Posts Tagged ‘Travel Insurance’

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Do we understand the EHIC?

Thursday, August 26th, 2010

We have all probably heard the very sad story in the news over the last week or so, about the honeymooning couple. 

Carrie-Anne Dudbridge broke her spine in three places after falling 20ft from a balcony while on her honeymoon in Corfu. The honeymoon was a surprise gift from wedding guests.

Unfortunately, the couple were then left stranded because they travelled without any travel insurance. They wrongly believed they were covered by the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), formally known as the E111.Thankfully, an appeal to raise the £16,000 required for a specially equipped air ambulance has reached its target. An appeal was also placed on the Millwall FC website, as the couple are fans.

Do you know what your EHIC card really means when you require treatment while on holiday abroad?

We are very pleased that the couple are now getting to go home, but this tragedy really does raise the important point of EHIC. Unfortunately, it is quite confusing what is, and is not covered, so I just wanted to open the forum for a bit of a discussion around this. 

Basically the card guarantees the holder will “receive the same level of medical health care as a local resident”, but the important distinction is that it does not cover any travel costs to come back to the UK. Therefore, given the costs of medical transport back to the UK, it is clear that the EHIC is not a substitute for private travel insurance. – you need both.

So I just wondered what other people’s experiences were of the EHIC card? Have you ever used it when you were away? Has it helped? Or have you had problems trying to use it?

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Posted in Holiday Stress Buster, Travel Health News, Travellers Experience | 3 Comments »

Hottest Winter Destinations

Tuesday, August 24th, 2010

We all know the feeling. The days are getting colder, a scarf becomes a permanent staple of your wardrobe, and it feels that you wake up and go to bed in the dark. That is the British winter for you. But worse of all, your holiday abroad, that you had back in the spring has faded into a distant memory. So what can you do? Well some people may say that wrapping yourself in your duvet and eating chocolate is the answer, but is there an alternative, if you can afford it of course – booking a winter holiday instead and chasing that summer sun!

So where are the popular places for a Winter 2010 holiday? Well here are some Winter Sun Spot suggestions from the BBC  Travel Notebook and Travelio.net 

  • Spain: Winters are usually mild, warm and dry, with temperatures ranging from 14-23°C. Occasionally there will be severe weather, with gales and heavy rain, as there were in early November 2001 – so those would be the times you would wish you hadn’t bothered booking a winter sun holiday!
  • USA: Temperatures in Florida stay within the 18-26°C range, with 6 hours of sunshine. This area is prone to very changeable weather though – check about hurricanes (link to hurricane blog)
  • Caribbean: The winter months are dry, with temperatures around 24-27°C and 9 hours of sunshine every day
  • Cyprus: Temperatures range from 16-23°C, and although winters are usually mild and sunny, the island can experience its heaviest rainfalls at this time.
  • Portugal: The Algarve and the island of Madeira are popular year round destinations.
  • Asia: In Thailand, temperatures stay at 30-34°C all year round, but with less rainfall from November to April.  Equatorial Malaysia has hot and wet weather all year round, with temperatures in the 30s°C. The Indonesian islands, like Bali, have a similar climate to Malaysia. It stays hot and humid all year round, with temperatures averaging out at 29-31°C.
  • Australia: Imagine relaxing on the famous Bondi beach in Sydney while your friends struggle with the drizzle and gloom back home.
  • Brazil: What about checking out Rio de Janeiro, especially during the annual February Carnival.
  • South Africa: A mini-tourism boom is anticipated for South Africa in 2011, following on from the success of the World Cup and the intense media coverage.

So what does this information mean for you as you plan your holiday? Well, the key thing I notice from the list is that other than a few places in Europe, the majority of places are quite far away, and you know what that means – yes, that’s it – cramped long haul flights (unless of course you have the time and inclination to go on a long cruise to book your holiday).

So I thought I would provide you with some top tips for those long haul flights. Ultimately, as this article in the Telegraph details, you need to decide the balance between comfort and a lower fare, and obviously that will differ for everyone. Thanks to Backpacking Matt for some of the tips too.

These first tips are all for while you preparing your holiday, and actually travelling to your destination.

  • Compare prices: Find out the cheapest economy fare to your destination – this will give you a reference price. Compare this price with the national carrier for each route and main UK airlines such as BA and Virgin.
  • Compare flight times: The cheapest fares usually involve a detour or change of plane. While you don’t want to increase your journey time unnecessarily, a chance to stretch your legs might not be a bad thing if it means you’re also saving some money. But by paying a bit more, it could be a 45-minute stop rather than a 12-hour wait.
  • Compare ticket types: If you are travelling to New Zealand or Australia, you may find that a round-the-world (RTW) ticket is cheaper than a simple return.
  • Compare the small print: Ticket restrictions vary considerably and it’s worth checking the terms and conditions before you buy. Often you are unable to change outbound flights: when you can, it could be free or cost anything between £50 and £100.
  • Travel Insurance: You will have paid a lot of money for your long haul flights, so make sure that you get comprehensive travel insurance to cover you in case of any problem with the airline or your destination etc
  • Compare airline seats: You could try www.seatguru.com to compare different airlines. Reserve a window seat if you can
  • Exercise the day before you fly:  Get lots of exercise the day you fly out. Exercising releases chemicals in your brain that helps to reduce stress so you will feel more relaxed about the upcoming hours in the air. Exercise will make you feel tired so you will be more likely to be able to sleep on the plane, no matter how cramped the airline seat is!
  • Drink lots of fluid:  Spending hours confined to an airplane will result in you getting dehydrated. That airplane air is not only cold, it’s also extremely dry. Most long-haul flight operators make a point of bringing water and juice around – so make sure you do drink it!

 But what about once you arrive at your beautiful, sunny destination – Florida perhaps? Or Malaysia? All you want to do is enjoy your holiday, but at the same time the flight is catching up with you. Here are some tips that may help….

  •  Avoid a post-flight nap: Regardless of when you arrive at your destination, do everything you can to avoid taking that quick ‘one hour’ snooze – chances are you’ll feel worse when you wake up. Power on through the day and go to bed at a normal hour. You’ll feel much better the next morning.

    Winter sun destinations

    How can you beat the time zone changes when chasing winter sun?

  • Get lots of sunlight and fresh air when you arrive:

    Stay active and do some exploring. This will result in you getting exercise, fresh air, and increased vitamin D from being out in the sunshine. This will help keep you alert and allow you to make it to bedtime.

I must say though that overall I agree with backpacker Matt, the travelling part of a long haul holiday might not be the best part – but surely that is a small price to pay once you are luxuriating in that winter sun destination, and have left behind (for a while) the cold Britain!

If you have any more tips for a long haul flight, I’m sure that I haven’t covered them all, please feel free to share them below.

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Travel Tips for the Commonwealth Games

Thursday, August 19th, 2010

So is anyone of you lucky enough to be travelling to India for the Commonwealth Games this year? Maybe you have a friend or relative who is competing. Unfortunately, I will be only be watching any of the Games at home on my TV. Nevertheless, I wanted to share some useful travelling tips for those of you who are going to the Games.

For any of you who don’t know, the 2010 Commonwealth Games are being held in New Dehli, India. Opening and closing ceremonies of the Commonwealth Games will be held at Jawaharlal Nehru stadium.  17 sports will be held in 6 major grounds over a period of 11 days, starting on the 3rd October.

At least of 2.6 million spectators are expected to come to the Games, so what do you need to make sure that you sort out before you go?

  • Passport and Visa: You will need a passport that is valid for at least 6 months after your return from India. You will need a visa for travelling, which can be obtained from VFS. It may be that after the Games you want to do some exploring around India, but make sure that you don’t overstay your Visa as otherwise you could be fined or even detained.
  • Travel Insurance: Make sure that you have comprehensive travel insurance. The last thing you want is to be worrying about that when you should be enjoying the games! When travelling in India, medical treatment can be very expensive, and without comprehensive cover it could be a very costly experience. You should make sure that, as far as possible, your belongings are covered in case of pickpockets, or simply losing your valuable.
  • Vaccines: Speak to your GP to make sure that you have all relevant vaccines, and malaria medication, if required
  • Safety: Delhi police officers wear a khaki uniform with a light brown beret and there will be a presence at all venues. As with all major sports events, expect large crowds and possible delays at venues due to security checks, and allow plenty of time to purchase tickets and travel to events. You will not be able to bring certain items into the venues including alcohol, coins, matches/lighters, bottles and cans, food, backpacks, briefcases and large handbags, perfume and video cameras. A full list of unpermitted items is on the Commonwealth Games website. 
  • Transport: Poorly maintained roads and congestion cause a large number of serious traffic accidents in Delhi, although Delhi’s road and public transport systems have been upgraded for the Games. Special care should be taken at night. If you have a Games ticket, you are entitled to free transport to and from the Games venue on the Delhi Metro and on Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) buses on the day of the event for which your ticket is valid.

 

I hope that information helps. If you are going to the Games, I really hope you enjoy it. You can find further information about travelling to the Games from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Do let us know if you are going to the Games and what you are planning to see….

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An Expensive Loss…

Tuesday, August 10th, 2010

We often talk in Globebloggers about the cost of falling ill abroad and the pitfalls of travelling without adequate cover.  However, in this blog we decided to talk about something different..

As you are sitting there right now, what gadgets do you have in your pocket or handbag. A mobile phone or blackberry, an I-Pod, a digital camera or your laptop? And if you left to go on holiday right now, what gadgets would you be taking with you?

Because according to a recent article in Insurance Times, UK Tourists take £7bn worth of electric gadgets on holiday with them, with up to £1.61bn uninsured. This is because only 77% have travel insurance and only 49% have personal possessions cover on their home insurance.

The average adult will take £424 worth of kit including phones, laptops, MP3 players, DVD players, cameras and camcorders. A group total will reach on average £738 of electronic equipment. And with children add another £100 or more to include electronic games such as Nintendo DS. The average holiday party will take at least two mobile phones with them as well.

So imagine if you lose these gadgets when you are on holiday, or they are stolen. The last thing that you want is issues around claiming for your personal goods. So always make sure that you read the small print of your travel insurance policy and check what is actually covered. If you have any questions, your travel insurance provider should be able to help you.

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Goldtrail Fail

Thursday, 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

Wednesday, 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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Travelling the Ocean Waves

Thursday, 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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An Ash cloud future??

Wednesday, 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 »

Changes in Cuba

Wednesday, May 26th, 2010

We do not normally focus on particular countries in this blog, but I just wanted to let you know some information that is very important for you if your next holiday is in Cuba.

 Since the start of May, travellers to Cuba must have comprehensive travel insurance, including medical insurance, before entering the country.  You will be expected to present a copy of your insurance on arrival in Cuba.

 In exceptional cases, if  you are unable to show proof of cover on arrival, you will be directed to an office at the airport or other port of entry where you will be able to purchase standard cover from Cuban insurance companies. You will need to present your travel insurance documents when you arrive in Cuba

Now obviously you don’ t want that hassle of sorting out your insurance when you have arrived in Cuba and are ready to start your holiday. Instead, it is probably a good idea to double check that sorting out your travel insurance is something that is on your long list of things to prepare before you go away. Remember to check the small print when you book your insurance, because some insurers may exclude Cuba as a destination. You should also check that your policy covers you all for the activities you want to undertake.

 For more information on this development, go here http://www.cubaminrex.cu/.

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Posted in Travel Health News | 4 Comments »

World Cup Travel

Tuesday, May 25th, 2010

Well the World Cup season is almost upon us. For some that thought will leave you excited, and looking forward to hours spent in front of the TV, yelling at the screen. Others of you may not be looking forward to the World Cup at all, and will be avoiding all reference to ‘the beautiful game’ until it is over. Football_3D_isolated

But what about if you are lucky enough to actually be travelling to South Africa for the World Cup?

Well, as we often say on Globebloggers, the key to having a great trip, is preparation.

  • Travel Insurance: Ensure you have comprehensive travel insurance all booked up, just in case of any unexpected circumstances. Health care is very expensive in South Africa so make sure your travel insurance covers you for everything that you want to do while you are out there
  • Driving: If you’re planning to drive to World Cup matches in South Africa be aware of local traffic laws. Remember South Africans drive on the SAME side of the road as the UK.  South Africa is a vast country and the driving distances on straight roads can be lengthy. Journeys between World Cup venues can take up to 15 hours. You should aim to take regular breaks, and be prepared for driving in unfamiliar conditions
  • Crime: South Africa has a high crime rate so always keep your valuables out of sight. Keep your football tickets in a zipped pocket until you reach the turnstiles. Tickets may be ID specific so be prepared with photo ID and the credit/debit card that you used to pay for the tickets. Always travel in groups and avoid walking around town after dark. Only take out as much cash as you need and only use cashpoints in busy places. Consider using travellers cheques as well to mitigate some of those problems.
  • Timing: Turn up early on match day to avoid problems with overcrowding at the gate which could lead to you missing the kick off
  • Weather: You might not expect it, but temperatures in South Africa in May to August will be cool with light showers, so you might want to pack accordingly. There is nothing worse than standing freezing cold watching a match!

 For more information, you might want to check out the FCO World Cup travel advice, travel advice for South Africa or information for football travellers. You might want to register your details with www.fco.gov.uk/locate so they can provide you help more quickly in the event of an emergency.

If you are going to South Africa, we hope that these preparation tips help you have a great time. Please think of us all back at home, watching the games on the small screen or packed pubs! Although one thing we can’t help you with is getting a ticket to the final if England make it that far!

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