Leavenworth Fall Festivals in Full Swing!

Fall is here and that means the little town of Leavenworth will be gearing up for their famous Fall festivals. The mountain trees start to show off their glorious red, orange and yellow colors against the bright green evergreens. There's still room at our beautiful Leavenworth home!

Swine Flu and travel insurance QA

I found a really good article about Swine flu and travel insurance...we don't offer travel insurance at this time for our homes but it's something we might consider in the future.


Is swine flu covered by travel insurance?

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/news/2009-10-01-swine-flu-travel-

When CNN medical correspondent Sanjay Gupta came down with H1N1, or swine flu, in Afghanistan last month, he blogged about being "the sickest I've ever been." And with the federal Centers for Disease Control reporting that a second wave of the flu is spreading widely across the nation, USA TODAY's Laura Bly answers questions on whether travel insurance covers H1N1.

Q: What is a typical travel insurance policy cost, and what are the major coverage areas?
A: Most travel insurance packages cost 4% to 8% of a journey's total value and encompass trip cancellation/interruption refunds plus medical care and evacuation.

Q: I'm not sick now, but I'm worried about getting the flu at my destination. If I have insurance, can I cancel before I leave and get my money back?
A: Not unless you've purchased "cancel for any reason" coverage, which is sold as an add-on to existing policies or as a stand-alone waiver by cruise lines and other travel companies. A "cancel for any reason" upgrade is more expensive (40%-50% higher than a basic policy), typically covers 70%-100% of prepaid trip costs (all of which must be insured), and requires trip cancellation at least two days before departure, says Peter Evans of the insurance comparison site InsureMyTrip.com.

Q: Does the World Health Organization's June declaration of H1N1 as an official pandemic void the terms of my travel insurance policy?
A: In most cases, no. But a few companies do have pandemic exclusions that would keep you from collecting if you get the flu before you leave or during your trip, says Chris Harvey of Squaremouth.com, another travel insurance comparison site.

Q: Assuming pandemics aren't excluded, will I be covered if I'm quarantined at my destination and have to skip part or all of my itinerary?
A: Generally, yes. But you'll have to study the fine print. Some carriers, including Travel Guard and Access America, will reimburse costs associated with a quarantine — but only if you are sick, not if you are a part of a larger group detained because of possible exposure to an infected traveler.

Q: If I catch the flu and can't travel, will insurance cover the cost of medical care, additional hotel nights and airline penalties?
A: In many cases, yes. Access America, for example, covers emergency medical costs, "reasonable" lodging and other out-of-pocket expenses, and transportation costs associated with getting you back home. But you'll need a doctor's verification of your illness, and no policies will cover you for lost work days if you're forced to extend your stay because of illness.

Q: So, do I really need insurance if my main concern is catching swine flu?
A: Perhaps not. Gupta's high-profile example notwithstanding, most cases of H1N1 flu have been mild and a vaccine is expected to be widely available by the end of the year, though it takes up to two weeks to become fully effective. Some airlines will waive change fees for passengers with a doctor's documentation that they are unable to fly.

Razor clam digs are planned for the Washington Coast

If you're a fan of digging for Razor clams - get your boots and your shovel ready!

Five razor clam digs have been planned: Oct 16-19, Nov 4-7, Nov 14-17, Dec 2-5, Dec 31-Jan 3. They are all evening digs. Our Pacific Beach and Ocean Shores house is close to the action!

You can get all the details here:
http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/shelfish/razorclm/season.htm

Happy digging!

Leavenworth gets Amtrack service!

Amtrak has just announced train service from Seattle to Leavenworth beginning Friday September 25th. That means you can experience the fun of train travel and the charm of Leavenworth's Bavarian Village, without having to drive through the snow.

Leavenworth's new Icicle Train station just outside town won't be done by September 25th, but the train will stop and the trolley will take you into the heart of the village. There you'll find unique shops, wineries, activities, authentic restaurants and year-round festivals.

VacationHouse Destinations beautiful vacation home in Leavenworth awaits your arrival.

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Sleeping away from home doesn't have to mean enduring uncomfortable nights in drab, cramped hotel quarters. Chances are you'll find the services and amenities you're looking for at VacationHouse Destinations properties. And you’ll pay a lot less than you would at a standard hotel.

A few of the perks:
· Comfortable rooms with individual character
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Try staying at a vacation home – you won’t want to go back to a hotel room again. VacationHouse Destinations can help – contact us before you book your next reservation.

Summer in Mazama is in full swing!!

The arrival of the very first Winthrop Artisan's Market has kicked off what promises to be a great summer in the Methow Valley filled with fun events and festivals and lots of sunshine!

Here's a quick sample of what's coming up:

•40th Anniversary of Woodstock Concert (August 21-22)

•Methow Valley Rodeo (September 5 - 6)

•Winthrop Auto Rallye (September 11-12)

For a more complete list of local events, be sure to checkout the local Events Calendar and the Arts Calendar.

Tips for Exchanging US Dollars for Canadian Dollars

There's a great article in the Seattle Times Today - thought I would highhlight a few of they key tips when you head to Canada and need to exchange money.


Credit/debit-card purchases

Using a credit or debit card for most purchases makes the most sense. This is because Visa and MasterCard process the charges at the most favorable daily exchange rate, the interbank rate that's at or very close to the rate listed in newspapers.

The catch: You'll want to make sure you're not only getting the best exchange rate, but also avoiding high foreign-transaction fees.

Keep in mind a new wrinkle: As of June 1, most banks began applying these fees to purchases to any transaction made in U.S. dollars if it was made or processed outside the U.S.

Examples would be something bought online through a store in Canada, or an Olympics hotel/ticket package paid for in U.S. dollars, but processed through a Canadian vendor.

Foreign-transaction fees are twofold: Visa and MasterCard levy a standard 1 percent fee on the purchase amount after it's converted to U.S. dollars. Some banks then tack on extra fees for a total of 2-3 percent.

This means that if you spent Cdn. $200 on a hotel room and the charge came in at $184when converted to U.S. dollars, you'd pay a conversion fee of $1.84 at 1 percent and $5.52 at 3 percent. Best advice: Use a card that carries a maximum conversion fee of 1 percent or less.

Virginia-based Capital One (www.capitalone.com) offers the best deal for travelers. It waives all foreign transaction fees, including the 1 percent Visa and MasterCard charge.

Next best are smaller local and regional banks and credit unions which pass on only the 1 percent fee. Most national banks now charge 3 percent, but that could go higher in the future as banks look for new ways to raise credit-card revenue.

Tip: Avoid offers by merchants to convert your credit-card purchases to U.S. dollars. Called "dynamic currency conversion," this is sold as a convenience to consumers, but it's also a profit-making opportunity for retailers who tack a surcharge onto the base exchange rate as a fee. The main offenders: rental-car companies and shops that cater to tourists.

ATM withdrawals

Withdrawing money from a cash machine in Canada can be the easiest and least costly way to get Canadian dollars, but there are a few caveats:

• As with credit cards, watch the fees. Aim for an ATM/debit card with a maximum fee of 1 percent of the amount after conversion to U.S. dollars. Again, smaller banks and credit unions are your best bets.

• Avoid additional withdrawal fees. Bank of America, for instance, charges $5 per foreign ATM withdrawal plus a 1 percent fee on the amount, but waives all charges if you use an ATM at a Global Alliance affiliate bank — Scotiabank (www.scotiabank.ca) in Canada.

• Some Canadian banks might also charge ATM fees. Minimize these by asking your bank or credit union to raise the amount you can withdraw each time.

• Avoid non-bank cash machines such as those found in some grocery stores or gas stations. Withdrawal fees are high.

• Don't use a credit card to withdraw cash. You'll pay cash-advance fees and paying interest right away.

Tip:

Tell your bank or credit union that you'll be traveling and using your ATM and credit cards in Canada. Otherwise, they may suspect fraud and put a temporary hold on your accounts until they hear from you. Take along your bank's phone number in case of a problem.

Changing money in Canada

Exchanging U.S. dollars or travelers checks for Canadian currency in Canada is a more costly way to go, but easy to do at banks, or private "change" businesses in tourist areas and at the airport, train station, etc.

The trade-off for convenience is a worse exchange rate than you get by using a credit card or ATM and/or a service fee that reduces the amount you receive.

Hotels will sometimes exchange small amounts of cash for guests at fair rates and no commission. The Westin Hotel Resort and Spa in Whistler lets guests change up to $100a day in either cash or travelers checks at a favorable rate with no extra service charge.

Buying Canadian dollars here

There's little reason to buy Canadian dollars here before you go. AAA and banks offer this as a convenience for customers, but poor exchange rates — 3 to 5 cents below the base rate — and other fees make this an expensive way to go.

Paying in U.S. dollars in Canada

It's often possible to pay with U.S. dollars in Canada. Exchange rates vary. Some merchants offer a rate close to the daily bank rate; others offer only "par," a straight one-for-one exchange.

All shops, restaurants, ski lifts, etc., run by Whistler-Blackcomb accept U.S. dollars at a rate that's within a few cents of the official bank rate.

Tip: While many businesses will take U.S. dollars, you'll get your change in Canadian currency.