is any activity that may affect your travel. Remember, bad weather that affects any major U.S. airport can cause a ripple effect of delays and cancellations throughout the country. 

Do your research: No matter where you're going, travel is easier when there's a plan. By understanding your destination and mapping out activities and travel routes in advance, you can avoid wasting precious vacation time. Travel Guard's Destination Planner can help you prepare by providing climate information to help determine what to pack, embassy contact information, currency conversion details and other helpful resources for destinations around the globe.

Make the most of activities and attractions: Visit the website for the convention and visitor's bureau or tourist board of the destination you will be visiting to see what family-friendly activities or special events are taking place during your stay. Oftentimes, these will be free of charge and can be the highlight of your vacation. If you're visiting a theme park, see if VIP passes are available that allow you to bypass long lines. If you're visiting a zoo or animal park, see if behind-the-scenes tours are available so you can get up close and personal with the inhabitants.

Pack for the occasion:  You're probably going to be spending a large amount of your time at the beach or pool, which means you'll be in your bathing suit for most of the day. Lighten your load by packing clothing that you can wear more than once and mix and match. Try your best to fit all necessities in a carry-on to avoid checked luggage charges. If you must check a bag, pack your swimsuit and necessities in a small carry-on or knapsack. In the event that your luggage is lost or your room isn't ready for check-in when you arrive, you won't lose out on any beach or pool time.

Bring your meds: Pack ibuprofen, motion sickness medication, and other important medications in your purse or carry-on in case someone in the family needs it.

Stay hydrated and use sunscreen: Though soaking up the sun may be the first thing on your mind, overexposure can easily hamper your trip. No one wants to endure the pain of sunburn or the exhaustion of dehydration. Keep lathered up with sunscreen, wear a hat and bring a water bottle to refill throughout the day.

Don't forget to pack travel insurance: Lost luggage, flight delays and medical emergencies can affect even the best laid travel plans. Certain plans include 24/7 travel assistance services that can help take the stress out of your travel by rebooking flights and hotels on your behalf should plans go awry. Concierge services can recommend family friendly restaurants and activities in the destination you're visiting.

For more information about Travel Guard, contact your travel agent, visit www.TravelGuard.com or call Travel Guard's 24/7 World Service Center at 1.800.826.1300.

About Travel Guard
Travel Guard Worldwide, Inc., a global leader in travel insurance solutions and assistance, provides products and services to millions of travelers around the globe, including a wide range of emergency services through its wholly-owned assistance centers located in Asia, Europe and the Americas. Travel Guard helps leisure and business travelers alike solve problems and manage risks. Travel Guard's global reach, unparalleled service quality and proven operational capabilities allow clients to receive best-in-class care. Travel Guard's suite of technology platforms enables seamless integration with all major travel distribution systems and supplier channels. The travel insurance products marketed by Travel Guard are underwritten by insurance company subsidiaries and affiliates of American International Group, Inc. For additional information, please visit our websites at www.travelguard.com and www.travelguard.ca.

This is only a brief description of the coverage(s) available. The Policy will contain reductions, limitations, exclusions and termination provisions. Insurance is underwritten by National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh, Pa., a Pennsylvania insurance company, with its principal place of business at 175 Water Street, New York, NY 10038. It is currently authorized to transact business in all states and the District of Columbia. NAIC No. 19445. Coverage may not be available in all states. Travel assistance services are provided by Travel Guard.

[i] http://www.weather.com/news/weather-winter/winter-storm-march-east-midwest-northwest-20130301

SOURCE Travel Guard