Given that most of the major hotel loyalty programs offer benefits (including personal concierge service, check-in and out anytime, gift certificates, concerts, and airline tickets) beyond free rooms and upgrades, even the infrequent travelers should consider reaping some of those benefits. The following is a list of tips for maximizing such benefits.

• Search programs that have a relatively low threshold for elite status levels. For example, the Hyatt Gold Passport program elevates the hotel patrons to Platinum status once they completed just five eligible nights in a calendar year. Once the guest gains the Platinum status, members get 20% off room rates, 2.00 pm check -out, space-available upgrades, and free room Internet access.  Similarly, Starwood Preferred Guest offers 4:00 pm check-out and upgrades, once the member stacks up 10 eligible stays or 25 eligible nights a year. Once the member accumulates 20 stays (or 40 nights) a year and reaches Gold status, he/she can reap awards such as upgrades, free room Internet access, and complimentary breakfast.
• Hold a hotel-branded credit card such as Hilton HHnors Reserve Card and the Hyatt Credit Card can elevate you to the automatic elite status (Gold or Platinum).
• Be aware that hotel-branded loyalty programs do NOT recognize bookings made through third-party websites such as Priceline and Travelocity.  However, Orbitz, Expedia and Hotels.com all may offer their users some variation of free nights, discount coupons, or vouchers the more you book through those sites.

The following is a list of best hotel loyalty programs. For details, visit the website (http://travel.usnews.com/rankings/travel-rewards/hotel-rewards/ ).

1. Wyndham Rewards (13.6% payback award)
2. Choice Privileges (8.5% payback award)
3. Marriott Rewards (9.0% payback award)
4. Best Western Rewards
5. La Quinta Returns
6. Club Carlson
7. Hyatt Gold Passport
8. Hilton Honors (7.7% payback award)

Another good programs include: IHG Rewards (7.4% payback award); Starwood SPG (5.7% payback award).

Taxi overcharging is one of the common travel scams that can ruin your travel plan. For example, the cab driver refuses to use the meter or claims it is broken before charging you ten times the standard fare for a several-block ride back to your hotel; or after turning on the meter, the driver takes you in circles just to keep it running, thus lengthening your trip without you noticing. There are a number of ways to avoid this kind of taxi overcharging scams. These are:

• Call your hotel or restaurant employees and ask them to speak to your driver in his or her native language if it seems like you are being taken for a long ride.
• Study up on taxi rates by checking in with locals, and negotiate your fare BEFORE you get in the cab, so the driver cannot jack up the price when you arrive at your destination. If the car has a meter, make sure that it is turned on on as soon as you get in. If possible, know the way to your final destination to avoid taking the unnecessary long route.
• Do not forget to note the medallion or license number and report the driver to the authorities if you suspect fraud.
• Do not pay with large bills, because cab drivers sometimes will claim that they don’t have change so that you have to fork over the bigger bill. Better to carry smaller denomination bills or coins in local currency specifically for cab rides.
• Insist handling your own bags, if the cab driver offers to help haul them to his/her cab from the airport terminal, since he/she often asks for a fat tip later.
• Use the government authorized taxi (e.g., black cab in Seoul, Korea) which is driven by the uniformed, certified driver who can speak English and courteous, even though the cab fare is usually higher.

Regardless of the quality of health-care systems or the nationalized health care coverage in your travel destination, medical bills on the road can be costly. For example, According to Insuremytrip.com (https://www.insuremytrip.com/?linkId=30492&gclid=COfTjKf84tMCFdgYgQodskgBxw  ), the approximate cost of a medical evacuation from Asia to the US cane be $100,000. The same cost from Europe to the US can be $50,000. Although your domestic health insurance may automatically offer you some international health insurance coverage, you should be aware of the fact that you may need to buy some kind of MediGap plan and the definition of emergency treatments may differ from one insurer from another. For instance, a skin rash or a toothache may not qualify as a medical condition that needs emergency treatment.  Also, some managed-care plans may require you to get authorization from the insurer prior to treatment.

Many of the standard plans from big insurers such as Aetna, Cigna and Blue Cross & Shield include emergency and urgent care provisions in overseas countries. However, Medicare does not cover any medical costs incurred outside the US. If you have any concerns about the travel health coverage, you may buy specialized travel insurance which typically offers 24-hour nurse-staffed health lines, referrals for pre-screened doctors around the world, prescription medication assistance, prescription refills, emergency dental care, and translation services. Special medevac companies such as MedjetAssist and On Call International can cover medical evacuations including “airlift” to the nearest suitable hospital.

The list of top ten travel health insurers includes (https://www.consumersadvocate.org/travel-insurance/a/best-travel-insurance?gclid=CNLty9z64tMCFcW3wAodiBMJKw ):

1. Travelisurance.com
2. Travelex
3. WorldNomads
4. RoamRight
5. Allianz
6. AIG
7. MedjetAssist
8. Frontiermedex
9. HCC
10. FirstAllied

For free quotes, you may visit (http://www.hccmis.com/atlas-travel-insurance/?gclid=CIqB-qKC49MCFcW3wAodiBMJKw).