How to Send Money to the Philippines Using GCash

When planning for an upcoming trip, deciding whether to invest in travel insurance is a significant choice that may be in your best interest not to overlook. Travel insurance serves as a financial safety net, protecting you from a myriad of potential risks during your journeys. As you begin your research, you will notice there are two types of travel insurance: trip insurance and travel medical insurance–also known as visitors insurance. It can be very confusing, we know. But don’t worry. In this guide, we'll delve into the advantages of travel insurance, clarify the distinctions between trip and travel insurance, and provide clarity and insight into its often-overlooked perks.How Important is Travel Insurance?Travel insurance works as a shield against the various financial risks associated with traveling. Whether it's a sudden illness, a missed flight, or lost baggage, having the right travel insurance can alleviate the financial burdens that may arise during your trip.What is the Difference Between Tip Insurance and Visitors Insurance?Long story short, the difference is simple, think of trip insurance as insurance for your trip itself while travel medical insurance–aka visitors insurance–serves as insurance for you while you are on the trip. While both types of insurance offer protection during travel, their primary purposes differ. Trip insurance safeguards your investment in the cost of your trip, while travel medical insurance prioritizes your health and well-being during the journey. Please note that only U.S. residents are eligible to purchase trip insurance, and coverage extends to both domestic and international travel.Exploring the Benefits of Travel InsuranceWhile common risks like trip cancellations and medical emergencies are well-known, there are several benefits that travel insurance offers which many don’t even know about, providing a broader safety net for travelers. Let's unravel just some of these often-overlooked advantages. Benefits of Trip Insurance1. Coverage Beyond Trip CancellationsTrip cancellations or interruptions are inevitable. Trip insurance, with its Trip Cancellation coverage, acts as a safeguard for your invested time and money. It can refund 100% of your trip expenses for covered reasons, including illness or death of you, a family member, or a travel companion, extreme weather, or terrorist attacks.Trip cancellations are a common concern, but travel insurance extends its coverage beyond this. It safeguards your prepaid and non-refundable trip expenses in case of unavoidable circumstances.2. Protection Against Flight DelaysFlight delays or missed connections can disrupt your travel plans. Trip insurance steps in to cover financial losses incurred due to delays caused by factors beyond your control, including extreme weather, natural disasters, plane breakdowns, or accidents on the way to the airport.3. Safeguarding Your BelongingsLost, damaged, or stolen baggage can add stress to your travel experience. Trip insurance offers coverage for delayed baggage, allowing you to claim expenses for essential items after a waiting period. In case of permanent loss or damage, reimbursement is provided to replace the lost items.4. Addressing Unconventional RisksFor situations not covered by standard plans, such as unconventional trip cancellations, opting for a "Cancel for Any Reason" insurance plan provides flexibility. Though relatively more expensive, this upgrade offers reimbursement for refundable trip costs and specific non-refundable deposits.You can also see a more detailed list of what can be covered by your trip insurance. Benefits of Travel Medical Insurance1. Comprehensive Medical CoverageTravel medical insurance largely serves to cover unexpected medical expenses during your journey. This includes reimbursement for medical treatments, ambulance services, and hospital charges in case of illness or injury. This aspect is particularly beneficial for elderly parents traveling to the U.S.2. Emergency EvacuationIn the case that those who are covered by the insurance need emergency medical evacuation some travel medical plans help cover the evacuation. Without this coverage, should you need to be airlifted or evacuated, you could be facing a cost upwards of ten thousand dollars.3. Emergency Medical ReunionIn the unfortunate case that you face a major medical emergency during your travels, travel medical insurance can cover the transportation of your loved ones from back home to be there with you during your hospitalization. 4. Trip InterruptionIf you have to cut your trip short, some travel medical insurance plans would cover their stated amount for the non-refundable, unused travel expenses that canceling your trip halfway would incur. Make sure you read the details of the plan you are planning to purchase thoroughly to see the extent of coverage if unexpected interruption is something you are concerned about. You can also see a more detailed list of what can be covered by your visitors insurance. Choosing the Right Travel InsuranceIt's crucial to recognize that different insurance providers offer varied coverage plans. Factors like non-refundability, traveler's age, pre-existing conditions, the value of luggage, and existing coverage from health insurance, life insurance, renters' insurance, or credit cards play a role in determining the best travel insurance plan.If you are someone who travels frequently or are purchasing travel insurance plans for parents who plan to make the same trip often, we also suggest looking for a travel insurance plan with easy renewal. Do not worry, most plans today have a very easy renewal system so you can travel again and again with no hassle. Who Should Opt for Travel Insurance?Trip Insurance: Opt for travel insurance if you're concerned about trip cancellations, interruptions, or non-medical incidents. It's ideal for travelers who have invested significant sums in their trip and want financial protection against unforeseen events.Travel Insurance: Choose travel medical insurance if your primary concern is health-related emergencies during your trip. It's essential for travelers who want comprehensive coverage for medical expenses abroad, ensuring access to quality healthcare without worrying about exorbitant costs.Visitors insurance is also the best option for those looking to purchase travel insurance for their parents visiting or traveling.  Related Article: Visitor Insurance for Parents Visiting USAConclusion: Empowering Your TravelsIn conclusion, travel insurance is not merely a safety net; it's a comprehensive companion that grants peace of mind during your journeys. As you plan your next adventure, take the time to understand the nuances of travel insurance, evaluate your options, and ensure you have the best travel insurance plan tailored to your specific needs.__FAQs: Demystifying Travel Insurance FearsWhat does travel insurance cover?Travel insurance typically covers a range of risks, including trip cancellations, medical emergencies, delayed or lost baggage, flight cancellations, and certain unexpected incidents.Does my health insurance cover international travel?Most health insurance policies have limited or no coverage for international travel. Travel medical insurance is specifically designed to address the unique risks associated with traveling abroad.Does travel insurance cover illnesses?Yes, visitors' insurance often covers medical expenses incurred due to new illnesses during your trip. This includes reimbursement for medical treatments, ambulance services, and hospital charges.Does travel insurance cover flight cancellations?Yes, trip insurance typically covers flight cancellations due to reasons such as illness, extreme weather, or other unforeseen circumstances. Reimbursement for prepaid and non-refundable trip expenses is common.Does travel insurance cover COVID-19?Many travel insurance plans provide coverage for COVID-19-related expenses, including medical treatments and trip cancellations. However, coverage details may vary, so it's essential to review your policy.What should travel insurance cover?It depends on whether you opt for travel medical insurance or trip insurance. Ideally, trip insurance should cover delayed or lost baggage, trip cancellations, etc. While travel medical insurance should cover a broad spectrum of medical risks, including medical emergencies, unexpected incidents, a necessary visit to urgent care, etc.. The coverage should align with your specific travel needs and potential risks.Does travel insurance cover hurricanes?Yes, trip insurance often covers trip cancellations, interruptions, or delays caused by hurricanes or other natural disasters. It's essential to check the policy details for specific coverage related to natural calamities.Does travel insurance cover rental cars?Travel insurance may offer coverage for rental cars, typically covering expenses related to theft or damage to the rented vehicle. It's advisable to check the specific coverage details in your travel insurance policy.Does insurance cover travel vaccines?Travel insurance usually does not cover the cost of travel vaccines. This expense is often considered a preventive measure and falls outside the scope of typical travel insurance coverage.How easy is it to renew visitor's insurance?Renewing visitor's insurance is generally a straightforward process. Opting for policies that allow easy renewal is advisable, as it saves time and ensures continuous coverage.

 When it comes to repatriating large sums of money from India, it puts every NRI in a situation where he has to consider different obligations regarding monetary cross-transfer. Taxation, reliability and transfer timelines are a few things that influence these decisions.Personal finances have to be dealt with delicately and ensured that there is no loss during the due process of remittances. There are various options available in the marketplace today, be it via traditional banking or the modern ways of online transfers.CompareRemit offers a platform that allows you to compare different players in the market and pick the best rates that suit your needs.Repatriation from an NRE AccountAs a component of the liberalization scheme of the Reserve Bank of India, remitting funds from India has become relatively easier. Balances in NRE (Non-Resident External) accounts are freely repatriable. No formalities or requisite permissions are required for remittances abroad be it any amount. Funds in accounts are usually funds deposited from abroad or current income like interest or dividends on investments made through foreign funds.Repatriation from an NRO accountBalances in NRO (Non-Resident Ordinary) accounts are subject to certain conditions. The remittance of USD 1 million per financial year from NRO accounts is allowed subject to certain procedural formalities. NRO account balances include income earned locally or certain capital account transactions. Form 15-CA and 15-CB need to be submitted before a remittance can go through.Read more on difference between NRE and NRO account on CompareRemit.The Traditional Option - BanksThe most sought after choice for remittances to the UK are banks. Banks are the most popular means of transferring money to the UK because:There is a high level of trust owing to the various government regulations.Familiarity and the comfort of knowing the neighborhood-friendly banker.There are two ways one could remit funds using banking services:Online - If your bank has given you access to internet banking and allows repatriation through online instructions.In-Person - One could walk into the bank yourself and have the formalities completed there and then and have the satisfaction of seeing it to its destination with a receipt in your hand.However, it is important to note that INR to GBP/GBP to INR exchange rates may not always be competitive. The transfer fees can be high and the charges, not always transparent.Selection of Remittance Service ProviderShould you want to avoid remitting through banks, approaching a marketplace of money changers would be the next best option. A selection of remittance service providers should be made based on the following:- Transfer chargesSpeed of transferExchange ratesCharges on the conversion of currency (INR to GBP)Freeze option on exchange rate while process requirements are completedFlexibility of payment optionsAlternative Options for Remittance from India to UKWise - UK based transfer service supporters - Wise incorporates credit cards/debit cards, SWIFT, international transfers to bank accounts, domestic wire transfers and more. Wise offers competitive exchange rates for pound to rupee or rupee to pound conversions. It assures fast and low-cost online money transfers from India to the UK.ExTravelMoney - One of the easiest services for transferring funds from India to the UK, they also offer the facility of booking orders online.Western Union - In four easy steps available online and your money is sent from India to the UK. They offer competitive rates and faster transfers as well.Thomas Cook - Provides the best foreign exchange rates besides giving the assurance of secure and timely remittances for specific purposes.BookMyForex - With zero commission and zero charges, they claim to send money from India to the UK at guaranteed lowest exchange rates. The time span for the transfers to be effective is 12 to 48 hours.To select the right money transfer service one should keep the cost and time factors in mind. Convenience at a reasonable cost should be the mantra for selecting a suitable remittance service provider.

There are a variety of reasons to send money from Europe to India. To start with, Europe is home to many Indians - working professionals earning a living, students and researchers pursuing higher education, and entrepreneurs and investors running businesses. In this blog, we will discuss the best ways to send money from Europe to India and India is one of the fastest-growing economies and has been the top remittance-receiving country in the world for years in a row. Indians working in European countries send money to India for various reasons such as: Financial support for friends and family back home,Monetary gifts during festivities,Education and healthcare needs, andInvestment purposes in India.Non-Indian residents (NRI) frequently transfer money to India to save their foreign income in an Indian bank account. In addition, India and the European countries are important trading and tourism partners. Owing to the flow of trade and people between the two countries, there is a lot of EUR to INR or INR to EUR currency exchange. The trouble with sending money internationally is that it comes with certain costs. The two main costs are:Transfer fees, andHidden exchange rate margins. Banks may be your first option, but they usually are not the best for international money transfers because of the poor exchange rates and hidden fees, meaning your recipients get less money in their pockets. The good news there is plenty of authorized money transfer specialist offering online money transfer to India with transparent and low fees, competitive exchange rates, faster delivery, and enhanced convenience for efficient and cost-effective transfers. Compare these money transfer services to get the best Euro to Rupees rate before making your transfer and finding the best money transfer service to India. How To Send Money From Europe To IndiaCompare money transfer services in terms of fees, exchange rates, and speed.Choose the best provider that meets your transfer needs.Sign up with the provider of your choice.Add the necessary information (Transfer amount, recipient details, your details, etc.)Press Send and leave the rest to the service provider Several providers offer direct transfer to major Indian banks (SBI, ICICI, HDFC, etc.)To help you find the cheapest, fastest, simplest, and most secure ways to send money to India from Europe, we have listed below top money transfer specialists. XE XE money transfer is a Canada-based online international foreign exchange business, and it is a part of the Euronet Worldwide Group, one of the largest money transfer businesses. It offers fast and cost-effective international money transfers to more than 130 countries in more than 60 currencies for individuals and businesses.XE offers free tools to check live currency rates, view historical charges for any currency pair, and set alerts for any chosen currency pair. Convert Euro to INR with XE Currency Converter.XE also provides forward contracts, spot contracts, market orders, business transactions for international employees, and currency data APIs.XE is great for large bank-to-bank transfers because XE offers lower exchange rate margins for large transfers. There are no fees for transfers above $500.You can initiate wire transfers to India from Europe on the XE website or mobile app and pay with a bank transfer or debit/credit card. Most of the transfers are completed in a few minutes. The transfer amount is unlimited. PassToPassTo is a cheap and quick way to send money to over 60 countries worldwide from the UK. They offer an easy-to-use, secure platform that only takes a few minutes to download and sign-up for. Some of PassTo’s benefits include:Discounted welcome rates for first-time usersBest foreign exchange ratesMoney can arrive as quickly as a few minutesFCA regulated and safe to useTransparent, up-front feesSend money from the UK with PassTo today!Remitly Remitly operates in 17 countries and transfers money to over 90 countries, including India. It is an online-based money transfer company located in Seattle. You sign up online on the site or Remitly app to start sending money. For sending Euro to Indian Rupees, the promotional exchange rate applies to your first transfer of Euro 1000.00. Remitly offers multiple receive options: recipients' bank accounts, UPI (virtual payments), and 100,000+ cash-up locations in India. If you don't mind paying a higher fee for a faster transfer, Remitly offers the Express mode of transfer. The economy mode of the transfer costs less, but it is slower. Skrill Skrill is a London-based digital wallet platform, currently enabling international money transfer to over 180 countries in 40 different to a bank account, mobile wallet, email address, and phone number. You can also buy and sell cryptocurrencies. Skrill is the cheapest option for sending to a bank account overseas because of zero transfer fees. You are allowed to fund your transfer with a credit or debit card, bank transfer, or other local payments if applicable. If funded by manual bank transfer, the money arrives in 2 hours or less. You can cashback when you refer friends. Sign up for free on the Skrill website or the Skrill App to send money to an Indian bank account for free.WiseWise, an online money transfer service provider, offers transparent and low-fees international money transfers from 59 countries to over 80 countries. You can hold 50+ currencies in your account and convert between currencies at a super-low fee. Based in London, it now has 12 million users and counting. It claims itself as 8X cheaper than leading banks in the UK. You get transparent fees and real exchange rates (the ones sourced from Reuters or Google). If you pay your transfer with a bank account, the fees are the cheapest, but you will have to compromise on speed. Payment via debit or credit cards transfers your money faster at a higher cost. Wise is ideal for small transfers as the cost gets higher with larger transfers. Send money on their website or download the Wise app to start sending money today.ICICI ICICI Money2India offer fast fund transfer from Europe to any bank account in India. Available in 20 Eurozone countries, the service allows you to lock your desired exchange rates and charges minimal fees with no hidden costs. Money2India Europe is an online money transfer service by ICICI Bank Germany. ICICI is one of India's largest banks and has many branches overseas. You can also sign up on the Money2India app and send money hassle-free. If you transfer money to ICICI bank accounts in India, the transfer is completed in under 30 minutes.InstaremSimilar to Wise, Instarem offers real exchange rates sourced from Reuters for your every transfer. Based in Singapore, Instarem is an online remittance service enabling money transfers to 55+ countries in partnership with 8000+ banks worldwide.Instarem is one of the low-cost international money transfer service providers, especially for small transfers. The fees are upfront, and there are no hidden charges. The exchange rates are very competitive. You earn InstaPoints with every transfer that allows you to redeem in your next transfer, saving you money.Sign up for a free account on the Instarem site or app with your email, or use your Google or Facebook ID for a quick registration.PandaRemitPandaRemit is a Hong Kong-based online money transfer service providing fast and convenient remittance services across 30+ countries. You also get zero fees on your first transfer. And receive money with minutes as fast as 2 minutes. Your recipient has the option to receive the money in a digital wallet or bank card or opt for cash pick up if available.Transfer funded by bank transfer carries no charges, but payment with a credit card has additional charges. There are no hidden charges with PandaRemit. Make use of referral bonuses and discounts to save money on transfer costs.Paysend Trusted by 6 million customers worldwide, Paysend currently operates in more than 150 countries allowing international money transfers to over 110 countries. Paysend is the first Fintech company to introduce global card to card transfers connecting 12 billion cards issued by Mastercard, Visa, China Union Pay, and local card schemes.Paysend provides 40+ payment methods for online SMEs and serves 17,000 SMEs. Sending money to India from Europe is easy because of the multiple receiving options: send money online directly to bank cards, UPI, or bank accounts in India at a fixed low fee. You can also send a Paysend link to your recipient's mobile number to make a transfer. Transfers are usually completed within minutes. Sign up online or get the Paysend app to send Euros to Indian Rupees.Revolut  Revolut is a popular British digital-only bank/ neobank offering a range of banking services in a mobile app. Revolut, the global financial super-app, has more than 18 million customers around the world.With Revolut, you can send money in more than 30 currencies to 100+ countries. You can hold 30 different currencies for free in your Reovlut account. This makes it ideal for traveling abroad and sending international payments.Revolut charges a fixed percentage fee and claims to offer the exchange rates you see on Google for international money transfers. To send money to India, download the Revolut app and sign up. Then simply add money into your account using your card or make a bank transfer. Choose your transfer amount, your currency, and the destination country. Send money to your recipient bank account in India by adding it as a beneficiary in the Revolut app.ConclusionThe best website to transfer money to India from Europe or apps will depend on how much money you are sending, how are you paying for it, how the money is received, how fast you want the money to reach your desired destination, and how expensive is the transfer cost including conversion cost of Euro to INR. Different money transfer service providers have unique advantages that may be best suited for your transfer situations. So, it is best to compare, decide and send.