Icebergs can really spoil your day!

The sinking of the MV Explorer in the Antarctic is a dramatic example of what can go wrong on holiday but, thankfully, these incidents are very few and far between. But as more travellers venture into more remote areas on the planet, there is an element of risk that will invariably attach itself to such holidays so using reputable tour operators and having adequate travel insurance cover is an absolute must. But returning this incident for a moment. Like the Titanic, the MV Explorer had next to no warning. The iceberg, or growler as it is called when in a submerged state, was invisible, it was dark at the time and the outside conditions below freezing. So the odds were heavily stacked against both ship and passengers. The evacuation and subsequent abandonment of the ship was handled extremely well resulting in no loss of life at all and is a credit to the well organised and professional ship staff. But what of the passengers? With very little time to prepare, they had to leave most, if not all, of their belongings onboard, brave the inhospitable polar seas, and, though not uppermost in their minds, curtail their holiday and return home.

To be honest, this is a small price to pay for surviving such an ordeal, but they will now be seeking some form of compensation from both the Tour operator and their travel insurance. This is such a good example on why travel insurance is so necessary when going on holiday. Most people tend to think about losing a bag or suffering a delay at the airport but travel insurance covers so much more. The list is almost endless. Passengers will be eligible for reimbursement of the rest of their holiday by having to curtail it short, any hospital costs from injuries sustained should be covered with repatriation included where necessary, personal belongings will be covered, legal costs should also be covered for any subsequent litigation and any lasting injury or death as a result could be covered by the personal accident part of the policy. Thankfully, this type of incident is rare but it does happen though the Tsunami in Indonesia and Thailand in 2005 falls into this category as another example of where it paid to have travel insurance. It won’t stop the incident occurring but will significantly ease the distress and pain in the aftermath.

So when deciding on purchasing travel insurance on your next trip, do think of the bigger picture rather than the loss on an ipod. Travel insurance is a bit like an iceberg. With an iceberg the damage is done by what you don’t see, whilst travel insurance comes into its own in the sections that you don’t normally read.

Why family cover is a great deal?

All insurers will offer inexpensive travel insurance cover for families and this includes single parent families. Obviously, when choosing the right policy, it pays to read the small print, but the normal deal is that children are covered free within the policy and the adults pay the normal rate that applies for couples, or a percentage of this price for lone parents. That must be good news and anything that helps to reduce the overall cost of trips abroad is a real bonus when everything else is generally charged on a per person basis.

But before you buy, do check what is covered within the travel insurance policy and what may have to be included as an extra. For example, how many children are counted as free? Many insurers cap this at 4 kids but there are providers who extend this to 6 or even an unlimited number, which is great news for the old woman who lived in a shoe, but then again she probably couldn’t afford to go on holiday in the first place!

Do also check the family definition to make sure it includes foster children and legal guardian within this. Generally, family travel insurance cover includes children up to the age of 18 years, but again some providers offer cover up to 21 years or even 23 years if they are in full time education so this can be a great saving though, by the time they have reached these ages, not many want to go on family holidays together with their parents but it is a good option to have all the same. Look out for annual travel insurance policies that permits kids to travel independently of their parents for just a small additional premium. This is good option to consider when the children are of secondary school age and above because this provides cover for school ski trips, cultural visits abroad and summer expeditions which crop up within school and university life. The alternative is to pay out for insurance for these trips separately but this will invariably be more expensive than adding this to a family travel insurance policy.

But do remember, your travel insurance cover is only as good as the policy you purchase and the cheaper the policy, the greater the restrictions there will be in place. So don’t assume that you have the right cover by ticking the travel insurance box when you book your flight or holiday. It always pays to check the small print to make sure that your family is properly insured.

Silver Surfer – why it’s cool to be over 60!

What’s in a name! Quite a lot actually and the one being coined for the older age group at the moment is that of ‘silver surfer’ and what a great name it is. For those approaching retirement, it sums up neatly, and in such a positive way, what the future holds in store. No longer should terms such as ‘the grey generation’ be used to describe this large section of the population. Retirement is not ‘grey’ but bright and vibrant. ‘The future’s bright, the future is …..’ as one well known advert puts it but it could easily be used for a vision of the future of many people entering retirement, fit, healthy and better off than their equivalents of previous generations. Children off their hands, spare cash, mortgages paid off and free time, this generation has never had it so good. So the term ‘ Silver Surfer’ conjures up the picture of far off places, living new experiences, being active and enjoying life and why not. After all, isn’t this what we all work for?

But there is a fly lurking in the ointment, or sun tan cream for that matter. Why then, when life is starting to look up, is it so difficult to find a travel insurance policy that does not penalise us for being older than the average. Generally, if in good health, insurers will provide the same rates for anyone between the ages of 18 and 65 but boy, once this threshold is breached, it’s open season on anyone the wrong side of this notional bracket. Try and find an annual travel insurance policy when you are past 70, they exist but at a price. The simple fact is that those ‘over 65’ are deemed a greater risk for cancelling a holiday before going, curtailing a holiday once abroad and incurring higher medical costs but it is time that policies were more tailored to the individual rather than the group. There are many 70 year olds fitter than twenty something’s and less at risk on their cruise down the Danube than the bright young things strutting their stuff on the dance floor in Ayia Napa but it was ever thus!

There is no easy answer except it pays to shop around and there are travel insurance providers for the ‘over 65’ age group on the market which also provide cover for pre-existing medical conditions travel insurance. But don’t allow the extra premium you may have to pay to enjoy your new found lifestyle dissuade you from taking out adequate cover in the first place. A hefty medical bill will certainly drain those hot vibrant colours back to grey in no time if you do decide to take the risk of having no cover.

Travel insurance for holidays at home – worth considering?

Most cheap travel insurance bought in the UK is aimed at people resident in the UK and indeed, will require customers to indicate that they have lived in the UK for a period of six months. It is also a fact that most people buy travel insurance for trips and holidays abroad but insurers do offer policies for travel just within the UK. It is not uncommon to find that Ireland will be included in this definition. The big advantage of UK only cover is that the premiums can be ridiculously low – well below £5 for a 3 day break is very common place. But is it worth taking out in the first place? The answer really depends on the type of holiday planned, the length of stay and whether you want to accept the risk of not being covered if something does go wrong. It is also worth remembering that UK travel insurance cover is generally included if you take out the more expensive Europe of Worldwide cover, though do check the small print rather than assuming that this is always the case. A Europe or Worldwide annual multi-trip travel insurance policy will be more expensive as an initial payment up front but will cover you for an unlimited number of trips abroad, and in the UK, throughout the year, provided the length of stay of each trip does not exceed the policy limit, normally around 31 days away per trip.

So is a UK travel insurance policy worth considering? Probably yes if only one or two short breaks a year are planned and it will be very inexpensive to purchase for the cover provided. This can be very useful should you subsequently cancel a trip, say for illness, as your holiday costs will be reimbursed subject to any excesses to pay. Your personal effects will probably be covered too which is an important point to consider as theft and loss is not just confined to holidays on the ‘Costas’ – these things happen at home too. What you will almost certainly not be covered for will be for medical emergencies and expenses as insurers argue that the NHS is available for such instances and will point out that travel insurance is not a substitute for private medical insurance. The lack of medical cover in UK only travel insurance policies is the main reason why insurers can offer these policies for the very low prices on offer.

On balance, travel insurance for UK holidays and short breaks is probably a good buy for those holidaymakers who tend to stay at home for their breaks away and there is an increasing number of people who are doing this. One final word of warning though is do check the small print as many, if not most, insurers do require you to have proof of booked accommodation for a minimum stay of normally 2 nights away for the policy to be in force so the Sunday ‘trip out’ is definitely outside this definition!

Why it pays to take care abroad – reducing the risk to yourselves

The tragic news that British student, Meredith Kercher, was brutally murdered in Italy whilst on a study gap year is yet another sad reminder of the dangers and hazards that can happen away from home Sadly, this is not an isolated incident as more and more young people take time out and venture abroad. It is also true that for the vast majority of us who go on holiday or spend extended periods in other countries, our time abroad can be a totally incident free experience, but it is important to be aware that things do go wrong. Although the following tips, aimed primarily towards women travellers, should help to ensure a hassle free and safe trip abroad, many are just common sense suggestions that equally apply to male travellers and also for travelling in the UK.

When travelling around, the key is to act confidently. For women travellers, wearing dark glasses can boost confidence and think about how your clothing will fit in with local customs and attitudes. If travelling alone, you may attract unwelcome attention and you may receive unwanted propositions or remarks. It is best just to ignore them. Never accept car rides from strangers or hitchhike and if possible try and double up with someone you know when travelling by taxi. Always pack your own baggage and never leave it unattended. Never carry packages or anything else through customs for other people. In your accommodation abroad, never leave a key where someone can note your room number. Don’t leave your window open if your room is on the ground floor and use a door wedge on the inside of your hotel room door for extra security. Again women travellers need to take extra care when checking into hotels and hostels such as, don’t use a title such as Ms, Mrs or Miss, use only a first initial and be careful about opening your door to anyone – if in doubt check with reception.

Try and stay in touch. Keep your family and friends aware of your plans and leave a copy of your itinerary, passport, travel insurance documents and credit cards with someone at home. It is worthwhile taking a copy of these with you when travelling and keep separate from the originals. Once abroad, e-mail or telephone home regularly. Carry a list of British Consular offices in the countries you plan to visit.

Don’t forget to check out the latest travel advice from the FCO before you go and find out about the culture and customs of the countries you will be visiting. And why not take a look at the travel advice section on the Travel & Insure website which contains easy to read advice on the support you can expect from embassies and consulates worldwide should you get into difficulty.

Going skiing? Take out travel insurance – you know it makes sense

There is a one in seven chance of ending up seeking medical care during a skiing holiday and despite this a quarter of us will take to the ‘piste’ with no cover at all this winter. So say recent reports in the media. Apparently, more than 3million ‘Brits’ are looking to hit the slopes this season but you cannot avoid the element of risk inherent on a winter sports holiday, no matter if you’re a beginner sliding down a nursery slope or a more confident skier cruising those blues and reds. The net result is that an increasing number of skiers and snowboarders are injured each year and, while falls, tumbles and the occasional wipe out are part of the holiday experience, you could be hit hard when it goes wrong. Being rescued from the ski slopes will now cost you well over £75, while medical expenses could set you back a further £250. The more serious injury cases could be even more painful both physically and financially. Repatriation to London from the Alps will cost around £2,500, rising to a hefty £6,000 from the USA.

And if you think that a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) will provide you with full medical cover while skiing in Europe, then think again. The EHIC, which replaced the E111, entitles you to low cost, sometimes free, basic medical treatment on the same terms as all nationals in EU states, but it should not be viewed as a substitute for proper travel insurance as the EHIC will not cover costly extras such as an air ambulance, personal liability, trip cancellation, or loss of baggage.

That said, do not assume a standard travel insurance policy is enough, as most winter sports travel insurance cover has to be bought as an extra option and, even then, check the small print on your policy. It would be wise to check that the heli-sking or freestyle skiing that you intend to do is covered, not to mention those ‘off piste’ activities you have planned as your ski travel insurance policy could very well exclude these and that could mean being saddled with an unexpected bill if you get injured.

The golden rule is ‘Get the best cover for the activities you are planning to do’. This is one area of travel insurance where buying cheap travel insurance could definitely end up being a false economy.

Dreaming of a White Christmas? Why next year’s colour is GREEN

Summer is over and sights are set for the coming winter ski season. Let’s hope for better snow in Europe than we had last year. To be fair, after a very poor start, snow fell later in the season and most resorts fared better than had been feared but even so 2006 will go down as a poor season in Europe though much better in the USA and Canada. And if the forecasts are correct, the ‘El Nino’ effect will bring even better conditions across the Atlantic for 2007/8. But what about Europe which still attracts the majority of British skiers? There have been worse seasons in Europe than last year – the end of the 1980’s were notably bad but resorts across Europe are rightly worried that ‘climate change’ is a serious enough threat for them to look at measures to improve their ‘green credentials.’ Resorts at lower altitudes are right to be worried as a 2 degree C rise in temperature over the next century is enough to remove almost a third of ski stations across Europe. The Ski Club of Great Britain has launched its Green Respect the Mountain campaign to raise awareness on what resorts need to do to protect the environment but also gives the general public information on which resorts are better than others. If this gives resorts the added incentive to improve their practices and become more eco-friendly then so much the better. Solar and biomass powered lifts are a new innovation and watch out for more car free areas in resorts. Better recycling, less reliance on plastic, less use of chemicals in snow making and more widespread use of alternative energy supplies are further examples at the seriousness that some resorts have taken on this issue. There is widespread agreement and greater awareness that a ‘do nothing’ policy is just not an option these days.

If this also improves the snow conditions, then so much the better! For those contemplating a week or two on the slopes this winter then it is advisable that they buy a travel insurance policy that covers them for poor snow conditions. Most travel insurance policies offer cover to compensate for lack of snow (or too much) with the offer extending to bussing to other higher resorts if their resort closes. And whilst on the subject of travel insurance, do make sure that if you find there is little snow and you therefore want to try out the bungee jumping on offer, just check the small print allows you to do so!

On the Piste or off it – get the right travel insurance cover

The leaves may still be on the trees but the first snow has fallen in the Alps and the Pyrenees. Yes, the start of the new ski season is just around the corner. The disappointment of last season’s poor snow record is forgotten and with it the hope that this season will be one to remember. But will it be for the right reasons? Each year thousands take to the slopes for the first time but some unfortunately will return with an injury. And it’s not just first timers as the more experienced take on new challenges, on and off piste, the wipe out’s just tend to be more spectacular! That is why it is essential to have the proper ski and snowboard travel insurance to provide the necessary cover on and off the slopes. So what should people be looking for?

Most travel insurance providers offer good cover for intermediate and beginners. This is the vast bulk of the market. Yes, accidents do happen but they are more likely to be in a controlled fashion, by that we mean on well groomed pistes and with assistance and help on hand. The problem area is when the skier or snowboarder gains in confidence and skill and wants to seek greater challenges and with it more thrills. This generally means tackling ever more severe slopes but also to venture into what is loosely termed ‘off piste’. This is where the unwary can very quickly become unstuck and we are not talking about the snow conditions. Most travel insurance policies will have restrictions on ‘off piste’ such as ‘only with a guide’ or ‘only within a specified resort area’ so when seeking that ‘adrenaline rush’ it is important to know what you are getting yourself into first. What’s more, the increasing popularity of ‘half pipes’ and ‘free style’ means that the potential risk of injury has increased as more and more people are attracted to this immensely enjoyable leisure activity. To make sure you are properly covered for these more extreme sports activities, it is essential that winter sports insurance is obtained that offers protection to this level of activity. The more expert you are, the more likely you will need more specialist cover than provided by the usual high street provider. Mountain rescue and medical costs are expensive and if this requires repatriation then the costs mount up rapidly. It’s probably too late, as you are being strapped to the rescue sledge, to wonder whether the travel insurance you bought before the holiday is going to cover you. Know before you go.

Travel Insurance – It pays to check the small print!

A common thread in most complaints over travel insurance is that ‘I didn’t realise I had to do that’ or ‘no-one told me I couldn’t do that.’ Whilst sometimes this is a totally justified call because miss-selling of travel insurance, though less frequent than in the past, still occurs, there is still a many people who take travel insurance out by simply ticking the box on the holiday booking form without as much as seeing what they are covered for. This is far from ideal when it comes to making a claim because pleading ignorance is never a strong position to come from. But you can help yourself if you follow a few simple rules:

Always get a report from an official source within 24 hours if something goes wrong. A police report for theft, a tour operator’s reports for baggage delay and loss, an airline letter if you suffer travel delay and a Property Irregularity Report before you leave the airport if your luggage is lost or delayed. Without these, you will find that insurers will not readily settle your claim.

Know what valuables you are taking with you and take extra care of them. Valuables will be defined in your policy but generally includes all jewellery, mobile phones, computer games and equipment and cameras. Add to this list the personal money you take with you. By extra care, we mean you should lock them away in a safe in your room or carry them with you. They should never be left unattended and never in checked in baggage otherwise this will invalidate a claim.

Keep receipts. Not only will this help to substantiate your claim but you are more likely to get close to value of the lost items back, subject to wear and tear. If no receipt is provided then the maximum amount that will be paid back will be capped at a low level. If several unreceipted items are claimed then this will also raise suspicions that the claim is fraudulent and could be investigated.

Do call the Medical Assistance line if you have to go into hospital abroad or need medical treatment that could be costly. It is worthwhile doing this for anything that could be above £250. Once this is on record, you are generally well covered up to the agreed amounts.

And finally, whilst this guidance is for travel insurance policies, many people will have a household policy in force that should cover ‘all risks’ up to a set value and this could also be used for a claims for personal belongings lost or stolen whilst on holiday but do check the small print again to see what exclusions apply.

Making a claim? – How to ‘Gain without the Pain’

The reason why we take out travel insurance is to provide that ‘peace of mind’ should something go wrong and we can get our money back or part of it anyway. But life is never that simple and many of us are disappointed when our claim is declined, all because of obscure clauses in the policy small print which, if we are honest, none of us have bothered to read in the first place. This is both irritating and costly when it happens and unless there is very strong mitigating circumstances, insurers are very unlikely to back down. So what can we do to ensure that our claim does not suffer the same fate?

It really is important to read the small print as this will not only tell you what you are and, more importantly, not covered for but will also make you more conscious of what might happen whilst away on holiday and how to deal with it. As they say ‘Forearmed is Forewarned,’ and it will help ease what otherwise could be a stressful situation if things do go wrong. What are the common errors that make it easier for an insurer to decline a claim?

Pre-existing medical conditions – Have you declared these when taking out your travel insurance policy? And it is not just restricted to you and your travelling companions. Most policies are very strict here and ask you to declare a pre-existing medical condition on anyone who could subsequently get you to cancel or curtail your trip. If you don’t declare it and it subsequently appears on the Medical Certificate, which the insurer will ask you and your GP to complete, then it is highly likely that you won’t get any money back.

Baggage Claims – For loss, theft and damage, you will be required to get a report within 24 hours of the incident, from either the local police for theft claims, from the airline for lost, damaged or delayed baggage and from the hotel or tour representative, often for all three types of loss. Without these reports, it is probable that your claim will not be upheld. Travel insurance policies also require original receipts to be sent in to prove proof of purchase and to indicate purchase price. As most policies do not offer ‘new for old’ cover, a depreciation index is applied so what you get back is normally less than what you paid and this index is harsher if no receipts are provided and will be capped at a maximum amount per item (normally around £60).

Valuables, Money and Personal Effects – Is your mobile phone covered? What about your kids Nintendo Game Boy? These are simple questions but it is too late to assume that they are insured after the event. Valuables and Personal Money have even stricter rules applied to them and need to be looked after with greater care. Money for instance should be in a locked safe if not on your person (a locked drawer in your room is seldom ok. Likewise valuables should NEVER be left in ‘checked in’ luggage as this will definitely invalidate your claim.

It can be a minefield out there designed to trip up the unwary but with a little bit of preparation before you take out your travel insurance and sensible precautions once on your holiday, you can substantially improve your chances of coming home not out of pocket.