24/7 Travel Insurance Blog

Nowadays there is a wide range of walking and hiking holidays available which can accommodate everyone’s needs. The options can vary from guided groups to tailor-made tours. So if it is a leisurely or a more gruelling adventure you are after, there are many ways to achieve your walking desires. An increasing number of companies offer walking tours all around the world, as after all the best way to get the ultimate feel of a landscape is to walk!

Britain

On our very doorstep you can celebrate the best of British scenery, from coastal paths and countryside to the wilds of the Peak District and Scotland. There is Arnside Knott in Cumbria overlooking Morecambe Bay on one side and the Lake District on the other. If you happen to be on the Northumberland coast, soak up its wide open skies and colourful variety of birds and flowers and for the more adventurous, go hiking in Britain’s National Parks. The Norfolk Broads, New Forest, Peak District and the Brecon Beacons National Park offer short or long walks, a leisurely stroll or a more demanding hike. The National Trust website has suggested routes and great walking ideas with downloadable maps, ideas for places to eat and stay and also points of interest on each walk. The Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site is also worth a visit to discover the Dorset and East Devon Coast which has achieved World Heritage status, and the Lake District National Park’s site guides you through leisurely walks to more demanding hill walks.

Mainland Europe

There is nothing quite like exploring beautiful lakes and mountains on your travels. For example the breathtaking scenery of Carinthia and the Dolomites in Austria are great places to visit. Another popular place for British tourists is Mallorca (Majorca). Walking through La Serrania allows you to soak up the picturesque island by foot and is certainly worth slotting it into your itinerary if you are thinking of going there. The Alps has a well renowned reputation for its mountain range and if you haven’t been there already check out this website: http://www.tirol.at/xxl/en/771525/index.html which should be enough to tempt you to go and explore the 36 scenic holiday regions for yourself.

Further afield!

If you happen to be in the region of Australasia, the Blue Mountains in Australia’s New South Wales http://www.bluemts.com.au/ or the walks of South Island and North Island in New Zealand can cater for every type of walk or hike. The snow capped mountains, alpine lakes, rainforests or valleys that make up the natural scenery of New Zealand is something else, and the added bonus is the climate is similar to the UK even if takes over a day to get there! Alternatively climb Table Mountain in South Africa and take in the best ever views imaginable. For more information visit http://www.tablemountain.net/ . To get the ultimate challenge in hiking and if you really want to test yourself, the Himalayas is a must. There are many websites to visit for information and ideas including this one http://www.himalayankingdoms.com/ which caters for every type of holiday ranging from climbing a trekking peak such as Island Peak to a gentle trek in Nepal.

Walking Tips

To be able to undertake your proposed walk or hike, it is essential that you are fully prepared and equipped. These are a few tips we have put together:

1. A Topographic Map - A good topographic map is essential as it has features such as rivers, hills and other terrain to help you get from A to B.

2. Always warm-up - Stretching out before and after walking is important to prevent injuries. In particular, pay attention to the calf muscles, hamstrings and quadriceps.

3. Wear the right clothes and footwear - Light layers are advisable as you are likely to get warm whilst walking. It’s always worth taking waterproofs too. Comfortable footwear that has preferably been worn before is essential to avoid blisters and calluses.

4. Take enough water and food - It is important to keep hydrated, especially if walking long distances or exercising in hot weather, as well as taking enough food. For a more leisurely approach, why not take a picnic and make a day of it.

5. Don’t forget - Do not carry more than you need and always have a compass and mobile phone with you. It is also vital to let people know where you are going.

For further tips visit: http://www.gelert.com/FaqDisp.aspx?catkey=2 and http://www.walkingandhiking.co.uk/WhatToDoEmergency.html


Don’t forget your travel insurance!

Wherever it is that you may be planning to walk in the world, don’t forget to take out travel insurance before you go. 24/7 travel insurance offers great deals, for example if you happen to be visiting Europe for 2 weeks the cost is only £10.01* - a small price to pay for peace of mind whilst walking and hiking!

* £10.01 includes Insurance Premium Tax; based on an individual traveller aged under 55 taking out a Standard single-trip policy for 14 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 (September 2008) and are subject to change.

Labels: Walking

As the summer in the UK draws to a close, and you are thinking about travelling in the winter to warmer climates a very popular place for British tourists to go is Australia. While the 24 hour journey might seem that it goes on forever, once you get there with the wide range of entertainment and sights on offer you will realise that it was all worthwhile in the end!

Activities

Have you always been someone who thrives on the rush of adrenaline such as going bungee jumping? Then the Bungee Bullet in Queensland is a great place to go. It is amongst the top 10 popular bungee destinations in the world, and if you feel like doing a reverse bungee in the beautiful surroundings of the Sunshine Coast in Queensland this one is for you! For further information this site is worth looking at: http://www.tourstoaustralia.com/adventure-tourism-in-australia/bungee-jumping.html .

Scuba Diving in Australia is a very appealing activity, and with so much coastline including the Great Barrier Reef available it makes it one of the favoured spots in the world for scuba divers. http://www.scubaaustralia.com.au/61/country.php/61 is a very good place to start in providing you with in depth information on each particular region in Australia and what they all have to offer.

If surfing has always been your passion then there is no denying that you won’t find a better place in the world than the waves of Australia. By going onto
http://www.surfingaustralia.com/index.aspx?siteid=1 you will have all the information that you need if you are a beginner or more experienced. There are dedicated surf schools around the country which will improve and enhance your surfing ability no matter what standard you are.

Hot air ballooning in the northern part of the country in Cairns presents a great opportunity to get high above the Tablelands with either a 30 or 60 minute flight. Just in case the beautiful sights aren’t enough there is then a glass of champagne with breakfast to get you up and running for the day ahead! http://www.hotair.com.au/

How to get around Australia

Due to the sheer size of Australia with the land area being 7.69 million square kilometres the modes of transport slightly vary compared to the UK. As the distance between all the cities is so sparse, flying is the best method due to the speed of getting from destination to destination. There are some good deals to be had for domestic flying, with airlines such as Jetstar and Virgin Blue who offer competitive flights. A really good place to start your research is lonely planet.com: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/worldguide/australia/getting-there-and-around.

Another popular way of seeing the sites of the country is hiring a car as it gives you so much freedom to explore the country. On sites such as this one there are some good links to car services in each state including advice on insurance and road safety. When looking for some good deals http://www.budget.com.au/default.aspx is a good site to get quotes on whether you intend to use a car, van or minibus.


Events and Culture

If you happen to be a bit of a party animal and are in the city of Sydney there are great choices of bars and clubs to visit. Quite a few visitors opt for the Opera Bar when in the famous Sydney Opera House for a fabulous harbour view, and for the clubbing fans, Oxford Street is full of choice acquiring for every taste. This website is worth visiting for information on Sydney’s ever-changing nightlife.

For the Arts and Museums, if you want to spend the day unwinding after sampling the night life of Sydney there is the well renowned Museum of Contemporary Art http://www.mca.com.au/ . Also when visiting Canberra, the National Museum of Australia http://www.nma.gov.au/index.html has a fine reputation for covering various aspects of the Australian society, and is a very worthwhile place to go when in the capital of the country.


Working Holiday

A popular idea that many people undertake when going to Australia is a working holiday. Due to the distance to get there, people feel that having a long term stay is the best way to get the most out of their experience, so many look to use their skills to work in the country. There are a real range of job opportunities to choose from, and this can vary from either working as a Jackaroo in the outback on a farm, or working as a deckhand on the Great Barrier Reef! To ensure that you can fulfil your ambition of working in the country, obtain a Working Holiday Visa if you are aged between 18 to 30. It is an important document to allow you to work up for up to 12 months. Visit the Department of Immigration and Citizenship website at http://www.immi.gov.au/index.htm

Don’t forget your travel insurance!

So that you can really relax and enjoy your time down under, don’t forget to take out travel insurance before you go. 24/7 travel insurance offers great deals with cover for 6 months at just £47.00* and only £94.00** for 12 months cover.

*Premium £47.00 includes Insurance Premium Tax based on Standard Backpacker Trip Policy for an adult aged 35 and under travelling to Australia/New Zealand for 6 months. Cover details and prices are correct at time of going to press (September 2008) and are subject to change.

**Premium £94.00 includes Insurance Premium Tax based on Standard Backpacker Trip Policy for an adult aged 35 and under travelling to Australia/New Zealand for 12 months. Cover details and prices are correct at time of going to press (September 2008) and are subject to change.

Labels: Australia

A record number of Britons are taking cruises and 1.5 million Britons are predicted to do so in 2008*. With new ships coming into service, an increasing number of new attractions and something for every budget to choose from, those lazy days of just sitting on deck are well and truly a thing of the past.

Luxury Cruises
At the top end of the spectrum is the traditional luxury cruise, which has twenty four hour on- board entertainment and every conceivable facility with pool and sports zones, spas, theatres, cinemas, restaurants and cafes. If you want the ultimate cruise experience with five star luxury there are companies such as Crystal Cruises to choose from.

Expedition Cruises
Perhaps you might feel like something more adventurous and go for Expedition cruises which may not be as luxurious as you would expect but nevertheless comfortable. Choosing Cruising is a good site to look at. Companies such as Voyages of Discovery go to Antarctica, Greenland and the Arctic, here you will have lectures on board the cruises which are both informative and interesting. To find out more http://www.allleisuregroup.com/ is a good site to investigate.

River Cruising
River cruising is a relaxing way to visit and see stunning countryside, fascinating cities and world famous landmarks. For example Page and Moy (http://www.pageandmoy.co.uk/) do a nine day Pyramids and Nile trip, or perhaps a cruise down the Amazon with Fred Olsen is another option. Closer to home, you can explore Europe’s popular cruising trip along the Rhine, visiting the Netherlands, Germany, France and Switzerland. More information can be found at sites such as this one. Wildlife cruises are growing in popularity with small expeditions for nature lovers and like minded adventurers, so if this is your passion (http://www.celebritycruises.co.uk/) is a good place to start to do some prior research.

Budget Cruises
At the other end of the scale for people who don’t want all the ‘extras’, have a more limited budget and therefore want a cheaper holiday, there are budget cruises such as offered on http://www.oceanvillageholidays.co.uk/ which are generally more informal and fun. If these do not appeal, you could always opt for a small ship cruise which visits more remote places where the big ships can’t berth, and are therefore less crowded and ‘touristy’ with (http://www.starclippers.co.uk/) a good site to start with.

What exactly are you looking for from your dream cruise?
Before deciding, you should ask yourself whether or not you want a large ship with a lot of facilities, entertainment and people or would something smaller suit you better? Do you want a child friendly cruise or a more formal experience? Also it is important to take into account what type of weather you are looking for and crucially which part of the world can deliver for the time of year you want to go. Choose your itinerary carefully and think about the places you want to visit. Finally consider cost, as an ‘all inclusive’ package doesn’t necessarily cover everything, so beware of the small print and to find out more Which? is great for providing advice in this area, but remember to gain access to all the information on the website there is a subscription fee.

Check out the total costs
The hidden costs of cruising can add up for example fuel surcharges can add to the cost. With regard to tipping it is advisable to find out what the on-board policy is and a good place to start for prior advice can be found in an article done by the Daily Telegraph earlier this year http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/cruises/1176589/Cruise-advice-take-a-tip-on-gratuities.html which gives a good insight into what to look out for. The cost of extras such as alcohol and drinks can also mount up substantially to the overall trip. When contemplating on board casinos – decide on a limit and don’t be tempted to go over it! Shore excursions will also add significantly to the overall cost so it is worth thinking carefully before undertaking these, and Spa and beauty treatments can also be expensive but are occasionally reduced when the ship is in port. To gain good prior advice (http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/) is a good site to get you prepared in terms of reading reviews of other travellers and their experiences.
Bon voyage!

Ensure you have Travel Insurance!
Whatever cruise you are taking don’t forget insurance! 24/7 Cruise Insurance is a dedicated travel insurance policy especially designed for cruise holidays. It offers excellent cover and competitive rates and you can check out details via this link http://www.pjhayman.com/scheme.asp?SCH_ID=42.


* Source Daily Telegraph 4th June 2008

Labels: cruise-holidays

If you are planning on going on holiday in the near future, as you unwind and relax and work on topping up your tan, make sure that you don’t be taken for a fool from the variety of scams that have reared its ugly head for many British tourists in recent times. To avoid being put in this distressing situation where many tourists have found themselves losing large sums of money, it is crucial to do your research and be aware of the pitfalls that many have succumbed to.

Scratchcard Scam issues

The Office of Fair Trading (http://www.oft.gov.uk/), state that every year 400,000 UK tourists fall for holiday club scams and the results are astonishing. The scams are costing UK consumers over £1 billion a year, with an average loss of £3,000 per person. While some of the most popular Spanish resorts might sound appetizing on paper, this is where these bogus companies are operating.

It appears that the conmen are specifically targeting couples, with the tourists being offered a scratchcard which give you a surprise win and to receive your prize you have to listen to a sales presentation to collect the prize. The OFT say that this is when the tourists are led into signing a contract for an ‘exclusive’ holiday club with false claims relating to price, range and quality of holidays available. Despite spending thousands of pounds, tourists find that they have just spent for little more than what you would get at a high street travel agent. So it is critical to identify the genuine holiday clubs from the ‘bogus’ ones, as the official operations will give you time to read the contracts and there will be a cooling off period so you can still get a refund if you change your mind.*

There are various websites that are offering tips on avoiding certain scams and a good one to start with is http://www.safefromscams.co.uk/HolidayClubScam.html.

What about hiring a car?

While using a hired car on holiday might seem innocent enough, the AA (http://www.theaa.com/) have researched 58 operators in five Mediterranean countries and the results show that a third of cars were hired with some damage involved. As tourists are in holiday mode they take whatever they are offered and there have been instances where people have been charged hundreds of Euros for a scratch on the car despite it being there in the first place. Crucially you should check the car for damage with an employee from the car rental company before signing a rental agreement so if there is a mark or scratch, you are not the one that is liable.

For further tips check the Institute of Advance Motorists website

Passport and Identity Fraud

If you don’t keep your passport safe on holiday you could be putting yourselves at risk of identity theft which is estimated to cost Britain in excess of £1.7 billion a year and in a surprising piece of investigation carried out by the Identity and Passport Service (http://www.ips.gov.uk/) people take more care of their of their iPods and phones than their passports!

Some tips that can help you avoid losing your passport on holiday as stated on which? include:

• Before leaving for your holiday take 2 photocopies of your passport. Leave one with a friend or relative and take one with you, keeping the copy separate from the original
  
• If your passport is stolen immediately go to the local police and get in contact with your nearest British Consulate.

A dodgy drinking buddy!

This might be the other end of the scale compared to other potential scams but it is a genuine issue that people need to be aware of. In the fashionable beach resorts of Venezuela your pretend buddy gives you some Rohypnol known as burundanga, and as a result of this it means about three hours of stumbling incapacity and during this period of time you are robbed. To avoid finding yourself in this situation ensure that you watch your own drink in the bar and look to use bottled products **

Be protected

To ensure you are protected from unforeseen costs when travelling, make sure you don’t forget your travel insurance. 24/7 Travel Insurance offers covers for under a fiver for individual travellers***

***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 (September 2008) and are subject to change.


*Source: The Guardian.co.uk, dated 12th October 2007

** Source The Times.co.uk, dated 3rd February 2008

Labels: Scams