The following is an excerpt from Peter’s latest book, The Complete Travel Detective Bible. Check it out …

Since I’m an advocate of purchasing travel insurance, people are always coming up to me and asking, “Why?”

Which is why I’ve come up with my list of the top 10 situations in which travel insurance can come in handy.

If you’re into death-defying activities, finding affordable travel insurance isn’t always easy.

But even if you’re into tamer sports like sailing or scuba diving, it’s not always easy to find coverage.

Adventure travel activities are not confined to extreme sports, and there are insurance plans designed specifically for these tamer outdoor activities.

AIG Travel Guard covers activities like sport fishing and hunting, offers roadside assistance, and will even cover equipment loss—in case that 100-pound tuna steals your rod.

Patriot America’s Sports Rider coverage can protect you for sports adventures such as snowboarding, snorkeling, surfing, and water skiing.

IMG-Patriot’s Extreme Plan offers medical coverage for high-intensity sports such as bungee jumping and sky diving, but also for activities such as rock climbing, …

Many of you know Peter’s airline baggage philosophy: “There are two kinds of luggage. Carry-on and lost.”

As a result, Peter has checked only about three bags domestically in the last 10 years. His solution? Ship it.

Yes, it’s going to cost you some money, but it will save you at least two hours of aggravation.

Here’s how it breaks down:

You stand in the mile-long line at the ticket counter; even if you try to save time by checking in electronically, you still have to wait for an available agent to tag and weigh your bags.

Then, you schlep your luggage over to the TSA inspectors, where there’s usually …

Thank you for all the tips that you provide for traveling! I have a question regarding travel insurance, as I am going on a trip in March to Italy via ABC Tours, and was unsure as to whether I should purchase travel insurance or not. Thank you so much for your time.
-Sally S.
This is one of those age-old questions with no definitive answer. It’s estimated that 30 percent of Americans purchase travel insurance, which is a drastic increase since 9/11, when less than 10 percent of travelers were insured.

When subtropical storm Andrea became the first named storm of the hurricane season–about three weeks before the official hurricane season begins June 1–it raised concerns among many in hurricane-prone areas that this might be a particularly dangerous hurricane season.

Indeed, most climate scientists say that global warming could greatly increase the number and intensity of hurricanes. But after the high-profile devastation wrought by Katrina in 2005, many hurricane-prone destinations began offering what is generally known as a “Hurricane Guarantee.”

With most hurricane guarantees, the hotel, resort, or travel provider either gives guests full refunds, or allows guests to rebook their lost vacations within one year. But the policy usually only applies if an actual …

A reader from Bellingham, Washington asks “Should I get travel insurance for my upcoming safari vacation?”

For big trips like safaris, when you spend a lot, insurance can be a good idea. And when you get insurance, make sure it’s from an independent company, not the travel company you bought your vacation from.

Among the companies offering comprehensive insurance are Travel Guard, Travelex, Access America, and Travelsafe. To compare different insurance policies, try http://insuremytrip.com and http://tripinsurancestore.com .

And remember, even if you have health insurance, it probably won’t cover you when you’re abroad. So for extra peace of mind, consider medical evacuation insurance from companies like Medjet Assist, Air Ambulance, or International SOS. That way, if you do get …