Beginning the journey home

When I first booked my flights to Spain early in 2025, I checked that little box to purchase trip insurance from the airline. I did not think much about it but figured it would be handy.  I only insured my flight as I was going to stay mostly in hostels or B&Bs and was doing everything via Booking.com, which allowed me to cancel if needed.

Checking that little box turned out to be a great decision.  My trip insurer was Allianz and for only $191, my policy included medical coverage and evacuation. And GREAT customer service.  

When I got to the posada in Roncesvalles on Sunday evening, I called the Allianz customer service number and opened a claim. I took screenshots of the DX from the hospital and photos of my cast and sent that along as well.  Allianz quickly began to look for  flights to get me home.  Their team was available 24



hours a day and across time zones.  

By Tuesday morning, they began offering me flights back to the States.  Since I had just come over the border from France, I was now familiar with the Camino shuttle services and knew I could pretty easily get a shuttle back to France, to Biarittz, and catch the flight back to CDG in Paris, and then a non-stop to RDU.  

 Allianz agreed to cover all of that.  

My Camino shuttle arrived at the hotel in central Pamplona about 2 pm on Tuesday and helped me into the van across all of the cobblestones.  

 

Then we were off to France, driving back across the mountains on a beautiful June day. 





Allianz booked me into a small hotel right next to the airport, on the gcomplete with a handicapped shower.




The hotel turned out to have a wonderful bar and restuarant and I enjoyed a gourmet meal



 
 
 
 


 





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