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Over 75% of travelers experience travel mishaps, but few have travel insurance

Even though travelers are concerned with travel disruptions and many have experienced mishaps while on vacation, fewer than half of those surveyed have purchased travel insurance. Of those who didn’t purchase travel insurance, only a third even considered it.

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A new survey conducted by travel insurance comparison site TravelInsurance.com found that even though travelers are concerned with travel disruptions and many have experienced mishaps while on vacation, fewer than half of those surveyed have purchased travel insurance. Of those who didn’t purchase travel insurance, only a third even considered it.

“The results from the survey show a clear disconnect – respondents have real concerns about travel interruptions and have experienced them first-hand, yet they do not consider the many benefits of travel insurance,” said Stan Sandberg, co-founder of TravelInsurance.com. “Our survey revealed that the most common reasons why travelers disregard travel insurance are: they believe it’s too expensive; they don’t understand the coverage or the rules of purchasing it; and they believe they just don’t need it. By dramatically simplifying the travel insurance shopping experience – and giving travel consumers a transparent view of the value proposition of travel insurance – TravelInsurance.com is helping to educate travel consumers to shop and buy with confidence.”

The survey asked more than 1,000 individuals who travel multiple times a year about their leisure travel habits in 2018, along with what concerns they have when booking their vacations. Below are some key findings.

Travel Spend

The survey found that more than one in five (22%) will spend more than $5,000 on travel this year, with almost half (47%) spending more than $2,500. Older travelers tend to spend the most as they typically have greater disposable incomes, take longer trips and spend more on vacation travel than their younger counterparts.

Travel Concerns

According to the survey, the top three travel concerns for travelers were weather-related disruptions, the possibility of illness or injury affecting a trip, and terrorism. These concerns are also the top risks addressed by most travel insurance plans.

The survey further drilled down into travelers’ concerns about the weather. More than three quarters of respondents (78%) indicated that they’re at least thinking about the weather at their arrival destination when booking a trip. However, more than half (52%) said they rarely or never take into consideration the weather in their departure city when booking a trip.

Travel insurance with trip cancellation coverage is one of the most effective ways to protect an investment in non-refundable vacations year-round, but it can be especially important during the increasingly active hurricane season and during winter months when storms are more likely. These both coincide with some of the busiest leisure travel months of the year.

Travel Interruptions

While many vacations go smoothly, survey results point to rampant delays. Three out of four respondents (76%) have experienced a flight delay in the past, and nearly half (48%) have had their luggage lost or stolen. Another third (35%) have experienced either getting sick or traveling with someone who has gotten sick while on a trip.

Travel Insurance

Most consumers are worried about travel disruptions, and most have experienced them in the past, yet more than half (54%) have never purchased travel insurance and two thirds (65%) of those have never even considered it. The survey also showed that about half (47%) of respondents didn’t know whether or not their health insurance provided coverage while traveling, especially when traveling abroad. Travel insurance plans can provide medical and emergency evacuation coverage for international travel.

The reasons travelers don’t purchase travel insurance show that there remains a number of misconceptions about the value proposition of travel insurance and the benefits it provides. TravelInsurance.com was founded on the primary goal of addressing those misconceptions. By offering a simple and transparent shopping experience where consumers can compare plans and providers quickly, TravelInsurance.com gives consumers an affordable way to protect against the travel disruptions that concern them the most.

“Many people don’t think they need travel insurance or that it’s too expensive. However, today’s frequent travel disruptions and lost travel expenses would suggest otherwise,” continued Sandberg. “Travel cancellation coverage can cost as little as four percent (4%) of a trip’s total cost, which if something goes wrong and you have to miss your trip, can save you thousands of dollars in the long run. Coverage for emergency travel medical and evacuations can cost even less.”

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Destinations

Eating out in Cebu in one place via Pusô Village

Checking out #Cebu’s all-in-one dining location, the Pusô Village that may simplify eating out but seems to forget our desire to see diverse #foodie hubs.

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In the past, if you wanted to grab some of the food associated with Cebu, you headed to – among others – Larsian, this place not too far from Fuente Osmeña Circle. It wasn’t necessarily popular with the locals who saw (and still see) it as unhygienic, but it’s this easy-to-access BBQ place that’s open 24/7.

Starting 2025, however, a new place was opened to serve as the one-stop culinary and cultural hub of Cebu City: the Pusô Village.

@outragemag Checking out #Cebu's all-in-one dining location, the Pusô Village (#pusovillage) that may simplify eating out but seems to forget our desire to see diverse #foodie ♬ original sound – Outrage Magazine

Una, developed by Cebu2World/Megawide as part of the Carbon Market modernization, this place’s name drew inspiration from the pusô rice cake that’s served when you have meals in Cebu. There are, therefore, design elements that’d remind you of the pusô – e.g. those octahedral shapes on the entrance. Inside, there are attempts to beautify by borrowing elements from Bahay na bato Philippine architectural style; most are fake, though, such as those painted-on verandahs you’d see when you look up.

Ikalawa, there are over 100 food stalls and retail outlets here… though more of the former than the latter. They’ve been “properly” structured, so that the lechon vendors are on one side, seafood sellers on another side, and so on.

Ikatlo, we tried some of the offerings to ascertain how good they are.

The unlimited lechon is popular, providing an opportunity particularly for non-locals to cheaply enjoy this Cebuano treat. Taste-wise, the lechons vary little, some saltier than the others. The “approach” in serving is similar, though. You get an okay portion when first served, and the portion gets smaller the more you return. Noticeably, by the third refill, the vendors become grumpier when serving you, some even ignoring you, or stuffing fatty parts on your plate. Business greed in action.

Though cooked the same way (i.e. buttered), the seafood platters are inconsistent. You could get some shrimps or crabs now and then, though most times, you’d just get mussels.

Then there’s the tuslob-buwa, pig’s brain cooked under maximum heat to then become dip for pusô. We’d say this is acquired taste… but there’s not much to taste. So this is a costly to-try food.

Only open until 10.00PM, Pusô Village offers those in Cebu a venue to try as many of the local goods as possible. For that, alone, this is a must-check. You are sure to find a few stuffs you’d like.

But the city still has a lot of venues offering local culinary and cultural goods, and they deserve to be also checked. And so off we go for more LGBTQIA+ rampa

Pusô Village is located at M.L Quezon Blvd., Sto. Nino, Cebu City.

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Destinations

Going Chinese in Pulilan, Bulacan

Craving for #chinesefood in #Bulacan? We tried the offerings of Lee Foo Panciteria #Pulilan, and we’re on the fence here (yes if no choice, no if you can go elsewhere).

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We happened to be in Pulilan in Bulacan, and I had pancit craving. As if on cue, we passed by Lee Foo Panciteria Pulilan, which – after we Google-checked – is supposedly one of the more frequently-visited Chinese restos in these parts of the province, so… of course we checked.

@outragemag Craving for #chinesefood in #Bulacan? We tried the offerings of Lee Foo Panciteria #Pulilan ♬ original sound – Outrage Magazine

Una, this place is really, REALLY easy to find. Located along the Pulilan Regional Road in Barangay Cut-cot in Pulilan, this is right in the middle of the municipality.

Ikalawa, the resto is actually divided into three parts: one side is for those with reservations, another part is for walk-in diners, and another part is for events. If/when the resto isn’t full, only the main part (middle one) is kept open.

No, this isn’t some fancy resto. More like an airconditioned karinderya, complete with wooden tables and plastic chairs. Look-wise, it wasn’t dirty naman when we were there, so that’s a plus.

Ikatlo, the workers were friendly naman… and they moved fast – e.g. while waiting for our orders, we were given must-check peanuts, and since we finished what we got fast, our waitress was more than happy to accommodate us.

Ika-apat, now… how was the food?

The house specialty, the Lee Foo Chicken (₱265 for half, ₱495 for whole), looked like fried chicken with ketchup. Okay… the breading was okay since it didn’t overpower the meat. The chicken, too, was properly cooked, and it wasn’t dry. But it was tasteless overall; so the ketchup taste is what stays with you.

The Pancit Canton Bihon (₱255) had thin pancit noodles, almost as thin as the bihon. It didn’t have lots of sahog; instead, you’d notice the extenders (like kikiam, and so on). I like good pancit, I swear… but this isn’t one of them, sorry.

The weirdly-wrapped Hakaw (₱155) was small, so it was bitin.

And then there’s the Siomai Steam (₱155), which was, in a word, weird. The size was good, similar to those ₱10 siomais. But the way this was prepared was weird for us – e.g. like the meat was overwatered, and having a hard time staying solid, so that it was smudgy, and disintegrated in the mouth even without chewing. I suppose that, at least, it wasn’t disgusting taste-wise.

Lee Foo Panciteria Pulilan is, we believe, popular. Like President in Chinatown, or a branch of David’s in some mall. To each his or her own nga naman. But for us, we’re off to look for other Chinese restos na muna as we head out in search of more lafangan venues.

Lee Foo Panciteria Pulilan is located at 159 Barangay Cut-cot, Pulilan, 3005 Bulacan Province. For more information, contact 0925 800 0168, or email leefoopanciteria@yahoo.com.

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Travel

Treacherous beauty: Hiking at South Stack Lighthouse in Wales

#Lighthouse fever in #Holyhead, #anglesey via the #SouthStackLighthouse, as checked during this #LGBT trip to #Wales.

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Yes, tech has made many lighthouses redundant. Not that they’re no longer relevant. But navigation-wise, we know we have more advanced solutions. Which, perhaps not surprisingly, led to the reconfiguration of many of them.

In Holyhead, Anglesey in Wales, introducing the South Stack Lighthouse.

@outragemag #Lighthouse fever in #Holyhead, #anglesey via the #SouthStackLighthouse, as checked during this #LGBT trip to #Wales ♬ original sound – Outrage Magazine

Una, you’d need a ride to be there. Some use private cars, as we did; others join tours; and others cycle to the place.

Ikalawa, what’s there?

The lighthouse itself is located on a small, rocky island off Holyhead. From afar, it looks like someone’s grand home; mansion-like. Accessible siya after you descend down 400 steep steps. 

What will you see while there?

  • the former lighthouse engine room
  • the top of the lighthouse
  • South Stack is also home to breeding seabirds including guillemots, razorbills and puffins

Here’s an FYI: seasonal lang siya bukas.

This is a must-check for lighthouse lovers, of course. Historic, it was built in 1809 by Trinity House from the design of Daniel Alexander. 91-foot tall, it used to allow safe passage for ships on the Dublin–Holyhead–Liverpool sea route. 

Another FYI: It is  allegedly haunted, and has been visited by a team from “Most Haunted”.

The area housing the lighthouse is, itself, worth checking. There are trails for hikers or joggers or cyclists; though the same could be enjoyed by those who are there only to look for good shots.

Check when you’re in the area… even if you just pass by. Nice siya, promise.

But off we go for more LGBTQIA+ rampa

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