How do you prepare for your holiday?

We decided to write this blog post because we know that actually preparing for a holiday can be pretty stressful – we have all been there!  Regardless of whether you have been waiting all year for your annual holiday, booked a last minute getaway or are preparing for a short break, it’s worth taking a little extra time to really make sure you have everything covered before you depart. If you have pre-existing medical conditions it means that you have even more to think about and prepare for before you go. So we have come up with our top tips, and highlighted specific areas that you might want to think about if you have medical conditions (thanks to the IndependentTraveller.com for some of these tips)

1. Get to know your destination: With the holiday booked, you should already be a little knowledgeable about your destination, after all something must have attracted you to visit in the first place. But you should look into the destination further to discover local villages, deserted beaches and off road restaurants that will allow you to experience more of the culture of the area. Look for a good travel guide to help you plan your trip and ensure you visit all the places you want to.Take a look at reviews online to get recommendations from previous visitors as these will give you a good indication as to where will be worth spending time and which places to avoid whilst you are away.

Understanding your destination is particularly useful if you have a disability, or suffer from arthritis, and find it painful to walk long distances or on hilly terrain. It’s advisable to check whether your destination is near to the beach or other amenities too.

 Make sure you also investigate medical care availability at your destination.

 2. Plan Ahead. Particularly if you have specific needs relating to your medical condition. Make sure you let the hotel know well in advance, because they will need some time to make the necessary arrangements. Be specific and clear about what you need. The more information a service provider has, the better they will be able to accommodate you. Travel with medical information, covering your condition, medications, potential complications, special needs and other pertinent information. Be sure you have a number where your doctor (or another medical professional) can be reached in an emergency situation at any hour of the day.

3. Check the formalities: Ensure your passport is up to date – it is best to make sure that it is valid for 6 months from the date of your entry into the country. To answer all your questions check out www.passport.gov.uk. If in any doubt, you should check with the relevant embassy if you need a visa. It’s easy to forget about your important documents the minute you step off the plane or arrive at the hotel. Consider a safe in your hotel room to store  your passports, travel insurance policy and claim numbers or any valuables you might be taking away with you. Once this is done, you can relax and enjoy the holiday.

4. Travel insurance: So you have planned all the fun things you want to do on holiday. But do you really want to be climbing an ancient rock or swimming in unmanned waters without your travel insurance? Thought not. You should purchase your insurance as soon as possible after booking your holiday to ensure that you are covered in case the trip is cancelled; and certainly no later than 3 months before if you have pre-existing medical conditions. Make sure you’ re fully covered by declaring all your pre-existing medical conditions and check that the policy is suitable for your needs (our article on reading the small print might be useful here). Click here to get an AllClear Options quote. Remember to take the emergency contact details of your travel insurance provider with you.

5. European Health Insurance Card (EHIC): If you are travelling with the EU, then get a FREE European Health Insurance Card – you still need full travel insurance though!

6. Vaccinations: Check with your doctor as soon as possible to find out if you need any vaccinations before you travel. Check out the AllClear travel app for the vaccines you might need.

7. Medication: Visit your doctor and make sure that you have adequate supplies (and additional supplies in case any are lost/damaged) of any medication that you might need for a pre-existing medical condition. Check out our medical travel insurance factfile for more info on travelling with specific medication, and how you can prepare before you go. If you suffer from allergies you should take the same precautions on holiday as you do at home. It’s a good idea to bring an antihistamine in case of accidental exposure to a substance that triggers an allergic reaction.

8. Secure your house: It might be worth making arrangements to have your garden looked after – especially if you are away during the summer. Not only do overgrown lawns, beds and borders indicate that a house has been left unoccupied, but you don’t want your lovely patio plants to die! If you can, set automatic timers to turn household lights on and off at credible times, to create the illusion of an occupied house. Don’t just have these set up in the hallway! The best thing is if you can ask a neighbour or friend to keep an eye on your home while you are away. Try to arrange for someone to collect your post, draw the curtains etc to generally making the place look lived in.

9. Travel Games: If you are travelling with children, make sure that you take some paper, colouring pencils and colouring books with you to keep them occupied and avoid that cry of ‘Are we nearly there yet’.

10. Contact from home: Tell a friend or relative where you are going and for how long for – give them some idea of your itinerary if possible and an emergency contact number. Check before you leave whether your mobile phone will work abroad – you may need to contact your provider.

11. Money: Take enough money for your trip and consider some back-up funds in the form of travellers cheques. Credit and debit cards can also be a convenient way to travel when abroad, but watch out for hidden charges.

12. Digital cameras: Make sure your old camera pictures/video have been downloaded and removed from the device so that you don’t run out of space for your new holiday snaps. It might also be worth investing in an spare memory card so that you don’t need to worry about downloading pics while you are away, and don’t have to limit the number of pics that you take.

13. Packing: Make sure that you do not need to pack last minute, and make a list of those essential items. That way you can ensure you have everything you need e.g. medication, money, toiletries, plug adaptor etc. Arriving at your destination and discovering the weather is not as you expected can be disappointing. No sunny resort is guaranteed glorious weather, just as snow is not always guaranteed on a skiing holiday, so packing a few extra clothes in preparation is often a good idea. Suncream and insect repellent should be at the top of your list, as often these in particular are expensive to buy abroad. It’s a good idea to pack a first-aid kit for any emergencies that may arise during your trip. If you have a wheelchair, bring spare parts and tools for emergency repairs.

14. The Journey: The inflammation of the joints that occurs with arthritis may be especially troubling during long trips that restrict movement. Taking frequent breaks to walk around and relieve stiff joints and muscles can make car, plane and cruise trips more enjoyable. Remember to pack aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs, or any prescription medications you normally use for arthritis. Our hints on travelling with arthritis may help too.

15. Flying: Allow plenty of time before your flight to check in. If you have connecting flights, be sure to allow plenty of time between flights (we’d recommend at least 90 minutes) to get from one gate to the next. If you have a disability, check (in) with your flight attendant before your plane lands to make a plan for exit. You may also be required to dismantle a wheelchair for certain flights or activities; make sure you and your traveling companions know how to do this.

If you’re leaving your car at the airport, pre-book your airport parking in advance Not only is it more convenient to do this, but it will save you stress, time and money when arriving at the airport before departure.

16. Jetlag: If you plan a few days ahead, it can help you avoid the problems of jetlag. Several days before you leave, try going to bed a little earlier or a little later (if you are flying east or west, respectively). Hydrate yourself and eat lightly the day you travel. The headache, light-headedness and nausea associated with jet lag should lessen significantly when such measures are taken.

Ok, so we have a pretty comprehensive list of travel preparation tips here, but it definitely doesn’t cover everything. Do let us know any particular tips you can recommend below, particularly if they relate to a medical condition…

We believe everyone deserves the right to travel

It was World Health Day on the 7^th April. This event is celebrated every year to mark the anniversary of the founding of WHO in 1948. Each year a theme is selected for World Health Day that highlights a priority area of concern for WHO.

World Health Day is a global campaign, inviting everyone – from global leaders to the public in all countries – to focus on a single health challenge with global impact.

The topic of World Health Day in 2012 is Ageing and health with the theme “Good health adds life to years”. The focus is on how, through adopting and maintaining a healthy lifestyle, older men and women can continue to lead full and productive lives bringing rich value to both family and the community. Ageing concerns each and every one of us – whether young or old, male or female, rich or poor – no matter where we live.

At AllClear we agree that this theme is very important. We understand that as we are get older we’re still keen to lead full and active lives, and that includes travelling and seeing the world. That’s why we believe everyone deserves the fundamental right to travel, regardless of age or medical condition.

 So well done to WHO for choosing this theme, and we will keep you updated on further developments of this campaign…

How good is your vision? Are you at risk for glaucoma?

World Glaucoma Week (11^th to 17^th March) aims to educate people about how to assess their risk for glaucoma and to be aware of the importance of regular eye examinations and disease detection. It also seeks to provide support for patients with Glaucoma. World Glaucoma Week was developed in response to the concern over the worldwide increase in the number of people with glaucoma, as the population grows and ages. More people are therefore at risk of going blind from this disease if they do not have the condition detected and treated.

First things first. Just what is Glaucoma?

It’s the name given to a group of conditions in which the optic nerve suffers a characteristic form of damage at the back of the eye. The optic nerve damage causes patchy loss of vision that varies in severity from patient to patient. Without treatment, the loss of vision usually gets worse over the course of many months or several years. The loss of vision in glaucoma is permanent, but with early treatment, the damage to vision can be minimised.

Blindness from glaucoma is rare. If blindness does occur, it is usually because the glaucoma is already advanced when it’s first diagnosed, because the eye pressure has not responded well to treatment or because patients have not taken their drops regularly.

What events are available for World Glaucoma Week?

You can find a list of all organised events in the World Glaucoma Week website, at www.wgweek.net.   The World Glaucoma Association (WGA)  and World Glaucoma Patient Association (WGPA) were created to minimise visual disability from glaucoma, and to improve the lives of glaucoma patients around the world.

As part of World Glaucoma Week, we wanted to do our bit by sharing some information with you about travelling if you’re blind or partially sighted, as a result of glaucoma or any other condition.

• Travel Insurance: Make sure you obtain specialist travel insurance that covers you for your glaucoma, and any other medical conditions, to ensure you can travel with complete peace of mind
• Mobility Aids: Before you travel you should think whether you need a mobility aid like a cane if you do not currently have one.  Your local Social Services can help supply you with mobility aids.
• Transport on holiday:
• Bus: If possible try to obtain details of bus routes in the area you are travelling to.  They may even provide details in Braille or on tape.  Let the locals know what you are trying to achieve.
• Taxi: Try and obtain details of local taxi firms in advance.  Your hotel may be able to provide this to you.  When ordering a taxi be sure to let them know you have problems with your sight. 
• Train: Ideally when travelling by train, try and arrange a companion to travel with you. Try to get details of train times and destinations in advance.  If possible be aware of the number of stops you will have to travel through to get to your destination. If you’re travelling alone on a train, it might help to write the name of your destination on a piece of paper to show someone whilst you are onboard the train. Alternatively, say the name of your destination to someone nearby and hopefully they will let you know when you are arriving. 

 Do let us know if you have any other tips about travel when partially sighted or blind, which you can share below.

How precious is your sleep?

This month is all about sleeping, a topic that is probably close to lots of people’s hearts. That is because March is National Bed Month – an annual event run by the Sleep Council.

 It’s been running for more than 20 years and promotes the importance of a good, comfortable bed for a great night’s sleep.

So in honour of National Bed Month, we thought we would blog about how your sleep can be affected when you are travelling to your holiday destination.

Holidays provide the perfect opportunity to catch up on sleep. Sleep deprivation through stress or work can lead to poor mental performance, premature ageing and even illness. To get the most of your sleep time on holiday, you do still need to try to go to bed at a reasonable time though!

So we all understand how we can enjoy sleep while we’re on our well-earned break, but what about travelling to our destination? That is a whole different matter altogether….

Avoiding jet lag

Jetlag occurs when our normal body clock is disrupted by travelling through time zones.  It is more apparent when travelling from west to east as the body finds it more difficult to adapt to a shorter day than a longer one.  The body clock is conditioned to respond to a regular rhythm of daylight and darkness. When travelling across time zones it effectively becomes out of sync, experiencing daylight at what it considers the wrong time. The body’s natural pattern for eating, sleeping, hormone regulation and temperature is upset and cannot immediately realign its usual rhythms; it is jetlagged.

To avoid jet lag disturbing the first few days of your holiday as your body acclimatises to a new time zone, you may need to think ahead and follow these tips. Thanks to BBC Health for some of the information provided here.

• Keep hydrated: Dehydration can worsen the effects of jet lag.  Avoid alcohol and keep your fluid intake up by drinking plenty of juice or water. Drink water as soon as possible after landing to replenish your body’s supply  
• Travelling west over four or more time zones? To New York, for example. Make sure you get bright natural light in the early evening. This will help you to adapt to the new time.
• Travelling east back to the UK? Try to return at around midday to get the brightest light of the day. Wear eyeshades on the plane and try to stay in the dark and quiet.
• Exercise: while on the plane. Don’t just walk around the cabin – stretch in your chair as well. This will help your blood circulation and reduce swelling of the feet and legs.
• A short episode of moderately intense exercise may help reset your body clock after arrival.
• Fit in with the new time zone as soon as possible: Try to fit in with the daily routine and activities of the new time zone – eat when they eat and sleep (or at least rest) when they sleep.
• If possible, schedule your flight so that you arrive at your destination in the evening and go straight to bed.
• Adjust your sleep pattern: Try and rest well before you travel. For a few days prior to your trip, adjust your sleep pattern by 1 or 2 hours to be closer to your destination time zone.
• Sleep mask: may help if you struggle sleeping on the plane. Sleep if you would be sleeping at home, and vice versa.
• Medication: If you take regular medication ensure you tell your GP prior to your departure that you shall be crossing time zones.  They will advise you how to adjust your dosage if necessary.

We also quite like this jet lag calculator from British Airways. By answering a few simple questions regarding your recent or planned flights, they advise you on the best things to do to minimise your jet lag.

Ok so what do you think about sleep and travel? Do share any thoughts or tips that you might have with us…

Have you been involved in National Heart Month

This February is National Heart Month, but we are not talking about Valentine’s Day. Instead, we are talking about fundraising and raising awareness for the British Heart Foundation.

Have  you got involved yet? At AllClear, we have been busy promoting and raising awareness of this important fundraising month through our social media accounts, like our Twitter and Facebook page.

Some fundraising ideas for the BHF include cake sales with lots of red themed cakes or, for the more adventurous, dying your hair red!  You can also take a look at their Red for Heart Randometer on Facebook for some funny fundraising ideas.

So if you are planning on getting involved, do let us know. We may also be able to help promote your event or activity on our Twitter or Facebook page.

If you have a heart condition, we can help if you want to know more about travel insurance for heart problems, or travelling with a heart condition

Looking for ideas for a romantic break?

 With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, we thought we would blog about some of the romantic breaks around this spring.

But that brings us to the all important question – what do you consider to be the most romantic type of holiday? A city break, such as Paris or Rome;  walking together along a deserted beach; or sitting in front of  a cosy fire in a chalet on a snowy mountaintop? Whatever type of holiday you prefer,  this article from Travel and Leisure gives some of the best examples.

 According to Confetti, cities seem to be the place of choice for romantic holidays. They list 20 romantic city breaks in Europe here, perfect for a long weekend break. How many of these have you been to? And how many would you like to visit?!

And if you need even more of an excuse to go away, remember that holidays are good for your health as we blogged about recently. So the Valentines season is a great time to fly, sail or rail off somewhere and escape the winter blues.

Talking about bowel cancer during Be Loud Be Clear week

Following Be Loud Be Clear Week (23^rd to 29^th Jan), we at AllClear wanted to voice our support by talking about travelling with bowel cancer. Be Loud Be Clear  is part of UK charity Beating Bowel Cancer’s work to raise awareness of symptoms, promote early diagnosis and treatment for bowel cancer.

Lots of events took place including dress LOUD days, cake sales or even a LOUD tie day  - all contributing to raised awareness! At AllClear we too helped spread awareness of the event through our social media, such as our Twitter account.

If you didn’t get directly  involved in Be Loud Be Clear week, there is still lots that you can do throughout 2012. For example, take a look at all the runs, treks and challenges that you can sign up to in 2012.

The aim of all these events is to get people talking more about bowel cancer and understanding more about the symptoms and signs to look out for.

One thing that we think is not talked about it enough is how you can carry on doing the things you enjoy, even if you have been diagnosed with bowel cancer…

Don’t let bowel cancer affect your holiday plans

At AllClear we understand that when you’re diagnosed with bowel cancer, part of the problem is the feeling that your life is put on hold and you can’t get on with the things you enjoy. This can include getting comprehensive travel insurance to go on holiday. Travelling without comprehensive cover, could mean you have no protection if things do go wrong whilst you’re away. It is also a huge risk as medical bills abroad frequently run into tens of thousands of pounds.

Therefore, following Be Loud Be Clear week, we wanted to point out that with specialist travel insurance for those suffering from bowel cancer, a diagnosis doesn’t have to spell the end of holidays abroad. This gives people the peace of mind to enjoy foreign travel, with access to medical treatment anywhere in the world, just in case it’s needed.

AllClear Travel uses a medical screening process to provide specialist travel insurance for cancer –  It’s easy and only takes a few minutes and there’s no need to provide medical certificates. Using AllClear Options, our online medical travel insurance comparison service, you can get a range of quotes, from a number of different specialist travel insurance providers, and get the travel insurance that best suits you.  

As well as getting specialist travel insurance to cover cancer, here are AllClear’s top tips on travelling with bowel  cancer:

Planning: The secret to a stress free trip is to plan ahead. Consult your GP or specialist before booking a trip so they can help decide what is realistic for you.

Holiday Timing: It may often be necessary to advise a delay to the planned journey if you have recently completed, are currently undergoing, or due to start certain treatments e.g. chemotherapy. Do not automatically cancel your holiday, however, as often simple re-arrangements can be made to allow a holiday to take place. Radiotherapy can be planned before the holiday and started on return – this doesn’t delay the treatment because there may well be a week or so gap between the planning and start

Fight infection: Certain types of chemotherapy or radiotherapy can affect your ability to fight infection so you should check with your cancer specialist nurse for any precautions you should take before your holiday, as your immune system takes time to recover. Preventing infection may mean avoiding certain types of food and drink, such as unpasteurised cheeses.

Healthcare: You may wish to understand more about the standard and provision of healthcare in the destination country. You could contact the relevant High Commission, Embassy or Consulate. If there is concern that the destination is a country or area lacking in suitable medical facilities, you may want to consider an alternative that has a better standard of healthcare. If the destination is remote (even in a developed country) then healthcare is likely to be more basic

Vaccinations: To visit some countries you will need vaccinations, but if you are having certain cancer drugs or have a weakened immune system, you may not be able to have the required vaccinations so it is vital that you check with your doctor. It may also be that you require a flu jab as timings of flu epidemics vary across the world, again check with your doctor or a travel nurse.

Medication: If you are taking any medicines, you should plan how much you need to take with you and get those prescriptions before you go (make sure you have an extra supply in case you lose any). Keep a few days’ supply of medication in your hand luggage so you don’t need to panic if your luggage goes missing.

Taking care in the sun: Some patients may be more sensitive to the direct effects of the sun due to chemotherapy regimes or radiotherapy. High-factor sun block (SPF 15 or higher) is recommended, as is the wearing of loose, cotton clothing. (also see careful sun exposure)

Avoiding diarrhoea and vomiting:  Diarrhoea and vomiting can be debilitating to individuals who are generally in good health, but can be devastating to a patient with cancer. If unsure about the cleanliness of the piped water supply, boil all water before drinking or cleaning teeth. For additional safety, only use bottled water (ensure that the cap is sealed).

Information: Keep information on your cancer, doctors and medication with you at all times.

Find more details on travelling with bowel cancer.

Following Be Loud Be Clear, the Department of Health is launching a bowel cancer symptom awareness campaign national campaign on 30 January. The aim is to promote earlier diagnosis of bowel cancer. Find out more about Be Clear on Cancer

We no longer offer the Treatment Abroad travel insurance product. We are still leaving the content here for the time being, as it may still be of use to you, but the links to our treatment abroad product will no longer work as the product is no longer available. www.treatmentabroad.com is also a useful source of information

 Thanks for all the conversations over the last 2 years. If you have any questions about this please do let us know and we will do our best to help.

As London 2012 approaches, will you be packing your bags and going on holiday during those 2 weeks?

More than one in 10 Brits will be heading abroad during the London Olympics specifically to avoid the sporting event, according to research commissioned by ABTA.

In the poll, 12% said they would be going overseas between July 27 and August 12 to get away from the Games.
The older generation is the least keen to stay in the UK, with 22% of over 65s intending to head overseas to avoid the event, and 18% of 55-64 year olds.

On the other hand, 5 million people are planning to take time off to watch the Games on TV in the comfort of their own homes and around 12.5 million are taking time off work to attend events in or around the Games in London and other Olympic venues around the UK.

Which category do you fall into? Are you dreading the Games and would love to get out of the country? Or are you looking forward to it, and planning some time off, either to watch at home or actually visit some of the venues.

If you are planning to travel abroad during London2012, don’t forget your travel insurance to cover you for your trip!

How green are you on your holidays?

We have been feeling in a green mood lately, so we thought in this blog we would talk about green tourism.

But just what does this mean? Well, sustainable or green tourism is the industry committed to making a low environmental impact on your holiday destination, while helping to generate income and employment for the local population.

When we visit beautiful places, it’s natural to want our holidays to have a positive impact on local people and their environments. Responsible travel is about more authentic holiday experiences that enable you to get a little bit more out of your travels, and give a little bit more back to destinations and local people. Responsible travel maximises the benefits, and minimises the negative effects of tourism.

There are lots of holiday companies that specialise in providing eco holidays to places as exotic as Madagascar, Kenya or even the Galapagos Islands. But there are also ways that you yourself can just reduce your environmental impact when you are on holiday. Going on a green holiday doesn’t mean that you have to stop visiting your favourite destination nor does it mean camping in the wilderness without all of your luxuries! These are some common misconceptions that holidaymakers have, but in reality it is much more simple than everyone thinks.

Booking your Holiday

• Ask if the Tour Operators have a policy for Responsible Travel. If they do, take a look and make sure it explains how they minimise environmental impacts and support the local economy. You could consider asking your hotel/accommodation these 10 simple questions (from ResponsibleTravel.com)

• Aim to reduce your carbon emissions
• Travel by train and public transport where possible
• Book direct flights avoiding transfers

Before you travel

• Read up on local cultures and learn a few words of the local language – travelling with respect earns you respect
• Ask your tour operator/hotel if there are useful gifts that you could pack for your hosts, local people or schools
• Ask your tour operator whether there are local conservation or social projects that you could visit on your trip, and how you could help support them
• Remove packaging as much as possible from new items that you are taking with you. Not all countries have the same recycling services that we have in the UK

While on holiday

• Buy local goods  in preference to imported goods – this will help the local economy. However, be wary of what you buy. Don’t buy products made from endangered or wild animals and plants – including coral, shells, starfish, horns, teeth and animal skins and fur. Endangered plants and animals need our help to protect them! For more information on wildlife souvenirs and a list of banned products see the Directgov Souvenirs and Endangered Species
• Local people should get a fair deal out of your visit, by offering goods or services for you to enjoy –authentic food from a local restaurant, real local crafts for you to take home or guiding services so you can get closer to the destination that you’re visiting.
• Respect local cultures, traditions and holy places – if in doubt ask advice
• Do not have your photo taken with any ‘wild animals’ – these animals are often taken from the wild when young, and are often mistreated and killed when they get too large or difficult to handle. For more information on animal exploitation and to report a concern, visit Born Free Foundation’s Travellers’ Animal Alert
• Visiting a coral reef? Do not step on, touch or remove any coral – it is important to protect the coral reefs when snorkelling, they are extremely fragile
• Book safari trips with a licensed and trained guide – so that you can enjoy your day out and the wild animals are not disturbed or threatened by your presence
• Resist the temptation to stray from designated walking tracks or boardwalks. These walking tracks and boardwalks have been designed for a purpose and by not using them you run the risk of damaging or destroying plant life and other creatures
• Respect the natural environment – don’t drop litter
• Turn off hotel room air conditioning when it is not needed. Turn off hotel lights when you leave the room and turn off the TV rather than leaving it on standby.
• Use public transport, hire a bike or walk when convenient – it’s a great way to meet local people and reduce pollution and carbon emissions
• Use water sparingly – Many hot countries suffer from periods of drought and tourists tend to use far more than local people. Take short showers rather than baths. Let hotel staff know if you’re happy for them to change towels/bed linen as needed  and not on a daily basis

When you get back

• Write to your tour operator or hotel with any comments or feedback about your holiday, and especially include any suggestions on reducing environmental impacts and increasing benefits to local communities
• If you’ve promised to send pictures or gifts to local people remember to do so, many are promised and not all arrive!
• Why not donate to a local project in the area you’ve visited? Take a look at TravelPledge for community and environmental projects around the world.

Ok, so this seems like a really long list but they are really not difficult things to do, and think how much more worthwhile your holiday will seem afterwards. We should all try and be responsible travellers, and by following these tips you can make a huge difference to communities in holiday destinations, as well as the environment.

At AllClear, we are also committed to going greener and are proud to be a green company. We are committed to reducing any harmful effects on the environment and creating simple opportunities for our staff to be green. We acknowledge that the office environment has a vital part to play in improving sustainability, and helping our customers be green too. You can find out more here

 Thanks go to ResponsibleTravel.com, 50andnifty.com, DoItEco and Foreign and Commonwealth Office  for some of these tips.