Monday, 28 July 2008
Scared of Flying?
If you have a fear of flying you may find that you dread holidays rather than look forward to them. In this blog we explore some of the reasons behind flying phobias, and what can be done about them.
Up to 1 in 5 of us fear flying*, and the phobia can take various forms. Some “aviophobes” are actually frequent but reluctant fliers, others are unable to even visit an airport. Many people will face a “turning point”. For some people this is when their fear of flying stops them from taking holidays with their family or prevents them from visiting a destination they have always wanted to see. Or perhaps their dream job involves lots of flying and they want to start enjoying it rather than fearing it.
The important thing to remember is that your fear of flying is not something that you have to put up with – it can be cured. After all, most aviophobes are aware that their fear is irrational, as flying is by far the safest method of travel and the odds on being involved in an accident are minute.
There are a number of methods used for overcoming a fear of flying. These include hypnosis and counselling. Another method is courses that are run by airlines. These usually last a day, and help to overcome the fear explaining how flying actually works and removing the fear of the unknown. With the knowledge, you gain understanding and therefore feel in control.
Virgin Atlantic claim a 98% success rate on their “Flying Without Fear” course (http://www.flyingwithoutfear.info/). The course includes a talk from pilots about how they are trained, how an aircraft flies and even what all the noises mean! Later in the day there is a talk from a psychologist to help the participants explore the reasons behind their fear,
A short flight is included in the afternoon, and many participants find that their fear has already evaporated by then. The flight includes a complete commentary on everything that is happening with the plane and why turbulence is completely safe (apparently it is the aviation equivalent of speed bumps!).
People who have been cured are now finding that flying can be a very enjoyable experience and on a clear day you can see some incredible sights from your window in a way that isn’t possible by any other method. So don’t let your fear hold you back! An excellent site for tips and info is http://www.fearfreeflying.co.uk/
Once you have got your fears out of the way and are enjoying flying all over the world, don’t forget your travel insurance. 24/7 travel insurance offers single-trip cover starting from less than a fiver** and annual multi-trip cover starting from just £32.35***.
* Source: fearfreeflying.co.uk
** Premium £4.38 includes Insurance Premium Tax; based on an individual traveller aged under 55 taking out a "Standard" Single Trip policy for 3 days in Europe excluding personal possessions cover 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.
*** Premium £32.35 includes Insurance Premium Tax; based on an individual traveller aged under 55 taking out a "Standard" annual multi-trip policy for Europe excluding personal possessions cover. Cover details and prices are correct at time of going to press and are subject to change.
Up to 1 in 5 of us fear flying*, and the phobia can take various forms. Some “aviophobes” are actually frequent but reluctant fliers, others are unable to even visit an airport. Many people will face a “turning point”. For some people this is when their fear of flying stops them from taking holidays with their family or prevents them from visiting a destination they have always wanted to see. Or perhaps their dream job involves lots of flying and they want to start enjoying it rather than fearing it.
The important thing to remember is that your fear of flying is not something that you have to put up with – it can be cured. After all, most aviophobes are aware that their fear is irrational, as flying is by far the safest method of travel and the odds on being involved in an accident are minute.
There are a number of methods used for overcoming a fear of flying. These include hypnosis and counselling. Another method is courses that are run by airlines. These usually last a day, and help to overcome the fear explaining how flying actually works and removing the fear of the unknown. With the knowledge, you gain understanding and therefore feel in control.
Virgin Atlantic claim a 98% success rate on their “Flying Without Fear” course (http://www.flyingwithoutfear.info/). The course includes a talk from pilots about how they are trained, how an aircraft flies and even what all the noises mean! Later in the day there is a talk from a psychologist to help the participants explore the reasons behind their fear,
A short flight is included in the afternoon, and many participants find that their fear has already evaporated by then. The flight includes a complete commentary on everything that is happening with the plane and why turbulence is completely safe (apparently it is the aviation equivalent of speed bumps!).
People who have been cured are now finding that flying can be a very enjoyable experience and on a clear day you can see some incredible sights from your window in a way that isn’t possible by any other method. So don’t let your fear hold you back! An excellent site for tips and info is http://www.fearfreeflying.co.uk/
Once you have got your fears out of the way and are enjoying flying all over the world, don’t forget your travel insurance. 24/7 travel insurance offers single-trip cover starting from less than a fiver** and annual multi-trip cover starting from just £32.35***.
* Source: fearfreeflying.co.uk
** Premium £4.38 includes Insurance Premium Tax; based on an individual traveller aged under 55 taking out a "Standard" Single Trip policy for 3 days in Europe excluding personal possessions cover 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.
*** Premium £32.35 includes Insurance Premium Tax; based on an individual traveller aged under 55 taking out a "Standard" annual multi-trip policy for Europe excluding personal possessions cover. Cover details and prices are correct at time of going to press and are subject to change.
Labels: Flying
// posted by 24/7 Travel Insurance @ 17:42
Monday, 21 July 2008
Travelling on these dates? Be prepared!
In the summer holidays the roads both in the UK and Europe can get pretty hairy and heavy traffic can cause chaos on the roads on certain days in the summer. In this blog we have collected some of the likely dates when you should allow extra time for your journey.
July 25th – 27th
Most English and Welsh state schools break up earlier this week, often on the Wednesday or Thursday. As the majority of family holidays begin on a Saturday, ABTA predicts this will be the busiest weekend of the year for outbound travel. The M1, M5, M6, A303 and A30 can expect the longest delays, and expect the ferry ports and the Channel Tunnel to be busy as well.
August 2nd
This is traditionally a very busy day on French roads in particular as most French families take a holiday this weekend, and is also a peak weekend for travel to coastal resorts in Spain and Italy.
August 16th – 17th
This is the last day of the Scottish school holidays, so expect roads and airports north of the border to be busy. In Italy and Spain it is the weekend following the big summer festival of Assumption Day and is also the end of their school holidays.
August 23rd – 25th
The last Bank Holiday until Christmas is generally regarded as being the busiest weekend of the year for roads, airports and seaports – avoid if at all possible.
August 30th – 31st
Most children in England and Wales will be going back to school next week, so with this being the last weekend of the school holidays expect congestion.
Additionally, before you set off, you may want to check whether your journey may be affected by local events – a large concert for example can put hours onto your journey. A very useful site is AA’s Routeplanner. Another clever site is www.keepmoving.co.uk which shows webcam images from UK trunk roads, enabling you to check on the state of the traffic. Tune into local radio stations as you go along too – they often have information on the traffic that national stations don’t.
If you do have to travel on a busy day, make sure your car is in tip top condition (breakdown and recovery firms are especially busy on these days and you can expect a long wait to be rescued). Consider taking a picnic as well, as the motorway services are likely to be jammed!
If you are travelling to the airport or seaport, particularly on one of these dates, leave a good time margin (at least an extra 50% of your usual journey duration) to ensure that you arrive on time and not too flustered!
Don’t forget your travel insurance
If the worst happens and you miss your plane or ferry, you may be able to claim on your travel insurance for any additional expenses incurred (terms and conditions will apply). It is vital that you keep any receipts for these, and you will also need to obtain proof of the delay - a police report perhaps, or a report from a breakdown company. 24/7 travel insurance offers cover from just £14.00* for a week in Europe for a family.
*Premium includes Insurance Premium Tax, based on two adults aged 18-54 and their accompanying children aged under 18 taking out a “standard” Single Trip policy (excluding personal possessions cover) for 7 days for European 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.
Information in this article sourced from Telegraph Travel, June 28th 2008
July 25th – 27th
Most English and Welsh state schools break up earlier this week, often on the Wednesday or Thursday. As the majority of family holidays begin on a Saturday, ABTA predicts this will be the busiest weekend of the year for outbound travel. The M1, M5, M6, A303 and A30 can expect the longest delays, and expect the ferry ports and the Channel Tunnel to be busy as well.
August 2nd
This is traditionally a very busy day on French roads in particular as most French families take a holiday this weekend, and is also a peak weekend for travel to coastal resorts in Spain and Italy.
August 16th – 17th
This is the last day of the Scottish school holidays, so expect roads and airports north of the border to be busy. In Italy and Spain it is the weekend following the big summer festival of Assumption Day and is also the end of their school holidays.
August 23rd – 25th
The last Bank Holiday until Christmas is generally regarded as being the busiest weekend of the year for roads, airports and seaports – avoid if at all possible.
August 30th – 31st
Most children in England and Wales will be going back to school next week, so with this being the last weekend of the school holidays expect congestion.
Additionally, before you set off, you may want to check whether your journey may be affected by local events – a large concert for example can put hours onto your journey. A very useful site is AA’s Routeplanner. Another clever site is www.keepmoving.co.uk which shows webcam images from UK trunk roads, enabling you to check on the state of the traffic. Tune into local radio stations as you go along too – they often have information on the traffic that national stations don’t.
If you do have to travel on a busy day, make sure your car is in tip top condition (breakdown and recovery firms are especially busy on these days and you can expect a long wait to be rescued). Consider taking a picnic as well, as the motorway services are likely to be jammed!
If you are travelling to the airport or seaport, particularly on one of these dates, leave a good time margin (at least an extra 50% of your usual journey duration) to ensure that you arrive on time and not too flustered!
Don’t forget your travel insurance
If the worst happens and you miss your plane or ferry, you may be able to claim on your travel insurance for any additional expenses incurred (terms and conditions will apply). It is vital that you keep any receipts for these, and you will also need to obtain proof of the delay - a police report perhaps, or a report from a breakdown company. 24/7 travel insurance offers cover from just £14.00* for a week in Europe for a family.
*Premium includes Insurance Premium Tax, based on two adults aged 18-54 and their accompanying children aged under 18 taking out a “standard” Single Trip policy (excluding personal possessions cover) for 7 days for European 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.
Information in this article sourced from Telegraph Travel, June 28th 2008
Labels: Travelling
// posted by 24/7 Travel Insurance @ 17:25
Monday, 14 July 2008
Flying with your kids
With the summer holidays fast approaching, you may be looking forward to taking your kids on holiday but dreading the flight there. But airports and flying are a tremendous adventure for kids – in today’s age of easy flying it’s easy to forget that once upon a time it was exciting for everyone. The trick is to find the balance between them being happy and stimulated and overwhelmed or bored, and in this blog we have some tips to help turn things to your advantage.
Check in
It takes a very calm person to not get stressed out by check-in at the airport on a Saturday afternoon in the school holidays. Arrive early enough to avoid the queues and bear in mind that if you arrive late the airline may struggle to be able to seat you all together. Dress them in as bright a colour as they will tolerate so you can spot them easily amongst the crowds. Another useful tip is to write your name and mobile number on the back of their hand so you can be reunited speedily should they get lost.
Papers, please
The era of children travelling on their parent’s passports is nearly over. Children who are not already on their parent’s passport must now travel on their own documents. So if you are taking your kids abroad for the first time, you will need to obtain a passport for them. This applies to newborn babies too, and 16 and 17 year olds require their own passport even where they have previously travelled on yours. For the latest advice on passports, visit http://www.ips.gov.uk/
If you are travelling with children that are not your own – a friend of your child perhaps, or your grandchildren, it is wise to carry a letter from the child’s parents authorising you to take them out of the UK and giving consent for medical treatment to take place abroad if necessary. The letter should include the dates of the trip, the destination, and the name of the adults in whose care the child is being placed. This is because it is actually a criminal offence under the Child Abduction Act 1984 to take a child under the age of 18 out of the UK without proof of appropriate parental consent, and there have been reports of customs officials being rather heavy-handed.**
Put them in charge
Older children will thrive upon being involved in the whole adventure. Explain the airport procedures to them and give them the task of finding the check-in desk, passport control and departure gate and watching the screens for updates on their flights. They will love it and it gives useful practice for the day when – gasp – they have to do it themselves. In departures, give them a small “airport allowance” – searching for the perfect magazine or toy for the holiday will keep kids happy for a good length of time.
The dreaded D-word
Delays are every parent’s nightmare. Pack a good supply of travel games and colouring books, and a useful tip is to produce a new one from your bag just as they start to tire of the current one, rather than giving them all the goodies in one go! If conditions permit, take the kids up to the airport’s viewing gallery. Kids will watch planes taking off and landing for a surprisingly long time and it is usually much quieter than the departure lounge.
Younger children
An excellent tip for babies and toddlers is to pack a small ball. While waiting at the departure gate roll it around the floor for them to fetch and follow. Often other passengers will join in on the game. Feed them on take-off to stop ears from popping (this is much more painful for children than adults) and hopefully by the time the plane reaches the clouds they will be fast asleep!
In the air
In this era where cockpit visits are no longer allowed, flying often ceases to be interesting after take off. If you are lucky enough to be flying on a clear day, seat your child by the window – they will find the view fascinating, particularly if they can pick out landmarks. The in-flight magazine will often have a map showing the routes and flight attendants are usually happy to point out roughly where the plane is!
Technology
If your child owns a handheld games console you will realise it is probably the best money you ever spent. Just make sure it’s fully charged!
An excellent website for further tips, and a variety of items to make the family holiday go with a swing is http://www.travellingwithchildren.co.uk/. You may also find our previous blogs on Motion Sickness and Great games for journeys useful for your trip.
Insurance
Don’t overlook the importance of travel insurance in the excitement of going away. 24/7 travel insurance offers cover for a week in Europe for a family from just £14.00*, leaving you plenty of money for those colouring books!
*Premium £14.00 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 7 days in Europe and travelling within 14 days of purchase and excluding personal possessions cover. Cover details and prices are correct at time of going to press and are subject to change.
**Gill Charlton, Telegraph Travel, 7th September 2007
Check in
It takes a very calm person to not get stressed out by check-in at the airport on a Saturday afternoon in the school holidays. Arrive early enough to avoid the queues and bear in mind that if you arrive late the airline may struggle to be able to seat you all together. Dress them in as bright a colour as they will tolerate so you can spot them easily amongst the crowds. Another useful tip is to write your name and mobile number on the back of their hand so you can be reunited speedily should they get lost.
Papers, please
The era of children travelling on their parent’s passports is nearly over. Children who are not already on their parent’s passport must now travel on their own documents. So if you are taking your kids abroad for the first time, you will need to obtain a passport for them. This applies to newborn babies too, and 16 and 17 year olds require their own passport even where they have previously travelled on yours. For the latest advice on passports, visit http://www.ips.gov.uk/
If you are travelling with children that are not your own – a friend of your child perhaps, or your grandchildren, it is wise to carry a letter from the child’s parents authorising you to take them out of the UK and giving consent for medical treatment to take place abroad if necessary. The letter should include the dates of the trip, the destination, and the name of the adults in whose care the child is being placed. This is because it is actually a criminal offence under the Child Abduction Act 1984 to take a child under the age of 18 out of the UK without proof of appropriate parental consent, and there have been reports of customs officials being rather heavy-handed.**
Put them in charge
Older children will thrive upon being involved in the whole adventure. Explain the airport procedures to them and give them the task of finding the check-in desk, passport control and departure gate and watching the screens for updates on their flights. They will love it and it gives useful practice for the day when – gasp – they have to do it themselves. In departures, give them a small “airport allowance” – searching for the perfect magazine or toy for the holiday will keep kids happy for a good length of time.
The dreaded D-word
Delays are every parent’s nightmare. Pack a good supply of travel games and colouring books, and a useful tip is to produce a new one from your bag just as they start to tire of the current one, rather than giving them all the goodies in one go! If conditions permit, take the kids up to the airport’s viewing gallery. Kids will watch planes taking off and landing for a surprisingly long time and it is usually much quieter than the departure lounge.
Younger children
An excellent tip for babies and toddlers is to pack a small ball. While waiting at the departure gate roll it around the floor for them to fetch and follow. Often other passengers will join in on the game. Feed them on take-off to stop ears from popping (this is much more painful for children than adults) and hopefully by the time the plane reaches the clouds they will be fast asleep!
In the air
In this era where cockpit visits are no longer allowed, flying often ceases to be interesting after take off. If you are lucky enough to be flying on a clear day, seat your child by the window – they will find the view fascinating, particularly if they can pick out landmarks. The in-flight magazine will often have a map showing the routes and flight attendants are usually happy to point out roughly where the plane is!
Technology
If your child owns a handheld games console you will realise it is probably the best money you ever spent. Just make sure it’s fully charged!
An excellent website for further tips, and a variety of items to make the family holiday go with a swing is http://www.travellingwithchildren.co.uk/. You may also find our previous blogs on Motion Sickness and Great games for journeys useful for your trip.
Insurance
Don’t overlook the importance of travel insurance in the excitement of going away. 24/7 travel insurance offers cover for a week in Europe for a family from just £14.00*, leaving you plenty of money for those colouring books!
*Premium £14.00 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 7 days in Europe and travelling within 14 days of purchase and excluding personal possessions cover. Cover details and prices are correct at time of going to press and are subject to change.
**Gill Charlton, Telegraph Travel, 7th September 2007
Labels: Flying
// posted by 24/7 Travel Insurance @ 10:41
Monday, 7 July 2008
The “ruff” guide to holidays with your dog
There was a time when taking Fido on holiday abroad was unheard of due to our strict quarantine laws. But in 2000 the launch of the Pet Travel Scheme (often referred to as Pet Passports or PETS) meant it is now possible to include the most important member of the family in your travel plans – not to mention opening up the opportunities for travellers with assistance dogs.
The first port of call when organising a pet passport should be your vet, who will be familiar with the process. If you have an assistance dog, contact the organisation who provided it as they may also be able to help. Discuss your travel plans with the vet, as Fido will be exposed to different parasites and diseases in some countries.
Fido will first need to be microchipped if he isn’t already, then he will need a rabies jab. A month after this, he will need a blood test to check that the jab worked and then he will need to remain in the UK for a further 6 months. If all goes well, the pet passport will be issued. The total cost per dog is between £120-£160 and you should allow at least eight months for the whole process. If that sounds daunting, bear in mind that this is a one-off process and kennel fees for a fortnight can be upwards of £200 (and Fido will probably much prefer the holiday!).
Broadly speaking, airline rules on carrying pets – even assistance dogs – are still pretty restrictive and are not really worth the hassle for a holiday. Self drive holidays are a better option. Most major ferry companies and the Eurotunnel will carry dogs for a small fee. Unfortunately, Fido will probably have to stay in the car for the crossing so choose a short route where possible. Some of the companies which operate longer routes are introducing on-board kennels and may allow dogs in cabins so check with your operator. It is also important to inform your Breakdown Cover provider prior to your holiday that you are taking a dog to ensure that he is included as a passenger should you need to use their recovery service while away.
In order to make the trip as pleasant as possible for Fido, stop every two hours to give him an opportunity to exercise and relieve himself, and make sure he has constant access to water. If he’s a fussy eater or has a special diet, make sure you bring plenty of his food.
A very important thing to mention is ticks, which are rife on the continent (particularly France) and can make your dog extremely sick. Check Fido every day for ticks and go straight to a vet if you find any (don’t try and pull them off).
Ticks are also important from the point of view of your return journey – you will need to visit a vet between 24 and 48 hours before going home to certify that Fido is free of ticks and tapeworms. Check that the vet stamps the pet passport, as this stamp is needed at customs to re-enter the UK.
This blog is only designed as a rough (or should that be “ruff”?) guide to what is involved in taking pets abroad and legislation is likely to change regularly. Further information can be obtained from DEFRA (http://www.defra.gov.uk/) and from the BBC who have an excellent article on the scheme here.
If you are holidaying in the UK, the website http://www.dogpeople.co.uk/ has suggestions for dog-friendly accommodation and days out with your best friend.
Make sure Fido is insured for the trip too. Generally speaking, travelling pets are covered for their holiday under pet insurance (inform your provider of your plans at least two weeks before you go). The cover offered by 24/7 Pet Insurance for vet fees and third party liability also applies abroad (although any veterinary fees incurred outside the UK will need to be settled by the policyholder and reclaimed later)**.
Of course, you wouldn’t go on holiday without making sure you have travel insurance for yourself too so don’t overlook this! 24/7 travel insurance offers cover for a week on the continent from just £6.99* and cover can be arranged online in just a few clicks.
*Premium £6.99 includes Insurance Premium Tax; based on an individual traveller aged under 55 taking out a "Standard" Single Trip policy for 7 days in Europe excluding personal possessions cover 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. Please note that 24/7 travel insurance is unable to offer cover for any liability, injury, loss or damage arising directly or indirectly from or due to any animals belonging to you or in your care, custody or control.
** Subject to terms, conditions and exclusion that apply to the policy.
Information in this article sourced from the links above and from Holiday Which? January 2008
The first port of call when organising a pet passport should be your vet, who will be familiar with the process. If you have an assistance dog, contact the organisation who provided it as they may also be able to help. Discuss your travel plans with the vet, as Fido will be exposed to different parasites and diseases in some countries.
Fido will first need to be microchipped if he isn’t already, then he will need a rabies jab. A month after this, he will need a blood test to check that the jab worked and then he will need to remain in the UK for a further 6 months. If all goes well, the pet passport will be issued. The total cost per dog is between £120-£160 and you should allow at least eight months for the whole process. If that sounds daunting, bear in mind that this is a one-off process and kennel fees for a fortnight can be upwards of £200 (and Fido will probably much prefer the holiday!).
Broadly speaking, airline rules on carrying pets – even assistance dogs – are still pretty restrictive and are not really worth the hassle for a holiday. Self drive holidays are a better option. Most major ferry companies and the Eurotunnel will carry dogs for a small fee. Unfortunately, Fido will probably have to stay in the car for the crossing so choose a short route where possible. Some of the companies which operate longer routes are introducing on-board kennels and may allow dogs in cabins so check with your operator. It is also important to inform your Breakdown Cover provider prior to your holiday that you are taking a dog to ensure that he is included as a passenger should you need to use their recovery service while away.
In order to make the trip as pleasant as possible for Fido, stop every two hours to give him an opportunity to exercise and relieve himself, and make sure he has constant access to water. If he’s a fussy eater or has a special diet, make sure you bring plenty of his food.
A very important thing to mention is ticks, which are rife on the continent (particularly France) and can make your dog extremely sick. Check Fido every day for ticks and go straight to a vet if you find any (don’t try and pull them off).
Ticks are also important from the point of view of your return journey – you will need to visit a vet between 24 and 48 hours before going home to certify that Fido is free of ticks and tapeworms. Check that the vet stamps the pet passport, as this stamp is needed at customs to re-enter the UK.
This blog is only designed as a rough (or should that be “ruff”?) guide to what is involved in taking pets abroad and legislation is likely to change regularly. Further information can be obtained from DEFRA (http://www.defra.gov.uk/) and from the BBC who have an excellent article on the scheme here.
If you are holidaying in the UK, the website http://www.dogpeople.co.uk/ has suggestions for dog-friendly accommodation and days out with your best friend.
Make sure Fido is insured for the trip too. Generally speaking, travelling pets are covered for their holiday under pet insurance (inform your provider of your plans at least two weeks before you go). The cover offered by 24/7 Pet Insurance for vet fees and third party liability also applies abroad (although any veterinary fees incurred outside the UK will need to be settled by the policyholder and reclaimed later)**.
Of course, you wouldn’t go on holiday without making sure you have travel insurance for yourself too so don’t overlook this! 24/7 travel insurance offers cover for a week on the continent from just £6.99* and cover can be arranged online in just a few clicks.
*Premium £6.99 includes Insurance Premium Tax; based on an individual traveller aged under 55 taking out a "Standard" Single Trip policy for 7 days in Europe excluding personal possessions cover 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. Please note that 24/7 travel insurance is unable to offer cover for any liability, injury, loss or damage arising directly or indirectly from or due to any animals belonging to you or in your care, custody or control.
** Subject to terms, conditions and exclusion that apply to the policy.
Information in this article sourced from the links above and from Holiday Which? January 2008
Labels: Pet-Travel-Scheme
// posted by 24/7 Travel Insurance @ 11:00
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