The charm of Charleston lives on its horse-drawn carriages, pastel-hued buildings, and centuries-old cobblestones. Yet even with all history, the city definitely is not stuck in the past.
You may be surprised to learn that present-day Charleston is an incredibly foodie-centric city!
Amidst all the Spanish moss, you’ll find countless restaurants known for their creativity and innovation. And, for those that really want to sample Southern delights, you’ll find typical South Carolina staples like barbecues, grits, and tons of seafood.
Take yourself on a walking tour along Rainbow Row (a street lined with, you guessed it — colorful buildings!), the iconic Pineapple Fountain in Waterfront Park, and then find a place to post up for a decadent meal.
You’ll be hard-pressed to find a restaurant that hasn’t earned some sort of award. As you’re planning your trip, I would highly recommend taking a look at my Charleston foodie guide and mapping out which places you’d like to dine at. Reservations are recommended for a majority of the restaurants (and for good reason — they’re uber popular!).
Want to take a step back in time while still experiencing Southern hospitality? Book a room at 86 Cannon Historic Inn. Whether I was enjoying my morning coffee on the porch or chatting with the other guests over an afternoon glass of wine, it felt like a home away from home.
I personally spent three nights in Charleston, and while three days might not give you quite enough time to see it all, you can definitely cross a few essentials off your list! Check out my ultimate 3-day Charleston guide to plan your itinerary!
The largest of the Balearic Islands, Mallorca is the go-to holiday destination for Spanish people and Europeans alike. Go for the resort vibe and party with the international crowd until dawn, or get off the beaten path and explore the hidden beach and lush forest paths of Mondrago Natural Park.
The Balearic Islands have something for everyone. Whether you want to dance the night away at the trendy international clubs of Ibiza or explore the Biosphere Reserve of Menorca, it’s well worth leaving the Spanish mainland to explore these gems.
From the parties of Palma to the Roman and Moorish remains, the Mediterranean spirit permeates the air here.
While the archipelago is a collection of 151 islands, Mallorca, Ibiza, Menorca, and Formentera make up the core of the Balearic islands. Mallorca, or Majorca as it’s known in Catalan, is Europe’s summertime playground.
Whether it’s a girls’ trip, romantic honeymoon, or a chill getaway, you’ll absolutely want to explore Mallorca—from the beaches to the historic villages to the Cuevas del Drach, this place offers charm in spades.
I highly encourage you to add Mallorca to any Spain itinerary!
Buying travel insurance can be a very confusing part of planning your international travel adventure. Is it worth the expense? Which companies offer the best coverage?
The term travel insurance is commonly used to describe a few different types of insurance. It can sometimes be pretty confusing for new travelers.
You should know what kinds of coverage a travel insurance policy includes, because it may not include everything you think it does.
That really depends on a lot of different factors. You’ll have to ask yourself a few questions. Are you a short-term traveler going away for a week or two? Or are you a long-term traveler leaving for 6-months or more?
Do you carry a lot of expensive photo/computer gear, or not?
Will your regular health insurance cover you overseas? Does it include medical evacuation? Do you have pre-existing conditions?
Are you the type of person who books hotels/flights/activities in advance? Or do you just wing it and pay for these services as you use them?
Travel Health Insurance is coverage for accidents, injuries, and hospital visits while you are away from home.
Medical Evacuation Insurance is coverage for transporting you to a major hospital for treatment.
Trip Cancellation Insurance is coverage for unexpected interruptions in your travel plans.
Baggage/Property Insurance is coverage for theft or damage to your gear while traveling.
Safety Wing is fantastic budget travel insurance option for travelers. They offer the flexibility to purchase a plan before or after your trip has already started. Plans start at only $37 per month, and they include children too! Another big perk is that they can also cover you in your home country too.
World Nomads specializes in short-term travel coverage, including theft, and are very popular among travelers. I used them for years before I decided to get long-term expat type insurance instead.
Buying insurance with World Nomads for your next vacation is quick & easy. You can even purchase a plan with little advanced notice. You can extend coverage online from anywhere too.
Health Coverage Worldwide: Yes. Coverage At Home: No. Medical Evacuation: Yes. Trip Cancelation: Yes. Theft/Damage Insurance: Yes. ($500 per-item limit)
Long-Term Insurance For Digital Nomads & Expats
Because I’m a digital nomad and travel with thousands of dollars of camera equipment for work, I have a more long-term travel insurance mindset. I use an expat dedicated health insurance policy, combined with a gear policy for professional photographers.
This mix is more expensive than a World Nomads Policy, but works best for my long-term travel lifestyle.
This plan specializes in long-term worldwide medical coverage, but does not cover theft or trip cancelation. Coverage inside the United States is included, but to qualify you must spend at least 6 months of the year living abroad. You can choose a deductible from $250-$10,000.
Health Coverage Worldwide: Yes. Coverage at Home: Yes. Medical Evacuation: Yes. Trip Cancelation: No. Theft/Damage Insurance: No. Example Quote: Global Gold (1 year policy) = $74/month with $1000 deductibleNOTE: I’ve never needed to file a claim with any of these companies yet.
Full international medical insurance, including the United States. No limits as to how long you are in the US. Deductible waived for regular doctor checkups. Excellent insurance, but pricey. Sherry from OttsWorld.com is a happy customer.
Health Coverage Worldwide: Yes. Coverage at Home: Yes. Medical Evacuation: Yes. Trip Cancelation: No. Theft/Damage Insurance: No. Example Quote: Global Citizen (1 year policy) = $269/month with $1000 deductible
More Insurance Options
Your Current Health Insurance
Already have regular health insurance in your home country? Check to see if they provide coverage internationally. If they do, you might not need anything else.
Homeowners Or Renters Insurance
Your homeowners or renters insurance may cover your belongings when you’re traveling in foreign countries too. Call them up to verify the details.
Credit Card Insurance
Many credit card companies often include some basic travel and theft insurance for their customers. Call them up to get details on what’s covered (or not).
Do You Need Travel Insurance?
This is the million-dollar question — and ultimately a personal decision. I’ve met plenty of people who travel without travel insurance and I’ve contemplated doing the same.
But after over 6 years of constant travel, hearing horror stories from other travelers, and getting into a few dangerous predicaments myself — if someone asks for my opinion on the subject I answer with:
YES. Everyone should carry some kind of health/property insurance when traveling.
Why? Because shit happens. Whether you think it will or not. Despite your best-laid plans and preventative measures. Sure, if you sprain your ankle, it might not be a big deal.
But what if your appendix bursts? Or your bus crashes? Or you contract a deadly disease? Or require medical evacuation after breaking your leg?
These things definitely happen to travelers from time to time, and could cost you tens (or hundreds) of thousands of dollars. Without insurance, you’re screwed!
My recommendation is based on listening to countless first-hand tales of disaster from other travelers, as well as my own personal experiences.
Real-Life Examples
I met a woman in Costa Rica who fell off a ladder, shattering the bone in her arm. She did not have health insurance, received horrible treatment at the local hospital, and was basically held hostage until she was able to pay the HUGE medical bill.
Another friend lost everything he owned when his locked guesthouse in Ecuador was broken into. Without personal property insurance, he would’ve needed to spend thousands replacing stolen computer & camera gear.
Another friend contracted a flesh-eating parasite while trekking through the jungles of Peru. He required months worth of treatment from specialized doctors, and a flight back to the United States.
Yet another friend had his 5-star resort hotel room ransacked in Mexico.
These are all people I know personally.
Making An Insurance Claim
Insurance companies are notorious for trying to avoid paying out claims. Making a claim might take some work on your part, depending on the situation. Here are a few tips for getting paid:
If you’re having issues filing a claim, always work your way up the corporate ladder. Talk to a supervisor. Then talk to the supervisor’s supervisor. Make your claim issues public using Social Media if needed.
Record conversations. At the beginning of every phone call, tell the other party you’re recording the conversation to ensure no mis-understandings later. You can easily do this with Skype and a program like Pamela for PC or Ecamm Call Recorder for Mac.
When filing a police report of any kind, keep the story simple. The longer and more in-depth the report, the easier it is for insurance companies to find a loophole they can use to deny your claim! You better believe they will try…
Additional Travel Insurance Tips
Read the fine print first! Know what you’re covered for. For example, some policies don’t cover extreme sports or theft of unattended items.
Take photos of all your gear with a date stamp.
Save PDF copies of all gear purchase & hospital receipts. Keep originals too.
Write down serial numbers, policy numbers, and insurance contact information.
Store this information online in a secure, easy to access place. I use Evernote. Another good option is Dropbox or Google Drive.
File a police report immediately after any theft or accident.
No one likes to think about theft or injury when they’re on vacation, but the threat is real, and without good travel insurance, an unexpected incident could ruin the rest of your year. Never travel without it! ★
READ MORE TRAVEL SAFETY TIPS
I hope you enjoyed my guide to the best travel insurance options in 2021 Hopefully you found it useful. Here are a few more wanderlust-inducing articles that I recommend you read next:
Did you know that you can channel all those European vibes without leaving the US? The Bavarian-styled village of Leavenworth is the place!
Located in the Cascade Mountains, Leavenworth is lined with Alpine-style buildings and restaurants that offer German beer and food. The nearby lake of Wenatchee is the ideal spot for a cozy cabin getaway where you can bird-watch.
Oh, and did I mention the ski areas and wineries? Yep! This place is the ultimate winter holiday destination.
This quaint little town is the perfect Pacific Northwest winter weekend getaway, especially if you can visit during the holiday season. If you’re looking to embrace all those European Christmas market vibes without leaving the US, Leavenworth is like a little Bavaria.
While you would see the best of the town in 24 hours, I would recommend making a weekend out of it to truly get the chance to soak it all in.
