Buenas tardes.  We depart in only 442 days for sunny Spain!

In years past, we discussed insurance at the spring meeting, 110 days or so prior to departure.  EF requests that we make our insurance interests known sooner, even as soon as enrollment.  Of course, you may wait on insurance within reason, especially since some groups won't even enroll for a June 2007 tour until fall 2006.

Insurance is intensely personal.  I carry great insurance on my house, less on my inexpensive two-year old car, and even less on my old van.  Maybe I should insure my bikes.  I could not imagine life without health insurance:  in fact, that single factor has driven my career/employment choice since I was 19 years old, first at United Parcel Service, then as a career public school teacher.  I need to know that my family will receive good medical attention. Each person makes that personal insurance decision.

Each trip about 30%-40% of the travelers enroll in some sort of insurance.  Here are the options and the prices.  Mark your choice on the invoice that you return prior to the April 6 payment deadline.  Or wait until late summer/early fall.  Why would EF turn down extra money eight months before we depart?

All Inclusive Insurance $115:  This includes insurances for Medical and Accidental, Baggage and Property, and Trip Cancellation, each described below.

Medical and Accidental $65:  Of all three, ironically, this one interests me less.  I have good medical insurance that covers me and my family here in the US.  It also covers expenses overseas.  I pay out of pocket overseas, submit the bill to my carrier once I return, and I get reimbursed according to the plan.  ALSO, Spain has socialized medicine.  In other words, medical care in Spain is free or amazingly inexpensive.  Over the years, I have had about 12 situations in Spain where medical care set the student at ease (mostly exhaustion from dehydration, poor diet, or stomach bug).  In sum, we have paid $90 TOTAL dollars for all of that medical care!  Free medical care is a pillar of the 1977 Spanish constitution.

Baggage and Property $45:  Do you travel with expensive stuff?  Then this may appeal to you.  Airlines also carry insurance on our baggage.

Trip Cancellation $60:  This insurance interests me the most.  EF clearly details their refund policy in the enrollment booklet which you have.  They do offer refunds on a sliding scale as the departure date gets closer.  An unforeseen cancellation of the trip a few weeks prior to departure, however, could result in most/all money forfeited.  Please review the cancellation policy.

I've been traveling with students and EF since 1993 and we have never filed a claim.

So, THE DECISION THAT YOU MAKE IS THE RIGHT ONE FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY and I will say no more!

Please contact me with any concerns or if I can help.

No reply necessary.

Ah, I can smell Spring Break!   Senor/Jim