June 1, 2020
Due to travel restrictions, plans are only available with travel dates on or after
Due to travel restrictions, plans are only available with effective start dates on or after
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A travel safety plan isn’t about being ready for every possible disaster scenario. It’s not about packing your bag with survival gear, first-aid supplies, and bear spray. (Tip: Do not put bear spray in your luggage—or anything else prohibited by the TSA.)
It’s really about communication. Does everyone on the trip know what to expect and what to do if things go sideways? If you’re traveling solo, have you shared your trip details with loved ones? And do you know who to call in case of a travel emergency? Hint: Allianz Travel Insurance’s 24-hour assistance is always a good place to start.
Traveling alone can be exhilarating, but it requires an extra level of safety planning. The number-one rule is to always make sure someone knows where you are and where you’re supposed to be.
Send your itinerary to a trusted friend or family member who can serve as your emergency contact. Tell them you’ll check in with them on a set schedule. Most importantly, tell them what to do if they don’t hear from you. Do you want them to wait 24 hours, contact your hotel, or alert emergency services? When you’re leaving your hotel, tell the front desk where you’re going and what time you expect to be back.
Your solo-travel safety plan should also include an assessment of the risks you might encounter during their trip. Travelers often worry about the wrong things, like contracting a rare tropical disease. The actual biggest threat to life and limb for U.S. travelers overseas? Car accidents. So always wear your seatbelt, and use your best judgment when traveling in taxis, rideshares or buses.
Avoid high-risk activities, especially the ones that are excluded from travel insurance coverage. In your plan documents, you’ll find a full list of exclusions that includes things like skydiving, BASE jumping, hang gliding, caving, climbing sports, and skiing or snowboarding outside marked trails or in an area accessed by helicopter.
Here's one more safety tip for solo travelers: use your Allianz Travel Insurance plan to the fullest. All plans include 24-hour assistance to help you solve travel dilemmas, and many include concierge benefits to assist with travel planning and other needs. Read more: How to Make the Most of Your Travel Insurance Plan.
After a morning exploring Hanoi, everyone in the family is ready for an afternoon nap at the hotel—but your 15-year-old daughter insists on doing more shopping in the maze-like Old Quarter. “I’ll be fine,” she says. “I have my phone.”
OK, you say: “So how will you reach us and find your way back to the hotel if you lose your phone, or if the battery runs out?”
You don’t want to discourage your daughter’s adventurous spirit, but you do want to teach her how to think through the what-ifs of travel safety. Have her write down key information, like the name, number and address of the hotel, and the 24-hour assistance number for Allianz Travel Insurance. Point out landmarks she can use to navigate. An old-school paper map is a great thing to have. And teach her to carry some emergency cash in a hidden pocket or in her sock, in case her bag gets stolen.
Younger children should be part of family travel safety planning, too. Talk about what to do if they get separated from you, and how to be aware of their surroundings. Have them memorize the local number for emergency services. In other countries, it’s not always 911.
If your children are very young, creating a family travel safety plan is all about how the adults on the trip will keep them out of harm’s way. Pack an emergency medical kit, car seats and other safety gear. If you’re traveling to the beach, the lake, or another body of water, then water-safety rules are essential. Make sure an adult is watching children at all times, and that kids wear life jackets if they’re not strong swimmers.
If your child is heading off on a study-abroad semester or their first solo trip, then congratulations! You’ve raised an independent and adventurous kid. And although you might feel a little panic, channel that parental energy into a travel safety plan for your child.
For these young adults, the safety plan should be something you develop together: more of a conversation than a mandate. A good way to start is by asking questions and listening to the answers. Things like:
If your child has any allergies or chronic health conditions, talk about how they’re going to manage those overseas. Will they be able to refill prescriptions? Do they have the name of a local doctor who treats their specific condition? Remind them that 24-hour assistance is there to connect them with health resources.
Set ground rules for activities your child can and can’t do. For instance, ATV, moped and motorcycle rides are all popular tourist activities in many destinations, but they are not safe. Our 24-hour assistance team gets many calls each year from travelers who get hurt riding these vehicles, and sometimes the injuries are serious.
Discuss drugs and alcohol, too. Make sure your child understands the local laws at their destination, and that being a U.S. citizen does not mean having a “get out of jail free” card if they break the law. Travel insurance does not cover any loss resulting from the use or abuse of alcohol or drugs, or any related physical complications.
Remind them that they can contact Allianz Travel Insurance for help. No matter where they are or what time it is, we’ll answer… so they’re never alone, no matter where they travel.
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Terms, conditions, and exclusions apply. Please see your plan for full details. Benefits/Coverage may vary by state, and sublimits may apply.
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