2014

Here at Holsure we sincerely hope that you had a wonderful Christmas break, and weren't too affected by the storms and floods if you live in the UK.

We hope too that you have a most fantastic 2014 and reach some of the destinations to which you aspire.

We have just heard that Michael Schumacher's condition has improved slightly after his skiing accident and, along with many others, we wish him a full and speedy recovery. Michael was wearing a helmet at the time of his accident and we can only reiterate the need for full safety equipment to be used when taking part in any wintersports activity that requires it. Michael is an advocate of safety both with The Grand Prix Drivers' Association in Motor Sports and in his love of skiing. Always at the forefront of ensuring driver security in the car and on the track, he carried this concern into his other sporting loves - we should follow his example, for ourselves and our family.

Our website can offer more help in this and other areas, HERE

A Happy New Year to all our followers and readers, and most certainly to a hero of our time - good luck Michael.

A NICE cup of Coffee?

Ask for a Coffee in a Bistro in Nice and you'll be charged €7 - Yes €7!

However, ask for a coffee please and you'll be charged €4.25.

Burst in gushing with goodness, jollity and politeness and you'll be charged something more like the standard rate of around €1.50

Yes this bar in Nice has decided to punish the rude and reward the polite - which got me thinking.....

Should we get our food and drink cheaper just by being polite and well mannered? Surely, as decent human beings we should naturally treat our waiters and waitresses with politeness and consideration. We shouldn't have surcharges placed upon our drinks for being rude, we should be ejected from the café, never to be admitted again - shouldn't we? But what about the rudeness of some staff at these cafés - should that go unnoticed? Should we, as the public have to put up with grumpy waiters, sarcastic waitresses or managers who are seemingly uncaring regarding our complaint? Well no, we too should eject ourselves, never to return.

This piece is just a bit of fun really, but it seems more likely that our disagreements and complaints will be met with politeness, empathy and consideration these days. Managers are generally keen to keep custom and reputations especially with the increased use of Facebook and Twitter as guides to good restaurants, cafés and bars.

Of more concern n the writer's opinion is the number of chain coffee stores on our high streets - try the smaller local cafés instead and you might be pleasantly surprised at the reception you receive....

.....and the coffee!

Check out our WEBSITE for more tips....

WinterSports Chalet scandal - don't get caught

Following on from our recent Blogs regarding Winter Sports Holidays, we picked up recently on an item on BBC News and decided to research the information provided.

It seems that many British Winter travellers have been conned into paying money to non - existent chalet holders on the basis that the chalets were owned by these fraudsters and by dealing directly with them posing as owners, these chalets offered much cheaper accommodation. 

Consensio Holidays have asked for dozens of listed chalets to be removed from the Internet on various rentals websites and Abta - the Travel Association have commented that "it is a growing problem".

Remember when booking your holidays to make sure that the company is a member of a Travel Association such as Abta and pay by Credit or Debit Card - not by transfer. 

Finally, remember that is something looks too good to be true....well, it probably is...

For more information regarding Travel Insurance wherever or whenever your holiday is please take a look at our website HERE

The End Of Roaming Charges.....

The Mobile Network Operator, Three, has announced recently that it is scrapping roaming charges for all British travellers visiting America. It has already ceased charging in Australia, Italy, Austria, Sweden, Ireland and Denmark as well as the city of Hong Kong and will include Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Macau in this extension of the scheme.

We know, at Holsure, that many of our clients are shocked by the cost of their mobile phone bills on returning from their holidays. Recent research suggests that Britons pay £256 million each year on roaming charges with average bills of around £120 following overseas trips.

The EU has capped roaming charges at 24.5p for voice calls, 8.1p for texts and 46p per Mb for data usage and in 2014 these charges will fall even further.

But the costs of calls outside Europe can be high. O2 charge £1.10 per minute from America to Britain and it can cost 90p per minute to receive a call, texts cost 40p each and data usage a massive £6 per Mb.

We hope to see this change soon with four of the UK's major Operators (EE, Three, Vodafone and Virgin) signing an agreement with the Government supporting a total scrapping of roaming charges by 2016.

Watch this space.

Wintersports Travel Insurance - What Can You Expect?

From Luging to Zorbing.....or just relaxing...

With a language seemingly all its own Wintersports holidays are not only becoming increasingly popular, but also increasingly complex and extreme. From Zorbing to Skeletons, Bobsleigh to Dog Sleigh, Luging to Sidooing there appears to be a sport, no matter how minor, suitable for anyone. 

No one can deny that Winter Holidays also have an atmosphere of their own - an off piste and on piste cameraderie that extends back home. Friendships made on ski holidays seem to last beyond the break and this may be because families and couples are more likely return year after year at the same time and to the same location.

Insuring your holiday where extreme sports or even the most gentle of ski slopes can cause tumbles, falls, slips and bumps is of vital importance and we recommend too, that policies are taken out when booking your trip to make sure that your deposit is also covered, but what can you reasonably expect to cover?

Well, Holsure have a dedicated policy just for those who like wintersports abroad, including skiing, sledging, snowboarding and skidooing.

For those under 66 years old, the policy aims to cover everything you may require for your wintersports holiday, including: off piste skiing or snowboarding; 4x4 off road driving on ice or snow, (where accompanied by experienced driver or on an officially organised event); Bobsleighing & dog-sledding, cross country skiing & snowboarding, curling, Glacier walking, (when accompanied by an official guide), heli-skiing, Ice hockey, ice skating & land skiing, Luging & mono skiing, Recreational Ski Racing, skiing, skidoos, sledging, sleigh rides, snowboarding, snow mobiling, snowparks, snow-shoeing and tobogganing.

The following will also be covered when supervised by a qualified instructor at all times: bob rafting, ice climbing, ice diving (up to 30m), ice karting, snow rafting, ski joering and piste basher driving, (instructor must be onboard at all times).

Now if you haven't discovered a new word or phrase in that last paragraph or two then you are a dedicated Wintersports person - well done!

We also offer seasoner wintersports cover for those who are going for a season or working in a ski resort.  

For specialist winter sports travel insurance make sure you insure your hols with Holsure - check out our website HERE

The Rising Cost....of Winter Sports Claims...

Rescue costs, both on and off piste, are on the rise and a lot of skiers are surprised at how expensive their medical claims can amount to.

For example, an insured man was skiing off piste in Zermatt (with a guide), when his ski hit a concealed rock. He was catapulted down piste, further off track, losing his skis and breaking both legs and his pelvis. Due to the extent of his injuries and his location, it was not possible for the piste rescue team to collect him and therefore a helicopter rescue was called in. This expense was CHF2200 (approx £1600). His treatment came to just under CHF4000 (approx £2850) and his stretcher repatriation was £5,000. A fraction of the hospital costs were recoverable using EHIC.

If repatriated to the UK with a medical supervisor this would have been a further £7,500.

On average, in France, a standard on piste rescue fee is in excess of £500 alone - this is in relation to a minor injury on a pisted run.

At Holsure, we are, of course, concerned about your health and safety, but for such a low cost to insure a family or a couple for the few days you are away it seems madness not to make sure that costs like those quoted above do not further spoil, what may be the holiday of a lifetime, by adding high financial problems to the medical situation you might experience.

Check our website HERE for what is covered and get a quote right now - you'll be surprised at how little it can cost.

Winter Sports - Early Boost?

Early snow fall across the Alps has prompted a surge in booking enquiries for Winter Sports holidays according to some specialist Travel Companies.  Optimism in North America is also high and Aspen and Park City have opened early, with Whistler opening almost two weeks earlier than planned. Often there are cut price deals available early season due to the unpredictable piste conditions and now can be a great time to take your break if the conditions are right.

If you are planning to book your Winter Break, don’t forget that at Holsure we offer one of the best priced and fully comprehensive plans, covering many extreme activities as mentioned in a previous blog post  HERE.

It can be difficult to obtain Cover for many extreme sports at an affordable price, but please check our website to discover just how little a fully cover plan can cost and don’t forget that if you take out Travel Cover on or before you book your holiday then your deposit can be covered too.

Take a look HERE 

Travel Insurance For Canadians: What Globe-Trotters Need To Know

Nancy Covel was embarking on a Mediterranean cruise with her family five years ago when on the day the ship departed from Venice, Italy, she began to experience chest pain.

Alarmed, her sister accompanied her to the ship’s medical centre. It turned out Covel had experienced a delayed reaction to a car crash she was involved in three days before the start of her cruise.

“I had a heart specialist take tests and all was clear,” Covel said. “But my blood pressure was over the roof, so they had to give me a drip to bring it down.”

This medical attention would have cost Covel US$1,700, but the travel insurance package she purchased when planning her vacation fully covered the bill.

“I am a strong believer in travel insurance to cover, at the very least, emergency medical,” Covel said.

A medical emergency is the number one concern on travellers’ minds, according to a recent study by BIIS. However, the same study also revealed that of the 83 per cent of Canadians planning to take a summer vacation abroad this year, only half will purchase travel insurance.

Erin Finn, the director of underwriting at RSA Travel Insurance, says this is because Canadians lack an education about what the medical costs can be outside of Canada.

“In Canada, we go to the hospital and we don’t have to pay for it,” Finn said. “People don’t feel like it’s a big risk for them to travel without insurance, but that’s not the case. People don’t realize that they might be out of pocket for those expenses if they don’t have insurance.”

Deciding on what type of coverage best suits your needs can seem daunting. There are many different types of travel insurance on the market; however, they can be broken down into four key components: medical emergency insurance, trip cancellation and interruption insurance, baggage loss and delay, as well as by accidental death and dismemberment.

Medical emergency insurance is the most important travel coverage to have, according to Finn, and should be purchased even if you’re just popping over the border for a weekend getaway.

“A hospital stay in the U.S. can cost upwards of US$7,000 a day, and can be more depending on how serious the emergency is and how long you need to be in the hospital,” said Finn.

And if you thought you were off the hook from purchasing travel insurance when travelling within Canada -- think again.

“Your provincial coverage might not cover you for everything if you’re from Ontario visiting British Columbia, and you become ill and need to be air ambulanced home,” Finn said. “That could be something you have to take on yourself.”

Angels of Flight is a Peterborough-based company that provides medical transport for ill and injured persons across Canada and around the globe by air and ground ambulance as well as commercial airline.

Freya Hannah, project manager at Angels of Flight, said the company often receives calls from out-of-luck Canadians after falling ill or injured while travelling outside their home province.

“Canadian’s who travel into another province don’t know that if they become ill or injured and unable to travel home without medical support, they will get hospital care, but their provincial insurance would never pay for them to be brought home,” Hannah said.

Medical transportation via commercial airline from B.C. to Ontario can cost from $8,000 to $9,000, according to Gail Courneyea, founder and president of Angels of Flight. For individuals who are more critically injured and require an air ambulance, that cost can jump to about $30,000.

Courneyea founded the Global Angel Charitable Organization through fundraisers and grants to provide financial assistance to those who cannot afford hefty medical transportation fees. The charity has assisted ill and injured Canadians stranded abroad or in another province without travel insurance or the money to pay for medical transportation home.

“The cost of travel insurance is very small in comparison to if you have an accident or emergency, while you were outside your province,” Finn said. For those who plan to travel to the U.S. or outside their province of residence more than once in a year, Finn suggests purchasing an annual, multi-trip insurance policy to avoid purchasing travel insurance with each trip.

Trip cancellation and interruption insurance is another important component of travel insurance. There are a number of reasons you might cancel your trip, such as a medical emergency or a natural disaster in the area you’re visiting. This type of coverage is particularly important for those buying a more expensive trip for the distant future.

Even though the company Covel works for provides some travel insurance, she purchased an all-inclusive emergency medical and trip cancellation and interruption insurance package for extra protection.

“I am a risk-averse person,” Covel said. “Because we were travelling outside of North America, I wanted to be sure we had full medical insurance -- just in case.”

A wise decision, according to Finn.

"It could be that you’re covered through work, but depending on what type of trip you’re taking, you may not be,” Finn said. “We would strongly advise people to read their policy and understand it before they travel.”

Finn said this rule also applies to coverage you may receive through a credit card. She recommends travellers head to an insurance broker who can assess whether their current policy is adequate for their trip, or whether they need additional coverage based on factors such as the destination, the length of their trip and the type of activities they will be doing.

“If you’re going to go bungee jumping, if you’re going to go skiing, if you’re going to go hiking -- anything that is considered an extreme sport -- if you get hurt without purchasing additional travel insurance to cover your extreme sport excursion, then your basic travel insurance does not cover you to come home,” Hannah said.

“You really have to read all the small print,” Courneyea added. “Have you purchased travel insurance? Have you had a chance to read it all and know what will be covered if you become sick or injured? Nobody does. You never read it until something happens.”

If travellers do find themselves in an emergency situation while abroad, one of the benefits of purchasing travel insurance is that travellers have access to a 24-7 emergency assistance provider. Travellers should always make sure they receive a card with a toll-free and collect emergency assistance number when they purchase their insurance (and don’t forget to pack it!).

“If you’re away and your passport gets stolen and you have no idea what to do, you can call the number and they will direct you to the nearest embassy or consulate. Or if you have a medical emergency they can send you to a nearby clinic or hospital and walk you through the process,” Finn said.

The emergency assistance provider will also be managing your claim when you return home, so it’s important to call immediately to get the process started and alleviate some of the stress for when you return home.

Covel called her medical assistance number while on the cruise to confirm what process she needed to follow. And when she returned home to Ajax, she was able to make a successful insurance claim.

“The cost is small in comparison to what could be your personal cost without insurance,” Covel said. “If you never have to use it, great! But in the event something unexpected happens, you’ll be happy you had the insurance.”

Written at The Huffington Post Canada  |  By Julianna McDermott

Trip Cancellation—Ideal for Winter Travellers

This winter, over 13 million Canadians will vacation abroad. With more disposable income to spend than in previous years, on average, they’ll be spending $3,700. What’s more, 80% have planned these vacations 3 to 6 months in advance. But as you know, a lot can happen in that period of time whether it’s health, job or weather related.

Trip Cancellation offers great protection for your vacation investment, especially when you consider this recent claim:
 
75-year-old Marge and 46-year-old Julie purchased a 1-week river cruise through Europe. They also extended their trip and purchased a week of land tours, accommodation and rail travel. However, one month prior to departure, Marge fell and fractured her hip. Due to her injury, both women cancelled the trip. The accommodation charges were 100% refundable and both women claimed for the unused non-refundable portions of the remainder of their travel expenses.
 
Cruise Cost…………..………………………………………………….......... $2,300.00 each
Return Airfare………………………………………………….............…...... $1,750.00 each
Rail Tickets……………………………………………………………….............$156.00 each
Land Tours……………………………………………………………........…..$2,743.95 each
Total Amount Paid by Trip Cancellation Insurance……………....……...... $13,899.90 

Questions?

The Power Of Twitter?

The larger travel companies have been slow to accept that Social Networking can have a huge impact on the reputation and accountability of their everyday dealings and can, in fact, even affect their annual profits. We have seen the growth of Facebook, Twitter, Trip Advisor and many more, and the propensity for people to photograph meals in restaurants with amateur criticism of the fare on offer or relate dire stories of mistreatment by staff and management in all service areas.  There have been clever letters to company, individual and government departments, which once seen have gone viral and had huge impacts on reputations, rankings and custom.

One bad review on e-bay, one poor criticism on Amazon or Trip Advisor can affect a seller’s ability to repeat sell and many go to huge lengths to ensure that their service is such that no complaint can be made against them – this is the positive impact of the Internet and Social Networking. The negative impact was felt recently by the irrepressible Michael O’Leary, Ryanair’s Chief Executive – never one to turn away from controversy – who appeared on Twitter for an hour to answer questions from travellers.  A brave move given that Ryanair offer a no frills package that polarises views across the globe.

With comments ranging from the downright rude to the completely perplexed, O’Leary was not short of questions to answer – some about his company, many about his lineage and ancestry, but the consensus agreed that he failed to address many of the questions regarding the Ryanair systems which aggrieve so many.

Although forthright on the question of London’s next terminal, he avoided questions regarding ‘manipulative’ sales of Travel Insurance policies and ‘unjustified’ hidden charges on booking flights and booking in.

Overall, it seems O’Leary missed an opportunity and spent much of his hour sidestepping accusations of sexism from one ‘Phwoaaarr!’ comment regarding a questioner’s photograph, he should think twice before attempting this line of marketing again.

You can follow us on Twitter @HolSureTravel or take a look at our Web Site HERE

In Flight Gadgetry

It seems incongruous and not a little annoying that in this day and age our phones, laptops, iPads, iPods and other devices have to be turned off during flight landings, taxiing and take off. A little like those well placed signs in Service Stations that say mobile phones must not be used while attending the pumps - one may ask why, but until now it was believed that these devices could interfere with the electronic circuitry on aircraft, thereby endangering life - and indeed there have been incidences where cell-phone and Internet may have caused circuitry failure on occasion.

However, the FAA (The US Federal Aviation Administration) are considering a report which recommends that these restrictions could be lifted. If the FAA accept the report, it seems likely that the British Civil Aviation Authority will be pressed to do the same. It appears that aircraft technology can now cope with Transmitting Portable Electronic Devices, but a situation where hundreds of devices are being used simultaneously on landing and take off - critical times during any flight - has not yet been fully tested.

Naturally, lifting these constraints opens up a whole new set of problems; do we really want people all around us holding shouted conversations with friends, family and work colleagues while we're trying to read our Kindles? Will "I'm on a Plane!" soon replace the ubiquitous "I'm on a Train!"? Certainly, it will open up  the provision of in-flight Internet Access - for a, no doubt, exorbitant fee and Airlines may even start to provide work stations at the seat. 

I'm not sure that the relative peace and quiet that is now forced upon us by these restrictions is not preferrable to a free-for-all unrestrained availability of access to everything, that will be ill-used by the ignorant and uncaring, and one may hope that the Authorities will think hard and long before lifting them. 

There may, of course, be some pressure from the Airlines themselves who will wish to take the opportunity to provide premium internet access during flight for a charge, but I'm sure that the safety aspects will take priority - they have thus far.

If travelling abroad - please check out our website for affordable, robust and comprehensive Travel Insurance - HERE

Keeping Travel Insurance Cheap

Whether you only travel abroad once a year or do so several times a year, there really is no need for expensive Travel Insurance - and remember - if the policies are expensive, you may be tempted to travel without them and we really don't believe that travel - any form of travel - should be left uncovered by a robust and affordable travel insurance policy.

It's not in Holsure's interest to deter people from taking out insurance and so we do try very hard to maintain a low premium profile. For example - a single, three day trip to Europe could be covered for about the price of a coffee and croissant in the airport terminal and a family of four travelling to Europe for a fortnight could be covered from as little as £20.51 - that's less than the price of one fast food lunch for the same family. Axa would charge nearly three times as much and Direct Line over 4 times as much.

If you're travelling frequently - and that means more than once a year  - then world wide cover for a family of four could cost less than Direct Line would like to charge you for a single trip to Europe for that same family - and you can travel Worldwide for as many days as you wish and we can even provide cover for up to 80 year olds.

It's important to us at Holsure, and we sincerely hope it's important to you as travellers, that any trips should be comprehensively covered to ensure that accidents, medical emergencies, losses and thefts do not become holiday spoilers - we hope that you will agree, by checking out our website HERE, that we have strived to maintain some of the lowest premiums available - whilst offering cover that will make sure that your holiday  package also offers you peace of mind for however long and however often you travel. 

Whether it's golfing holidays, business trips, holidays of a lifetime, winter sports or a welcome break with the family, we hope that you will see Holsure as your best option when it comes to Travel Insurance.

Have a great trip.

Don't Give Up On Kenya

After the recent atrocity at the Westgate Shopping Mall in Nairobi it may seem reasonable to suppose that tourists will stay away from the country that has always offered so much to both the itinerant traveller and the once in a lifetime, holiday of a lifetime couple.

Safaris, open air trips, hikes, top of the range hotels and package deals all have given wonderful memories to so many, yet the Massacre at the Mall is another major incident in a series of problems that have beset Kenya recently. In 2007- 2008 the disputed elections and the violence that followed saw a large reduction in tourist numbers and the abduction of tourists that continued into 2011 also had an affect. 

But to a country that makes 12 - 13% of its GDP from Travel and Tourism, and has over 600,000 of its population earning a living from it, a significant drop in numbers could have a drastic effect on the economy - something that could resonate for years. 

According to a recent article in The Telegraph, most Britons still intend to complete their booked holidays and have been urged to use Social Media websites to encourage and inform other travellers upon their return. The British Foreign Office has been slow to issue blanket warnings although other governments have not been so reticent. 

As always, at Holsure we urge travellers to complete their own research, make their own enquiries and to make sure that inoculations and travel documents are all up to date. 

For travel Insurance covering Kenya and all other countries, please check out our website HERE

Road/Rail Travel and Travel Insurance

For many, the journey is as important as the arrival...

Did you know that the majority of Travel Insurance Claims are based around Air Travel? Lost baggage, delayed or cancelled flights, incidents at airports or on the way to or from airports, lost deposits, lost passports, phones, laptops, ipads - all these incidents revolve around the one part of the holiday that most of us hate.

Travelling to the Continent by road/ferry or road/rail removes a huge part of stress for many travellers and at Holsure we have returning customers who travel by road purely to avoid airports and air travel. For some too, the journey is part of the break, the driving, the organisation of the accommodation and even the mapping out of the route is all a part of the holiday - you can't often say that about the two hour check in wait at the UK's airports or the mad scramble for trolleys at Baggage Reclaim. Air Travel doesn't have the romance of Road Travel - after all who dreams of flying across the United States - wouldn't you rather drive on Route 66, or cruise through the Rockies in an RV, or take the Amtrak across the Continental US?

So, for some the dream of seeing the real Europe involves the driving option, the need to get among the locals and stop where and when the fancy takes you. For some the journey is the holiday, the driving, the planning, the local involvement at ground level and the integration with ones surroundings - not just at the Package Holiday Hotel. I have always enjoyed the drive to our friends in Holland and would much prefer to drive to Scotland than fly. For me, part of this is the convenience of taking what I need on holiday rather than what baggage weight restrictions dictate, but I also love the ability to stop where I want - and the greatest tip I can give anyone in this position is to come OFF the Motorway, Highway or Autobahn and take your coffee and lunch breaks in a TOWN and not in some Motorway Service Area. It doesn't add much extra time to the journey but it can add some magical memories. Have you ever, and I mean, EVER had a wonderful meal or magical memory in a Service Station?

The other good news about road travel is that Travel Insurance is very reasonable. Without the need to cover the Air and Airport problem areas, insurance policies are cheap, whether you require one day or one month travel insurance we, at Holsure, can provide you with full Insurance Cover and European Breakdown Cover for minimal cost ensuring that your holiday plans -  including the memorable journey - are fully covered.

Brazil, The World Cup and Some Booking Tips

2014 Sees The World Cup visiting Rio but visiting fans are being warned about rocketing room and accommodation rates during the Tournament.

Based on figures from Trivago, hotel room costs averaged around £145 per night in June and July 2013 but advanced bookings for Summer 2014 are averaging at around £300 per night. This is according to The Brazilian Tourist Board who have lodged a complaint with Fifa.

Fifa's accommodation agency, Match, have been criticised for charging booking fees of up to 40% a claim the company denies. But concerns are also raised that elevated hotel costs during the tournament could see a slump in tourism both before and after the World Cup events as happened in London in 2012 both before and after the Olympic Games.

However, the Brazilian Tourist Board Embratur, are attempting to tackle this problem through negotiations with both the Brazilian Justice Ministry and Fifa.

If you intend to visit the Tournament you may be best placed to check with your Travel Agent and avoid bookings through Match if at all possible. Waiting for last minute bookings obviously has its own inherent problems but as always, Holsure recommends that you carry out your research thoroughly before booking. Check Fan websites for extra tips and help.

It is also important to see your GP regarding any precautions or inoculations you may require before your visit. Please also visit our WEBSITE and make sure you are insured for your trip to the wonderfully vibrant country of Brazil.

Can you imagine the celebrations if they win?

Outdoors....Observations and Oddities

Walking with the Kelly Kettle for brews..

I'm not a patient person.

In fact my daughter has been known to call me The Dwarf Doctor - a man of little patients (!!!)

So it may come as a surprise to those who know me that on our recent trip to Scotland I spent some time just sitting around chilling out, reading my books, writing and playing guitar. I don't have much time for any of those things normally - as many of us who have the exigencies of life thrust upon us will know - leisure time is hard to come by.

Yet in Scotland I seem to have the ability to slow down - and this was not a pure holiday trip, work was commingled with holiday time but still this capacity to relax, unwind and not pester the life out of my wife - all of which are so difficult under normal circumstances and even on vacations take days to achieve - was accomplished almost instantly.

Not a soul to be seen....anywhere!

I think it's Scotland. Since I first drove through Glen Coe in November 1990 I have had a love affair with the country that has led, at times, to an almost insane need to get there, even if it's only for a weekend. Even now after 23 years Mrs Kelly knows that any trip to Scotland - even one with the most time demanding work schedule - will cheer up even the darkest of moods, the most miserable of days.

We saw these beauties on a walk straight out of our front door

I recently had a fantastic holiday on the island of Madeira (and if you get the chance to go you really should) but I noticed even there that it took two or three days to completely unwind and settle into "holiday time". It's a wonderful place and the ability for the islands to grow crops on even the most inaccessible or tiniest of plots fired me up to work extra hard on my own garden this year and with great success I might add, but nothing helps me to relax like Scotland. Nothing else gives me the ability to stop and look around, to slow my mind into the pace of the countryside, the beauty, the rolling fields, the monolithic mountains and the tumbling rivers like this country does. I even find myself driving slower on the motorway home..

We only saw a handful of other people on this glorious September day

However, there is one British phenomenon which upsets me so much that I am at times speechlessly bemused but which doesn't seem to happen in Scotland quite so much. Yet it does happen and due to the nature of the Scottish landscape, its beauty, its accessibility and its availability to all, the occurrence of these paradoxical events are all the more upsetting.

I'm talking about the outdoor trip to a car park.

This is the marvel that is outdoor picnics, drinks and sometimes even barbecues within 50 feet of a car. The great British drive to the Country, Seaside or Park, the unloading of camp chairs, flasks, food and all the paraphernalia of the kitchen just to sit within sight of the car, eat the food drink the drink take a long look at the wonderful scenery and then to turn ones back on it, get back into the car and drive away.

Where I live, in our country cottage we have a wonderful first hand view of this oddity as mile upon mile of cars pass by towards Hastings and the coast, beginning at about 10 am every Bank Holiday and returning at around 6 pm the same day. The thought of those thousands of people filling up every pebble of space on the beach, squeezing into every Fish and Chip Shop and fighting for every car parking space makes my blood freeze. We are so lucky to have about 770 acres of wonderfully cared for National Trust land on our doorstep yet of the 2000 to 3000 people who visit here every Bank Holiday Weekend only a few dozen or so walk the entire Estate, most of the visitors never make it past the Cafe and Shop.

Our coastline has endless miles of walks, available to all

This is so sad, I understand that we are all different and many of us enjoy these shared experiences, but sitting in traffic fumes for hours, jostling for breathing space and food is not my idea of fun. There is still an awful lot of outdoors available - in fact in Scotland there is a legal Right to Roam, to make the most of ALL the land and countryside, to walk for as long or as far as you wish. In England and Wales there are miles and miles of coastal paths, country parks, National Parks and footpaths lovingly documented and drawn up by assiduous, country loving people in every community - our local Pub even has cards of nearby walks available to all.

The Outdoors is there for everyone, walking is free and healthy and there is so much to discover. I don't even mind if you come and walk around here, just enjoy it and respect it, take your litter home;

Take only Photographs and Memories and leave only footprints.

And most rivers have miles of walkable banks - this is the Itchen

Please check our website for both UK and International cover for ALL your holidays...HERE

Pre-Existing Medical

At Holsure we understand that many people have irrelevant, minor health conditions and yet cannot go abroad because they can't get adequate travel insurance cover. We pride ourselves on offering cover for as many conditions as possible. We try hard to ensure that as many people who want to travel, can. Many conditions are certainly not life threatening and may not even be expected to impinge upon your holiday plans in any way and yet some companies place expensive restrictions or even exclusions on these conditions - we try to help as much as we can - we don't want you taking the risk of travelling without insurance...

Please click here to see a copy of the policy wording for our medical conditions scheme and view the health conditions which apply. Other policies on our website have different health conditions and you should review the Health Declarations as part of the quote process prior to accepting the quote. 

If you cannot comply with the relevant health conditions you will be given a number to call for medical screening. The medical screening service will ask detailed questions about your health and medication and will then either confirm cover, request a small additional premium (to be paid separately to the medical screening helpline) or in rare cases refuse cover for your particular condition.  

Alternatively, you can purchase the policy and call the medical screening healthline within 14 days (or before you travel if this is sooner) once you receive the policy. 

For specialist travel insurance for those with pre-existing medical conditions, choose to insure your hols with Holsure HERE.

Odd Notes and Travel Tips

Did you know it's illegal to take bottled water into Nigeria or wear camouflage in Barbados - even bathing shorts? 

No? Well, that's why at Holsure we advocate research before holidays, but we also thought we'd put up some lesser known facts about Travel Insurance too.

Don't wait to take your Insurance Policy out until just before your trip - if you do, you risk not being able to recover any costs you have already incurred if you j=have to cancel. It makes sense to take out your Policy when you book your vacations - you will then be covered for any losses that may occur - including deposits.

Taking a Caravan or Trailer abroad?  Be aware that some European Motoring Breakdown Assistance policies levy a hefty surcharge for covering them on your policy. A few, such as Holsure, charge only a modest fee.

If you are travelling more than once a year even in the UK  and your trip is pre-booked, it will probably be cheaper to buy an annual policy rather than a series (or even two) single policies.

If Travelling to Europe never forget your European Health Insurance Card - in fact keep it with your passport. You'll need it if you have to attend a local hospital or visit a Doctor.

Please keep reading our blog for future fun and important tips about your Travel and visit our website for a look around.....HERE