Category Archives: Travel

How to Get the Right Travel Insurance For Your Holiday

Travel insurance doesn’t just cover lost luggage and cancelled flights. When accidents happen, it’s a financial lifeline. Forgetting your travel cover, or going for the cheapest option, might end up costing you thousands – so how can you get the peace of mind of knowing you’re properly protected?

Get cover for the unexpected.

When Caroline Brown fell off a banana boat on a Greek island, she was concussed and lost her memory for 9 hours – but fortunately she hadn’t forgotten her travel insurance. After 3 visits from the doctor, Caroline was back on her feet. And thanks to her insurance she claimed back all the medical expenses.

If you fancy trying something new on holiday such as horse riding or bungee jumping, make sure your activities are covered. And even if you’re not planning anything quite so adventurous, it’s still vital to have the right travel insurance.

Avoid a financial headache.

Accidents and sudden illnesses affect thousands of travellers every year, and the costs of medical treatment or flying a loved one home can run into thousands. Inadequate travel insurance could mean the added worry of a huge financial burden.

When something goes wrong on holiday, the right insurance really shows its worth. Cheaper policies may pay partial costs – but exclusions and excesses can leave a shortfall that you or your family will have to bear the brunt of. So when choosing your travel insurance, check that the policy really covers you for what you need.

Know what your luggage is worth.

When you add it all up – outfits, shoes, digital camera, MP3 player, phone, jewellery, designer sunglasses – there could be thousands of pounds in a single suitcase. And if you’re into golf, scuba diving or skiing, that figure could rise even higher.

We all know that sinking feeling when you reach for your phone or camera and find it missing. But if you’re not insured, you’ll have to foot the bill yourself, and that’s enough to ruin your holiday. Work out what your luggage is really worth, and check you’re fully covered.

Tips For Finding Discount Travel Packages

If you dream of visiting faraway places but want to get the most bang for your buck, consider buying a discount travel package. These packages often come with flights, hotel stays and other perks that you couldn’t get otherwise. Booking a discount travel package is easy if you know when, where and how to look.

Before you start planning your vacation, spend a little bit of time researching the cheapest times of the year to visit your destination of choice. Every location has peak seasons. If you travel during a time when prices are low, you’ll be able to get a good deal on your travel plans. Study the travel listings to see when prices drop their lowest and then plan your vacation for that time. Of course, you’ll want to make sure that there isn’t a reason for the discounts that will change your travel experience. Even if you can save a few bucks, for example, it might not be worth booking a travel package to a tropical island during the rainy season or the hurricane season.

Once you’ve decided where and when you want to travel, there are several tactics that you can use to get a discount on your travel plans. With planning and a sharp eye, you’ll be able to grab a good deal when you see one. Here are a few more tips to help you find discounted travel packages.

1. Use Internet travel sites to alert you of discounted travel packages the moment they come on the market. Many of these services will allow you to nab discount packages immediately. Keep in mind that the travel times are normally within a few days or a week of their posting.

2. If you’re a frequent flyer with one of the major airlines or have rewards points through your credit card, you may be privy to special deals that will lower your travel costs. Make sure to read the fine print on your agreement so you know exactly what you’re getting into. Visit the website of your airline’s frequent flyer program or your credit card company’s rewards program to find out what you need to do to take advantage of their discount travel programs.

3. Make sure to contact the visitor’s bureau of the location you’ll be visiting, especially if you are traveling within the United States. They can notify you of any special events that are taking place that might interfere with getting a good deal. For example, if there’s a local festival going on in the location of your choice you might have a problem finding reasonable priced travel packages.

4. Before you book your discount travel package, be sure to read the fine print. You want to understand exactly what you are agreeing to and what will be included in your travel package. If you are deciding between two different packages, make sure to write down all of the details so you can compare them equally. Don’t go only by price. You may find out that one package is more expensive but it includes features that the other package does not.