Keep an eye on Katla if you're heading to Iceland soon!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-15996754

Sassy-cat,

i came across warnings about this possible new eruption when i was helping a friend find travel insurance this afternoon.

There are a few insurance companies who it turns out will insure against travel disruption due to volcanic ash, which is something she is very worried about.

the item i saw did not mention this catastrophic flooding though.

Had to fly around the artic circle to get back to the US

last time and was delayed my Amex Global Travel Shield

covered 100% AM Best A rated www.quotewright.com

It was amazing we flew around the ash cloundto the north

Had a great view of volcano erupting spewing ash thousands

of miles to the south.. so I always get cover just in case.

Annhig,

They're watching this one closely as it's overdue to erupt. I think I read that it's likely to cause more problems in Iceland than for air traffic but insurance is probably a good idea anyway.

but insurance is probably a good idea anyway.>>

one of the more surprising things that i have learnt on this board is that americans don't routinely take out travel insurance when they travel, whereas Brits normally do. I think that for us it is something to do with the hangover from taking "package tours" when the vast majority of people just took the insurance on offer from the tour operator, so we got into the habit of doing it. for americans, many seem to rely on their credit cards, which often have "free" travel insurance, to get them out of trouble.

my researches on behalf of my friend showed that very few standard policies include cover for volcanic eruptions, and those that do, do not generally cover "known risks" such as this one. The firm we found for her, [which incidentally is the firm with whom we already have an annual policy] is Direct Travel services: http://www.direct-travel.co.uk.

to return to the original subject, it's obviously tough being an icelander.

Thanks for posting this, sassy_cat. We have reservations for February and although it's still two months off, I'll watch closely.

ellen, this link has further information. I would check the BBC and the Iceland forum on Tripadvisor for updates.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-15995845

ann, You may well be right about fewer Americans on this board taking out travel insurance. Independent travelers don't have the easy option of taking the insurance on offer from the tour operator. Another factor to consider is that most Americans already have separate health insurance and the best policies include coverage while traveling.

oh come on, how long have they said Katla is going to blow??? it will be another 50 years!!!! Go to iceland have fun and stop worrying about ghosts!

Independent travelers don't have the easy option of taking the insurance on offer from the tour operator. Another factor to consider is that most Americans already have separate health insurance and the best policies include coverage while traveling.>>

but for the ones who don't, surely taking out travel insurance is a "no brainer". we just renewed our annual policy and for less than £100, we are covered for the whole of europe, including disaster cover that would apply if a volcano went again.

I wonder if those health policies cover that?

We're taking an Iceland and Norway cruise this summer, guess this shouldn't affect us, though of course we'll first need to fly to London...