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