Travelling With Children

This post from Mumsnet may prove useful this summer....

A quick nosey at the travel talk boards shows that being stopped at passport control and asked to prove your children are your own is far from uncommon.

If your children have a different surname from you and you're travelling without their father (or vice versa) - or, indeed, you've sent them off for a week with Granny - there's every chance you may be asked to prove their identity. 

Why does this happen?

Child protection. The idea is to safe-guard against child abduction and smuggling. Controls are getting tighter, and checks more frequent.

What can I do?

Don't panic. Making enquiries before you travel and bringing extra documents might seem a faff, but will ensure smooth passage. Before you leave you should:

• Check with your airline – they deal with this daily and will have their own specific requirements
• Check with your embassy - what applies for British children does not apply for other nationalities, regardless of whether they are travelling into/from the UK
• Check with the relevant embassy for the requirements of country/countries you'll be travelling to/through 
• Ensure you have relevant documents: passports (yes, double check), birth certificates and marriage certificates. If you're travelling under your maiden name with children of a different surname, a marriage certificate alongside your passport will 'prove' who you are
• Pack a consent letter (see below)
• Should your parenting arrangement have special terms regarding international travel, then double check with a solicitor to ensure you have the relevant supporting documents

Consent letters: everything you need to know

• Travel consent letters demonstrate that the child or children in question have permission to travel abroadfrom parents or guardians who aren't accompanying them. They're especially useful in situations in which the parents are divorced or separated, and one parent wishes to take the child on holiday. They can also be used by grandparents and other relatives
• They're not a legal requirement in the UK, but can simplify travel for UK nationals, as they may be requested by immigration authorities when entering or leaving a foreign country or when re-entering the UK
• The letter needs to be signed by whomever is NOT travelling
• Getting the letter notarised is recommended, as it's more likely to be accepted as a legal document. You can do this at a local solicitor's for a small charge.
• Remember, carrying a consent letter does not guarantee that children will be allowed to enter or leave a country; every country has its own entry and exit requirements. Double-check with the relevant embassies for specifics.
• Download a template consent letter here

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Silliness

Sadly the Summer holidays are but a distant memory. Now is a time for reflection on those warm evenings on the beach, unforgettable meals in hidden gems off the beaten track and unending hours of  lazing around the pool…Or you could just complain about the whole thing like these people have.

These are actual complaints received from dissatisfied customers by Thomas Cook Vacations (based on a Thomas Cook/ABTA survey.)

 Beware!!! These people live among us and can vote!

1. “I think it should be explained in the brochure that the local convenience store does not sell proper biscuits like custard creams or ginger nuts.”

2. “It’s lazy of the local shopkeepers in Puerto Vallarta to close in the afternoons. I often needed to buy things during ‘siesta’ time — this should be banned.”

3. “On my holiday to Goa in India , I was disgusted to find that almost every restaurant served curry. I don’t like spicy food.”

4. “We booked an excursion to a water park but no-one told us we had to bring our own swimsuits and towels. We assumed it would be included in the price.”

5. “The beach was too sandy. We had to clean everything when we returned to our room.”

6. “We found the sand was not like the sand in the brochure. Your brochure shows the sand as white but it was more yellow.”

7. “They should not allow topless sunbathing on the beach. It was very distracting for my husband who just wanted to relax.”

8. “No one told us there would be fish in the water. The children were scared.”

9. “Although the brochure said that there was a fully equipped kitchen, there was no egg-slicer in the drawers.”

10. “We went on holiday to Spain and had a problem with the taxi drivers as they were all Spanish.”

11. “The roads were uneven and bumpy, so we could not read the local guide book during the bus ride to the resort. Because of this, we were unaware of many things that would have made our holiday more fun.”

12. “It took us nine hours to fly home from Jamaica to England. It took the Americans only three hours to get home. This seems unfair.”

13. “I compared the size of our one-bedroom suite to our friends’ three-bedroom and ours was significantly smaller.”

14. “The brochure stated: ‘No hairdressers at the resort’. We’re trainee hairdressers and we think they knew and made us wait longer for service.”

15. “There were too many Spanish people there. The receptionist spoke Spanish, the food was Spanish. No one told us that there would be so many foreigners.”

16. “We had to line up outside to catch the boat and there was no air-conditioning.”

17. “It is your duty as a tour operator to advise us of noisy or unruly guests before we travel.”

18. “I was bitten by a mosquito. The brochure did not mention mosquitoes.”

19. “My fiance and I requested twin-beds when we booked, but instead we were placed in a room with a king bed. We now hold you responsible and want to be re-reimbursed for the fact that I became pregnant. This would not have happened if you had put us in the room that we booked.”

Passports - A Warning.

From the news this week - more about Passport difficulties experienced by many and dispelling some myths.....this was written in June this year at the height of the news profiles on The Passport Office - but these details still apply...read on....

Given that around 6m passports are likely to be issued or renewed this year, and assuming a three-week processing time, at any one time you would expect around 350,000 passports to be in the system – with a peak around this time of year, as people realise their passports are soon to expire and they have a holiday booked.

Most of the people who have contacted us with concerns are special cases: people who have had their passport stolen or simply can’t find it; adults who have never had a passport before, and who must have a personal interview; and expatriates based abroad who are experiencing long delays. The information here deals only with straightforward replacements for adults and new passports for children.

Q I am going on holiday in Europe in July, and my passport expires in August. Do I need to renew it?

No. There are lots of scurrilous rumours doing the rounds online saying that, for example, anyone going to the Canaries needs three or six months remaining on their passport. This is nonsense. The Foreign Office says: “Your passport should be valid for the proposed duration of your stay. No additional period of validity beyond this is required. This applies to the whole of Spain, including the Canary Islands and the Balearic Islands (Majorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera).” The same applies to Croatia – another country that is subject to misinformation – and anywhere else in the EU. As far as I am aware, the only European countries with more complex rules are Russia, Belarus and Iceland.

Q What about further afield?

Egypt and Turkey are likely to present problems to some British holidaymakers. Your passport should be valid for a minimum of six months from the date of entry into either country. In addition, for Turkey you need to apply online for a visa at evisa.gov.tr/en.

For the US, however, you need no additional validity. But you must apply in advance for an “Esta” at esta.cbp.dhs.gov.

Q I am travelling in July and I need a replacement passport. Should I apply in the normal way?

In theory, if you apply today you should expect a straightforward renewal within four weeks. However, to make sure you will need to invest more time and money. Either go for the Fast Track one-week service for £103 (compared with the normal fee of £72.50) or the Premium 1-day service for £128. Whichever you choose, you will need to call the Passport Adviceline on 0300 222 0000 to make an appointment at one of the passport offices in London, Liverpool, Belfast, Durham, Glasgow, Newport or Peterborough. You may have to wait up to three weeks for an appointment.

Q And August?

With seven weeks to spare, I would apply in the normal way – but invest an extra £8.75 for the Check & Send service at the Post Office, which should pick up any errors and avoid hold-ups.

Q My passport is already in the system and I am due to travel in a week. What can I do?

Call the Passport Adviceline on 0300 222 0000 to see if you can upgrade your application to use the Premium 1-Day service. You will need the barcode number of your application; this was on your application form, or on your receipt if you used Check & Send. If you are allowed to proceed, you will need to go to one of the passport offices.

The Passport Office warns: “Upgrades are usually only available in special circumstances - for example, you’ve had to change your travel plans at short notice” and “the service isn’t always available during Her Majesty’s Passport Office’s busy periods.”

Q If I miss my holiday because I haven't got a passport, can I claim compensation?

No. The Passport Office says: "Don’t book travel until you have a valid passport - doing so is at your own risk."

Take a look at our website for other articles and quotations for Travel Insurance....HERE

Need An App For That? - Britain's Top Fifty Beaches

There are some wonderful beaches around Britain

From The Telegraph comes yet another App to help you find your way around the UK's best beaches:

We've listed the first 20 beaches below - but for much more information, including where to eat and where to stay, you will obviously need to download the App. But have a look below to see if there are any near you this Summer.

North Cornwall

1. Watergate Bay, Newquay

South Cornwall

2. Porthcurno, near Land's End

Isles of Scilly

3. Pentle Bay, Tresco

North Devon

4. Saunton Sands

South Devon

5. Blackpool Sands

Dorset

6. Studland Bay

Isle of Wight

7. Compton Bay

Sussex

8. West Wittering

Kent

9. Botany Bay

Suffolk

10. Walberswick

Norfolk

11. Wells/Holkham

Yorkshire

12. Sandsend

Northumberland

13. Bamburgh

Lancashire

14. Formby

East coast of Scotland

15. Lunan Bay

West coast of Scotland

16. Sandwood Bay, Cape Wrath, Sutherland

Scottish Islands

17. Luskentyre, Outer Hebrides

Northern Ireland

18. Portstewart Strand

Wales

19. Marloes Sands

20. Rhossili beach

Try and spend time outside this summer, it's healthy, interesting and fun. If you have an enthusiasm for the outdoors then so will your kids but please always remember to take away your rubbish and leave your spot as you would hope to find it.

Take only photographs, leave only footsteps and keep only memories. 

For great deals on Travel Insurance, check out our website HERE

Stay Safe In The Sun

From the BBC:

Sunscreen alone should not be relied on to prevent malignant melanoma, a deadly form of skin cancer, research suggests. The UK study backs public health campaigns calling for sunscreen to be combined with other ways to protect the skin from sun, such as hats and shade.

Animal research, published in Nature, reveals more about how UV light induces cancer in skin cells. Malignant melanoma is the fifth most common cancer in the UK, with more than 13,000 people diagnosed each year. Sun exposure is a well-known risk factor for melanoma skin cancer.

Cancer Research have said It's essential to get into good sun safety habits, whether at home or abroad, and take care not to burn - sunburn is a clear sign that the DNA in your skin cells has been damaged.

But, until now, the molecular mechanism by which UV light damages DNA in skin cells has been unclear. In the new study, scientists at the University of Manchester looked at the effects of UV light on the skin of mice at risk of melanoma. This then allowed them to examine the effects of sunscreen in blocking the disease.

"UV light targets the very genes protecting us from its own damaging effects, showing how dangerous this cancer-causing agent is," said lead researcher Prof Richard Marais.

"Very importantly, this study provides proof that sunscreen does not offer complete protection from the damaging effects of UV light.

"This work highlights the importance of combining sunscreen with other strategies to protect our skin, including wearing hats and loose fitting clothing, and seeking shade when the sun is at its strongest."

Make sure you stay safe in the sun this summer - whether at home or abroad, cover up well because sunburn can ruin your health and your holiday. 

For Holiday Insurance Quotes, please check out our website HERE. 

Happy Birthday To The Channel Tunnel

Having lived in the South East from about the age of 12, I am very aware of the impact that the Channel Tunnel had on the local economy - thousands were employed during its creation - the local attitude and the mindset in the Dover and Folkestone area.

Many of my friends and family were employed in its construction and I remember the day the two tunnels - one from France and one from England - met. 

Now, of course it offers a cheap and exceptionally fast crossing to the continent - 35 minutes or so. It also offers a viable alternative for those who don't like ferries or sea crossings of any kind - and in the early days, a quick crossing to Cite Europe for duty free goods was a blessing around Christmas time.

Yet it is still not as cheap as some ferry crossings, with a car full of passengers, some ferry companies are still offering trips from as little as £60 return for all and with air flights ever more competitive the Tunnel has struggled to maintain its place as the most preferred channel hopping system.

But for speed and the avoidance of anything wet (other than the unpredictable English weather) it's still the best way to pop across the channel and many frequent travellers love its speed, its lack of long queueing and loading times. True you have to sit in your car on a train with no comforts other than a cramped toilet, true there are no views to be observed, no wild, windswept decks to stagger across and no bars full of drunk holiday revellers - in fact, no bars at all - yet the prospect of being in a foreign country in 35 minutes or so is an attraction in itself to many. Kids too, are less easily bored, less likely to wander and so, for families the tunnel remains a great alternative to airports and ferry ports.

Happy Birthday Tunnel - from the many who swear by you - not at you.

If you are thinking of popping over, check Holsure's web site for quotes for day trips or longer holidays HERE

Holidays In The UK - Flooding

The floods at Chertsey affected thousands

Here in Kent we have seen footage of the flooded holiday park, residents homes and shops under metres of water in Yalding and the surrounding areas. In Surrey the Thames has been at its highest level for decades and the Barrier has been used more in the last year than at any time since it was opened in 1982. In Somerset, farms and farmland have been under water for months, and in Cornwall, railway lines have been washed away, obliterated by tide and wind, shingle has been thrown, missile-like into town centres, restaurant windows and high streets by the relentless conditions.

All over the UK people, properties, businesses and schools are affected by the recent storms that have come one after another across the Atlantic to hit our shorelines and islands in a never ending barrage of natural phenomena not seen for centuries. High winds, high tides, high river levels and high insurance claims have led to an unprecedented level of media, political and personal interest in the weather and its affect on our lives.

But what if you have booked a holiday cottage, chalet or caravan in the UK for your summer, Easter or half term holidays? What if the area in which you intended to take your holiday has suffered from the flooding?

The first thing to do is check. Give the company, owner or travel company a call to see if the property you have booked has been affected, you may find that whilst the cottage, caravan or trailer hasn't been physically affected, the surrounding areas are still impassable or difficult to navigate and you may need to make a decision under advice. Give yourself time.

If you have booked through an agency or travel company then they should offer you alternative accommodation, if you have booked with an individual then they should offer alternative dates or a refund of your deposit or payment if the property is not 'fit for purpose'.

The owner is responsible for offering clean, safe accommodation and it should be provided as such. A soggy lawn, a broken fence or a washed out path are not the same as a damp smelling cottage with wet carpets and high tide marks around the inside walls, so there are degrees of problems that may have to be faced.

Remember too that your lack of ability to leave your house due to the flooding of your property or area is not the same as the property you are renting being flooded and you will not be eligible for compensation if that is the case. Also, if the area surrounding your holiday cottage is flooded but the property itself is safe and dry, then that too is a grey area where blame may be difficult to place.

Common sense applies in most cases, but if you experience problems on your arrival then the use of your phone's camera or video facility may come into play to record your dissatisfaction for future reference. Some cottages and parks are rated by holiday companies and agencies and these will not want to see unhappy holidayers posting adverse comments on websites, social media networks or travel rating sites, but give them a call first.

If, after all your calls and conversations you still do not feel you have been adequately compensated then you may have to resort to the small claims court.

Check your Travel Insurance policy too - your deposit may be protected - read the small print.

Or call us at Holsure - we will be happy to advise

School Holiday Rates - How To Mitigate Them

Taking the kids? Reducing the costs can help the enjoyment

With half term looming, there have been further discussions in the media regarding the fairness of Holiday rate hiking during school breaks. With parents facing hefty fines if they take their children on term-time holidays and travel companies claiming that school holiday vacations are the only time they can make a profit, the argument seems set to last a while longer yet.

So what can you do to try and mitigate these increased costs for your family breaks? Here are a few ideas, simple, but they may save you some money and help turn an expensive and stressful time into a great family holiday.

Have your Holiday in Britain

It can be important to book early, and your break may well depend on the vagaries of the British weather, but UK holidays can be a viable alternative - ask many who holidayed at home last year in the long, hot summer. It may not be as hot and sunny as Malaga or Tenerife, but it may be cheaper and just as much fun.

Plan and Book Early

If you haven't booked flights for July and August - do so soon. Air Companies like to see seasonal seats filling up early and offer incentives for you to do so.

Package Holidays can be a little more complicated as last minute deals can be very cheap indeed - yet hoping you find one in time can be exceptionally stressful. Always look at the total price when you compare.

Mid-Week Travel

This is almost always cheaper than weekend travel and usually more pleasant as it is quieter. Self-catering holidays are usually Saturday to Saturday - but not always - it pays to look.

Travel late in the Break

Holidays late May in the Whitsun break or late August in the main holiday are often quieter and cheaper. You may only get a week's holiday, but if that's what you're looking for then that's the time to look at. The resorts may well be quieter too.

Popular Destinations

These are cheaper because availability is greatest. Competition is good too, so choose Spain, France or Portugal for popular vacations where these two factors - competition and availability - mean more chance of a cheaper deal.

If you plan well, think ahead and do some research you should be able to save that hard earned money to pay for more excitement, more fun, better food and less stress on the break itself.

And don't forget that by having your Travel Insurance on board when you book you may well save your deposit if it is jeopardised by unseen circumstances - check our website HERE for competitive rates.