March Break 2017: Pack Your Bags, Not Your Stress

Almost half of all travellers stressed about falling ill while away, according to TD survey

TORONTO, Feb. 28, 2017 /CNW/ - For most people, a vacation is meant to be a way to relax and ease some of the stresses of everyday life, but many find vacations actually bring on additional stresses whether en route or while at their destination. For instance, a recent survey for TD Insurance found that for nearly half (49%) of Canadians planning to travel, the potential of falling ill while away was one of the top three causes of stress, but only four-in-10 (39%) report regularly buying travel insurance.

The survey revealed the other top travel stress factors were losing a wallet or travel documents (58%) and other personal items such as a camera or mobile phone (41%).

"With two in five Canadians planning to travel during March Break, there will be lots of people worrying about some aspect of their trip," said Brigitte Gougeon, Associate Vice President, TD Insurance. "We know Canadians are worried about the prospect of needing medical care while they're away, and we have some easy steps to help reduce some of this stress before departure."

Gougeon notes that nearly half of Canadians travelling over March break will be vacationing outside of Canada, so having adequate medical insurance is essential to ease concerns about falling ill or having an accident while away. According to the TD survey, Canadians who don't regularly buy travel insurance cite a variety of reasons for not doing so, including it not being top of mind, thinking they don't need it or thinking it's not worth the cost.  

"It's important for every traveller to ensure that they have the right coverage that fits their unique needs and situation since government health insurance plans only pay a small fraction of expenses when a traveller becomes ill or injured while abroad," says Gougeon. "Even when taking a short trip across the border – which many Canadians take for granted – you never know if something unexpected will crop up, like a fall or accident that requires medical attention. It's important to talk to your insurer and discuss the coverage that will fit your specific travel plans and activities."

Additional insurance tips for cutting down on stressors:

• If you're flying, remember to check weather conditions and your flight schedule on the morning before departure.
  
  
• For additional peace of mind, consider trip cancellation insurance to protect your trip investment. Trips can be expensive, and if your trip is cancelled or interrupted for a covered cause, having the associated costs reimbursed, will save you both money and stress. 
  
  
• Keep up-to-date on developments in the country you're travelling to. The Government of Canada has a web page that carries updated travel advisories on countries around the world, based on the latest news and happenings.

Travel expert and best-selling author of Travel Best Bets – An Insider's Guide to Taking Your Best Trips, Ever, Claire Newell, is a fearless traveller who has swum with sharks in Cape Town and taken elephant treks in Thailand. Even if your March Break travel plans don't involve sharks or elephants, Newell offers some of her own advice to help make your March Break travel less stressful this year.  

"Travel and trouble are two words you definitely don't want to see in the same sentence," she says. "From delayed or cancelled flights, to lost luggage, travel hardships can strike at any time."

Tips to help novice to experienced travellers relieve general travel stressors:

• Make copies of your passport, identification, wallet contents and emergency contact list. Keep a set in your luggage, another with you, and leave a copy with a friend or relative at home. You can also scan them and email yourself a copy or store them on the cloud.
  
  
• Put together a basic travel health kit. The kit should contain first-aid supplies such as alcohol wipes, bandages, antiseptic creams and medications for pain, fever, cold and allergies.
  
  
• Make sure your prescriptions have been refilled and that you have more than enough for the duration of your trip. Don't forget to pack it in your carry-on luggage to keep it easily accessible at all times.

"If there's one habit I encourage Canadians to get into, it's adding a review of their travel insurance to their broader travel-planning checklist," adds Gougeon. "A few minutes today could potentially mean peace of mind and a little less stress down the road should the unexpected happen."

About the TD Survey

Results are based on an online survey of 1,039 Canadian adults (aged 18yrs+), conducted between February 6 and 8, 2017, by Environics Research Group.

About TD Insurance

TD Insurance offers a wide range of products to help protect customers including credit protection, auto, home, health, life, and travel insurance. With more than 4.5 million customers, TD Insurance authorized products and services are available through a network of more than 1,150 TD Canada Trust branches, the Internet, and telephone. TD Insurance represents all of the personal lines insurance entities within TD Bank Group. For more information, visit www.tdinsurance.com.

SOURCE TD Insurance

Crystal Jongeward, TD Bank Group, 416-308-1746, [email protected]; Anne Coffey, Hill+Knowlton Strategies, 416-413-4659, [email protected]