Have you ever been on a cruise? The number of UK people taking a cruise in 2015 hit an all-time high, and with all of the major cruise companies investing in bigger and better ships to serve the UK market, this number is set to rise. So if you’ve never considered a cruise holiday, perhaps it’s the time to set sail on your next holiday.
Read moreOften the most stressful part of going on holiday is the actual trip to your destination. Lengthy flight delays or hassles getting through security are not the ideal start to any holiday, so we’ve compiled a few airport hacks to help you breeze through the airport and save a bit of money too.
Read moreIf you’ve done the sensible thing and organised your EHIC cover before heading off on your European holiday this year, then you’ve also probably done a bit of research into the healthcare system in the country which you’re planning to visit. European healthcare systems vary hugely both in quality and what treatment you can expect to get under the EHIC system. Very few state healthcare systems are completely free as the NHS is here, and most countries have either a compulsory insurance scheme or ask you to pay a contribution when you see the GP or go to hospital. Those differences can make comparing the different healthcare systems difficult, but statistics such as the number of doctors and how much governments spend on healthcare can give a broad indication of which countries perform well.
Read moreWe’re all living longer, and experts have estimated that by the year 2025, there will be around a million people living in the UK with a diagnosis of dementia. Dementia isn’t always an immediate, serious illness, and improvements in diagnosis and treatment techniques mean that many people with dementia live independently at home with their family for years before the illness progresses. Part and parcel of family life is going on holiday, but this can cause problems for people with a dementia diagnosis. There are a few tips which can make life much easier though.
Read moreIt seems that barely a month passes without another terror attack in a major European city. These events, such as the shootings in Paris or the bombings in Brussels attract extensive news coverage, and it’s easy to lose perspective. The chances of being caught up in a terror attack while on holiday or on business in Europe are incredibly slim, and it’s also worth bearing in mind that here in the UK the threat level has been severe – meaning an attack is “highly likely” since August 2014. Worrying is natural though, and although the tiny possibility of being injured or having your holiday disrupted because of terrorism shouldn’t put you off travelling, it’s worth knowing what the situation is regarding EHIC cover and travel insurance policies.
Read moreA leading price comparison website has asked almost 1,500 British travellers about their understanding of the EHIC system, and has found some widespread misconceptions about the system.
Read moreWe all know that we should make sure we have adequate insurance before jetting off on holiday, but not everyone gets organised with their EHIC cover or travel insurance before they pack their cases. Most people who fall ill on holiday suffer relatively minor illnesses or accidents, and the average claim for medical related expenses is £700. However, for those unlucky enough to have a serious accident, the costs can run into hundreds of thousands of pounds.
Read moreExclusions are part and parcel of buying insurance, and whether you’re looking at policies for car insurance or travel insurance, it’s important to be aware of what your policy does not cover you for, and take steps to lessen the risks of being unable to claim. Sometimes exclusions are obvious – for example if you are told by the Foreign Office not to travel to a country as it’s too dangerous, you cannot expect your travel insurance to be valid. However many people are less aware of some of the other common exclusions, and can be seriously out of pocket if they haven’t understood their cover.
Read moreEveryone heads off on holiday hoping for lovely sunny weather, and no rain to spoil their hard-earned couple of weeks in Europe. Whether it’s down to climate change, or just bad luck, it does seem that here in Europe we are experiencing more extreme weather than in any period of history. Heatwaves, forest fires, torrential downpours causing flooding, storms or gales – all of these weather phenomena can hugely impact your holiday, and potentially your health too.
Read moreEvery year, around 230,000 British students take a year off after school and before going to University. For the overwhelming majority of these students, travel will be a huge part of their gap year plans. Many will be heading to Asia or Australia on a working holiday, but many more will be staying closer to home, taking advantage of the right to work and live anywhere in the European Union and spending time working in an Italian bar or Spanish restaurant to finance their exploration of the country. Under 24s are the group which are least likely to take out travel insurance, so if you or a family member are heading off on a European gap year adventure, here’s what you need to know about EHIC.
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