Nation's Largest Travel Insurance Provider Suggests Tips and Strategies to Survive Holiday Travel

 Travel Smart: Protect Yourself During the Unpredictable Travel Season
STEVENS POINT, Wis., Dec 11, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ --

Just in time for the holiday
season, Travel Guard  http://www.travelguard.com is offering useful tips to
help make your travel safe and less stressful.
"In a typical week during the winter holiday season, we can often get

15,000 to 20,000 calls from anxious travelers," said Dan McGinnity, Vice
President of Travel Guard. "Most are looking for confirmation that their
flights are on time; help to rebook flights that have been delayed or
cancelled; and assistance in tracking down lost luggage. We also help
travelers who lose their travel documents, have medical emergencies, or just
want a reservation for that 'hard to get into' restaurant while traveling.
Our job really is to make our customers travel as enjoyable and hassle-free as
possible."
Travel Guard's Holiday Travel Tips Include:

-- Ship Your Gifts. Travelers should not pack wrapped gifts or bring

wrapped gifts to the security checkpoint at the airport. The Transportation
Security Administration (TSA) may have to unwrap packages for security
reasons. Consider shipping holiday gifts to your destination ahead of time.
Travel Guard can help arrange for this.
-- Carry On Your Luggage. If you pack wisely and carry on your luggage,

you can save time checking in, avoid the check-bagged fees many airlines now
charge, and give yourself more flexibility for taking alternative flights if
yours is delayed or cancelled. Worried about all those holiday gifts you
planned to bring along? See tip 1 above!
-- Book Direct Flights Departing as Early as Possible. Many of the

headaches travelers experience during the holidays occur from missed
connections, the need to rebook flights, or getting stuck in a strange city.
Preserve your sanity by booking direct flights whenever possible, and book the
earliest departing flight you can.
-- Be Flexible with Your Travel Dates. The busiest (and most expensive)

days to travel by air are the day before and the day after a holiday. To
avoid the crowds and get a better price, consider leaving earlier and
returning a day or two later.
-- Get to The Airport Early. With airport delays and holiday crowds, plan

to arrive at the airports at least two hours before your departure time for
both outbound and inbound trips. Check out TSA's website, waittime.tsa.dhs.gov
to get information on waiting times for security checkpoints at all airports.
-- Bring Your Numbers. Bring the phone numbers of your travel agent and

the travel assistance hotline of your travel insurance plan provider. This can
be a real lifeline if you experience unpredictable situations such as flight
delays, cancellations and over-booked flights, etc.
-- If Your Flight Is Can celled: Immediately call your travel agency's 24/7

emergency travel service to get assistance in rebooking your flight. Travel
Guard is one of the few travel insurance plan providers that also offers this
service to its clients. You'll get rebooked a lot more quickly than if you
wait in line at the airline counter. Plus, you can get help with lodging and
ground transportation if the next available flight requires an overnight stay.
-- Don't Forget the Travel Insurance. "Things can and do happen that can

force you to either cancel or interrupt your trip," said McGinnity. "A travel
insurance plan can cover your holiday travel investment, and also provide you
with 24/7 assistance for virtually any situation you may encounter. It could
be the most useful item you pack for your holiday travels."
Travel Guard offers a number of comprehensive travel insurance plans that

provide reimbursement for trip cancellation, interruption, as well as delays
due to covered reasons, lost, stolen or delayed baggage, and emergency medical
expenses, including medical evacuation. Most of these plans also include a
full range of personal and travel assistance services that customers can
access before and during their trip.
The complete family of travel insurance and assistance service plans

available through Travel Guard can be purchased online at
http://www.travelguard.com, through Travel Guard's 24-hour World Service
Center (800-826-1300), or from one of the more than 12,000 travel agencies who
offer the travel insurance plans available through Travel Guard.
About Travel Guard

Travel Guard Group, Inc. ("Travel Guard") (http//: www.travelguard.com) is

one of America's leading providers of travel insurance plans for more than 6
million travelers each year. Travel insurance plans through Travel Guard are
distributed by more than 12,000 travel agents across the United States.
Travel insurance plans through Travel Guard may include coverage for trip

cancellation, travel interruptions and delays, emergency medical expenses,
medical evacuation expenses, and lost or delayed baggage. Most plans also
include 24-hour travel assistance services* for emergency medical assistance,
last-minute or emergency travel changes, lost luggage tracking, pre-trip
travel advice, and more.
The travel insurance offered through Travel Guard is underwritten by

National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh, Pa., with its principal
place of business in New York, N.Y. The policy will contain reductions,
limitations, exclusions, and termination provisions. All coverages may not
available in all states.