Crowds are becoming an increasing nuisance at top European attractions. There’s almost no way to experience places like the Sistine Chapel or the Palace of Versailles without a constant and raging commotion of tourists.
Dear Globetrotter:
Welcome to the 476th issue of your foreign travel magazine.
(Second of two parts)
Teotihuacán is one of the world’s greatest archaeological sites. Located 30 miles northeast of Mexico City and now reachable via toll highway 85D or free highway 132D, it once was one of the most important hubs of the Mesoamerican world.
S.L. PEEK, Jr., of Starke, FL, wrote to ITN, “In the August ’97 issue, page 4, was a question concerning whether Medicare benefits would be paid overseas.
“The 1996 Medicare Handbook states, ‘Medicare in general will not pay for health care obtained outside the U.S. and its territories. There are some very limited exceptions for care obtained in Canada or Mexico.’
Below are four letters/inquiries from ITN readers on the subject of travel insurance. Each is immediately followed by my response or recommendations.
Among the choices to be made regarding travel insurance, emergency medical evacuation coverage continues to be what I recommend most.
I believe that emergency medical evacuation coverage is a must for overseas travelers (and especially for seniors). This coverage is so rarely used that it can be relatively inexpensive to purchase, and it is often available at no or very little extra cost through a variety of “clubs” or affinity groups.
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) has added a whole new dimension to international travel. This is a significant concern for mature travelers, as it has been reported that the fatality rate of patients over the age of 65 is 50%.
Reacting to the current uncertain travel conditions, airlines and tour companies have adopted (probably temporarily) flexible terms and conditions that will allow travelers to cancel or reschedule trips easily and with little or no penalty.
