You’re all packed and ready for the vacation of a lifetime. But there is one thing you may have overlooked that can protect you and your wallet before, during and after your trip, namely a travel insurance plan.

On some level, the type of travel insurance policy you need depends on your existing insurance coverage. Your personal health, homeowner’s and auto coverage offers some protection. Also, credit card companies provide travel benefits for lost bags, car rental mishaps and missed connections. U.S. airlines also will pay up to about $1,500 (U.S.), depending on currency fluctuations, for bags that are lost, stolen or damaged on international flights.

But none of these policies and benefits compare with travel insurance in covering your real costs in time, expense and inconvenience when the unexpected happens.

So there is good reason to consider a comprehensive travel insurance policy that will protect your travel investment against a wide range of potential problems like lost luggage, rental car accidents, delayed or missed connections or trip cancellation due to sickness, injury or death.

Because all travel insurance companies are not alike, SeeANZ has partnered with CSA Travel Protection, a company that insured more than 1.7 million travelers in 2007. In our experience, we believe CSA delivers the best overall value in terms of customer service and claims handling for:

• Pre-Existing Medical Conditions
• Supplier Bankruptcy and Default
• Emergency Medical Transportation
• Coverage Before, During and After Your Trip
• Trip Interruption at 150% of the Trip Cost
• Collision Damage Waiver

To buy travel insurance online, click here to visit CSA directly.

See Australia, New Zealand Offering the Best Vacations

Travel + Leisure Magazine recently issued their 2009 World’s Best awards. Hotels from the Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific region were split into 2 categories: Resorts and City Hotels. The properties were determined by Travel + Leisure readers via questionnaire. Out of the 35 properties named, See Australia, New Zealand offers packages to 13 of them. So, based on the survey, here are our…

13 Best Vacations to Australia,
New Zealand,Tahiti and Fiji

• Lilianfels Blue Mountains Resort & Spa (Australia):
  Luxury City and Country Escapes
• Hayman Island (Australia):
  Sydney and Hayman Island Package
• Intercontinental Bora Bora Resort & Thalasso Spa (Bora Bora, Tahiti)
• Voyages Lizard Island (Australia):
  Outback, Reef, Rainforest and Sydney
• Huka Lodge (New Zealand):
  Deluxe Self-Drive New Zealand
• Kewarra Beach Resort (Australia):
  Outback, Reef, Rainforest and Sydney
• Westin Denarau Island Resort & Spa (Fiji):
  Westin Resort and Spa and Likuliku Lagoon Resort
• Moorea Pearl Resort & Spa (Tahiti):
  Tahiti and Moorea
• InterContinental Moorea Resort & Spa (Tahiti):
  Tahiti and Moorea Honeymoon Package
• Observatory Hotel (Sydney, Australia):
  Ultimate Australia
• Park Hyatt (Sydney, Australia):
  Cosmopolitan City and Outback Adventure
• The George (Christchurch, New Zealand):
  Deluxe New Zealand
• Hilton (Auckland, New Zealand):
  Deluxe New Zealand

We apologize, but the honeymoon and wedding planning open house on Tuesday, September 15th has been cancelled due to scheduling constraints. We apologize for any inconvenience. Please direct any questions via email to . Thank you.

New Zealand Tourism has a fantastic video up on YouTube promoting travel to New Zealand.  It features some of New Zealand’s breathtaking scenery, and the endless possiblities for adventure travel.  Take a look:

Waiheke Island, the hip, mellow destination about 35 minutes away from Auckland via ferry, was named in Frommer’s.com as one of the top travel destinations of 2009. A relaxing place where many locals head to get away for the weekend, Waiheke Island has many vineyards and olive groves that every food lover will enjoy.

Visit the official tourism site of Waiheke Island

Visit SeeANZ’ New Zealand vacation that features Waiheke Island.

Our Perfect Trip to New Zealand was featured at ShermansTravel.com as part of “The Luxe 15,” one of the top luxury travel values of the month.  The trip is a 13 day/10 night vacation to New Zealand that includes economy air on Qantas Airways from Los Angeles to Auckland and from Wellington to Queenstown, and a rental car for the duration of the trip.  This vacation starts at $2599.