Help...I've never bought travel insurance before

[pipanale]

I'll use CSA (shown at left), but am so very confused.

We have 2 couples. My wife and I are using FF miles for the airfare. We're splitting the villa rental and jeep rental fees.

The other couple is paying their airfare in addition to the split charges.

Do we get one policy or each couple get one? I get the feeling the other 2 should take it out for the total amount of their plane tickets and then the full $$ for the villa and jeep. They'd pay us our part if we needed it.

Is that how it works? help?

[mbw1024]

you normally take it out for things that can't be refunded. the air fare is likely non refundable anyway, if they didn't go they'd get a voucher or something like that from the airline. Best bet is to call CSA and ask. I never saw a policy to cover anyone outside your family so the other couple would get their own.
You would base your policy on your cost of the rent, jeep, etc.

[alw1977]

As an aside, I wouldn't get a policy covering car rental costs. At most, the rental companies charge something like $100 if you cancel inside of a three week window. Adding that would probably up the cost and I just wonder if it's even worth it. I'd get a policy covering the villa and then have your friends get their own policy for the airfare. Interesting conundrum. Tell us what you find out b/c we're going in Oct 08 with a group and will face this same situation.

[mbw1024]

you should both cover the villa, however. let's just say last minute they they have to back out and you still want to go. they should be able to file for their half of the villa rental (if it is a covered condition for cancelling).

[St. John Lover]

Re: insurance coverage for the villa rental portion--

I've gotten trip insurance several times in the past; they usually ask you how much your total costs for the trip are--that would be subject to loss if you have to cancel for a covered reason--and base the premium on that total. So, for illustrative purposes, let's say the villa will cost you $4000 for the 2 couples but $3200 for just one couple. Let's assume the other couple won't cancel if you have to cancel (and vice versa). So if you have to cancel, rather than paying $2000, your friends would have to pay $3200. Therefore, I'd get coverage to cover the $1200 difference they'd have to pay & give them a personal check for that amount once your claim is settled.

Does that help or make it more confusing?

[Anthony]

Call CSA directly and ask them:

"Folks if you want to order CSA Travel Insurance over the phone and not directly from the links at left, the forum can still get a commission if you do the following:

When ordering, give them the "producer code" 82819568 and say "VI On Line" is the "agent".

CSA can be reached tool free: 1-800-873-9855"

[pipanale]

Thanks Anthony...I had seen the link and message about calling them. I'll throw you a little bidness.

[Anthony]

Thank you! It really does work (the insurance) and it really does pay us a commission, which is great -
Good luck with it.

[FlaGeorge]

I would recommend that both couples get the travel insurance. The couple that has contracted the villa should declare the $$$ amount. If you need to cancel – each couple should file a claim for the expenses that are not reimbursed. Then when the insurance pays the claims – the couples figure out what they owe each other.

Here is a little known secret for folks using FF miles. We had to cancel a trip last May and it cost me $100 per account to re-deposit the miles back into our accounts. The insurance covered this cost too.