Your pre-travel checklist for an overseas vacation

If you’re planning on traveling off the island any time soon, there are some essential steps you should include on your “to do” list to protect yourself and your property while you’re away. Keep these tips top of mind while you prepare to leave home:

1. Get a good travel insurance policy. No matter the length of your trip, it's always wise to purchase travel insurance to protect you from unexpected expenses while you’re away. Travel insurance from BF&M includes coverage for baggage and personal property, personal accidents, medical and emergency travel expenses, and trip cancellation and curtailment. Learn more about why you need travel insurance, and get an online quote for travel insurance from BF&M.
2. Make sure your high-value belongings are covered by your insurance policy. Most travel insurance policies have specific exclusions and coverage limits for individual belongings (for example, BF&M’s per-item limit is $1,000). If you plan to bring any valuables with you on your trip, such as designer clothing, computer equipment, or golf clubs, be sure to list each item separately on your Baggage and Personal Property form. Certain items that are excluded from your standard travel insurance policy, such as jewellery, watches, and camera equipment, may need to be covered under a separate Special Risks policy.
3. Take some steps to protect your home against break-ins. Before you leave for your vacation, ask a trusted neighbour to check in on your home while you’re away, remove any spare keys that are hidden on your property, move all valuables out of view of your windows and doors, and take these other important steps to secure your home and avoid becoming a target for break-ins.
4. Secure your yard and the outside of your home. Inspect your yard and make sure your garden shed, garage, and any other out-buildings are locked. You should also put away anything that might be tempting to thieves or be used assist in a break-in, like ladders and yard tools.
5. Contact your home security company. If you have an alarm system in your home, contact the provider and let them know when you will be away. You should also give them contact information for the neighbour or friend who will be checking in on your home.
6. Unplug appliances that aren’t in use. You can save electricity and reduce your risk of an electrical fire by unplugging all appliances that won’t be in use while you’re away, such as your TV, your toaster, and lamps you won’t be leaving on.
7. Keep your travel plans off social media. Sharing your travel plans on social media could tip off a potential burglar and let them know when you’ll be away, potentially leading to a break-in. Plus, if you publicly share specific plans, such as the hotel you’ll be staying at, you could risk being targeted at your destination. It’s best to save any travel-related social media posts for after your return.
8. Take photos of your passport and other identification documents. Having digital access to these photos can help you get replacements more quickly if you lose any of your important documents while you’re away.
9. Properly label your luggage. Be sure to clearly tag your luggage with up-to-date contact information and the phone number where you can be reached while you’re away. You can also consider putting a wireless tracking device in your suitcase so you can keep track of its location, which can be helpful if your bag doesn’t make it onto your flight.
10. Limit the amount of cash you take with you. If you’re planning on visiting the bank to take out cash before you travel, carefully consider how much you really need. Many businesses in tourist destinations allow card purchases, and using your card may be safer than carrying a lot of cash. You should also be aware of your travel insurance provider’s coverage limit for cash — if you lose or have a large amount of cash stolen while you’re away, your policy will have a limit to how much of it can be reimbursed. 

As a last step before you travel — especially if you’ll be away for an extended period — review your home insurance policy or contact your insurer to make sure you have the coverage you’ll need in the event of a break-in or other incident that might occur while you’re away. If you’re a BF&M customer, you can review your policy online or contact our customer service team with questions about home or travel insurance today.