Travel and Travelogues
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Currently the travelogues are the final pages on this site www.silverhairs.co.uk

Morocco     Sailing 1 : Sardinia to Corsica     Collioure, France   Sailing 2 : Turkey ; The Lycian Coast
 Acapulco     Derbyshire Dales     Egypt     South Africa    S.A.Townships  Latvia    Sri Lanka  French Riviera

One of the great things about retirement is that people can consider travelling more.  Despite cheap fares it can still be expensive but with a little ingenuity things can be made more affordable.  I hope this page will point you in the right direction.

No one wants to get more wrinkly !  Before setting out make sure you have the right skin protection

See http://oliver.myarbonne.co.uk/ for a range of suitable products.  Profits go to The Oliver  Foundation

Arbonne advert

HOLIDAYS & TRAVEL (see below for insurance)

July 2010 More on the great baggage rip off HERE and see below.

Compensation due to volcanic ash cloud American airlines provide no cover for flight delays. You will normally get and alternative flight and might get a chitty for a meal and the cost of a phone call but beyond that you will be out of luck. In my case I was stranded and had flown United Airways.  My insurer (Fortis) has promised £25 a day up to £100.  The EEC regulations for European airlines are far more generous. If you want to quote the specific rules to your airline, Regulation (EC) 261/2004 requires it to offer you meals, refreshments and hotel accommodation as appropriate while ticketholders wait for a rearranged flight. EU rules state that airlines must compensate passengers for delays or cancellations - unless the delays were completely beyond their control. However, even then the airlines have to provide accommodation and meals for stranded passengers. So, your costs should be met but you shouldn't expect compensation for the inconvenience - there's no blame, so no claim. How long must the airline put me up? There's no time limit on the airlines' duty to their stuck passengers. They have to provide care until they can get you home.  This is why Ryanair had to back down on its refusal.  I went on Continental and didn't get a penny from them.  My Fortis insurance coughed up £100 (their maximum)

Beware Ryanair one penny flights !  from 1st May 2009, most Ryanair check-ins will be done on line. Indeed from 1st October  2009 they are to abolish the Ryanair check-in desks. To 'persuade' you to check in on line from 1st May the airport check in extra cost will rise from £10 to £20 per person per trip. (sounds a bit like an Albert story) even if you opted for airport check-in when you booked on line. If you just turn up this is increased to £40 pppt  (per person per trip)! So, a family of four, just turning up would finish up with a £320 addition to their one penny special offer ! During the summer Ryanair hold luggage (even pre-checked) goes up to £20 each way and on board luggage is the lowest at 15kg (33lbs) plus size restrictions.

If you are a good boy and print your ticket on line you will still have to get rid of your 'hold' luggage somehow. You do this by a 'drop desk' (what is that if not a check-in desk?) where you can still expect to queue. Unfortunately, that is not the end of it and there is even an on-line Debit or Credit card booking fee of £10 per person (return) (Visa Electron excepted) plus additional charges for checked in baggage (and extra for golf clubs and skis). Only one on-board bag (up to 15kg) is allowed. Try to take two through and you may get caught for £30 'fine' !

You MUST book at least 4 hours before the flight but cannot book more than 15 days early. So, when you want to check in for your return journey you will have to get on line to do that, too (from the hotel or wherever) You might just manage to book in from home before you leave if you are going for two weeks.

Malaria is a commonplace hazard in most of the warmer countries. It is advisable to do a check. See http://www.malariahotspots.co.uk/ and, if there is a risk, get some protection

Applicants born on or before 2 September 1929 are eligible for free standard 32-page ten year passports

N.B. We booked a holiday for three. Yes, we booked through the High Street but by telling them what their own company was charging on line they gave us the same price. We also saved on insurance.  Altogether we paid £1500 instead of over £2000 for three people for two weeks 'all-in' in a hotel we had checked out previously.

Flight delays and cancellations Last year new European regulations improved your rights re air travel.  If a flight is cancelled the airline must either give you your money back or a free rebooking. If a flight is significantly delayed the airline has to provide refreshments, phone calls and sometimes accommodation.  But, if it is beyond their control, it does not have to pay additional compensation.  If you have a complaint you should put it in writing to the airline and if you get an unsatisfactory result you should consult the Air Transport Users Council (AUC) at www.auc.org.uk

Want a map of the UK specifically designed for Disabled Badge holders ? £12 from www.the pieguide.com or http://www.gowringsmobility.co.uk/home.html Or call 0870 444 5435. Not just parking but shopping, toilets, beaches, petrol stations, accommodation.

Everyone aged 60 or over and eligible disabled people will be entitled to free off-peak bus travel anywhere in England. However, this does not apply to National Express, so that somewhat defeats the object. National Express Routesixty fares, though, are 50% off see http://www.nationalexpress.com/
The other thing to watch is those expensive rail fares.  Take a look at http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/cheap-train-tickets and http://www.cheaptraintickets.info/cheap-train-tickets-guide/ to see how you can save substantially by choosing the right time to go or even just asking.

USEFUL TRAVEL LINKS

Flights  www.bhx.com  (Birmingham Airport)  www.buzzaway.com  www.ryanair.com  www.flybmi.com  (British Midland)  www.flybe.com  (British European)  www.cheapflights.com  www.easyjet.co.uk  www.expedia.co.uk  www.telme.com  www.deckchair.com   www.dialaflight.com  www.cheaponlineflights.com  Easy to navigate site.  Flights, Holidays, Hotels.  Shows discounts available.

Holiday Money Are all the money rates the same ? BY NO MEANS ! Buying 1000 Euros (July 06) from Marks and Spencers cost only £709.21 as against Lloyds TSB who would charge £720.77. $1000 would cost £560.86 from M & S but £20 more from Natwest and even more from Travelex. But rates vary, so you may not always get the best rate from one supplier.  But M & S seems to do well most of the time.  Bear in mind that Thomas Cook has an on line service which promises to match any rate that you find elsewhere. To see the M & S currency site click HERE £100 - £2500. £500 or more delivered free, otherwise £5 charge.

TRAVEL INSURANCE 

For general advice see www.travelinsuranceguide.org.uk/

This section has been revised in view of my recent attempt to get insurance for myself (76) and wife (69) for a 17 day break in South Africa.You will find a great deal of variation between insurance companies with regard to attitudes to age and illnesses. Many refuse point blank for over 65's whilst others have no limit. It is essential to look at each quote. Prices also vary enormously. Most insurers double the premium for over 65 or 66. Some will weight the premium heavily if any of the party has had or is suffering from and illness such as cancer.  I have seen a quote for a week in Europe where the over 70 was offered a £21 policy and the other party (65 but having arrested cancer) was loaded to £156 - for one week!)  Most insurers, rather than giving a blunt refusal on age or health grounds, ask you to phone. So the quote on the right is mine. Note the EHIC Plus site.  EHIC is the current card you should get to cover you for treatments in public European hospitals.  As it excludes private treatment the cost is extemently low.  

Please note that those which use an 0845 and 0870 telephone numbers will be telephoned at your expense.  Better to get an on line quote, which is possible 9 out of 10 cases

** The EHIC card covers the following countries : Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Channel Islands, Cyprus (but not Northern Cyprus), Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK

Cheapest ANNUAL WORLDWIDE policy was Bradford and Bingley, which also did a good price on single trip policies for Europe and America. Even cheaper for America, at £100 for three weeks, was Virgin Money. (Mail on Sunday 4th March 2007) A quote for a 75 year old Europe, Annual from B & B was £122.86; Single 2 week trip was £35.89. For a 68 year old it was down to £73 (two weeks £25.49). Luggage cover added £8 for multi trip and £3 for the single trip. Pretty good.

www.atlasdirect.net do a useful list comparing their prices (and level of cover) with many others.  

Alliance and Leicester are advertising a Current (over 50s) Account paying 6% gross up to £2500, (very little interest over that amount). There is a £10 a month fee. For this they give worldwide multi trip travel insurance up to 79 years of age. For £80 this cover can be extended to family. There is also cover for two private out-patient consultations up to £750 p.a., plus credit card and Identity theft protection. After the first year the interest rate drops dramatically. This is NOT a build up savings account.  You could stick in £2,500 at the start and it doesn't demand regular payments from income.

Halifax (Ultimate Reward A/c) have now caught onto this idea offering worldwide travel insurance, home emergency, car breakdown and credit card cover as well as 2.5% on the first £2500 in the account, for £12.50 a month.  They reckon the whole package is worth around £800 a year

It is well known that buying insurance from your travel agent can be expensive. And yet you may be able to haggle there, whereas it is more difficult on the net or over the phone. You may be able to take advantage of a holiday package which includes insurance, with no questions asked about age.

One last suggestion is a bank account which offers travel insurance as part of their deal.  e.g. HSBC have a Bank Account Plus for people who pay in their salary. Although it costs £12.95 a month it includes Worldwide Family Travel insurance, which can cost quite a lot. It also offers one of these savings deals, paying 10% gross. www.hsbc.co.uk 08005871481.

It is well known that buying insurance from your travel agent can be expensive. And yet you may be able to haggle there, whereas it is more difficult on the net or over the phone. You may be able to take advantage of a holiday package which includes insurance, with no questions asked about age.

Travelogues.  I would welcome details of your best (or worst) holidays

   Morocco     Sailing 1 : Sardinia to Corsica     Collioure, France   Sailing 2 : Turkey ; The Lycian Coast    Acapulco     Derbyshire Dales     Egypt     South Africa    S.A.Townships

I would welcome any contributions to this page.  Holidays you have enjoyed, hotels you would recommend.  Good flights, good insurance etc. And, if you wish to add any 'Holidays from Hell' we can steer people away from those !

 

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Currently the travelogues are the final pages on this site www.silverhairs.co.uk