Generally, political and civil uprisings are not covered by standard travel insurance.

For those traveling to Egypt, I am sorry this news is coming so late. A political uprising is not something you expect to encounter on your tip; however, what’s even more unexpected is when you find out your travel insurance may be useless in this situation. Below are some options for travel insurance and civil unrest.

If you find yourself or trip on a collision course with a political uprising, the first thing to do is check your policy. Some will cover your expenses if your travels are setback because of civil disorder. Though, keep in mind, while most policies do not include cancellation and/or interruption coverage for political unrest, there are a few exceptions.

In a recent story for the Seattle Times, travel columnist Carol Pucci points out that travelers who want additional coverage have a couple of options, including “Cancel for Any Reason” insurance policies, which provide coverage for civil disorder at a higher price. For example, Pucci says standard travel insurance adds “4 to 8 percent to cost of the trip.” However, “Cancel for Any Reason” policies can tack on up to 50 percent or more, and only reimburse your prepaid travel costs up to 50 to 75 percent, which may not be feasible for yearly travel insurance or the budget backpacker.

A better option for travelers looking for civil disorder coverage may be the American Express Global Travel Shield classic plan. “It’s coverage, broader than most companies offer, is something to consider for trips to other destinations,” Pucci explains, noting that coverage relating to Egypt’s protest is no longer offered, because the company views the country’s unrest as a “foreseeable event.”

Have your travels ever been cut short or canceled due to a political uprising? If so, or if you have any tips for travel insurance or navigating civil disorders, we’d love to hear your tales in the comments below.

Want more information about our Iceland budget, then visit Randy Kalp’s travel site, beersandbeans.com for money saving tips on Europe camping and America.

Laptop battery life on the road can be a real hassle. Claims of five to six hours are as believable as Whitney Houston’s sobriety. When were camping electricity is always at a premium for us and it’s always frustrating to lose power in the middle of working on the computer in the tent. We’ve tried every possible way to possible to increase our laptop’s battery life and we’ve discovered there are several simple tricks to get the most from your laptop battery.

1. Drop the brightness to the lowest possible setting that you can endure: This can be really tough for me since editing photos at a low brightness setting is not ideal. Instead of editing, I will try to sort through pictures and then put them in a folder for editing later when I can plug in.

2. Unplug USB peripherals: iPods, SD card readers and other USB devices are battery blood suckers. Try not to forget about these items because they will drain your power. One key to battery life is to make sure your computer does not have to work harder than needed.

3. If not needed, turn off WiFi and/or Bluetooth: I always forget this one! The WiFi is always on and even though I’m not using the Internet at the time, it is still draining the power off the computer. Always remember to shut off the WiFi & Bluetooth so your computer isn’t working extra hard trying to find possible Internet connections.

4. Remove CDs from disc drive: It’s easy to forget, but a spinning disc is draining the battery. Double check and eject any discs in the drive, and watch as your battery life lasts longer.

5. For short periods in between usage place your laptop into sleep: If you are going to be away from your laptop for a bit longer use the hibernate mode.

Looking for more travel hacks for computers and tips for eating cheap in Paris, then visit Randy Kalp’s site, BeersandBeans.com, for advice on camping in Europe and eating on a budget.