Safety technology for snowbird travel

Canadian retirees often head south of the border every winter, flocking to warmer climes. Called snowbirds, these annual travellers are mostly retirement age and often spend extended time abroad, with sunny Mexico, Costa Rica, Portugal and Spain being popular destinations.

If you’re considering the snowbird lifestyle, there are some precautions you should take to stay safe and carefree on your travels. Tech such as mobile apps, telehealth and automatic alerts can help you to stay connected and access key information while you’re away. Here are our tips on using technology to protect yourself during your next warm weather get-away this winter.

As a seasoned traveller, you may be aware that travel insurance is essential for protecting your health and well-being. You should know that your provincial or territorial health insurance plan may not fully cover you if you experience a medical emergency outside of your home province.

An Allianz Travel Insurance plan with emergency medical benefits may help you fill coverage gaps. We also offer plans with trip cancellation and delay, and baggage protection benefits.

Digital platforms for purchasing and managing travel insurance policies can be helpful time savers. If you’re 65 or older, purchasing travel insurance is a quick click away. Read more about our plans and why they may fit your travel lifestyle.

Without making a phone call, you can submit your eligible non-medical claims and out-of-pocket medical expenses through our secure, online claims portal. Non-medical claims include under the following benefits: Trip cancellation, trip delay and interruption, and luggage delay, loss and damage. Claims submitted through our claims portal that are eligible for reimbursement can be processed using the customer’s preferred payment method including direct deposit, Interac e-Transfer®, or credit card.

• Updated and comprehensive offline maps of any location worldwide
• Download and save maps on your mobile phone using the app
• Voice navigation  

• Helpful resource for outdoor enthusiasts.

• Maps for reaching destinations offline

• Comprehensive maps for walking paths, cycling, routes, trails and more

• Offline searches of maps and bookmarks

• Useful map details for hikers, road cyclists and mountain bikers including elevation profiles, peaks, slopes, and contour lines
  

• Helpful for exploring a destination on foot

• 3D map view

• Points of interest in your area

• FPS navigation for pedestrians
  

Check out this list of additional navigation apps.

When travelling abroad, it’s essential to stay aware of travel advisory updates and other news. Digital tools can help you access this information quickly and conveniently.

Stay connected by registering your trip with the Registration of Canadians Abroad Service, which allows the government to contact you if there is an emergency abroad. In addition to registering your trip, subscribe to daily emailed updates for travel advisories issued by the Goverment of Canada.

Additionally, apps can help you keep your trip scheduling and plans on track. Stay in the know on flight delays around the world with real-time updates on apps such as FlightAware , Flightradar24 and Flighty.

Messaging and Wi-Fi call technology can help you stay in touch with loved ones back home in case of emergencies, and to keep them generally aware of your plans.

If you’re not going to be travelling abroad for an extended amount of time, communication apps such as WhatsApp or Facebook messenger are a great budget solution for Wi-Fi calls and messaging.

WhatsApp may be safer than many other applications because your communication will be encrypted.

Check out this list of communication apps that may be ideal for your next trip.  

Telehealth, also known as telemedicine, allows travellers to virtually connect with health care providers from anywhere in the world. If you experience a non-emergent medical need on your trip but want to avoid long clinic wait times, a telehealth visit may be an ideal solution.

With an Allianz Travel Assistance plan, health advice from qualified professionals is just a virtual call away. Additionally, you may want to consider asking your primary care provider’s office about telehealth services, if you have ongoing medical needs that should be monitored.

Technology can be a useful part of your travel safety tool kit and can quickly connect you with travel insurance services. Live updates and mobile apps can increase your connectivity to essential resources, allowing you to travel with peace of mind.

Get a quote today and find out how an Allianz Travel Insurance plan may protect you on your next trip.