Tuesday, 22 April 2008
How to book a winning honeymoon
Spring is well and truly here, and that means the wedding season is getting underway. If you are a groom reading this, no doubt you are looking for a honeymoon that will make your bride think you are the best catch ever. And believe it or not, you don’t necessarily have to shell out a fortune to get something really special – you just need to know a few tips. Whether you are yet to tie the knot or have been married for 50 years and have finally got round to booking the holiday of a lifetime, this blog is for you.
What sort of holiday?
It used to be traditional that the groom kept the honeymoon destination secret until the happy couple set off. However ask most brides and they will probably tell you that this is one surprise (“how much did he spend?!?”) that they’d rather not have! Get some brochures and a bottle of wine and discuss your holiday. Also talk about how much time you’d like to spend together on the trip – if you’ve booked the Maldives and one of you wants to do a diving course you won’t see much of each other for a week.
It might be that you have the money to do what you like – so do it guilt-free! But if you’ve just bought your first home and already paid for a wedding you might be watching the pennies. Remember that your parents and grandparents probably honeymooned in Worthing and thoroughly enjoyed themselves, and you have the rest of your lives to save for a lavish holiday. Nothing causes arguments like money, so make sure your expectations are aligned right from the start.
Don’t be shy…
… make sure everyone connected with your holiday knows you are on honeymoon. If you are booking a package, make sure the agent knows this at the outset as they can help you find the destination to suit you best. They also have access to a lot of information on resorts and hotels that the brochure won’t tell you about, so make a friend of them and they will be sure to do the best for you.
Whether your budget runs to first class hotels and flights or a just a campsite, people are incredibly kind and generous to honeymooners all over the world and will often do everything in their power to make the visit as special as possible, whether that is offering a free upgrade or just reserving the best pitch for them.
Also if the trip does fail to live up to expectations, making it clear that this was supposed to be the holiday of a lifetime adds extra clout to your complaint – but it is much harder to plead this if it wasn’t known at the time of booking.
When to go?
Another tradition which thankfully is dying out is the notion that the bride and groom have to leave their wedding mid-evening to dash to the airport for their honeymoon flight. It sounds romantic, but you could well end up spending your wedding night at the airport or on a plane – not so romantic!
Your wedding day goes by in a blur and it is natural to feel a bit out of sorts for a few days afterwards, so going on a long journey straight away can feel a bit overwhelming. Stay at your wedding all night if you like, then get used to married life at home and catch up on the gossip you missed from the big day!
If you are heading for a tropical destination, be sure to check you are avoiding the rainy or hurricane seasons unless you really do intend to spend all the time in your room…
Keeping things hassle-free
Obviously we hope nothing goes wrong on your holiday but taking a few simple precautions can minimise the chances of anything going wrong and preventing small problems from escalating into big ones.
If you are changing your name and want to change your passport, allow plenty of time for your application to be processed. You will need to obtain a form from your registrar (or whoever is conducting your ceremony) which you send to the passport office which then enables your newly-named passport to be valid once you are married. If you are travelling under your maiden name, make sure everything is booked in that name – most importantly that the names are consistent on your tickets and passports. Sadly many a holiday has come unstuck because of this.
Check well in advance whether your destination requires jabs or malaria tablets – some treatments take a while to be fully effective and a certificate of vaccination is required for entry to some countries.
Make photocopies of your passport and marriage certificate, take some with you and leave some with a contact at home. Also leave them a copy of your travel, home and pet insurance details where applicable so minor problems can be sorted out easily.
Speaking of insurance, make sure the travel insurance you purchase for your trip is suitable for your needs – check your cancellation limits especially, as they may not cover a more expensive trip. Also ensure that any adventurous activities you might take part in are covered by the policy. A list of activities covered by 24/7 travel insurance is available here. 24/7 travel insurance offers cancellation cover of up to £3,000 on Standard policies (£5,000 on Premier policies) and premiums for a two week honeymoon in the Caribbean start from under £50* - so it won’t make a big dent in your budget either!
*Premium £48.69 includes Insurance Premium Tax; based on a couple aged under 55 taking out a ‘standard’ Single Trip policy for 14 days for Worldwide travel and purchased within 14 days of departure date. Cover details and prices are correct at time of going to press and are subject to change.
What sort of holiday?
It used to be traditional that the groom kept the honeymoon destination secret until the happy couple set off. However ask most brides and they will probably tell you that this is one surprise (“how much did he spend?!?”) that they’d rather not have! Get some brochures and a bottle of wine and discuss your holiday. Also talk about how much time you’d like to spend together on the trip – if you’ve booked the Maldives and one of you wants to do a diving course you won’t see much of each other for a week.
It might be that you have the money to do what you like – so do it guilt-free! But if you’ve just bought your first home and already paid for a wedding you might be watching the pennies. Remember that your parents and grandparents probably honeymooned in Worthing and thoroughly enjoyed themselves, and you have the rest of your lives to save for a lavish holiday. Nothing causes arguments like money, so make sure your expectations are aligned right from the start.
Don’t be shy…
… make sure everyone connected with your holiday knows you are on honeymoon. If you are booking a package, make sure the agent knows this at the outset as they can help you find the destination to suit you best. They also have access to a lot of information on resorts and hotels that the brochure won’t tell you about, so make a friend of them and they will be sure to do the best for you.
Whether your budget runs to first class hotels and flights or a just a campsite, people are incredibly kind and generous to honeymooners all over the world and will often do everything in their power to make the visit as special as possible, whether that is offering a free upgrade or just reserving the best pitch for them.
Also if the trip does fail to live up to expectations, making it clear that this was supposed to be the holiday of a lifetime adds extra clout to your complaint – but it is much harder to plead this if it wasn’t known at the time of booking.
When to go?
Another tradition which thankfully is dying out is the notion that the bride and groom have to leave their wedding mid-evening to dash to the airport for their honeymoon flight. It sounds romantic, but you could well end up spending your wedding night at the airport or on a plane – not so romantic!
Your wedding day goes by in a blur and it is natural to feel a bit out of sorts for a few days afterwards, so going on a long journey straight away can feel a bit overwhelming. Stay at your wedding all night if you like, then get used to married life at home and catch up on the gossip you missed from the big day!
If you are heading for a tropical destination, be sure to check you are avoiding the rainy or hurricane seasons unless you really do intend to spend all the time in your room…
Keeping things hassle-free
Obviously we hope nothing goes wrong on your holiday but taking a few simple precautions can minimise the chances of anything going wrong and preventing small problems from escalating into big ones.
If you are changing your name and want to change your passport, allow plenty of time for your application to be processed. You will need to obtain a form from your registrar (or whoever is conducting your ceremony) which you send to the passport office which then enables your newly-named passport to be valid once you are married. If you are travelling under your maiden name, make sure everything is booked in that name – most importantly that the names are consistent on your tickets and passports. Sadly many a holiday has come unstuck because of this.
Check well in advance whether your destination requires jabs or malaria tablets – some treatments take a while to be fully effective and a certificate of vaccination is required for entry to some countries.
Make photocopies of your passport and marriage certificate, take some with you and leave some with a contact at home. Also leave them a copy of your travel, home and pet insurance details where applicable so minor problems can be sorted out easily.
Speaking of insurance, make sure the travel insurance you purchase for your trip is suitable for your needs – check your cancellation limits especially, as they may not cover a more expensive trip. Also ensure that any adventurous activities you might take part in are covered by the policy. A list of activities covered by 24/7 travel insurance is available here. 24/7 travel insurance offers cancellation cover of up to £3,000 on Standard policies (£5,000 on Premier policies) and premiums for a two week honeymoon in the Caribbean start from under £50* - so it won’t make a big dent in your budget either!
*Premium £48.69 includes Insurance Premium Tax; based on a couple aged under 55 taking out a ‘standard’ Single Trip policy for 14 days for Worldwide travel and purchased within 14 days of departure date. Cover details and prices are correct at time of going to press and are subject to change.
Labels: honeymoons
// posted by 24/7 Travel Insurance @ 17:21
Wednesday, 16 April 2008
Good Morning Campers
If your last experience of camping was in a leaky tent when you were in the Scouts you might not have ever considered it for a holiday again – but camping has come a long way since then. In the current financial climate many people are also looking for inexpensive family holidays – and camping really fits the bill!
Why camping?
Camping is not only a cheap way of holidaying. There is nothing quite like it for appreciating the outdoors and the environment. Kids particularly love it, especially if you start them young, and there are always other children to play with on site. In France and Germany the camping culture is very much more prevalent than in the UK and many sites have amazing facilities such as water parks, and the washing facilities are often cleaner than those you will find in hotels. Camping is weather-dependent, but pitches are cheap and you don’t have to give very much notice of cancellation so if the weather is really atrocious you can pack up and go elsewhere with minimal financial loss.
What equipment do I need?
Your first camping trip will undoubtedly be your most expensive because of the initial outlay – but there are a lot of camping gadgets on the market that you can easily do without, so don’t go mad!
Your tent is obviously the most important item, and look for one that is high enough to stand up in as it gives a much less claustrophobic feel. Children might prefer their own small tent rather than sharing with mum and dad. Airbeds, a pump and a puncture repair kit are essential too – you would not believe how cold sleeping on the ground can be, so put as much distance between you and the ground as you can! If you are camping in colder weather you will probably need suitable sleeping bags but otherwise a duvet is fine and more pleasant to sleep under. A good sturdy torch (one for each tent), flip flops, and a large container for carrying water complete the initial “must-have” list. “Nice to haves” include a camping stove and fridge (expensive initially, but worth the investment for regular camping), and a windbreak and tarpaulin to provide shelter.
Once you have been on a few trips you will start to get an idea of items you will need – and if you need anything urgently there is probably a camping shop within fairly easy reach of the site! Useful sites for camping goods include World of Camping and Outdoor World Direct.
Is it safe?
Camping is very safe provided everyone applies common sense:
Why camping?
Camping is not only a cheap way of holidaying. There is nothing quite like it for appreciating the outdoors and the environment. Kids particularly love it, especially if you start them young, and there are always other children to play with on site. In France and Germany the camping culture is very much more prevalent than in the UK and many sites have amazing facilities such as water parks, and the washing facilities are often cleaner than those you will find in hotels. Camping is weather-dependent, but pitches are cheap and you don’t have to give very much notice of cancellation so if the weather is really atrocious you can pack up and go elsewhere with minimal financial loss.
What equipment do I need?
Your first camping trip will undoubtedly be your most expensive because of the initial outlay – but there are a lot of camping gadgets on the market that you can easily do without, so don’t go mad!
Your tent is obviously the most important item, and look for one that is high enough to stand up in as it gives a much less claustrophobic feel. Children might prefer their own small tent rather than sharing with mum and dad. Airbeds, a pump and a puncture repair kit are essential too – you would not believe how cold sleeping on the ground can be, so put as much distance between you and the ground as you can! If you are camping in colder weather you will probably need suitable sleeping bags but otherwise a duvet is fine and more pleasant to sleep under. A good sturdy torch (one for each tent), flip flops, and a large container for carrying water complete the initial “must-have” list. “Nice to haves” include a camping stove and fridge (expensive initially, but worth the investment for regular camping), and a windbreak and tarpaulin to provide shelter.
Once you have been on a few trips you will start to get an idea of items you will need – and if you need anything urgently there is probably a camping shop within fairly easy reach of the site! Useful sites for camping goods include World of Camping and Outdoor World Direct.
Is it safe?
Camping is very safe provided everyone applies common sense:
- Naked flames should never be allowed inside tents
- If you build a fire, make sure it is completely out before turning in for the night
- Gas cylinders should be frequently checked for damage and only used by adults
- Always take a torch when going out of the tent after dark
- Give tents a wide berth to avoid tripping over guy ropes
- Only drink water from taps which are labelled for this purpose
- Keep your hands and feet clean (they get dirty very quickly when camping!) and make sure any cuts or grazes are disinfected and covered up
- Never leave valuables in a tent
Camping etiquette
One of the great things about camping is the sense of community on a site. Living in such close quarters to others might sound daunting, but most of the time it works very well. Always leave something as you would like it to be left for you – whether that is the dishwashing room, showers, or your pitch at the end of the stay. Keep the noise down after 10pm and before 8am, and don’t encroach onto other people’s pitch space. Don’t be afraid to offer or ask to borrow something– it is a great way to start up conversation!
Insurance
Even on a holiday as cheap as camping, travel insurance is still a must. Luckily it does not have to eat into your budget. 24/7 travel insurance can cover you and your family for a week on the continent from just £15.56* - which leaves you with some spare money to get some new equipment!
*Includes Insurance Premium Tax; based on a family of two adults aged under 55 and two children aged under 18 taking out a Standard single-trip policy for 7 days in Europe and purchased within 14 days of departure date. Cover details and prices are correct at time of going to press and are subject to change. http://www.247travelinsurance.co.uk/
Labels: Camping
// posted by 24/7 Travel Insurance @ 15:11
Wednesday, 9 April 2008
Great games for journeys
If you are planning a trip away for the upcoming school holidays, you might be wondering how to keep the kids amused on the journey. Even if you have packed a whole toy shop’s-worth of games it is inevitable that after a while they will be bickering and you may even begin to hear the dreaded words “are we nearly there yet?” or perhaps it’s clever variation “how many miles to go?” For the sake of everyone’s sanity, it is worth having a few classic games up your sleeve.
Treasure Hunt
This is a great game that can be played on any mode of transport and the family can work as a team. Before the journey, prepare a list of things to find – in an airport this could be a guitar, a laptop, a surfboard, someone wearing sandals and socks (and you will see all this things sooner or later). On a car journey it could be a canoe on a car roof, a vehicle with three wheels, or cows in a field. But to avoid cheating on this one, you may need to appoint a second witness!
Car Cricket
An oldie but goodie. The player picks two colours – one is their “runs” colour and one is their “out” colour. The player scores runs by the colour of the cars in the oncoming traffic. So if their runs colour is blue, they score one run for every blue car that passes. If their out colour is yellow, they are bowled out as soon as a yellow car passes and the next player takes up the road wicket.
Pub Cricket
This is best played when driving through the English countryside. Children have to watch out for pub signs and score runs according to how many legs are in the name – so “The Old Dog” would have four legs, so the player scores four runs. If there is any ambiguity on how many legs are in the name, or there could potentially be too many to be fair, eg “The Army and Navy”, that player scores 20 runs. The player is bowled out when passing a pub with no legs eg “The Rose Bush”.
Buzz words
A variation on Treasure Hunt, but with words. The parent picks a word and children have to listen for the word on the radio, during announcements or even written on signs. As soon as a player hears the word they have to shout “Buzz!” and choose the next word. The beauty of this game is the children will have to be nice and quiet in order to pick out the word!
Rhubarb and Custard
Guaranteed to cause much hilarity wherever you are. Players are asked a question, but they are only allowed to respond with “Rhubarb and Custard”. So they might be asked “What are you wearing on your head?” and they must answer “Rhubarb and Custard”. If they laugh, their turn is over. This can be played using any word you like – I bet your children will think up some good ones!
Are we really nearly there yet?
Not a game as such, but if you have older children who don’t get car sick you might like to print off your journey from a route finding site such as Multimap and give each child a copy to follow. It keeps them occupied and teaches them useful map-reading and navigational skills (but instead of “are we nearly there yet?” you might hear the very sly “are we on the A303 yet?”).
The Silence Game
Simple- the children have to be silent and the first one to make a noise loses. If you’re lucky, they might fall asleep!
Family Travel Insurance – easier than any game!
Wherever you are going for your spring break, make sure you have adequate travel insurance for your family. Even in the UK, travel insurance can cover you for cancellation of your trip (conditions apply) and abroad it can cover emergency medical expenses, preventing even minor mishaps turning into expensive and stressful situations. Cover for a family starts from under £10* and instant cover can be arranged through the 24/7 travel insurance site.
*Premium £9.75 includes Insurance Premium Tax based on 2 adults under 55 and their two accompanying children aged under 18 taking out a Standard single-trip policy for 3 days in Europe and travelling within 14 days of purchase. Cover details and prices are correct at time of going to press and are subject to change.
Treasure Hunt
This is a great game that can be played on any mode of transport and the family can work as a team. Before the journey, prepare a list of things to find – in an airport this could be a guitar, a laptop, a surfboard, someone wearing sandals and socks (and you will see all this things sooner or later). On a car journey it could be a canoe on a car roof, a vehicle with three wheels, or cows in a field. But to avoid cheating on this one, you may need to appoint a second witness!
Car Cricket
An oldie but goodie. The player picks two colours – one is their “runs” colour and one is their “out” colour. The player scores runs by the colour of the cars in the oncoming traffic. So if their runs colour is blue, they score one run for every blue car that passes. If their out colour is yellow, they are bowled out as soon as a yellow car passes and the next player takes up the road wicket.
Pub Cricket
This is best played when driving through the English countryside. Children have to watch out for pub signs and score runs according to how many legs are in the name – so “The Old Dog” would have four legs, so the player scores four runs. If there is any ambiguity on how many legs are in the name, or there could potentially be too many to be fair, eg “The Army and Navy”, that player scores 20 runs. The player is bowled out when passing a pub with no legs eg “The Rose Bush”.
Buzz words
A variation on Treasure Hunt, but with words. The parent picks a word and children have to listen for the word on the radio, during announcements or even written on signs. As soon as a player hears the word they have to shout “Buzz!” and choose the next word. The beauty of this game is the children will have to be nice and quiet in order to pick out the word!
Rhubarb and Custard
Guaranteed to cause much hilarity wherever you are. Players are asked a question, but they are only allowed to respond with “Rhubarb and Custard”. So they might be asked “What are you wearing on your head?” and they must answer “Rhubarb and Custard”. If they laugh, their turn is over. This can be played using any word you like – I bet your children will think up some good ones!
Are we really nearly there yet?
Not a game as such, but if you have older children who don’t get car sick you might like to print off your journey from a route finding site such as Multimap and give each child a copy to follow. It keeps them occupied and teaches them useful map-reading and navigational skills (but instead of “are we nearly there yet?” you might hear the very sly “are we on the A303 yet?”).
The Silence Game
Simple- the children have to be silent and the first one to make a noise loses. If you’re lucky, they might fall asleep!
Family Travel Insurance – easier than any game!
Wherever you are going for your spring break, make sure you have adequate travel insurance for your family. Even in the UK, travel insurance can cover you for cancellation of your trip (conditions apply) and abroad it can cover emergency medical expenses, preventing even minor mishaps turning into expensive and stressful situations. Cover for a family starts from under £10* and instant cover can be arranged through the 24/7 travel insurance site.
*Premium £9.75 includes Insurance Premium Tax based on 2 adults under 55 and their two accompanying children aged under 18 taking out a Standard single-trip policy for 3 days in Europe and travelling within 14 days of purchase. Cover details and prices are correct at time of going to press and are subject to change.
Labels: Journey games
// posted by 24/7 Travel Insurance @ 14:57
Wednesday, 2 April 2008
Motion Sickness
Motion sickness is extremely common – most of us get it at some time or another and it can put a real downer on a holiday, particularly if you are touring or have a long journey to make. Some people are very badly or consistently afflicted and it can also feel highly embarrassing when travelling with people you don’t know.
What causes it?
According to seasickness.co.uk , motion sickness is caused by the brain receiving conflicting messages from the eyes and the inner ear. If you are sitting on a coach for example and cannot see out, your eyes may send a signal to the brain that you are not moving. However the inner ear, which controls balance, will detect the movement of the coach. The brain becomes thoroughly confused by this and it makes you feel ill.
One of the first symptoms of motion sickness is sleepiness and this is why so many people are able to sleep while in transit. Some people are naturally more prone to it such as those with inner ear infections or diabetes, and it is very common in pregnancy.
What can I do to prevent it?
There are a great many remedies for motion sickness on the market. Many people recommend ginger or peppermint for settling the stomach. There are a number of over-the-counter remedies available which are effective, but they can make you drowsy so are not suitable if you are driving or generally want to be alert for the journey. Always check the information that comes with the pills to see if they are suitable for you.
The best method of prevention is to find the centre of gravity in the vehicle in which you are travelling as the movement here is less. This is usually directly in the middle. Try and obtain a window seat or a good view out, as this helps the eyes to recognise that you are moving. Look forwards at the horizon while travelling. Listen to music and try and keep your mind off feeling sick, but avoid reading and looking through binoculars. If possible, avoid sitting near strong smells such as smoke, diesel fumes or food and get plenty of fresh air.
Should I eat?
It might be daunting to do so but the stomach is more stable when there is a small amount of food in it. Bland, easily-digestible food such as breadsticks and cream crackers are ideal and nibble at regular intervals. Sweet biscuits can perk you up if you are feeling groggy. Don’t eat anything heavy or greasy before a journey, and drink plenty of water but sip, rather than guzzle – this is very important if you are being sick.
And if you still feel ill…
Don’t be embarrassed – most people around you, if they have even noticed, will be sympathetic and concerned rather than amused (they have probably experienced the same before!). Try and lie down and close your eyes for a few minutes or place your head between your knees until the nausea passes. It is normal to feel slightly shaky for a day or so after a long journey – this is due to your brain now having to get used to not travelling! Seek medical advice if you continue to feel unwell for an extended period.
And finally – a heartening fact for you. During the Space Shuttle missions, over 90% of the astronauts needed to take medication of some description. Nearly half of that medication was for motion sickness*. Even the best of us get it!
Don’t forget your travel insurance!
Hopefully you will not have to contend with anything more serious than motion sickness on your trip but if you do, you would be glad to have taken out travel insurance. 24/7 travel insurance offers cover for medical expenses up to £5m on its Standard Single trip and Annual Multi-trip policies and premiums start from just £4.86** - well worth it for your peace of mind.
*Source: Seasickness.co.uk
**Premium £4.86 includes Insurance Premium Tax; based on an individual traveller aged under 55 taking out a ‘standard’ Single Trip policy for 3 days in Europe and purchased within 14 days of departure date. Cover details and prices are correct at time of going to press and are subject to change.
What causes it?
According to seasickness.co.uk , motion sickness is caused by the brain receiving conflicting messages from the eyes and the inner ear. If you are sitting on a coach for example and cannot see out, your eyes may send a signal to the brain that you are not moving. However the inner ear, which controls balance, will detect the movement of the coach. The brain becomes thoroughly confused by this and it makes you feel ill.
One of the first symptoms of motion sickness is sleepiness and this is why so many people are able to sleep while in transit. Some people are naturally more prone to it such as those with inner ear infections or diabetes, and it is very common in pregnancy.
What can I do to prevent it?
There are a great many remedies for motion sickness on the market. Many people recommend ginger or peppermint for settling the stomach. There are a number of over-the-counter remedies available which are effective, but they can make you drowsy so are not suitable if you are driving or generally want to be alert for the journey. Always check the information that comes with the pills to see if they are suitable for you.
The best method of prevention is to find the centre of gravity in the vehicle in which you are travelling as the movement here is less. This is usually directly in the middle. Try and obtain a window seat or a good view out, as this helps the eyes to recognise that you are moving. Look forwards at the horizon while travelling. Listen to music and try and keep your mind off feeling sick, but avoid reading and looking through binoculars. If possible, avoid sitting near strong smells such as smoke, diesel fumes or food and get plenty of fresh air.
Should I eat?
It might be daunting to do so but the stomach is more stable when there is a small amount of food in it. Bland, easily-digestible food such as breadsticks and cream crackers are ideal and nibble at regular intervals. Sweet biscuits can perk you up if you are feeling groggy. Don’t eat anything heavy or greasy before a journey, and drink plenty of water but sip, rather than guzzle – this is very important if you are being sick.
And if you still feel ill…
Don’t be embarrassed – most people around you, if they have even noticed, will be sympathetic and concerned rather than amused (they have probably experienced the same before!). Try and lie down and close your eyes for a few minutes or place your head between your knees until the nausea passes. It is normal to feel slightly shaky for a day or so after a long journey – this is due to your brain now having to get used to not travelling! Seek medical advice if you continue to feel unwell for an extended period.
And finally – a heartening fact for you. During the Space Shuttle missions, over 90% of the astronauts needed to take medication of some description. Nearly half of that medication was for motion sickness*. Even the best of us get it!
Don’t forget your travel insurance!
Hopefully you will not have to contend with anything more serious than motion sickness on your trip but if you do, you would be glad to have taken out travel insurance. 24/7 travel insurance offers cover for medical expenses up to £5m on its Standard Single trip and Annual Multi-trip policies and premiums start from just £4.86** - well worth it for your peace of mind.
*Source: Seasickness.co.uk
**Premium £4.86 includes Insurance Premium Tax; based on an individual traveller aged under 55 taking out a ‘standard’ Single Trip policy for 3 days in Europe and purchased within 14 days of departure date. Cover details and prices are correct at time of going to press and are subject to change.
Labels: Motion Sickness
// posted by 24/7 Travel Insurance @ 13:37
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