24/7 travel insurance blog

Accommodations, Medications and Treatment

Before finalising your holiday plans, seek customer reviews on area restaurants, hotels and locations. Your brochure may boast of “comfortable, convenient rooms” included in your holiday tour, but reality may reveal that “convenient” may be right next to the airport with planes landing and taking off at all hours of the day and night, making sleep a near-impossibility. “Comfortable” may have applied thirty years ago when the mattress was new or before the mildew overtook the carpet and tile.

Don't hesitate to contact hotels directly and ask for photos of the actual and current accommodations included in your travel package. Ask when the lodging was last inspected and about maintenance issues. Often, discovering after arriving that your allergies are aggravated by the conditions or that you have difficulty breathing in the room provided may be too late to make alternate arrangements.

Notify your travel agent who booked the tour of any medical conditions or allergies you have prior to booking. Just make the notification in writing, so there's no mistaking or misunderstanding the information you provide and for which they must accommodate in the arrangements made on your behalf.

If you do have a medical condition, check with your physician regarding your travel plans. Ensure you have enough medication to extend beyond your travel times. It's better to have more on hand than immediately needed in case your stay is extended. Coordinate with him local physicians who can treat you or prescribe medications should those actions be needed. When you purchase your travel insurance make sure you declare all medical conditions for yourself and any people travelling with you.

When You Plan on Driving

When you plan on driving on holiday, ensure your vehicle meets safety guidelines of the host country. Ensure you are insured according to those requirements. Ensure you have all certifications and documents with you whenever you are in that vehicle: Check each time you re-enter the vehicle. Your car could have been targeted by a thief and the information stolen. Discovering that fact later is often too late.

Carry copies of passports and visas on your person. Lock the originals in a reliable safe, often provided by better hotels. Don't keep valuables and important papers in your room. Don't keep medications in your room while gone for a few days. Lock those in the hotel safe as well.

Aeroplane and Train Travel

Secure your valuables in lockable luggage. Carry your passports and visas on your person, but store copies of each in every suitcase you bring. Include medical alerts and medications lists too.

Ask the airlines or train operators if there are medical restrictions to travel on their conveyances.

Above all, purchase travel insurance against which you can file a claim if you are injured or your property stolen or damaged whilst on holiday. Even if the travel agency or hired car agency states in the contract that they are not liable under certain conditions, be aware that exceptions do exist occasionally.

Injury or Illness

Regardless of contract phrasing, the owner/operator or agent may be at least partially liable if you are injured or contract an illness or have a medical condition exacerbated by unsafe or unhealthy conditions.

Each country has its own laws and statutes regarding injuries and accidents, but you might be able to file a claim against a UK company even if the occurrence was in a foreign country. If you are hurt, have allergy or a medical condition that are escalated on foreign soil due to arrangements made by a UK organisation, and that organisation was notified of those conditions before you left, you may be entitled to compensation.

Fortunately, the UK standards are met or exceeded by most travel agencies, but sometimes, you travel to Europe, for example, without the assistance of a travel agency. You still might be entitled to some level of compensation for those same conditions: Seek competent and knowledgeable advice from a specialist in the legal community such as AccidentClaims.org. Often, initial consultations are free, so don't spend money to talk to an expert when it's not needed.

Don't sign a waiver of liability if you are simply offered a free upgrade on a hotel or a different hired car to drive.

Be informed. Be prepared, and above all, be safe this holiday season.

Labels: travel insurance, travel safely

Compiled by: Travel Insurance Guide

When searching for holiday insurance it goes without saying that most people will search online for their insurance policy and a vast majority of these online searches will use some form of price driven operator connected to their search query.

Common terms that people may type into to Google would include; cheap travel insurance, low cost holiday cover, best price travel policy, affordable travel insurance – all good searches to consider, but how cheap is holiday insurance and what are the real costs involved with the cheapest policies?

So, right now I should mention that getting a great price on your policy doesn’t always mean that there are hidden costs but the important information here is really around ensuring that when comparing policies you ensure that you get the right policy for you at the right price.

In addition to this, be careful when entering your details and getting quotes from travel providers as the temptation can be to de-select everything that appears to incur a premium and believe that you have got a great deal when in fact what you have done (or may have done depending on what items you de-selected) is invalidate the policy by falsifying information.

For example, if you remove Emergency Medical Expenses from your cover to get a cheaper price, it could prove very expensive should you find that you need to pay for extensive medical costs in the event of a claim.

Typical questions that you are likely to need to answer include:

• The holiday destination 
• The duration of the stay 
• Age 
• People travelling 
• Activities you will be taking part in (or likely to) while away 
• Medical conditions for you and all travelling (if on a family package or multi person policy) 

If you are truly seeking the best policy for you at the most economical price, you would best seeking a policy most associated to your trip – if you are going backpacking for example check out specialist backpacker insurance – this will not only make your policy more likely to cover everything you need as it is specialist to your trip type, but also mean that you do not have question marks over your cover when your away.

Always read the policy in detail before you buy to ensure you are fully protected. There are terms and conditions associated with any insurance policy so make sure you are familiar with your cover and carry your documents with you when you travel.

Labels: 24/7 travel insurance, backpacker travel insurance, cheap backpacker insurance, cheap holiday insurance

Holidays are a time to relax, kick back, forget about the weekly rat race and take life at a more leisurely pace. The accommodation type you choose can make or break the holiday as much as the destination, so it`s important that you get both just right.

For instance, when staying in a hotel, you are often faced with a daily race to secure a sun lounger, are given specific times when you can eat and will often be forced to queue up, school canteen-style, at every meal time. However, if you rent a private villa, you`ll have no such worries.

A private villa is very much a home-from-home where you can enjoy a relaxing holiday with family, friends or simply by yourself. As many villas have their own private pools and terraces for barbecues or evening drinks, you really can take life at your own pace.

Labels: family travel insurance, villa holiday

In this modern world of increasing levels of stress and longer work hours the traditional one holiday a year is no longer enough for most people. In order to break the humdrum routine and inject a little more excitement into the working year people are inserting a few weekends away rather than using all that well deserved time off at once.

This also gives happy holiday goers the chance to mix up their experiences rather than visiting one area. It offers the opportunity to enjoy a sleek city break in the spring, a skiing trip in the winter, a relaxing few days at the beach in the summer and an adrenaline fuelled, activity, adventure weekend in the autumn.

If it`s a fun filled weekend of activities that you`re interested in you needn`t travel to far off shore to find it, the UK has no shortage of entertainment for all fitness levels. A few ideas for activities that you can plan into your weekend are listed below.

Target shooting

Although generally considered a more masculine activity, ladies do not be put off from giving it a go and showing the men what you`re made of. Target shooting can be a fantastic group activity and due to most ranges having space for 5-6 shooters at once, you needn`t spend your day standing around waiting.

Target shooting ranges can be found across the country and many offer other fantastic activities that can be combined into your day. If you`re in Leeds or York then consider having a go at tank driving, archery and releasing your inner monkey on their ropes course. Bath, Bristol, Bournemouth and Cardiff however offer a fantastic course that include quad bikes, racing buggies, archery and cross bows, clay pigeon shooting, blind land rover driving and even the chance to test a hover craft, although you can only choose a few of these activities to cram into your day.

If it is the clay pigeon shooting in particular that you fancy trying your arm at then you can basically travel to any corner of the UK and not be too far from somewhere that will offer you the opportunity.

It`s a knock out!

Since the popular TV show began in 1966 and dominated our television screens for the best part of thirty years, It`s a Knockout has had a special place in the hearts of the British public as each viewer thinks that they could do it!

Well perhaps it`s time to put that optimism to the test and see who out of your friends or family really does have what it takes. It`s a Knockout courses run across the country in: Bath, Bristol, Cardiff, Leeds, London, Nottingham and York to name just a few.

Paintballing and Go Karting

These are two of the most popular leisure activities and can be found pretty much everywhere, so wherever you decide to spend your holiday weekend don`t forget to research where the nearest facilities are.

Canyoning and Coasteering

For something a little different and not for the faint hearted, canyoning and coasteering can provide hours of entertainment. Canyoning combines all the heart pounding thrills of climbing up and down cliffs, through gorges, scaling waterfalls and navigating rapids as you wade through rivers.

Coasteering is slightly different and comprises of basically climbing up, jumping off and swimming through almost every possible coastal surface. Don`t worry though; you will have an instructor with you to help with the tricky bits! You can find both of these daunting activities in Cardiff and Swansea. More canyoning is also offered in Liverpool, Chester and Edinburgh.

Clearly the UK has a lot more than only this handful of activities to offer and if you`re running a little low on money saving money needn`t be an issue as there are plenty of options that can fit quite snugly into a tighter budget.

Don’t forget your travel insurance for cancellation cover as soon as you have booked!

Labels: Activity travel insurance, activity weekend, sports and activities travel insurance

When you are going on holiday the question of which is better travelling by air or other means often arises. There are many travel options available if you are travelling within the UK or Europe or further afield including plane, train, car or bus. So which is the best option?

Travelling throughout Europe by coach has advantages and disadvantages. If you are afraid of flying then coach travel obviously gets around the concerns of flying, however, if you are travelling long distances coach travel can be time consuming, often with many connections needed and uncomfortable seats which you will be sitting in for long periods. Coaches do not offer much chance to stretch your legs. Travelling further afield than Europe by coach is not really practical.

Trains are a good choice for travel throughout Europe. They are faster than cars and coaches and offer a more relaxing form of transport. However, they are still not as quick as air travel and you can often have long periods where you are waiting for connecting trains. Although trains do offer you the chance to stretch your legs, some trains are sleeper trains and offer you the chance to lie down whilst travelling, a good option for those who need to be fresh on arrival at their destination. Trains also offer buffet cars so you can arrive at your destination well fed and rested. You can travel by train further afield than Europe, however, it is very time consuming with many connections and can be costly.

If you are travelling by car through Europe you will need to remember to drive on the right hand side of the road and that signs will be in different languages as you travel through the mainland countries. Travelling long distances by car can be stressful as you are responsible for navigating and arriving at your destination on time. If you travel by car in Europe you will also need to make sure your insurance covers you for all the countries you are travelling through and that you are aware of any local regulations, such as carrying a first aid kit or warning triangle. Travelling further than Europe by car is not very practical and although it can be done it will take a long time. Travelling by car does, however, give you flexibility when you arrive in your destination as you have your own transport.

The option of travelling by air can mean that you arrive at your destination much quicker than by other means of travel. Air travel often does not require any connections and you can normally fly direct to most destinations. Air travel can be very relaxing and stress free with the majority of flights now offering in flight entertainment. Travelling by coach, train or air does, however, have drawbacks of how do you get around when you reach your destination. The obvious answer is to book car hire for your arrival in your destination.

Travel insurance is a necessary purchase when booking your holiday. If you pre-book your travel arrangements you will be covered for cancellation costs. Terms and conditions including exclusions apply and you need to ensure you are familiar with your policy wording.

Labels: Flying, travel insurance, travelling through europe

One of the best ways to explore a country is to take a train and France is no exception.
The French countryside boasts thousands upon thousands of miles of railway lines running through some of the most beautiful scenery in the world and the opportunity to see this close up should not be missed. One of the many advantages of taking the train includes being able to enjoy the views as you travel – something that could be dangerous when driving and missed altogether if taking a plane. In addition, those who choose to drive in France could find it expensive as there are regular motorway tolls which can really hike up the cost of a journey considerably.

It is often recommended for scenic journeys in France to try the southern and central regions, as there are a number of long trips that are ideal for seeing plenty of the countryside. One of the longest journeys covers 300 km and takes the traveller from Arvant to Beziers. The line for this journey reaches a height of 1100 metres at the tip of the Massif Central, ensuring amazing views of the mountains and the surrounding area.

Another popular journey through this region of the country is the trip from Nimes to Clermont Ferrand. This also takes travellers through the heart of the Massif Central, taking in the areas around Cevennes and journeying through no less than 106 tunnels and crossing around 1300 bridges. This includes the Chamborigaud Viaduct which boasts 41 arches. Nimes can be reached easily from Paris using the TGV and the line onwards to Clermont Ferrand measures more than 300 km. The scenery en-route includes plenty of vineyards and the highest point of the journey is more than 1000 metres above sea-level. This is a trip which can take just under 6 hours and takes in picturesque towns and villages such as Issoire, Langogne and Villefort.

Escorted train holidays are becoming an increasingly popular option for holidaymakers, as they are a very leisurely way to travel. One of the main features of this kind of break is that stressing over a travel itinerary is reduced to a minimum as it is all covered in the cost of the journey. In many respects, it is the ideal way of making new friends, as fellow passengers will be on the same trips at the same time. For a must-do trip, escorted holidays in the Dordogne are perfect. The trip begins at Rocamadour - a town famed for its setting in a gorge above a tributary of the River Dordogne - and there are a number of excursions available in the region. The route takes in the village of Martel, which dates back to medieval times, and there are excursions to local caves, a boat trip and a trip on a steam train.

An escorted holiday is ideal for those who are concerned about making connections or the language barrier and as everything is planned in advance there is no need to worry about anything. Being able to take a holiday at such a leisurely pace is a must for those who want to get away from the stresses and strains of their usual routine and it is a great way to recharge the batteries.

When booking your escorted holiday ensure you take out travel insurance. You will then be covered in the even of cancellation and you recover and non-refundable deposits you may have paid out. Terms and conditions including exclusions apply of course and you should ensure you are familiar with your cover.

Labels: european travel insurance, travel through france