August 26, 2007

Norwich Union Travel Insurance Highlights Holiday Hazard Hotspots

At a time when many UK families are getting excited about their forthcoming holiday Norwich Union has compiled a list of destinations most likely to cause problems.

The list is based upon Norwich Union’s extensive claims database.

The report highlighted some old chestnuts but also revealed some less likely destinations. Mexico topped the list for claims following sun over-exposure, whilst the Caribbean also found the top spot for insect bites and stings.

Tip! On a lighter note, should you get stranded, robbed, lost and not be able to depart when you are scheduled to leave, a good holiday insurance policy will once again come to the rescue and potentially save you a fortune. There’s a holiday insurance policy to suit every type of trip for all eventualities.

The ugly face of crime raises its head in South Africa but both old British favorites, Spain and the Canaries are both highlighted as a risk for robbery and pick pocketing.

Thailand was also mention for theft problems, but the report also advised unwary travelers should also be aware of tummy problems, traffic accidents and lost belongings.

Norwich Union were also quick to point out that most holidays go without hitch and the purpose of the report is not to worry tourists, merely to make them aware.

Western Europe appeared to offer,in the main, the safest destinations, with Ireland pipping Belguim, Holland, Germany and France.

Norwich Union advise however that whilst the new European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) covers many potential problems it won’t cover all costs and will not cover rescue or repatriation.

An important point being that the biggest cause of problems when abroad is unforeseen medical emergencies.

When you consider the cost of your holiday a little extra expense in the form of adequate travel insurance cover would seem a prudent step. Although of course due diligence should also be practised.

Norwich Union offer the following tips for a hazard-free holiday;-

Lost/Misplaced belongings
Keep an eye on your belongings at all times. Do not leave them unattended and ensure you don’t check in your valuables while traveling, keep them with you, in a safe place.

Theft
Lock belongings in a safe when in a hotel.

Be aware of open windows and doors in your villa or hotel room - they attract opportunist thieves.

Robbery with violence
Be aware of your surroundings and look purposeful. Avoid looking lost, confused or distracted as this makes you an easier target for opportunist thieves.

Find out the emergency phone numbers used in the area you are visiting.

Tummy problems
Eat food that has been freshly prepared or thoroughly cooked, avoiding food that has been left standing for long periods.

Avoid ice in drinks in countries where you can’t drink the tap water (often it is not made from bottled water).

Be aware that salads may also have been washed in tap water.

Dave often writes on insurance issues and breaking news. Living in the UK and is a full time webmaster concentrating in the insurance and finance areas. Norwich Union Travel Insurance

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August 24, 2007

Travel and Health Holiday Insurance Is Always To Your Advantage

There is nothing quite so bad as falling ill or even meeting with an accident while out on a holiday, though it is something that can happen at any time and any place for which you should be well prepared.

Health holiday insurance travel allows for having coverage while you are out traveling and even while in transit.

You can also tie it with your regular insurance plans and most people when they travel on vacation will be offered such coverage from their travel agents and a number of travel insurance companies.

Low Cost, Ease Of Availability And Plenty Of Reassurance

There are certain advantages to be gained when opting for health holiday insurance travel coverage including its low cost, out of network coverage, ease of availability, and most important of all being able to rest easy in the mind knowing that every eventuality is covered for.

By spending a few bucks over and above the cost of your ticket, you will ensure that you won’t end up paying megabucks to meet with the expenses of some unforeseen and unplanned for circumstances.

In any case, for the price all that you are missing will be a good meal with some wine as well. But, it will save you thousand of pounds in case something was to happen.

Another advantage to you in buying health holiday insurance travel is that such out of network coverage will give you complete reimbursement for any medical expenses as opposed to the fifty percent that your normal insurance would cover.

And, those who travel abroad will gain immensely as there may not be any other alternative insurance to protect them.

Furthermore, health holiday insurance travel is also available without having to undergo medical examination though it may not cover you for your pre-existing conditions, though it is nevertheless a good way to deal with any emergency situations while you are out holidaying.

Finally, with health holiday insurance travel you are not going to have to worry about anything.

This is especially to your advantage because the whole purpose of holidaying is to be able to relax, which is what you will be able to experience once you are secure in the knowledge that you are protected from accidents and misfortune.

Though no one anticipates having trouble while on a holiday, things can get out of hand, especially when you travel to foreign shores and places where anything can happen including natural calamities and changes in government.

Having health holiday insurance travel is going to help ease your mind and protect your wallet at all times.

So, before you head off on your next holiday, make sure to get health holiday insurance travel and get then the maximum pleasure from your vacation.

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August 23, 2007

Got Holiday Insurance? Be Prepared and Be Protected!

With so many stresses and uncertainties in today’s age, it’s little wonder that folks look forward to their annual holiday with so much passionate enthusiasm.

So important is the break away from it all that many people not only use all their hard earned savings to have one, but many go into debt too just to get as far away from it all as they can.

Tip! It’s a good idea to include holiday insurance in case of unforeseen events like accidents, theft or sickness. A holiday loan is a short-term loan.

But, putting aside the sun, sea, sand, lakes, mountains and forests, how many of us actually think seriously enough about the holiday insurance amid all the excitement?

Unfortunately, with so much focus on the holiday and all the pleasure that goes into planning it, there are a lot of people who overlook the importance of holiday insurance and especially those that plan independently without the assistance of a travel agent.

Many save the cost and plough the extra into the vacation, while others take out inadequate cover. There’s also that old feeling that holiday accidents and nightmares are things that only happen to other people.

In the stupidity of my 20’s I went on a 13 month backpacking tour of the world during 1990/91 and I took out absolutely no holiday or travel insurance cover of any description.

I was just 26 at the time and felt better, fitter, and more cocksure of myself than at any other time. I jugged across Europe on a real unstable Yugoslavian bus with no windows and small plastic seats, island hopped around the Mediterranean, bummed around India during the monsoon season, and trekked for a month in the Nepalese Himalayas.

There was also white water rafting expeditions, unsafe boat trips across the Indonesian archipelago, and lots of jungle treks. I could go on and on, but although I was extremely lucky I could have gotten myself into some very costly and dangerous situations.

I came across a number of fellow travelers during that long journey who got so sick that they had to fly home for treatment as soon as they had the strength to board a plane, and they were the lucky ones.

But the fact of the matter is that some people, sometimes, get into accidents and illnesses that run into tens of thousands, and occasionally hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of treatment. Just think about how you would pay for that without an adequate holiday insurance policy!

Luckily, on my trip, I just suffered minor complaints like worms under the skin, gardia (severe dysentery), altitude sickness, dengue fever, and some kind of airborne fungicidal rash which made my body look like and ordinance and survey map of the world.

All of the afore mentioned were treated locally and relatively cheaply, but any one of these complaints could have turned the other way and become very complicated.

Tip! Who needs travel insurance for a holiday in Britain? The National Health Service is free and in an emergency, my son could drive up and bring us home.

Whereas I was lucky, there are many thousands each year who are not. People die because they don’t have holiday insurance or the funds for treatment after a fatal accident or illness.

Don’t fall pray to a holiday from hell medical disaster and put holiday insurance at the top of your planning list and make sure all your papers are in order before you set off.

You deserve your vacation and you deserve to be covered, for peace of mind for both yourself and your loved ones.

On a lighter note, should you get stranded, robbed, lost and not be able to depart when you are scheduled to leave, a good holiday insurance policy will once again come to the rescue and potentially save you a fortune.

There’s a holiday insurance policy to suit every type of trip for all eventualities. Happy traveling!

Toby Hicks is a proficient writer and webmaster for Insurance Covered dot com where he writes on such issues as Temporary Health Insurance and Dental Insurance Plans. He also has many other Insurance related pieces on the site.

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