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Girl Scouts Seek Insurance Help

I am the leader of a small troop of Girl Scouts (six 9th graders, two adult leaders). We are planning and fundraising like crazy for our #Switzaly trip in July 2019. We have most of our trip planned, but Girl Scouts USA has begun to require that get a "proof of insurance" from every accommodation that is not a "major hotel" (read: American chain). We have our hearts set on staying in the Cinque Terre region, hiking and beach bathing for 3 nights, but I am struggling to find a hotel or vacation rental that will provide their insurance information. Any thoughts? Leads? Ideas? I had rented a house in RioMaggiore that my family has stayed in twice, but the owner is dragging her feet about giving me her homeowners insurance information.... And no, the "umbrella policy" that vacation rentals have under airbnb, vrbo, homeaway, etc. is not "good enough" for GSWW.
Here's our itinerary, because it's fun to share:
Fly into Milan, stay 2 nights
Train & bus to Adelboden, Switzerland to WAGGGS World Center Our Chalet for a 4 night international camp
Train to Cinque Terre, stay 3 nights
Train to Florence (hit Pisa for a few hours on the way), stay 3 nights
Train back to Milan to fly home
Sincerely,
Tired of Red Tape

Posted by
1204 posts

Sounds like a fun trip and wonderful experience. Could you just decide to have the trip be a private trip, not under auspices of Girl Scouts? Seems like that would immediately eliminate all of the Girl Scout org red tape? Good luck!

Posted by
5697 posts

"High up, high up on a mountain
We founded our chalet"
Girl Scout from 60 years ago, I still remember the song. Best of luck with this dream trip!!

Posted by
15678 posts

Could you just decide to have the trip be a private trip, not under
auspices of Girl Scouts?

Probably not if they're fundraising under the name of the organization. But Beth, does the GSA have a website with a forum for leaders? It's possible another group has run across the same issue and could give you some firsthand advice?

Probably a dumb question as if such a forum exists, you've probably already gone down that road but throwing it out there anyway.

Posted by
16027 posts

Beth, have you been to Cinque Terre recently? Are you aware that the Blue Path ( famous coastal hike) is closed between Riomaggiore, Manarola, and Corniglia, and not expected to be open in 2019? That leaves the trails heading either direction from Vernazza, to Corniglia or to Monterosso. So if you want to hike from your village, the logical place to stay would be Vernazza or Monterosso. We found Vernazza to be unbearably crowded when we were there in 2010, and apparently it is even more so now. I would not want to stay in that village, personally. Monterosso might be OK, but it lacks that iconic Cinque Terri look f colorful houses spilling down the hillside to the water. It apparently does have a sandy beach, though.

The Cinque Terre were hit by the recent (October 2018) storm, but apparently fared fairly well, apart from a huge boulder that crashed into Monterosso. You might want to read this article:

https://cinqueterreinsider.com/2018/11/03/octobers-super-storm-aftermath-in-cinque-terre-and-liguria/

I am not surprised you cannot get insurance information from the little hotels and rental flats in the area. And I am not surprised GSA would require it. You might have to consider other locations for the days after the Our Chalet visit.

Posted by
3961 posts

In addition to the required homeowners policy information does GSWW require proof that each Girl Scout have Medical Traveler's Evacuation Ins.?

**Edit: Lola has brought up some excellent points.

Posted by
15678 posts

If beach is in the plans, I wouldn't stay in Riomaggiore: Monterosso has the best of what beaches the CT has. Acceptable accommodations will be tough any way you dice it, though, and either filled up or filling fast for the season. The region will be positively HEAVING with tourists in July.

You could also look at Levanto? It's mere minutes by train from there into the CT, and you'd have a bigger selection of accommodations. It also has a beach.

I wouldn't worry too much about trail closures right now as they're still cleaning up after the storm so ALL of them are temporarily closed. The Corniglia>Manarola>Riomaggiore legs of the "Blue Path" will not be open this season, last I heard, but many others will be. In fact, there are trails from Levanto to Monterosso. Some of the posters here have done one or two (Laurel? You out there?) and enjoyed them.

http://www.parconazionale5terre.it/Eindex.php
http://www.parconazionale5terre.it/Esentieri-outdoor.php

Posted by
2462 posts

My now grown son went to a scout jubalee in England and toured England too. It made me wonder if Boy Scouts might have information that would help.

Posted by
4105 posts

This looks like a liability issue, GSAs' insurance, if this is included in your package, will not cover
your group should one or several of the girls be injured while on the property. Hotels carry this type of policy.

Your best bet is to take the insurance covered by the GS to your own agent to see if there's another solution.

I'll second both Levanto and Villa Steno as good alternatives.

Also a GS from 60 years ago and Troop leader for 6 years 45 years ago

Posted by
11031 posts

perhaps contact an Italian embassy/consulate to determine what insurance a landlord must have and see if there is a way to verify coverage through some means ?

Does GSA require you get an insurance certificate from every restaurant you enter? Between wet floors and food poisoning that seems a greater hazard than an 'independent' hotel

Posted by
3217 posts

If you asked the hotel owner about her homeowners coverage, she might not realize you meant commercial liability for the business.

That could be part of the problem.

Posted by
17 posts

Thank you everyone. Here are a few notes to the great suggestions:
I asked for a waiver to stay in a VRBO in RioMaggiore, that I have stayed in in 2009 and again in 2016 and after pushing it up the chain a bit, Girl Scouts W. Washington has graciously agreed to allow it! So we are back on!
THANK YOU for the suggestions.
I do know the trails aren't to be open between Rio and Corniglia (though I keep hoping...) but I think we'll train up to Monterosso and hike back to Corniglia one day, spend one day doing laundry and hanging out and one day on the upper trails.
There are many leader forums, but because the rule change is brand new, I am blazing the trail!

Posted by
15678 posts

Very glad it's sorted now, Beth! Now you can concentrate on the fun stuff!

As you've been to region before, I'm sure you understand the swimming situation but just the same I'll advise water shoes for the girls. Some of their swimming may be off the rocks in Riomaggiore or elsewhere, which looked like a LOT of fun although a bit rough on the tootsies. Even the few beaches tend to be pebbly versus sandy.

Posted by
19641 posts

Good you kicked it up the line. In retrospect, sounds like GSA listened to a US lawyer's advice re lodging liability insurance requirements. Italian liability law has nothing to do with US liability law. Someone at GSA figured that out.