24/7 travel insurance blog

Skiing holidays are immensely popular the world over, but some of the best destinations for a snow sports trip are located within Europe. The vast Alpine mountain range offers a huge number of different ski resorts, spaced out between several different countries, each with their own unique charms.

Perhaps foremost among the great Alpine ski centres is St Moritz in Switzerland. It has a rightfully earned reputation for being the playground of Europe’s rich and famous and its glamorous jetsetter clientele means that there is no shortage of luxury accommodation, as well as fine restaurants and nightlife. However, St Moritz is not all about excess and opulence (even if you can play snow cricket or polo, if the fancy takes you), it also has fantastic skiing over many different slopes and the natural beauty is quite astounding. In other words, it is understandable how St Moritz has become so popular among Europe’s elite.

For a more budget-friendly and accessible resort, it is hard to go wrong with Chamonix (or Chamoniz-Mont-Blanc, to give it its full name), situated in the French Alps. Although it has its fair share of luxury hotels and expensive private villas, its sheer size means that it is popular with skiers of all means because, after all, they’re here for the slopes. Here, Chamonix doesn`t disappoint, with the mighty Mont Blanc, the highest peak in Europe, providing a great challenge and attraction for many visitors, as well as plenty of smaller novice slopes and a world-renowned off-piste area. The whole region is easily accessed by an extensive network of lifts.

Elsewhere, Zell am See, in the Austrian Alps, sells itself far more on its unparalleled natural beauty and huge range of activities available there all year round, than it does on its off-slope attractions, not that it`s short on those either. It is a charming and picturesque medieval town, situated on the edge of a lake, which not only distinguishes it from the other generic Austrian ski resorts, but also broadens the range of sports available. Alongside standard skiing and snowboarding, visitors are also able to partake in trekking, climbing, mountain biking, glacier skiing and water sports on the lake. Overall, Zell am See offers a more well-rounded Alpine experience.

Another popular ski destination is Zermatt, in Switzerland, which in off-season times is a small village with fewer than 6000 inhabitants but which swells massively when the skiers arrive. Perhaps the main attraction of this tiny town is its proximity to the impressive Matterhorn, with its sculpted pyramid shape not only giving it a striking appearance but also many great ski runs. In addition, Zermatt is ‘car-free’ to help prevent air pollution so it is best reached by a traditional red train and the station then gives way to cobbled streets and horse-drawn sleighs - an image that makes Zermatt almost impossible not to fall in love with.

Finally, Tignes, located in the French Alps and joined with nearby Val d’Isere as part of the Espace Killy ski region, is an immensely popular winter sports destination. During the 1992 Winter Olympics and Paralympics, Tignes was home to the freestyle skiing competition and it isn`t hard to see why. The resort itself actually comprises five different villages, built around a huge dam and the nearby Grand Motte glacier provides skiing opportunities for the majority of the year. Tignes’ size makes it an obvious choice for those who are looking for a budget trip with some guaranteed quality skiing, rather than those seeking exclusivity.

Overall, Europe’s ski resorts provide a huge variety of different experiences, meaning there’s something on offer for everyone, whether they prefer luxury destinations, quaint villages or bustling vibrant centres. Whatever your choice a Barclays credit card is an essential for any trip, offering financial security and flexibility.

Labels: ski holiday, ski insurance, Skiing, winter holidays, winter sports travel insurance, winter travel insurance, wintersports, wintersports travel insurance

Research taken out by the Foreign Commonwealth Office (FCO) has highlighted the fact that one in five* travellers who go away to take part in winter sports are not taking out travel insurance.

An accident on the slopes can creep into the thousands very easily. With a fractured leg in the US leaving the policyholder with a possible £40,000 medical bill - who can risk going on the slopes without travel insurance?!

During the 2010 skiing season, including Europe and the USA, the majority of claims came from injuries to the shoulder and collarbone and with an average cost of a ski injury claim during the same season costing £1,700!*

The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is a must when temporarily visiting an EEA country including Switzerland. The EHIC allows UK nationals reduced-cost or sometimes free medical treatment but it is not a substitute for comprehensive travel insurance.

A lot of European ski resorts don’t have state-owned medical facilities, which means the EHIC may be refused by some private clinics. Unfortunately this may then mean that the injured person will have to foot the bill themselves if they don’t have winter travel insurance.

When you do purchase your winter sports travel insurance make sure you read the small print. Most insurance policies have exclusions attached and will not cover you for things like being under the influence of alcohol or if you venture off-piste. So if you have an accident and you find that your insurer won’t cover you, a large medical bill may be on its way!

Top tips when buying Ski travel insurance

• Make sure that your ski insurance has a sufficient cancellation limit that would cover you if you had to cancel your trip or if you had to curtail (come home early). If the limit doesn’t cover the cost of your trip then you may be out of pocket. 

• Ensure that you have cover for equipment. If you are taking your own equipment does the limit cover you or again would you be out of pocket if something was lost or stolen? Bare in mind that most policies have a single article limit. 

• Take your EHIC with you when you travel to the EEA including Switzerland. Insurers may reduce the excess of your emergency medical expenses cover if you use your card. 

• It needs to be noted that the EHIC will not pay for the costs of getting you home so make sure you have a travel insurance policy which covers you for repatriation. If you are injured abroad and hospitalised for a period of time, the insurance company in conjunction with the treating doctor may decide to get you home. 

• If you will be taking part in certain winter sports activities, you will need to check if your travel insurance policy includes them - especially if you will be doing something out of the realms of skiing and snowboarding on-piste! 

Labels: 24/7 travel insurance, ski insurance, winter sports insurance, winter sports travel insurance, wintersports

The first step of planning your holiday is deciding where you are going. The next stage is working out how you are going to get there.

There are a few things that need to be taken into consideration.

How long will it take to get there?

If your destination is a couple of hours by plane, would it be possible to drive instead? If driving is cheaper and less stressful than booking and boarding a flight it may be worth it. Not only will you have your own car with you at all times to be able to give you the freedom to go out when you are at your destination, but you can also pack as much as you can fit in your car as there are no baggage limits!

On the other hand, if you are travelling to Australia it can take you more than 24 hours by airplane from the UK. Driving would be a bit extreme to say the least, so get searching for those cheap flights!

How much can you afford on the travel arrangements?

The more you spend on the getting there, the less you may have to spend on accommodation or going out. Consider if taking the Eurostar is cheaper than booking a flight, or will making a stop-over on your flight shave a couple of hundred pounds off your ticket cost?

What equipment are you planning on taking with you?

Some flights may not allow you to take certain equipment on board, or they will charge you for certain items. For example, if you are taking Sports equipment with you on holiday, Ryanair will charge £80* per item for a return journey (maximum weight applies).

What about your canine friend?

Are you taking Fido with you? This may restrict your flight plans as it can be expensive to take a pet on board. Not only do you have the hassle of sorting out special arrangements, you need to think about the Pet Travel Rules applied by Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs. Driving to your destination may be less stressful for your pet as well as less hassle for you, meaning a pleasant journey all around.

Don’t forget your travel insurance! When you have decided how you are going to get to your chosen destination, don’t forget to purchase travel insurance as soon as you have booked your trip/holiday to cover you should you need to cancel your trip. Term and conditions apply to this of course so make sure you read the policy wording.

*http://www.ryanair.com/en/terms-and-conditions#regulations-tableoffees

Labels: 24/7 travel insurance, airline baggage restrictions, Airline services, car hire, cheap flights, eurostar, pet travel rules

There are hundreds of thousands of suitcases that get lost every year, but where do they go?

In America, the Unclaimed Baggage Centre in Alabama receives 800,000 visitors per year and is, incredibly, the state’s biggest tourist attraction. Its 40,000 square foot shop has many departments full of unclaimed baggage, from womenswear to electronics and shoes to handbags. Who knows what you might find!

But don’t worry, you don’t have to go to Alabama to get a lost luggage bargain, in Britain you might find lost luggage at a few auction houses.

British Airways sells its unclaimed luggage to Greasbys in Tooting which is in south west London. Here, auctions take place every Tuesday at 10.30am. Viewing is held on Monday to give you a chance to see what you could bid on, however, you only get to see the outside of the bag and the contents are a mystery until you place the winning bid! Who knows what you might find? A bunch of old scruffy clothes, or some beautifully expensive jewellery, it’s all a guess!

Lonely bags from Gatwick can end up in Guildford at Wellers Auctions and Bristol Commercial Valuers & Auctioneers and Hertfordshire Auctions contend with unwanted baggage from Luton Airport.

Most auction houses, including the ones listed above don’t have allotted airport auctions so it would be advisable to check their website for the next scheduled lost baggage auction.

But why buy lost luggage?

Some people might try and make some money out of the bags by selling the contents on places like ebay or even a car boot sale. Many make a profit - a good way for some extra money to go towards your next holiday. However, this is of course never guaranteed and you could be out of pocket if the contents of your winning bag lacked in saleability.

Make sure you have comprehensive travel insurance that covers you if your possessions are lost, stolen, damaged or delayed. If the airline loses your luggage and won’t reimburse you, you may have a claim under your insurance policy. Providing you have reported the loss or damage to the airline and obtained a Property Irregularity Report (PIR) form or its equivalent within 24 hours you may not be out of pocket. Ensure you check your travel insurance policy covers you for the correct value of your contents and keep all purchase receipts to support your claim.

Labels: baggage, lost luggage, personal possessions, travel insurance

The UK’s longest running travel loyalty scheme, Airmiles, has become part of a new programme called Avios. More than two million members will see their hard earned Airmiles turned into Avios’s equivalent. What does this mean for Airmiles members?

Labels: airmiles, avios, free flights, loyalty points

Many people go abroad for a winter holiday to enjoy some skiing and snowboarding amongst other snow sports. Lapland has already started their ski season, so how can you prepare for your winter holiday?

Improve your fitness

Skiing can be a physically demanding sport and you need to be reasonably fit. Just wearing the ski boots can make your legs ache!

By improving your fitness before you go you can reduce the aches and pains you will get when on the slopes. Your can prepare your body for the exercise you will be undertaking and build up your stamina so you can enjoy those hours on the snow!

There are special courses you can sign up for to prepare for the skiing season, from ‘Prepare to Ski with Pilates’ to a ‘Ski-Fit’ course using Powerplates.

Check your equipment
Getting the right equipment is essential if you are going on a winter sports holiday. If you don’t have the right kit you may feel uncomfortable whilst on the slopes which takes the fun away from this adrenaline-filled sport.

If you tend to take your own equipment and kit check it all a few weeks before you leave. You may find that your ski jacket is too big or your boots are too tight.

If you are buying new equipment you can visit demo days and test evenings where you can try a range of skis and snowboards before you buy them. The Ski Club of Great Britain runs test evening in Manchester and Hemel Hempstead where Ski Club members can get 10% off any equipment they buy as well as a free lift pass for the evening.

Safety
If you want to venture off-piste ensure you know how to navigate your way around the countryside; be prepared with water and snacks if you plan on being out for a while.

It might be worthwhile to learn how to use an avalanche transceiver and even attend a course that teaches you how to use the equipment and what to do should you get stuck in the backcountry.

Get some new skills

If you want to get some training in before you hit the slopes, why not sharpen your skills on a dry ski slope? Whether you’re a beginner or wanting to learn some extra specials moves, you can hire an instructor to get you started before you get to the real snow. If you are new to skiing or snowboarding it may give you some extra confidence when you are away.

Winter sports travel insurance can cover your ski or snowboarding equipment as well as piste closure and lost ski packs. Make sure you check the policy limits and documents to ensure your policy is suitable to your needs.

If you are going to take part in winter sports on your holiday, specialist insurance is essential. If you have an accident on the slopes your insurance provider will not pay out in the event of a claim if you have not purchased the correct cover.

Labels: Skiing, snowboarding, winter holidays, winter sports travel insurance

With many people jetting off for their winter skiing holiday it is important to check your travel insurance policy includes winter sports cover.

Winter sports cover can vary between insurance providers. In some cases Winter Sports comes included with your policy and others you may have to purchase an extension or upgrade your activity pack to include the activities you will take part in.

Moneysupermarkets’ travel expert Bob Atkinson, says: “Travel insurance is an essential item when planning any holiday, and even more so for a trip involving adrenaline-fuelled winter sports like skiing and snowboarding.

“At a time when people are looking to make the most of their holiday money, finding the best value for money travel insurance policies will give thrill-seekers extra cash to enjoy the après-ski entertainment!”

Some insurers will cover you for winter sports but only for a set number of days during your cover. If you have a standard Annual Multi-trip policy you may have cover for a maximum number of days during the 12 month period. If you take part in winter sports for more days than the policy allows for, the insurance company may not pay out in the event of a claim.

Standard insurance policies will normally cover you for cancellation, personal possessions and emergency medical expenses amongst others. But if you plan on going skiing, snowboarding or taking part in another form of winter sports then you may need to ensure your winter sports cover – either included in your policy automatically or purchased as an extension – includes your equipment (whether hired or your own), piste closure and loss of ski pack.

The most important reason for including winter sports in your travel insurance policy is that if you were to have an accident, or needed to make a claim relating to winter sports, for example the loss of your skis, your insurance company would cover you (depending on policy covers and limits).

If you are holidaying in Europe you should take a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) with you. They are free to get hold of and will allow UK nationals reduced-cost or sometimes free medical treatment when temporarily visiting an EEA country including Switzerland. Please note that an EHIC is not a substitute for comprehensive travel insurance.

Things to remember when buying travel insurance for Winter Sports:

• For how many days will you be covered taking part in the Winter Sports activity? Some Annual Multi-trip policies allow a set number of days during the year. 
• Is your actual activity covered? Read the policy documents and ensure you pay the additional premium if you need to upgrade your activity pack or purchase an extension. 
• Read the policy documents carefully to see if there are any restrictions. For example some policies may restrict the time of the year that you can take part in winter sports. 

24/7 travel insurance can offer either Single Trip or Annual Multi-trip cover options where you can add a winter sports extension to cover your activities. There is also a specialist Winter Sports policy with more activity options to choose from. Ensure you read the policy documents and you that you are comfortable with your cover.

Labels: ski insurance, snowboarding, winter sports insurance, winter travel insurance