For years, my approach to buying travel insurance was scattershot. I didn’t understand insurance lingo and hadn’t really given much thought to what aspect of insurance coverage was most important to my family. Then my husband and I experienced “Honolulu Hell.”

Upon checking into our hotel after a Hawaii cruise, taken to commemorate our 15th anniversary, the bellman put our luggage on a van back to the airport instead of taking it to our room. The bags were never located. We lost clothing, cameras, iPods, work-related documents and all the photos we’d taken during our seven-night cruise! Luckily, our trip insurance policy made us whole — monetarily, at least. We are, to this day, devastated about the loss of our vacation photos. (Because it was such a special vacation, we went all out and did things we’ll probably never have the chance to do again. We may not have the photos, but at least we have the memories.)

After that experience, I thought about the myriad things — personal illness, cancellation of plans by a travel companion, airline delays, lost baggage or a cruise line going out of business — that could go wrong on vacation. In the future, I vowed to purchase travel insurance policies that would best cover our interests.

Many travelers have the attitude that “it will never happen to us” and choose not to spend the extra money on insurance for the unlikely event something will go wrong. But I’m living proof that bad things can happen to good cruisers. I’ve seen why it’s important to safeguard yourself and your cruise investment by purchasing travel insurance. After all, can any of us afford to throw away the investment we make each time we pay for a vacation?

Sometimes, purchasing insurance is a no-brainer because you want to cover easy-to-foresee issues. For example, your elderly mom has been getting sick more often these days, and it’s possible the illness will flare up and you’ll need to cancel your trip in order to stay home and care for her. Or, maybe you’re traveling to the Caribbean in September. A horrific storm could sidetrack your trip because, hey, it’s the peak of hurricane season. Or perhaps you’re traveling to an exotic destination that’s a once-in-a-lifetime splurge. You certainly can’t afford to lose all the money you paid months (even a year) in advance, should something prevent you from taking the trip.

Sometimes, though, trouble pops up in ways you’d least expect. In October 2010, Celebrity Century suffered damage to its rudder just two days into a 12-night Mediterranean cruise. Guests were dropped in Villefranche, France, where — to add insult to injury — they discovered that French transportation strikes were going to make getting home extremely difficult. While Celebrity eventually offered refunds, spending money for incidentals and compensation for airfare rebooking fees, its original offer was less generous. A travel insurance policy would have given the greatest protection to travelers in this situation — especially since you never know how much a cruise line will reimburse you.

With everything that could go wrong on the way to the cruise terminal or during the cruise itself, do you really want to chance it and go without travel insurance?

The ins and outs of purchasing travel insurance can be confusing at times. Over the next several posts we will cover everything you need to know to find the best policy for your next vacation, including:

• What Does Travel Insurance Cover?
• Does Everyone in the Group Need Insurance?
• What’s Not Covered?
• A la Carte Policy Additions
• Types of Travel Insurance
• Cruise-Line or Third-Party Insurance?
• When to Buy Insurance
• Real-World Examples

–by Andrea M. Rotondo, a New York City writer specializing in luxury cruise travel and romantic vacations She writes the Luxury Cruise Bible blog at www.luxurycruisebible.com.

Make plans for the new year and join us in New York City to see The Mountaintop, starring Samuel L. Jackson as Dr. Martin Luther King and actress Angela Bassett. Taking place on April 3, 1968, The Mountaintop, press notes state, is a “gripping reimagining of events the night before the assassination of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. After delivering his legendary ‘I’ve Been to the Mountaintop’ speech, an exhausted Dr. King retires to his room at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis while a storm rages outside. When a mysterious young woman delivers room service, King is forced to confront his past, as well as his legacy to his people.”

Stay in Jersey City and tour in the Big Apple – New York City. Spend the day on a guided tour of ‘the city the never sleeps” and see the sights that make NYC so famous – from uptown to downtown and everywhere in between!

For more information, view our flyer and RSVP today!

Kick off your celebration of the big game in paradise. The 2011 season Pro Bowl will showcase the stars of the NFL at Aloha Stadium, in Honolulu Hawaii on JANUARY 29, 2012. Van Horn Vacations has packages available that will put you in exotic and beautiful Hawaii with tickets and transportation to the game. Join in the celebration and reserve your trip now.

Click here for rates and information.

Van Horn Vacations is proud to announce a new tour for 2012. We invite you to join us this February as we travel to Washington DC for a three day exploration of Americans history from the American Civil War through to the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960′s. Space is limited and all inclusive rates begin at $525.00 so make your reservations today.

Click here for rates and information.

Van Horn Vacations is proud to announce our participation as an Indiana Emerging Business. The NFL Emerging Business Program is a business development program designed to prepare minority- and women-owned business for opportunities associated with the Super Bowl and beyond. This is an honor for Van Horn Vacations, and an opportunity for you to celebrate the Super Bowl in style.

With over 400 Emerging Businesses to support, Indiana has more than enough players to build a winning team – so let the competition begin! Accept the ultimate challenge to make an economic impact by purchasing goods or services with Emerging Businesses from October 15, 2011 to January 21, 2012. The grand prize? A chance for you to score a pair of Super Bowl XLVI tickets! All sweepstakes entries must be received by January 26, 2012. We know that a championship team is built around a team of champions.

Search
Search for Products and Services such as catering, printing, event planning and more at https://emergingbusiness.indianapolissuperbowl.com/search_vendor.aspx

Spend
Spend at least $500 with an Emerging Business in the guide and your name will be entered into the drawing.

Win
For every $500 you spend, you have another chance to win a pair of Super Bowl XLVI tickets. Example: Spend $2,200 with an Emerging Business and receive four (4) chances to win.

Click here to download the Emerging Business Challenge Flyer

Need a reason to get on-board with Van Horn Vacations’ Employee Travel Club? Well, here are ten. What are you waiting for?

1. Have your travels customized by one of our dedicated Travel Consultants.

2. Feel secure in knowing that our customer service support can be available to you 24-hours a day while traveling.

3. Opportunities to experience fun activities in corporate team building or fun leisure group travel. We believe in the ‘out of the box experience’.

4. Be assured of first-class accommodations, reliable rental vehicles and safety first!- We do not partner with any suppliers that we’re not personally familiar with.

5. Van Horn Vacations LLC’s ability to enhance your well-being by taking you away from the stress of everyday life.

6. Enjoy the local flavor of participating wineries and restaurants.

7. Meet the locals via special VIP invitations and then experience back-stage invites that are giving to Van Horn Vacations LLC then passed onto you.

8. Enjoy the freedom and flexibility to travel independently and explore the magical spots you’ve come to dream of.

9. Have a trip constructed to match your individual ideas and one tht adheres to your specific budget.

10. Simply put, our focus at Van Horn Vacations LLC is to provide you with a vacation that brings about your absolute joy.

On a recent trip to Atlanta, I learned that one of city’s newer boutique properties, the Ellis Hotel,  offers a women-only floor. “What a cool idea,” I thought. As a woman who often travels solo — and who hasn’t always felt safe doing so — I liked the idea of a keycard-secured area just for female travelers. Why hadn’t I heard of this before?

After I got back home, I did a little research. Turns out that there are a few other hotels around the world that offer women-only floors — and there are even places where men are forbidden throughout the entire property. I was intrigued and impressed by many of the hotels, like the woman-owned and -operated Lady’s First Design Hotel in Zurich, which reserves 12 part-time staff positions for local unemployed women in need. The Luthan Hotel & Spa in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, gives female travelers, particularly Saudi businesswomen, a comfortable place of their own within a country that still has fairly rigid gender roles. The hotel is staffed entirely by women, so Muslims can remove their veils when they arrive. And I love that the female-only Artemisia Hotel in Berlin has a gallery featuring work by women artists.

But as I looked into other women-only hotel spaces, I didn’t feel quite as inspired. Take the Naumi Hotel in Singapore, which offers a “ladies floor” with “feminine touches of pink hues and flowery wallpaper,” according to its Web site. “For a total immersion of the senses, the discerning lady traveller can enjoy the range of female magazines over a cup of coffee, pamper herself with premium amenities or even indulge in a refreshing spa session.” Flowery wallpaper? Girly magazines? Swoon!

In the guestrooms on its women-only floor, New York City’s Premier Hotel provides a yoga mat, straightening iron, curling iron, lighted makeup mirror and “women’s magazines.” And the aforementioned Ellis Hotel in Atlanta offers, among other amenities, a “kiss cam to say goodnight to your loved ones.” Hmm. Wouldn’t a male traveler ever like to call home and get a little face time with his kids?

On one hand, I’m encouraged that hotels seem to be trying to respond to what women want. But to what extent are they simply pigeonholing us into tired old stereotypes? Sure, some female travelers do read fashion magazines and appreciate frou-frou bath products … but assuming that all of us do, just because we’re women, feels a little reductive to this particular “lady” traveler.

Of course, some will also raise the question of fairness. If there’s a women-only lounge or floor, why shouldn’t there be one just for men? And do women really want or need to be segregated in their own section of a hotel?

Personally, I believe there’s value in the safety and camaraderie fostered by women-only spaces, and I’m glad there are hotels out there that offer the option to female travelers who want it. Just make mine without the girly mags.

– written by Sarah Schlichter

Comment below and share your thoughts of this idea.

Hawaii remains the number one destination for honeymoons year after year because of its romantic sunsets, magnificent beaches, and luxurious hotels. Visitors to Hawaii can also conveniently hop from island to island to experience just about any climate and adventure under the sun, including kayaking, mountain climbing, surfing, scuba, and even hiking in a rainforest.

Honeymooners have endless options. Following months of wedding planning, couples often retreat to a luxurious resort that caters to their every need, while others trek to an adventurous escape from their day-to-day lives. Whether a beach vacation, an exciting adventure filled trip, or something in between, the honeymoon should reflect your joint personality and wishes.

Few destinations can offer so much for a honeymoon location, and the satisfaction ratings for Hawaii are among the highest in the entire travel industry. Hawaii is about romance and the island caters in a very special way to destination weddings and honeymooners.

Hawaii’s climate is world class and year-round. The scenery cannot be matched by any other tropical destination. The mountains, valleys, waterfalls, rainforests and rugged coastlines are unforgettable. And the Aloha Spirit – the attitude of friendly acceptance and the way of life that makes the Hawaiian Islands famous is the perfect ambiance in which to begin your life as a couple.

Hawaii is so familiar and yet so exotic -yet Hawaii is United States soil. That means US currency and no travel documents. The food, culture and language are all familiar and relaxing. But around every turn is some element of the unfamiliar, from the Aloha culture to the strong influence of Asian cultures and heritage. Sold? Here are a few tips that will assist you in better planning your Hawaiian honeymoon.

Planning a honeymoon in Hawaii can be an exciting, but overwhelming experience. Most couples will wait until after all the wedding plans are handled to start thinking about their honeymoon. However, to ensure that you get the best pricing and availability, we recommend that you start the planning process nine to twelve months before your departure date.

Honeymoons too often take a backseat to the arrangements and plans of the actual wedding, but you owe it to yourself to give honeymoon planning greater and more careful attention. After all, while the wedding is mainly for your family and friends, the once-in-a-lifetime honeymoon that follows is a private getaway for you and your new spouse to celebrate your marriage. Though you may spend a portion of your vacation relaxing and reflecting on this major life change, the honeymoon is most of all an opportunity to enjoy being a newlywed, spending quality time with your new spouse, and experiencing a romantic and exciting getaway.

Firstly, decide on a budget. It has been said that honeymooners typically spend nearly four times what an average vacationer spends, and for good reason. For a honeymoon, you want to have the best possible experience that you can comfortably afford. Considering the importance of the memories you will be building, this is not the time to make unwise cuts in your buy. This is the one occasion among all others when you want to be certain that you will enjoy as much quality as you can afford.

Hawaii is for any budget – from first class luxury accommodations to budget condominiums. Your travel consultant can assist you with planning a vacation to provide the best possible value. This is one of the other reasons that Hawaii is such a popular choice. With several islands to choose from, Hawaii offers some of the best beaches, resorts, and culture with a wide range of hotels and properties. Right now, Hawaii is a real bargain, with travel there currently less than the same trip would have cost in 2007. No other destination offers you as great a return on the money you will spend on your honeymoon than the Islands of Aloha!

Couples who try to plan their honeymoon on their own online, wind up feeling frustrated and are likely to miss opportunities that a travel agent will know. A travel agent who specializes in honeymoons can help the two of you sort out which destinations would be right for the two of you, based on your likes and dislikes, and your priorities as a couple. Even if as a couple you have very different ideas of where and how you would like to spend your honeymoon, a honeymoon expert should be able to find a location that is perfect for both of you, and ensure that your flights, transfers, hotel and insurance are all packaged appropriately.

Sit down with your agent and discuss your idea of the perfect honeymoon. What do you like to do as individuals and what as a couple? Hawaii affords many different opportunities for activities and leisure time. You can Kayak, explore rainforests, or sit on the beach. Schedule in more free time than you might think you want. Remember, this is a honeymoon, not a vacation, and that really is a distinction that means something! Make a list of the things that mean the most to you, get in some practice making decisions as a couple. The more clearly you can communicate your ideal honeymoon to your agent, the better the overall planning process will be.

Be diligent about keeping copies of all correspondence, confirmation numbers, and invoices given to you by your travel consultant. Double- and triple-check all the plans to be sure that your departure and return dates are correct. Inform everyone along the way that you’re traveling on your honeymoon, so you don’t miss out on complimentary perks. Stay organized by creating a folder or notebook where you can keep all this information.

One last bit of advice: Have realistic expectations throughout the course of planning and taking your honeymoon trip. While it’s only natural for you to want your honeymoon to be perfect, bear in mind that travel is inherently an adventure. Approach your honeymoon with an open mind, and prepare to have plenty of laughs along the way.

There really are endless possibilities in Hawaii for honeymooners. Your travel agent can provide you with all the information you need to decide which island (or islands!) and what hotel properties are right for you. Start planning early to make sure you’re right where you want to be… and then Bon Voyage!

Sandals Resorts is offering its most loyal guests, members of Sandals Select, additional incentives and bonus points when booking a stay at any of the fourteen Luxury Included® resorts in Jamaica, Antigua, St. Lucia or The Bahamas . With the “Fall Fifty” promotion, Sandals Select members will be credited an additional 50% of their account value for bookings made March 31, 2011 for travel through November 15, 2011. In order to qualify for this promotion, guests must book a minimum four-night stay in in concierge or butler service accommodations. Bonus points are redeemable immediately upon booking, with a maximum redemption of $750.

Included in this offer is the recently rebranded Sandals Royal Plantation, Ocho Rios, Jamaica, the only member of the Leading Small Hotels of the World in Jamaica. Overlooking a private Caribbean cove and spanning 17 manicured acres, this British Colonial getaway is comprised of 74 Oceanview suites appointed with hand-crafted mahogany beds and spacious, island-elegant furnishings.

In addition to Sandals Select points, Sandals Resorts’ most loyal guests are also eligible to receive additional savings this fall through the resort company’s current “Up to 65% Off” promotion. Available to all guests, this promotion offers savings on regular room rates of up to 65%, as well as up to $250 toward Sandals Resorts’ exclusive Red Lane® Spa. As with all Luxury Included® vacations, guests of Sandals Resorts will enjoy fine dining options, premium brand beverages, including wines by Beringer Vineyards and El Dorado Rum, watersports including offshore snorkeling and SCUBA diving, nightly entertainment, luxurious accommodations, airport transfers and all resort taxes and fees.