Make the most of your travel experience: Be in the know before you go with www.savvytraveller.ca

    Travel Guard introduces new website containing travel information, advice
    and resources

    TORONTO, Nov. 3 /CNW/ - Thinking about a winter beach vacation? Planning
ahead for March Break? For the millions of Canadians who like to research
their travel plans before leaving home(*), Travel Guard today introduced Savvy
Traveller, www.savvytraveller.ca.
    Savvy Traveller is a one stop spot for the latest travel news, tips and
travel insurance advice. Take the Savvy Traveller quiz to test your travel
knowledge, share your best travel advice for a chance to win great prizes,
compare travel insurance rates and download handy tools, including packing
tips and emergency contact lists.
    "Savvy Traveller offers Canadians accurate travel information, news and
resources in a friendly, easy-to-use format," says Joel Donin, director of
marketing, Travel Guard. "Despite the economy, 32 per cent of Canadians plan
to travel more in the next year than they did this year and they can make the
most of their travel experience - and their travel budget - by being in the
know."
    Savvy Traveller offers a range of tools from links on where to go for
information on travelling with a disability to finding the most cost-effective
travel insurance plan for your family. Tips range from helpful hints on
snowbird travel to sending your student on a backpacking adventure and are
updated throughout the year to make sure you have the latest news and tools.
    "Canadians are among the world leaders in internet usage and online
activity," says Donin. "The internet and travel go hand-in-hand, with nearly
50 per cent of Canadians looking for the best deals online and more than
30 per cent booking their travel online. Savvy Traveller makes it easier for
everyone to become a savvy traveller."

    Share your story - and win!

    While travellers and aspiring explorers are checking out the latest
travel information and news on www.savvytraveller.ca, they are invited to
share their best travel advice to win great prizes.
    "If you are one of the approximately 25 per cent of Canadians who
consider themselves a "savvy traveller", we want to hear your stories, tips or
insider advice," says Donin. "We are offering great prizes for information so
Canadians can learn from the experiences of like-minded travellers."
    More information on the contest is available at www.savvytraveller.ca.

    The Savvy Traveller Poll

    The recent Savvy Traveller Survey revealed the following travel tidbits:
    -   Canadians love to travel: 70 per cent said that if they had the
        money, they would travel more often
    -   British Columbians consider themselves the savviest travellers in the
        country (29 per cent versus 25 per cent nationally)
    -   Nearly 70 per cent of Albertans go online to hunt for the best travel
        deals before booking their trip vs. the national average of
        46 per cent
    -   Close to one quarter of Canadians say their friends and family often
        ask them for travel advice
    -   Despite the softening economy, only 11 per cent of respondents said
        they were planning to travel less in the next year than they did
        this year

    The Savvy Traveller Poll was conducted by Angus Reid Strategies in
October 2008. It was a sample of 1,004 Canadian adults with a maximum margin
of error of +/-3.1 19 times out of 20.

    About Savvy Traveller

    Savvytraveller.ca is a new resource from Travel Guard for travellers who
want to get the most out of their travel. Savvy Traveller's goal is to provide
travellers with what they need to know, from information on travel insurance
to cost-saving advice in one, clear, easy-to-navigate place. For more
information, visit www.savvytraveller.ca.

    About Travel Guard

    Travel Guard is the largest provider of travel insurance and assistance
in North America, offering consumers a variety of travel insurance plans, all
with comprehensive travel and protection services - and backed by superior
customer service.

    (*) According to the recent Savvy Traveller Poll, conducted by
        Angus-Reid Strategies, nearly 33 per cent of Canadians always read
        up on new travel destinations before jetting off.

    Travel Guard Canada insurance is underwritten by American Home Assurance
Company, Canada Branch, with its principal place of business at 145 Wellington
Street West, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5J 1H8. American Home Assurance
Company is a member company of American International Group, Inc. The
description herein is a summary only. It does not include all terms,
conditions and exclusions of the policies described. Please refer to the
actual policies for complete details of coverage and exclusions.

For further information: on Savvy Traveller or the Savvy Traveller Poll,
please contact: Anne Locke, Jennifer Meneses, Paradigm Public Relations, (416)
203-2223 x 225, alocke@paradigmpr.ca