Foreign Travel?

[mjarrels]

Numbers say you’re much more likely to get hurt by a family member or someone you know than a stranger.

One thing you might want to look into is health insurance, medicare is useless there, most people I know that live over there full time are self insured, most hospital visits are just a few pesos. Something like a heart attack may be costly.

mark

 

[ultrarunner]

One thing you might want to look into is health insurance, medicare is useless there, most people I know that live over there full time are self insured, most hospital visits are just a few pesos. Something like a heart attack may be costly.

mark

Too young for Medicare…

I do have retired military friends in the Philippines and as veterans they can access limited services in the Philippines and a few have traveled to Guam…

 

[MAX-24-Dean]

One of the positives if going is you have been studying the language,
"mangadang umaba" with a smile as well as knowing other phrases in Tagalog will let others know you probably have connections there and if staying in a group with filipinos taking you there, I would have no concern at all.
Just my family experience in the "State Dept." travel advisary areas when visiting the there.

 

[ultrarunner]

One of the positives if going is you have been studying the language,
"mangadang umaba" with a smile as well as knowing other phrases in Tagalog will let others know you probably have connections there and if staying in a group with filipinos taking you there, I would have no concern at all.
Just my family experience in the "State Dept." travel advisary areas when visiting the there.

Still a little ways off but getting calls from friends that had encouraged me now not so sure.

One had her daughter in law call daughter in laws sister who lives at the base of Mt Apo which is my destination and the sister said not a good idea to visit at this time…

 

[EddieWalker]

Trust your gut. If it doesn't feel right, don't do it.

 

[AirOpsMgr]

One thing you might want to look into is health insurance, medicare is useless there, most people I know that live over there full time are self insured, most hospital visits are just a few pesos. Something like a heart attack may be costly.

mark

Along these lines, I'd suggest travel insurance to cover a multitude of possible scenarios along with a sim card on one of their networks. If you're going out on your own, map safe zones in advance (consulate / embassy, etc), spend the extra money for a legit car service as many are trained in defense situations.

Dress to blend, not as a target, look & act like you're supposed to be there, keep your head on a swivel & you should be fine. It's not that much different than traveling to any major US city.

 

[dmccarty]

One thing you might want to look into is health insurance, medicare is useless there, most people I know that live over there full time are self insured, most hospital visits are just a few pesos. Something like a heart attack may be costly.

mark

People who are cruising the world have said to just self insurance expect for big health care events. Health care is cheaper in many countries outside the US.

Get travel insurance. We have gotten it for our kids and actually had to use it. The wife and I get travel insurance when we go overseas to not just cover a trip to the ER but to cover getting us back to the US in an air ambulance if needed. An air ambulance is very expensive and one might need it to return to the US.

A coworker was hurt overseas on a business trip and was hospitalized for a time but then had to move out of the hospital so had to find a place to live for a week or so while they healed up enough to travel. Not fun, and while some of the doctors and nurses spoke English, the language barrier just made things more difficult.

I think what made me aware of the need for travel insurance was a woman who was bitten by a shark. She was on a boat and went swimming when she was attacked. The island did not have the ability to treat her, just sorta stabilize her. She had evacuation coverage and a jet air ambulance with a doctor and nurse on board flew out from Australia to get her. Seems like it took the plane 24 hours to fly out to get her and return to Australia. With out the air ambulance I think she would have lost her leg at best, but most likely she would have died. Saw a TV program about a Canadian nurse who was bitten by a shark in Mexico. The treatment in Mexico was horrible. She managed to get out of the "hospital" and fly back to Canada where she had trouble getting a doctor appointment which did not make sense to me. Eventually she got to a doctor who said she would likely have died from infection in 12-24 hours if she had not gotten the proper treatment. Evacuation insurance would have helped her. She is lucky they let her on the plane to fly home. The doctors in Mexico had just sawn in the chunk of flesh that was bitten out by the shark, which rolled in the sand, before being "fixed." The flesh was just rotting.

We have used Travelx, Travel insurance you can trust | Travelex Insurance.

 

[ultrarunner]

Travel Insurance with medivac can be a wonderful thing but exclusions apply.

My guess is traveling in a declared do not travel zone and maybe even a avoid travel zone might be excluded?

 

[HawkinsHollow]

Traveled extensivly in Western and Eastern Europe solo and never an issue... was cautioned against Slovenia at the time but a great experience... had the place to myself due to what was happening nextdoor at the time.

I was told people 6'4 and 250 lbs cannot "Blend In" traveling the provinces of Mindanao, Philippines...

Do you think a would be kidnapper wants to tangle with a guy 6'4" and 250. You gotta be kidding.

 

[WinterDeere]

Do you think a would be kidnapper wants to tangle with a guy 6'4" and 250. You gotta be kidding.

Nigerian and Somalian pirates choose to take on large, healthy, and strong cargo ship crew every day. I don't think those taking hostages to hold for ransom are as sensitive to the height of the hostage, as you imply.

 

[ultrarunner]

Nigerian and Somalian pirates choose to take on large, healthy, and strong cargo ship crew every day. I don't think those taking hostages to hold for ransom are as sensitive to the height of the hostage, as you imply.

I figure the strategy is outnumber or threat of deadly force.

Media isn’t covering right now but at this moment there is a coup of sorts with multi-prong raids unfolding at my destination airport city.

Interesting times for sure…

 

[newbury]

Nigerian and Somalian pirates choose to take on large, healthy, and strong cargo ship crew every day. I don't think those taking hostages to hold for ransom are as sensitive to the height of the hostage, as you imply.

Often they have firearms and few qualms which makes them more than equal.

 

[newbury]

Media isn’t covering right now but at this moment there is a coup of sorts with multi-prong raids unfolding at my destination airport city.

Doesn't sound like a good time to go
Maybe @sodamo will chime in, he's closer to the area.

 

[sandman2234]

I am leaving for a foreign country tomorrow. No passport required, but there is a completely different language spoken there. I have a load that delivers in West Palm Beach, and then migrate into the southern country called "Miami".
Hope to make it out alive!
David from jax

 

[dmccarty]

Travel Insurance with medivac can be a wonderful thing but exclusions apply.

My guess is traveling in a declared do not travel zone and maybe even a avoid travel zone might be excluded?

Reading the policy a bit, it certainly would seem the insurance has the option of not covering treatment/transport in a no go area. However, it is one thing to say to not go to Russia vs there is a civil disturbance in Dublin, and they won't cover treatment/transport in Cork. So, reading left me with more questions.

Dublin was on the no go list due a civil disturbance in the center of Dublin due to a stabbing of several children and a teacher outside their school by a "migrant" who was being investigated by the Guarda(Police). This was last November so I am surprised it is still on the list. The disturbance/riot was over quickly but there are other things going on in Dublin and across Ireland, at the moment that are not really getting covered in their media. What coverage is happening is beyond biased and covering up police excessive use of force even though it has been recorded.

The policy said that events happening AFTER the insurance is bought should be covered. My guess is that they will provide coverage if it is safe to do so but I would email them and ask to get it in writing.

 

[dmccarty]

Do you think a would be kidnapper wants to tangle with a guy 6'4" and 250. You gotta be kidding.

The kidnappers in the Philippines were well armed, well motivated, had training, and executed well planned raids against Westerners all over the Sulu Sea. They raided individual boats, guarded marinas full of people including their targets, and various resorts across the area. The kidnappers were taking people for ransom but also to terrorize the local and federal government. The ransom money was used to arm the kidnappers, who were/are terrorists. They had no problem just killing people that got in the way, tried to escape or slowed them down.

An entire city was eventually wiped out during fighting between the national government and the "Moro" groups. The government went after the terror groups and greatly reduced their threat over the last decade or so. The big question is how much of a threat are they to Westerners at this point?

 

[Complete Turf Care]

I figure the strategy is outnumber or threat of deadly force.

Media isn’t covering right now but at this moment there is a coup of sorts with multi-prong raids unfolding at my destination airport city.

Interesting times for sure…

I'm sure you've seen this from the US. State Department. Looks like its about 2 months old.

Philippines Travel Advisory

travel.state.gov

 

[MMC]

Exciting times. You can check for more background here:

https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/philippines/travel-facts

That CIA summary does point to the travel advisory previously posted:

Philippines Travel Advisory

travel.state.gov

 

[3Ts]

There are travel insurance companies that cover risky activities. They advertise that they will come and get you in natural disasters, insurrections, and a bunch of other conditions and as a result are not cheap but if they're ever needed, they're well worth the money. Global Express is one that I've used in the past. They hire special forces operators as their field agents. Ripcord is another but I don't know much about them other than the two are competitors.

 

[mjarrels]

There are travel insurance companies that cover risky activities. They advertise that they will come and get you in natural disasters, insurrections, and a bunch of other conditions and as a result are not cheap but if they're ever needed, they're well worth the money. Global Express is one that I've used in the past. They hire special forces operators as their field agents. Ripcord is another but I don't know much about them other than the two are competitors.

SM malls are fantastic a bit of trivia SM stands of shoe mart. If you get a chance eat some krispy pata, its like a ham hock that takes hours to prepare.

mark