24/7 Travel Insurance Blog

Every year holidays are ruined because of accidents, illness or theft. Those travelling without holiday insurance can find themselves left with huge bills to cover hospital costs or emergency repatriation home expenses – bills that can amount to hundreds or even thousands of pounds. To help you have a safe trip, here are some helpful travel tips…

1) Check out any risks associated with your destination - visit www.fco.gov.uk/travel and www.gogapyear.com

2) Check what vaccinations you need at least 6 weeks before you go - visit www.dh.gov.uk

3) Get the right holiday insurance - make sure it give you the cover you need and covers you for the all the activities you want to do. 24/7 travel insurance automatically covers 70 activities as standard!

4) Make sure your travel insurance policy is up to date, valid for the entire trip and covers everyone who is travelling.

5) Complete the contact details at the back of your passport for your next-of-kin or someone who can be contacted in an emergency.

6) Make sure you have enough money for your trip.

7) Do your research - find a good guide book and get to know your travel destination.

8) Get a valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) for all members of your family. Remember, this should not be used as a substitute for your travel insurance cover as it does not provide cover for repatriation to the UK or baggage and cancellation benefits.

9) Look after your possessions and important documents.

10) Make a note of your travel insurance's 24-hour Emergency Medical Assistance Service telephone number and keep it with you at all times.


Holiday insurance is a must!
When buying your holiday insurance, don’t assume that every policy is the same. Your needs may be different from others, so make sure the policy you buy provides the cover that you require. Read the small print, check the level of cover and ensure you are covered for any activities that you want to undertake. Carry your travel insurance documentation with you on holiday and keep the 24-hour emergency medical assistance number on you at all times along with your policy number. Click here for an instant 24/7 travel insurance quote, for just £5.91* 24/7 travel insurance will cover you for a 3-day trip to Europe!

*Premium £5.91 includes Insurance Premium Tax; based on an individual traveller aged under 55 taking out a Standard single-trip policy for 3 days in Europe including personal possessions cover and purchased within 14 days of departure date. Cover details and prices are correct at time of going to press (June 2009) and are subject to change.

Labels: Travel-Tips

Everyone can identify with the anxious feeling you get when you realise your belongings have been lost or stolen but what should you do if this happens whilst you’re on holiday? Read on to find out what you should do in the event your baggage or personal items are lost, stolen or damaged…

Top tips to remember:

• File a claim immediately - If your bag is lost in transit, you should notify the airline and get a written report. If you discover your items have been lost or stolen, you must file a police report, in the event you are unable to obtain a written police report, get your hotel to confirm you have reported a loss. In most cases, lost or stolen items must be reported within 24 hours if you plan on claiming. You may be able to claim for any emergency purchases you might need, these include toiletries and items of clothing. So remember to keep all receipts.

• Know your information - In the event that you do need to deal with the hassles of lost items, it will be a whole lot easier if you carry your contact information with you to give to the airline or police. This means hotel addresses and phone numbers of the hotel or residence where you’ll be staying. The more paperwork and receipts you have will help to support your claim.

• Don’t panic - If your bag doesn’t show up on the baggage carousel along with the others from your flight, or you discover your items have been stolen, don’t panic. It’s tempting, especially after being on a long flight or being in a foreign country but it’s possible that the bag is being held up. Check with the airline to see if it might already be waiting for you elsewhere.

• Keep medications, jewellery and valuables in your hand luggage - If you’ve checked in a medication you need to take within the next 24-hours you may be out of luck if your bag can’t be returned to you right away. This can be an uncomfortable and even potentially dangerous situation. While jewellery and other valuables may not affect your health, they can be stolen from your bag and you may not be reimbursed for your stolen items in this event.

• Securely attach a luggage label to your luggage - Just your name and destination is needed. It’s also a good idea to put a note of your name and contact details inside your bags - just in case the baggage handlers need to open your case if it does go missing in transit. Some other people may have the same luggage as you and may take your bag by accident, not realising it until they get to their destination.

• Remove old airline tags - Make sure that the airline tag from your previous flight is torn off. A lot of times people will get home from their trip, throw the luggage in the wardrobe and not even think twice about it. Having various airline tags on your bags may confuse the baggage handlers.

Click here for some handy top tips to help you have a safe trip!

Lost luggage doesn’t have to be a constant worry on your next trip. These tips can help reduce the chances of having to deal with the hassle of lost or stolen baggage to make your life a little easier in the event you do. Either way, your trip will benefit from having adequate travel insurance. You can buy single trip travel insurance from 24/7 travel insurance from just £5.32* a small price to pay for your peace of mind on holiday.

*Premium £5.32 includes Insurance Premium Tax based on an individual aged under 55 taking out a Standard Single-trip 24/7 travel insurance 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 (June 2009) and are subject to change.

Labels: Holiday-insurance

If you’re looking for a slow paced holiday this summer - head to Lisbon, the capital city of Portugal for a spot of culture and sightseeing. With its gothic cathedrals, quaint museums and narrow backstreet lanes - Lisbon is the perfect laid back travel destination, read on to find out why…

Things to do in Lisbon

• Take a slow walk along the Rua Augusta. Rebuilt after the 1755 earthquake, the main shopping district of Baixa hosts wide avenues and pedestrianised streets which are a great place to shop and have coffee.
  
• Ride the Elevador de Santa Justa. The area's highlight is the wrought-iron neogothic style lift which offers an easy ride up to the Bairro Alto area. Treat yourself to a drink at the rooftop cafe and enjoy the amazing views.
  
• The Castelo de São Jorge is located on one of the highest hills in Lisbon and stands on the riverside with spectacular landscape views across the city. The oldest remnants found in the castle date back to the Iron Age!
  
• Take a day trip to Belém a UNESCO World Heritage site and just a short tram ride away from central Lisbon. Belém is famous as the place from which many of the great Portuguese explorers set off on their voyages of discovery.
  
• Stop by the famous 160-year-old pastry shop on Belém’s main street Rua de Belém and sample a pastel de Belém – a custard tart made with flaky pastry…yum!
  
• Admire the Padrão dos Descobrimentos (Monument to the Discoveries). A 52m high concrete monument to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the death of Henry the Navigator who was responsible for the beginning of the European worldwide explorations.
  
• A visit to Belém would not be complete without a look inside the famous fort Torre de Belém. Navigate your way through the winding staircases to the top of the tower for some great views across the Tagus River.
  
• The town of Sintra is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and about an hour away from central Lisbon. Attractions include the picturesque Pena Palace which can be seen from Lisbon on a clear day and the Castelo dos Mouros (Castle of the Moors) with a breath-taking view of the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park.

Getting around
Lisbon is built on 7 hills, so trams are the ideal way to get around although slow and creaky, they have a certain charm to them and are a great way to see Lisbon. You can buy a 3-day Lisbon card from tourist information centres which entitles you to free transport on the tube trains and trams, plus discounted or sometimes even free access into many of the museums and attractions around the city and surrounding area.

Nightlife
One of the great highlights of Lisbon is that you don't have to travel a lot. Everything is within very short distance and easy to reach. For a great night out, visit Docas. The lively atmosphere is filled with bars and restaurants - a perfect way to spend your evening with excellent views over the River Tagus.

Finally, don’t forget your holiday insurance!
If after reading this blog you like the sound of Lisbon, make sure you take out travel insurance as soon as you have booked your trip. Buying direct from the travel insurance provider is certainly cheaper than from your travel agent.

You can purchase great value travel insurance direct at 24/7 travel insurance. For a 3-day break in Europe, it will cost you just £5.32* - a small price to pay to really relax and enjoy your Lisbon holiday all the more!

*Premium £5.32 includes Insurance Premium Tax based on an individual aged under 55 taking out a Standard Single-trip 24/7 travel insurance 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 (June 2009) and are subject to change.

Labels: Lisbon

Photographs are just about the cheapest souvenirs you can get, so it's no surprise that even travellers who aren't serious photography buffs get snap happy on their holiday. Not everyone is going to get prize-winning photographs, but anyone can learn to take better pictures. These are just a few quick travel photography tips that will help your photos go from so-so to spectacular. Master even one of them and you'll see a big difference in your travel photos…

Camera equipment
Digital cameras make it even easier to capture thousands of images during a holiday - but how many of them are photos you'd actually be proud to enlarge and hang on the wall in your house? Take care of your camera equipment; invest in a camera case to protect your camera from sand and water. Remember to pack enough memory cards with enough space for your photos and some spare batteries always come in handy! Check out 24/7 travel insurance for an instant quote to cover your camera equipment should it get lost or stolen whist on holiday.

Framing
In photography, the ‘rule of thirds’ refers to the most eye-pleasing compositions for photos where the image you see through the lens is split roughly equal thirds The idea is that you want the main focal point, whatever it is, to be roughly one third of the way from either the top, the bottom or one of the sides of your picture rather than just an ordinary straight forward central photo.

Lighting
Photographers sometimes refer to the first and last hour of daylight as the ‘golden hour,’ which, under the right conditions can often lead to a soft and warm glow on anything in its path. Taking advantage of this while traveling can be tricky, because your travel itinerary is often full and dependent on other factors. But if you wake up early enough, or are paying attention as the sun is about to set, you might be rewarded with some spectacular shots full of interesting colours!

Cropping
Keep in mind that as a photographer, you're creating a world within the confines of your lens - you determine what everyone else will see when they look at your pictures later, and if there's something ugly just outside the frame, they'll never know if you crop it out of the frame. Some digital cameras have an application which allows you to crop a photo within the camera itself. Otherwise, design programmes like Photoshop are ideal for cropping travel photos and creating special effects.

Landscapes
Whatever kind of landscape you are shooting, think about what the essential qualities are and not just the visual ones. Think about how the place makes you feel, what kind of emotions it stirs in you. Then look for ways to get those qualities and feelings onto film. If you’re taking photographs of people you don’t know, remember to ask their permission first before snapping!

Buy your travel insurance before you go!
Finally, don’t scrimp on travel insurance as one day you may need to rely on it in the event of an emergency abroad. You should read the Policy Summary and Policy Wording before buying it, and check out any specific queries you have – so you can relax and really enjoy your trip!

You can get an instant quote from 24/7 travel insurance for a 3 day trip to Europe for just £5.91* if you arrange your cover as soon as you book your holiday you will be immediately protected should you need to cancel your trip.

*Premium £5.91 includes Insurance Premium Tax; based on an individual traveller aged under 55 taking out a Standard single-trip policy for 3 days in Europe including personal possessions cover and purchased within 14 days of departure date. Cover details and prices are correct at time of going to press (June 2009) and are subject to change.

Labels: photography