Travel Insurance
World Snowboard Championships Set To Begin in Norway
For those who don’t already know, the World Snowboarding Championships are soon to kick off in Oslo, Norway, where the cream of the world’s snowboarding community will be heading in February 2012.
But as well as a host of snowboarders who have established themselves in the world of snowboarding, there will be a few wildcards among the contenders, which were selected in early January.
Of all the riders heading to the Norwegian capital, 5 come from the US, while Great Britain, Russia and Norway each send 4 riders to the competition.
The event is not to be confused with the FIS Snowboarding World Championships: this event has been set up only by snowboarders. The Oslo Winter Park (Tryvann) has been substantially upgraded in order to host the event. The world famous Holmenkollen Arena will also host some heats.
If you’re thinking of heading to Oslo for the championships, it’s handy to know that children under 12 get a 50% discount and under 6s get in free. Tickets cost between NOK 100 and 250, exclusive of booking fee. And if you’re considering doing a bit of snowboarding yourself in the Oslo area, don’t forget to take out ski travel insurance before you go!
Skiing and Snowboarding for the Cost Conscious
Taking a skiing or snowboarding holiday is seldom an inexpensive affair, and choosing to hit the slopes can, for many families, mean they are putting the vast majority of the annual holiday budget into one getaway. But if you take the time to carry out some research and planning, you’ll find that a fun packed and low cost ski holiday is not so unobtainable. By organising your break independently, you may well find you have not put the summer holiday in jeopardy after all.
Key to a cheap skiing holiday is selecting the right resort at the right time. Generally speaking, ski holidays are most inexpensive at the beginning of the season, although you can find some cheap deals at the end of the season too. The most costly periods to take to the slopes are Christmas and New Year, together with school half terms – therefore it’s best to plan around these times.
In terms of cheap destinations, consider visiting Eastern Europe, particularly Slovenia and Bulgaria, which can both offer great value for money. Nearer to home, Andorra is a top destination to enjoy a ski break for less than you might expect. These destinations offer cheaper accommodation, restaurant food, drink and of course ski passes – all the things that can make a ski break expensive. Last but certainly not least, take out ski insurance with click4quote.com and enjoy further savings, without compromising on quality cover.
A Free Skiing Holiday?
Unless you head for some of the more obscure ski resorts in the east of Europe, both skiing and snowboarding are very expensive activities to undertake. There is however one way to keep the costs down – and that’s by working a ski season. Each winter ski holiday company will go on the look out for hard working people to fill a wide range of different roles, from hotel managers to chefs – right down to the humble pot washer.
For those who have worked a ski season, you won’t need reminding that it’s hard work and the pay is rather low. So why do so many young people try it every year? Most ski holiday companies offer their employees a free ski pass and include the rental of a pair of skis or a snowboard. In addition, no charge is levied for accommodation, and food is usually included.
The type of job you choose will dictate how much time you’ll be able to spend on-piste. For example, if you land a hotel manager’s job, you’ll probably have the least time on the slopes, simply because the role demands so much time; although it does have the benefit of being paid better than other ski season jobs. As a chef, you’ll need to spend time preparing food for breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner, which, again, can be rather demanding of your time. The least attractive role might be that of the pot washer, but while the job is the least glamorous and lowest paid, it does mean that you get around four hours off between breakfast and afternoon tea – meaning you can enjoy four hours of solid day time skiing and snowboarding.
Of course, working a ski season isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, so you may just have to save money in other ways – such as buying low cost ski insurance from Click4Quote.com insurance.
Three of Europe’s Most Expensive Ski Resorts
Skiing and snowboarding is not a cheap affair – which is why many of us have to seek out the very best deals before we can head off for snowier climes. And fortunately, there are plenty of affordable ski resorts around Europe – particularly in Eastern Europe. It’s always interesting however to see where the more well financed among us go for a skiing holiday. So, get your ski travel insurance up to date, re-mortgage your house and cast your eyes over three of the most expensive (and exclusive) ski resorts in Europe…
Courchevel 1850, Three Valleys, France
With property prices in 2010 surpassing the €36,000/m² mark, Courchevel 1850 is far and away the most expensive place to purchase a chalet. But this 275 run resort gives you the opportunity to rub shoulders with the likes of Roman Abramovich, Naomi Campbell and Victoria Beckham. The figure of 1850 was added in order to emphasise the height of the resort – with the explicit aim of out-marketing its local rivals.
Méribel, Three Valleys, France
Also boasting 275 runs, Méribel’s property prices were around €17,000/m² in 2010 – not cheap, but considerably more palatable than those of Courchevel 1850. Despite losing out on the property front, the resort is still a very pricey place to spend your leisure time. You’ll tend to pay more for a beer here and quite a bit more for a ski pass.
St Moritz, Switzerland
The French don’t occupy all three tops spots though – as the Swiss complete our trio with its famous St Moritz resort. Well known patrons include the British royal family, Madonna, Liz Hurley and the obligatory gaggle of Russian oligarchs. It only has 88 runs, but makes up for it by having the highest number of designer shops of any Alpine resort.
If you need winter sports travel insurance for your holiday then contact click4quote for a quote.
British Consulates – They are not an Overseas Directory Enquiries
The Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) is currently reminding British travellers of the importance of the role its Embassies, High Commissions and Consulates plays by highlighting some of the more peculiar requests for assistance they receive.
The FCO points out that although they will always try to help where possible, it appears from some of the enquiries, that they are also being used as a form of ‘directory enquiries’ or ‘concierge service’ when their priority should be focussed on one of their more important functions; that of helping victims of serious crimes, providing support for people who have been detained or assisting people who have lost loved ones abroad.
So why not take a few moments to read just some of the more bizarre requests which range from what shoe size does Prince Charles take to what to do about ant infestation. These and others are listed in their article on the FCO website:-
http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/news/latest-news/?view=News&id=689796982
You can also visit the FCO’s website for more information about travelling abroad.
http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/
Know Before You Go campaign:- http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/about-kbyg-campaign/
Remember, if you are travelling overseas it is important to purchase appropriate travel insurance for your holiday.
Three Low Cost Ski Resorts
Enjoying the thrill of skiing is considered by many as a wealthy person’s game – or at least an activity that can only be enjoyed once every year or so. But skiing doesn’t necessarily have to be costly. We’ve picked three of the cheapest ski resorts in the world. So get your ski travel insurance up to date, and take a look at some lesser known ski locations that will cause minimal stress to your wallet.
Jasna, Slovakia
With a respectable 1000m of vertical drop, Jasna in Slovakia is fast becoming one of Eastern Europe’s most popular ski resorts. Situated in the Low Tatras National Park, this is arguably one of Europe’s most underrated skiing spots, boasting a total of five free ride areas and reliable snow for five months in the year. Best of all, it’s very cheap.
Kolasin, Montenegro
The combination of pine and birch gives an almost Japanese feel to this ski resort, which, while being on the small side, has seen a good deal of investment in recent years. A new six-seater chairlift has been constructed and more modifications are in the pipeline. There isn’t a great deal of accommodation in the resort itself, but the town of Kolasin in only 15 minutes away, and offers bars and restaurants to boot.
Borovets, Bulgaria
The oldest ski resort in Bulgaria, Borovets offers a great deal of charm and character – and is very gentle on your bank balance. Made up of three separate zones, the resort rises up to around 1300 metres. Great for beginners and intermediates, the resort also has a reputation for having fantastic ski instructors. The nightlife is also very lively indeed!
Choosing a resort is very important for your holiday plans but it should be argued it is not as important as purchasing comprehensive wintersports travel insurance to cover you in case the worst happens on the slopes.
Finding Time to Buy Travel Insurance
It’s often the very last thing we think about when we’re planning a holiday: insurance. And for those planning long term travel, there are so many other important things that can take precedence. Finding good value flights, planning trips within the destination country, getting vaccinations (for continents such as Asia and Africa) – can all take up a great deal of time.
For many countries (including America, India and many African countries) you will also need a visa. The requirements for each visa can change a great deal depending on the efficiency of the office dealing with the application, how long you want to stay for and whether the your trip is for business or pleasure. Add to this organising your currency, obtaining back-up credit cards, and buying all those little extras such as airline size sun block and contact lens solution, and you have a lot on your plate.
But taking out insurance – even if it’s cheap travel insurance – is likely to be something you’ll be glad of when you arrive in your destination country. You may not think it is important while you are in the UK, since danger is seldom very near, and where we embark on less physical activity whilst in our daily routine. Whilst on holiday, however, the risks can go up a great deal.
Suddenly a whole world of water-skiing, hiking, bungee-jumping, tuk-tuk-riding and general adventure opens up to you. Add to this the threat of more diseases (especially in hotter climates) and the increased possibility of having your belongings stolen – and it becomes apparent just how much peace of mind insurance can give you. Rather than being an annoying expense, it really just allows you to enjoy your break to a fuller extent.
So don’t let travel insurance be the last thing you buy before you go – get it over and done with early so you can concentrate on your holiday plans. Plus it can also provide cover for any unforeseen and potentially expensive holiday cancellations.
For all your travel insurance enquiries visit www.click4quote.com
One in five travelers uninsured
The Association of British Travel Agents has revealed that 25% of British travelers go abroad without taking out travel insurance. They have just published the results of their 2010 Consumer Trends Survey- based on a sample of 2028 people in September.
Recent events such as strikes and volcanic eruptions have highlighted the need for insurance but many people seem prepared to save a little money and risk the consequences. Without travel insurance you may end up paying thousands in medical costs, to say nothing of the cost of arranging to bring a sick person home. The EHIC card will not necessarily provide all the medical cover you need; and it only works in Europe. You also risk losing out if your camera or other valuable possessions are stolen.
Cuba and the Channel Islands now insist on travel insurance to cover medical costs so you may be turned back without it. Whether or not it is compulsory it makes sense to take out cover – and annual travel insurance could be much cheaper than a single trip policy if you make a few overseas journeys a year.
Millions have property stolen abroad whilst travelling
A major supermarket chain has released research for travel insurance showing that in the last five years five million British travelers have had personal property stolen while abroad on business or holiday trips. On average they reckon that £326 each was lost. Cash is the most likely item to be stolen – amounting to 35% of all cases.
It makes sense to look after your possessions. Not only are you less likely to have them stolen but your insurance policy will probably only pay out if you have taken reasonable care. Also check that your travel policy actually covers the items you are taking; a standard policy might not give you sufficient cover for skis, scuba gear, cameras and so on. Consider a specialist policy if you are off on a skiing (skiing travel insurance), sailing (sailing travel insurance) or golfing holiday (golf travel insurance).
If you are unlucky enough to have had something stolen and you need to make a claim under your travel insurance policy it is always best to report the crime to the local police and obtain a reference number. If the loss occurred on a flight you should complete the appropriate form for the airline.
Travel vaccinations – Britons taking risks
A major travel insurer recently sponsored some research into travelers attitudes to vaccinations and found that a surprisingly high percentage fail to protect themselves.
This really is surprising if we consider that many of us will spend hours researching and looking for the best cheap holiday insurance to exotic destinations yet fail to protect ourselves, with just a little extra effort, in this way.
According to the research as many as 26% of travelers failed to have the recommended immunisation against Diptheria and Thyphoid. Most of these people did not even bother to take advice about what jabs they needed. Some knew that they needed vaccinations but thought they were too expensive. If you are traveling to countries where you will be at risk from a wide range of diseases you could face a bill of more than £90 for the treatment, but if this is compared to the horror of contracting a serious disease abroad it looks insignificant.
It is easy to find out the protection you need- just check with your GP or use the web.
It makes sense to look after yourself when you are traveling and taking medical advice before you go is just one aspect of this. Good travel insurance is also essential- make sure your chosen travel insurance covers all the places you will be visiting and all the activities you have planned.