Lifestyle

WISE UP BEFORE YOU JET OFF

Going kayaking in Chile? Skydiving in South Africa? Chilling in China?! Keven Waite offers thoughtful advice to consider before you click the Buy Now button!

re you planning a holiday this year? If so, where are you off to? We all have different tastes, of course. Some of us like to stay within Europe and ease away our tensions on a beach or walking or clubbing throughout the night.

Others go for more adventure or ‘activity’ holidays, which can be both challenging and exciting. They might be the kind of trip you’ve either always looked forward to and have planned for ages; or maybe they’re an essential and regular part of your life.

Whether you’re a beachaholic or an adventureholic, most places are perfectly safe to travel and explore. However, some aren’t”

You could sail off and explore Antarctica or go into parts of Africa or Europe and see things you’ve only ever seen on television. Maybe you’re planning on some horse riding, trekking, climbing, water boarding or skiing. Well, it makes a change from Gran Canaria, doesn’t it?

Whether you’re a beachaholic or an adventureholic, most places are perfectly safe to travel and explore. However, some aren’t and the last thing you want is for something to go wrong in the country you’re visiting or when you’re enjoying an activity, which then spoils your trip.

Two things are important to check: the Foreign & Commonwealth Office web site and that you are properly insured.

THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s web site is www.fco.gov.uk and contains a mass of valuable information.
For example, they have travel advice for over 200 countries, which is frequently updated.

They also have information about avian and pandemic ‘flu, sporting events, river and sea safety, passports and visas, sustainable tourism, and their consular services.

To check about the travel advice for different countries, click on the link ‘Travel Advice’ and you can choose from four lists:

• countries to which they advise against all travel;
• those to which they advise against all travel to parts;
• those to which they advise against all but essential travel and
• those they advise all but essential travel to parts.

Within each list, you can then go to detailed information about each country.

They also run a Know Before You Go campaign, designed for you to be better prepared for you trip and avoid common travel risks.

There are over 180 organisations and businesses that support the campaign, details of which can be found within the travel section of the web site.

TRAVEL INSURANCE ISSUES
Many of us feel travel insurance is about the most boring part of booking a holiday and a waste of money if we haven’t needed to make a claim. However, how glad we were that we took it out when we’ve needed it! If you’re in the Antarctic, for example, and you become ill and need to get to hospital, the only way out is for the Argentinean Air Force to come and get you (really!). This will cost thousands of pounds!

It’s especially important to be properly insured if you’re going on any kind of adventure or ‘activity’ holiday. If you’re taking part in certain sports or activities, check your insurance will cover you if you become injured. Most policies will cover a range of things in their basic premium, others activities, regarded as being higher risk, can often be covered by paying a supplement.

Of course, it’s particularly important to buy a specialist HIV-inclusive policy. If you buy an ordinary one, if it then becomes known that you are HIV+, the insurer could void the entire policy or not meet a medical claim.

Few of us bother to read our travel insurance policy wording and then become frustrated when we’re told our insurance doesn’t cover the thing for which we’ve just made a claim. However, no insurance policy is designed to cover absolutely everything, so make sure the policy you have meets your needs.

Policy wording is split into sections, typically cancellation, curtailment, medical, loss of baggage and personal items etc. Within each section, it will be clearly explained what is and is not covered.

As well as the insurers having a responsibility towards us, we also have responsibilities. For example, if we contribute to a situation that then causes us problems (for example, getting drunk, having an accident and then needing medical treatment) insurers are unlikely to meet our claim!

Similarly, if you travel to a country that the FCO advises against all but essential travel to and you then make a claim on your insurance, you would have to prove that your trip was essential. Check with your policy provider what would be accepted as proof.

With a little bit of research and checking, you should be able to minimise the kind of surprises you’d rather not have on your relaxing or more adventurous trip! PN

It’s So Easy Travel Insurance provides HIV travel insurance that can also include winter sports and other activities. It is partner in the Foreign & Commonwealth Office’s Know Before You Go Campaign.

0845 222 2226 www.hivtravelinsurance.com