Our Early Bird Travel Insurance was available even earlier, due to a possible postal strike. Thankfully, that occurrence seems to have become less likely as the major union has now settled and it is expected that the other union will not be far behind. Hundreds of small businesses – and large ones too – can breathe a sigh of relief. Literally hundreds of millions of dollars have been saved and the Canadian economy should now prosper.

The initial response to our Early Bird offer was excellent. The number of snowbirds buying early was about three times greater than in previous years. People, obviously, did not want to miss out on the fantastic deals. I believe that this is also an indication that snowbirds are still travelling and are making their plans for the great migration to warm places.

As a fairly seasoned traveller, I have been to Portugal, and Spain, and Mexico, and Greece, and several Caribbean islands and I would not trade Florida or Arizona or Texas for any of them. I enjoyed every one of these locations, but spending five or six months in any of them does not appeal for lots of reasons.

I turned 80 this year – so yes, my insurance rates are going up. That’s part of the journey. But one thing I won’t do is travel without Medipac. I’ve been with them for more than 30 years now. No claims in the past 10, which means that I get the full loyalty and claim-free discount – 20%! And buying Early Bird gets me another 5% off. The best part, though, is that I can lock in 2024 rates for all of my travel through to June 2026. Every bit helps.

The insurance application may be a bit tedious but, when Medipac knows your health status, we can offer comprehensive coverage and be better prepared to support you in an emergency. We ask more questions up front because preparation matters – especially when it comes to care and claims. Some other providers ask fewer questions and may not collect enough information in advance, making it easier to deny claims later on – something which we hear happens far too often. That’s why we take the time to get it right before you travel. Quite a difference in philosophies.

Have a wonderful summer. It will be a scorcher, but you know how to stay safe. I hope to see you in the sunny South.