usvi-on-line
Trip Insurance
Trip Insurance
I've looked for and I can't find it, but is there anywhere on this forum to buy trip insurance for our upcomming trip in June?
Thanks!
Thanks!
"Paradise...it's a state of mine"
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Need2GetAway
- Posts: 326
- Joined: Fri Aug 20, 2010 3:52 pm
- Location: Upstate NY
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susan & herb
- Posts: 450
- Joined: Mon Aug 07, 2006 5:02 pm
- Location: northern nj
We have always used CSA trip insurance mainly in case of illness but last year when we went to Eleuthera our house was robbed while we slept.
The didn't take credit cards, which are really not used on the island but they did take my hook bracelet and some earrings.
I submitted a claim and as soon as they received the police report from Eleuthera (island time-one month), they sent us a check. Servious was excellent.
My hook bracelet was gold so unfortunately I don't think I will be replacing it. Just a "thing" anyway, glad none of us were harmed!
The didn't take credit cards, which are really not used on the island but they did take my hook bracelet and some earrings.
I submitted a claim and as soon as they received the police report from Eleuthera (island time-one month), they sent us a check. Servious was excellent.
My hook bracelet was gold so unfortunately I don't think I will be replacing it. Just a "thing" anyway, glad none of us were harmed!
Insure my who???
If you can, we would highly prefer you try CSA - (cough, cough) since it supports... us
http://www.csatravelprotection.com/?aff=VIONLINE
If you can, we would highly prefer you try CSA - (cough, cough) since it supports... us
http://www.csatravelprotection.com/?aff=VIONLINE
Anthony for Virgin Islands On Line
One note of caution
We've used CSA for every trip we've made to STJ. But I'll bet most people don't realize there could be a big "gotcha" in the fine print.
We especially buy trip insurance because we tend to visit STJ in August, sometimes Sept. 'Cane season. So we buy it particularly because of the "trip interruption" coverage.
Last year, our wonderful trip on STJ was interrupted by Hurricane Earl. We were somewhat unceremoniously kicked out of our wonderful villa. And, because the owner and property manager took so long to figure out exactly what they were doing, by the time we started calling around, the Westin was full, Caneel was full and we barely got into Gallows Point. In (of course) the only available rooms they had - their most expensive.
At this point, I'm not worried, because I've got trip insurance, right? So we lose the last 4 days of our vacation to Earl and spent another $1300 that I didn't count on. No problems, mate!
We catch our flight home, and once back, I call up CSA to tell them I'm gonna make a claim. The very nice operator emails me another copy of the contract and says she can help me file a claim, what is the issue, she asks? I tell her what happened. She then informs me that the trip interruption clause will only pay you for your interrupted trip IF you have at least 50% or 4 days LEFT ON YOUR TRIP *AFTER* your trip resumes.
Since we were kicked out of our villa with 4 days left, and had to find other (quite expensive) accommodations due to Earl, there was no trip left to resume. And CSA wouldn't pay a dime. I was not happy.
I've read the contract carefully, and it is what it is. I've done some deep research this year, and many (but maybe not all) of the other trip insurance companies have similar clauses - the ones that don't neglect to even mention this particular circumstance, so who knows what they would do in similar circumstances.
The coverage by CSA seems to imply that if you've already experienced a fair chunk of your vacation, that they're not going to pay anything if, say, the last half of it gets canceled or interrupted. You had *some* vacation, so be happy with that. Hmmph!
I'm only telling this tale to forum members to enlighten all of us. I'm not that upset with CSA - their contract (after deep inspection) clearly details this type of coverage and it's limitations. But when the event happens to you, and you haven't memorized the contract, this certainly SEEMS like something that trip insurance would cover. That's why a lot of us buy the insurance. But it does not.
Again, I think CSA is a very reputable company, and I will likely buy travel insurance from them again this year. I'll just know now what'll happen if my trip gets interrupted by a hurricane again when I'm already halfway thru my vacation.
So, in retrospect, I might urge all of the forum members to *carefully* read that trip insurance contract before buying. Heck, some of the ones I've found on insuremytrip.com state that the medical coverage is null and void if you participate in ocean activities such as swimming or snorkeling. Another contract said you must call the trip insurer *before* renting a vehicle to find out of the type of vehicle you're renting is covered. Who does that?
At any rate, we'll be back to STJ in August, most likely with trip insurance from CSA, and we'll be hoping we don't have to use it - for any reason.
We especially buy trip insurance because we tend to visit STJ in August, sometimes Sept. 'Cane season. So we buy it particularly because of the "trip interruption" coverage.
Last year, our wonderful trip on STJ was interrupted by Hurricane Earl. We were somewhat unceremoniously kicked out of our wonderful villa. And, because the owner and property manager took so long to figure out exactly what they were doing, by the time we started calling around, the Westin was full, Caneel was full and we barely got into Gallows Point. In (of course) the only available rooms they had - their most expensive.
At this point, I'm not worried, because I've got trip insurance, right? So we lose the last 4 days of our vacation to Earl and spent another $1300 that I didn't count on. No problems, mate!
We catch our flight home, and once back, I call up CSA to tell them I'm gonna make a claim. The very nice operator emails me another copy of the contract and says she can help me file a claim, what is the issue, she asks? I tell her what happened. She then informs me that the trip interruption clause will only pay you for your interrupted trip IF you have at least 50% or 4 days LEFT ON YOUR TRIP *AFTER* your trip resumes.
Since we were kicked out of our villa with 4 days left, and had to find other (quite expensive) accommodations due to Earl, there was no trip left to resume. And CSA wouldn't pay a dime. I was not happy.
I've read the contract carefully, and it is what it is. I've done some deep research this year, and many (but maybe not all) of the other trip insurance companies have similar clauses - the ones that don't neglect to even mention this particular circumstance, so who knows what they would do in similar circumstances.
The coverage by CSA seems to imply that if you've already experienced a fair chunk of your vacation, that they're not going to pay anything if, say, the last half of it gets canceled or interrupted. You had *some* vacation, so be happy with that. Hmmph!
I'm only telling this tale to forum members to enlighten all of us. I'm not that upset with CSA - their contract (after deep inspection) clearly details this type of coverage and it's limitations. But when the event happens to you, and you haven't memorized the contract, this certainly SEEMS like something that trip insurance would cover. That's why a lot of us buy the insurance. But it does not.
Again, I think CSA is a very reputable company, and I will likely buy travel insurance from them again this year. I'll just know now what'll happen if my trip gets interrupted by a hurricane again when I'm already halfway thru my vacation.
So, in retrospect, I might urge all of the forum members to *carefully* read that trip insurance contract before buying. Heck, some of the ones I've found on insuremytrip.com state that the medical coverage is null and void if you participate in ocean activities such as swimming or snorkeling. Another contract said you must call the trip insurer *before* renting a vehicle to find out of the type of vehicle you're renting is covered. Who does that?
At any rate, we'll be back to STJ in August, most likely with trip insurance from CSA, and we'll be hoping we don't have to use it - for any reason.
AwardB
Begin at the beginning and go on till you come to the end; then stop. - Lewis Carroll
Begin at the beginning and go on till you come to the end; then stop. - Lewis Carroll