Crusing Experiences


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Goldtrail Fail

July 22nd, 2010

So I have picked up lots of information on this Goldtrail story on Twitter and on the news, and I am sure that you have probably heard something about it too, so I thought I would just share my thoughts on the matter! Basically, I am talking about the collapse of Goldtrail, a Greece and Turkey specialist tour operator based in New Malden, south-west London (website not operating but the link provides detail on the administration).

It is something about holiday problems that gets people really riled up (does anyone remember that TV show ‘Holiday Nightmares’ or something, that should give you an idea!). And I can definitely see why – after all the stresses and strains of everyday life, and saving up all year for a holiday, people deserve to have a relaxing, enjoyable break. People really put themselves into the shoes of others who have had their holiday cancelled, and imagine their own disappointment, and the media goes wild. Thousands of British holidaymakers caught up in the Goldtrail crash have been told to either pay extra money or face being thrown out of their rooms by hoteliers who fear they will not be compensated following the holiday firm’s collapse. There are now lots of individual stories about people’s individual experiences of the Goldtrail collapse.

Take this article,  where a British couple on holiday in Turkey were forced to sleep outside their hotel on deckchairs after the collapse of tour operator Goldtrail left them stranded. The hotel they were booked into was demanding £1,000 before allowing anyone to enter. At another hotel, staff confiscated guests’ passports and refused to return them unless they paid an extra £400.

One couple had to sleep outside their hotel in deckchairs following Goldtrail collapse

One couple had to sleep outside their hotel in deckchairs following Goldtrail collapse

The CAA (UK Aviation regulator) said that it was contacting hoteliers in both Turkey and Greece to assure them that bookings will be paid for through ATOL, the CAA’s financial protection scheme.

In another story,  a brother and sister, Laura North and Andrew Coleridge, missed their nephew’s wedding in Turkey this weekend due to the collapse of Goldtrail. The siblings managed to rebook their flights with Thomson travel agents, but said they were left £400 out of pocket due to inflated prices.

Overall, 50,000 customers have been affected by the collapse of Goldtrail. So what can you say for these people who have been affected? Well I doubt there is anything that can be really said to make them feel better, but hopefully at least their experience can act as a warning for next time. In fact, the customers are lucky in one respect as they booked through a travel agents, they get some financial protection from regulatory bodies, like ATOL.

However, more and more people now book their holidays online and therefore independently, rather than through a travel agents. The consequences of a financial failure in this situation could be even worse. For example, you may book a flight, excursion, car hire, a ferry crossing or even a camp site, hotel or villa online. If any of these service providers could go bust, this could leave you with little realistic chance of getting all your money back, or possibly even stranded abroad.

So is there anything you can do to help yourself in this situation? Well it is said a lot but it really is always worth checking the small print of your insurance policy to see exactly what cover you have, because this Goldtrail incident reminds us that there is always a risk of financial failure by the airlines and tour operators etc, particularly in the current economic climate.  For example, AllClear Travel, include ‘Dynamic Packaging Insurance’ as part of their policy which protects you in the event of financial failure of holiday providers. This means you are covered against the insolvency of a supplier, even if you book your travel on the internet in separate transactions – Accommodation, Flight, Car Hire, Excursions, etc. The policy will pay up to £5000 per person for irrecoverable sums paid in advance in the event of insolvency.

If you have been affected by the Goldtrail incident, and would like to share your story, please do so in the comments box below. If you have any questions, we will try to answer them. I hope this blog has helped you out a little bit when you are next preparing for your holiday…

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Posted in Holiday Stress Buster, Travellers Experience | 1 Comment »

Steve Redgrave and travel mishaps

July 21st, 2010

When we think of Steve Redgrave, Britain’s 5 times Olympic Gold Medalist, we automatically think of rowing. But lately he has been involved in a different physical activity – bike riding.

According to this article, he was part of The Redgrave Crew, an eight-man relay cycle team of ex-rowers, competing in the infamously strenuous RAAM Race, a 3,040-mile dash from California to Maryland. Known as ‘The World’s Toughest Cycle Race’ , it is  a one-stage, start-to-finish, clock-never-stops pelt across America, taking in mountain climbs, sheer descents and rush-hour traffic. Unfortunately, near the end of the race, Steve fell of his bike and crashed. He suffered from with a badly broken cheekbone, three cracked ribs, a double-break in his wrist and a dislocated finger.

His wife, Lady Redgrave, is an osteopathic doctor and she studied the X-rays and CAT scans sent from the USA saying he would need an immediate operation on his cheekbone when he returned home. This involved an incision from the bottom of the right ear and round the hairline, peeling back the face and inserting a titanium plate held in place by screws.

Very glad to hear that Steve is now recovering well, but these kind of incidents do get you thinking about the things that can happen when you are travelling away from home. Ok so not many of us will be competing in a 3000 mile bike race but we do often see our holidays as a chance to try something new and different – whether it is sailing, scuba diving, horse riding, quad biking or just sampling a new and very exotic restaurant. And there is always a risk of the unexpected happening. It might be something like food poisoning from the new restaurant you tried that meant you missed a few days of your break, or your passport being stolen  or something worse. For example, in this article a man had to pay 4500 euros in costs for mountain rescue and transport after a skiing accident. In another article, a 19 year old man from Surrey who had a moped accident in Asia was forced to pay £20,000 for repatriation to the UK. Although he had insurance, he did not read the small print which said he needed a license to ride a motorbike. 

Winter cover travel insurance

If you are go skiing, make sure that you are fully covered!

These stories do shock you and may make you think twice about your holiday activities, but that doesn’t  seem right either– a big part of your holiday is sampling new cultures and trying new things. So what else can you do? Well really it is just making sure that you are as prepared as possible before you go. In both the incidents above, there was not adequate travel insurance to cover the activity. So, although it is something we always hear, you should make sure you read the small print of your insurance policy and check that it covers you. Also, make sure that you have a valid European Health Insurance card (EHIC) if you are travelling in Europe, in case you need medical care. What is more, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office recommend reading up the local laws of the place you are visiting before you go, so that you know what to expect and can help prevent possible incidents. This sounds like a good idea to me too!

Hope that this info helps you as you go about your travels this summer. Please add any other tips that you think may help out fellow travellers.

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Posted in Holiday Stress Buster, Travellers Experience | No Comments »

Simon Cowell speaks out about cancer

July 13th, 2010

Here at Globebloggers we have spoken many times about travelling with cancer. That is why we just wanted to share this article we found  in the Daily Mail to share the experiences of someone you may know (he is just a little bit famous) and his experiences of cancer. I am talking about Simon Cowell, of ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ and ‘X-Factor Fame.

Whether you like Simon Cowell or not as a celebrity, he is now involved with a charity promoting a very worthy cause since Julia, his mother, suffered from breast cancer 12 years ago. Julie is honorary president of Against Breast Cancer and Simon is a patron. Against Breast Cancer is a UK charity working with a research team at University College London to find a breast cancer vaccine.

Simon’s mother has continued to live a very full life since her breast cancer, while making sure she has regular checkups, and apparently Simon is now taking his health more seriously too. Julia says her son has even ditched dairy products and greasy food in favour of fruit, and plans to quit smoking by the time he is 50. He currently smokes 15 cigarettes a day.

If you suffer from cancer, or are undergoing treatment, it is important, like Julia to still be able to do the things you enjoy as much as possible, and that includes holidays. We can provide more information about travelling with cancer here. Please let us know if there is anything more that you would like to find out that we can help with.

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Posted in Travelling with Cancer | 1 Comment »

Travelling with Cancer

June 29th, 2010

It is that time of the year when we are all thinking about holidays – exams are almost over, and the kids have nearly broken up from school for the year. What is more, we have actually been having some sunny weather, which makes us even more inclined to daydream about a holiday abroad. But at AllClear we know that sometimes when you are planning a holiday there is more to think about than just going on a relaxing break….

If you have cancer, or are recovering from it, a holiday may be essential for you.  Indeed, you may want to plan a holiday at the end of your cancer treatment to relax and recuperate. But if you are travelling with cancer there are a number of extra things that you need to think about. Here are some of the tips we have put together which you may find useful.

Travel Insurance: You will need to arrange specialist cancer travel insurance. This is vital in case you fall ill and have to be brought home, or have unexpected further cancer treatment abroad, as this could be very expensive. Your cancer travel insurance will give you complete peace of mind so you can get on with enjoying your holiday. You may have had difficulty in finding travel insurance to cover your cancer in the past but because AllClear specialize in medical travel insurance, we can provide annual or single trip cancer travel insurance to worldwide destinations.

Talk to a Medical Professional: They may be able to suggest a good time to go, as well as helping to decide what is realistic for you. They can let you know if you are fit to travel.

Destination Decisions: For many, travelling with cancer will have little effect on their holiday. However, you may feel more tired following cancer treatment so you should check that the facilities you need are close to where you are staying. Also, certain cancer treatments, such as radiotherapy, leave the skin more sensitive to the sun. Consider your flight length, because some people with cancer are at greater risk of developing blood clots or DVT.

Vaccinations: If you are having certain cancer drugs or have a weakened immune system, you may not be able to have the required vaccinations for your holiday destination, so check with your doctor.

Medication: If you are taking any cancer medication, you should plan how much you need to take with you and get make sure you have extra in case you lose any.

 We hope that this information is useful for you. Please share any other tips in the comments box below that may be useful for people travelling with cancer.

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Posted in Travelling with Cancer | 2 Comments »

Travelling the Ocean Waves

June 24th, 2010

Cruising has definitely become a more popular holiday in the UK over the last few years. And problems with flying, things like the ash cloud and the British Airways strike have really helped to increase the popularity of cruises as well.

According to this article in the Daily Telegraph, Britain’s cruise holiday industry, which is worth £2 billion a year, has received a major boost.  Cruise operators have experienced a  surge in bookings by up to 50% in some cases, following recent  flight cancellations and airport closures. The prediction is that cruise holidays will continue to increase as travellers choose to avoid air travel this year.

Cruise travel over fly travel

More people are avoiding fly travel and going cruising instead

 Latest figures from the Passenger Shipping Association forecast that, despite the recent recession, 1.65 million Britons will book a cruise this year – more than ever before – representing a 7% increase on last year. A large proportion of these people are expected to be the newly-named “Vavs” – Volcanic Ash Victims -  air travellers whose travel plans were been disrupted by Iceland’s eruptions.

One cruise line currently experiencing “unprecedented demand” is Cruise and Maritime Voyages, based in Dartford, Kent, that sails from eight British ports including Tilbury. Britain’s largest online cruise specialist, wwww.cruise.co.uk, reported “a significant increase” in cruise bookings since the BA strikes and volcanic eruptions began. MSC Cruises, one of the world’s fastest-growing cruise lines with a fleet of 10 ships, also reported an increase in bookings for cruises leaving UK ports, attributing this current trend to “passengers showing a lack of confidence in flying”.

Cruises including the Mediterranean, the Norwegian Fjords and the Baltic, are especially popular. The good thing is that people can visit all of these destinations, by leaving main UK ports, such as Southampton, Dover, Portsmouth, Newcastle and Liverpool, without ever needing to set foot in an airport. There are 19 cruise lines sailing direct from British ports this summer.

So given the fact that cruising is set to increase more than ever before. The question is have you ever cruised before? Or do you fit the bill for a typical cruiser if you decide to try something different this year? As a matter of fact, we would agree with this article, that there is no such thing as a typical cruiser. Back in the 1960′s and 70′s, when cruising was in its infancy, the majority of cruisers were more mature, had plenty of money and plenty of time. Now cruises have evolved and there are a variety of ships to suit different people and ages.

On a typical 7-night Caribbean cruise, you are likely to find the majority of the passengers in the 35-55 age range, but a good rule of thumb is that the longer the cruise, the older the average age will be.

So cruising is definitely a specialised type of holiday, but it is also growing in popularity. You tend to plan for it a long time in advance, choosing your destination and the ship that will best suit you with care. So imagine if the worst should happen, and you need to cancel your cruise or cut your trip short. Make sure then that you have dedicated cruise insurance  that covers your special trip.

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Posted in Cruises | 1 Comment »

To cruise or not to cruise, that is the question

June 24th, 2010

We have talked a lot on Globebloggers about travelling with different medical conditions, but what we have not spoken about so far is different modes of travel for your medical condition. Namely, the differences between fly and cruise travel.

For example, if you have a bad back, you might find flying very difficult – what with the cramped seats, and long enforced periods of sitting still. Cruising might be a preferred option for you as you are free to move around the ship as you travel to each of your destinations! It saves you starting off your holiday tired, aching and in a bad mood, as you might do if you have a bad flight experience!

Another advantage of flying compared to cruising is the increased baggage allowance, and this can be particularly important if you suffer from medical conditions. For example, you may have a lot of medication or a wheelchair that you need to take with you. If you tend to end up paying for extra baggage allowance when you fly, the benefit is that a cruise has no restriction at all – as long as it will all fit in your stateroom, you can bring as many bags as you wish.

What about the facilities actually on board ship? Well if you have a disability, many cruise lines now have adapted cabins for wheelchair users. For more information on cruises for the disabled, visit www.disabilitytravel.com. What is more, if you do have any medical problems on board ship, they are often exceptionally well equipped. In fact, they are apparently able to carry out open heart surgery on board!

 So I hope this blog has provided a little information which might be useful to you about travelling with medical conditions, particularly if you are considering whether ‘to cruise or not to cruise.’

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Posted in Cruises | 1 Comment »

An Ash cloud future??

June 16th, 2010

The time has come again for the results of the Globebloggers poll. And as you know it is all about the ash cloud. I am sorry to bring this all up again when the media frenzy finally appears to have subsided, but this is more about future holiday plans, than the ash cloud effect now. Luggage 3D

So the results are in. And the biggest impact of the ash cloud, with over 55% of the votes, is that people will check the small print of their insurance details more carefully. So this is actually a good result to have come out of the ash cloud problems. At AllClear we always say that it’s worth reading the small print to check the detail of the cover, whether for medical conditions or winter sports cover etc.

The second result, at 44%, is that the ash cloud has had no impact on future holiday decisions, which obviously is another positive! And there were no votes at all for the ash cloud causing people to stay in the UK for their next holiday, or to not book their holiday so far in advance. There was also no votes for people booking their travel insurance earlier.

So we are glad that the British spirit is winning through, and you are not letting it beat you for the enjoyment of your future holidays!

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Posted in Travellers Experience | 2 Comments »

Home Treatment #5: Help your arthritis with basil, baths and nettle tea

June 16th, 2010

A recent article in the Daily Mail contained some useful self-help tips for arthritis sufferers, which I decided to add to the Home Treatment Series, as over nine million people suffer from this disease in the UK.

Arthritis is now the most common long-term health condition, affecting one in five adults. It is thought to cost the NHS and social services about £5.5 billion a year, and one in four visits to GPs is said to be linked to the condition. Excess weight gain; overuse of joints; injuries; infections; female hormones; stress; diet and smoking may all contribute to arthritis problems.

Symptoms of arthritis include pain, stiffness and limited movement. Here are some ways you can control and help keep arthritis at bay, using a lot of foods that you would already find in your kitchen cupboard (maybe not nettle tea though!).

  • Olive Oil:  Believed to reduce joint inflammation, particularly if you cook your vegetables in olive oil.
  • Nettle Tea: A traditional treatment that has been used for hundreds of years. The leaves contain natural painkillers and have anti-inflammatory properties. Nettle teabags are available in health-food stores. 
  • Basil:  Thought to have anti-inflammatory properties similar to those of aspirin. Try adding torn basil leaves to pastas and salads.
  • Iron: It is vital to maintain sufficiently high levels of iron in the body as anaemia can be a symptom of arthritis. Rich sources of iron include salmon, sardines, tuna, eggs, liver, meat, poultry, dark green leafy vegetables, nuts and dried fruits such as prunes and apricots.

There are also some recommended activities that can help ease your arthritis symptoms, again activities that can easily be carried out at home.

  • Bathe in magnesium-rich salts: Eases aching muscles and joints. Researchers at the University of Birmingham found that the greater your deficiency, the more magnesium your body will absorb.
  • Get Weeding:  Performing light gardening tasks can improve your strength and agility without putting too much strain on your joints, and it will make your garden look lovely for the summer too! But limit yourself to 30-minute sessions and vary tasks so as not to put unnecessary strain on your muscles.
  • Maintain muscle strength: When joints are painful, the natural response is to tense the muscles, leading to greater pain. Breathing techniques, meditation and yoga all enhance muscle strength and force them to relax.
  • Protect your joints: Avoid gripping objects too tightly – use padding on items such as pens, toothbrushes and knives to help relieve the strain on the thumb, finger joints and knuckles. Avoid positions that put a strain on one particular joint. For example, stand squarely to ensure your weight is supported equally by both knees.

Obviously a lot of these recommendations will apply when you are on holiday as well as at home. But here is further specific information on travelling with arthritis which might be helpful for you too.

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A cruise with a difference

June 16th, 2010

So the day has finally arrived. The one that you have been planning for over a year. And no I am not just talking about the day you go on your cruise, I am talking about the day of your wedding.

You see more and more people nowadays are planning their wedding abroad, and a holiday on a cruise is very popular. You only have to look at all the information on the P and O cruises site about weddings to see what I mean.

But having got married myself last year (in the UK, not abroad), this really got me thinking about the differences of getting married on ship. There are the obvious things  – the fact that the marriage ceremony can be performed by the captain while looking out to sea; your family sharing your honeymoon with you; and the facilities and wonderful food available on ship. But at the same time, there will be some similarities – you will still need to organise many of those little bits that go with the wedding –things like the photographer, the menu choices, the guest list, the cake.

And so, not to be the bearer of doom and gloom, but my thoughts led me onto the ‘what if the worse should happen’ scenarios. Things like the ships photographers falling overboard (ok maybe not that extreme!) or a problem with the cake, which, let’s face it, could be quite difficult to rectify when you are 1000s of miles out to sea. Or even an outbreak of Norovirus (although if you read this blog, you will know the risk of this is less than the media would have you think).

Your wedding on board ship

Your wedding on board ship

Unfortunately, sometimes wedding nightmares do happen, like this poor couple’s wedding cruise experience, They had booked a wedding package with Carnival Cruise Lines, however, at 7 a.m. on the day of their wedding, there was a bomb threat and the wedding was delayed. In the end, the reception including the buffet was cancelled as there wasn’t enough time.

Ok so this is a particularly shocking story, but the fact is that with a major event like a wedding there is always a risk (however small) of things going wrong. We all know that there is wedding cover available should we choose to use it when we are on land. But what you might not be aware is that you can also get additional wedding cover with your specialist cruise insurance. Cover can include wedding gifts, photographs, ceremony clothes, wedding rings, flowers and cakes.

So sorry to add something else to consider if you are planning your wedding on board ship, but specialist wedding cruise insurance could be something that could be really useful….

Posted in Cruises | 1 Comment »

Travelling with Epilepsy

June 15th, 2010

The 13th to the 19th June is National Epilepsy Week. The theme of National Epilepsy Week this year is young people with epilepsy. Having epilepsy, seizures and taking anti-epileptic drugs may have a huge impact on people’s lives. It may affect how you study or work, what sports you play and what time you go to bed.

There are things to think about when travelling with epilepsy

There are things to think about when travelling with epilepsy

Another big factor if you have epilepsy is travelling to go on holiday and it is understandable that you  might have some concerns. But with the right holiday preparation you should be able to enjoy the exact type of holiday that you want. For example, if possible try to maintain your regular sleep patterns as sleep disruption can prompt seizures for some people. Also, be sure to discuss your medication routine with your GP or health practitioner before you depart. You can check out our specialist information about travelling with epilepsy here.

To make National Epilepsy Week successful, Epilepsy Action wants people to be upfront about epilepsy. So we would ask for you to share any tips that you have about travelling with epilepsy.

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Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments »

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