Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
to natural disasters to the State
Department declaring your destina-
tion unsafe for travel. (Insurers usually
won't cover vague fears, though, as
many travelers discovered who tried to
cancel their trips in Oct 2001 because
they were wary of flying.) In this
unstable world, trip-cancellation
insurance is a good buy if you're get-
ting tickets well in advance—who
knows what the state of the world, or
of your airline, will be in 9 months?
Insurance policy details vary, so read
the fine print—and especially make
sure that your airline or cruise line is
on the list of carriers covered in case of
bankruptcy. For information, contact
one of the following insurers:
Access
America
(
&
800/284-8300; www.
accessamerica.com);
Travel Guard
International
(
&
800/826-1300;
www.travelguard.com);
Travel Insured
International
(
&
800/243-3174;
www.travelinsured.com); and
Travelex
Insurance Services
(
&
800/228-9792;
www.travelex-insurance.com).
MEDICAL INSURANCE
Most
health insurance policies cover you if
you get sick away from home—but
check, particularly if you're insured by
an HMO. If you require additional
medical insurance, try
MEDEX
International
(
&
800/527-0218
or
410/453-6300; www.medexassist.com)
or
Travel Assistance International
(
&
800/821-2828;
www.travel
assistance.com; for general informa-
tion on services, call the company's
Worldwide Assistance Services, Inc.,
at
&
800/777-8710
).
STAYING HEALTHY & SAFE
ON LAND
Like any tropical climate, Hawaii is
home to lots of bugs. Most of them
won't harm you. However, three
insects—mosquitoes, centipedes, and
scorpions—do sting, and may cause
anything from mild annoyance to
severe swelling and pain.
Bugs & Bites
MOSQUITOES
These pesky insects
are not native to Hawaii but arrived as
larvae stowed away in water barrels on
the ship
Wellington
in 1826, when it
anchored in Lahaina. There's not a
whole lot you can do about them,
except to apply commercial repellent,
burn mosquito punk or citronella can-
dles, and use ointments (which you can
pick up at any drugstore) after you've
been stung to ease the itching and
swelling.
CENTIPEDES
These segmented
insects with a jillion legs come in two
varieties: 6- to 8-inch-long brown
ones and 2- to 3-inch-long blue guys.
Both can really pack a wallop with
their sting. Centipedes are generally
found in damp, wet places, such as
under wood piles or compost heaps;
wearing closed-toe shoes can help pre-
vent stings if you happen to acciden-
tally unearth one. If you're stung, the
reaction can range from something
similar to a mild bee sting to severe
pain; apply ice at once to prevent
swelling. See a doctor if you experi-
ence extreme pain, swelling, nausea, or
any other severe reaction.
SCORPIONS
Rarely seen, scorpi-
ons are found in arid, warm regions;
their stings can be serious. Campers in
dry areas should always check their
boots before putting them on, and
shake out sleeping bags and bedrolls.
Symptoms of a scorpion sting include
shortness of breath, hives, swelling,
and nausea. In the unlikely event that
you're stung, apply diluted household
ammonia and cold compresses to the
area of the sting, and seek medical
help immediately.
Hiking Hazards
In addition to taking the appropriate
precautions regarding Hawaii's bug
population, hikers should always let
someone know where they're heading,
when they're going, and when they
plan to return; too many hikers get
