Cheap and convenient: why annual travel insurance is often the way to go

With the vast majority of British Airways cabin crew voting to take strike action once again in March in a move to protest proposed working condition changes and staff cuts, the importance of having a solid travel insurance policy in place before travel has once again been underlined.

But while holidaymakers are often on the ball when it comes to shopping around for the best single-trip travel insurance quotes, they often miss another, often more economical, option. While discount deals on single-trip insurance can often be incredibly tempting, for certain travellers taking out an annual travel insurance policy would work out better.

For those people who make more than a couple of trips a year, annual travel insurance will often come in significantly cheaper than buying several single-trip policies. It’s worth adding up the amount you spent on insurance for your last few trips and comparing it to a competitive quote for an annual policy; there are larger savings to be made than you might think.

The other huge advantage of annual travel insurance, of course, is simply the convenience of not having to organise a new policy each and every time you travel. This is invaluable for the more spontaneous crowd, who want to be able to take a city break over a long weekend at the drop of a hat without having to worry too much about meticulous planning.

With an annual travel insurance policy in place, you can simply book the tickets, pack your bags and head to the airport. Taking several spontaneous trips in a year using single-trip travel insurance, on the other hand, will soon add up to a big extra expense.

Naturally, annual travel insurance isn’t always the best choice. If you’re not completely certain that you’ll be making several trips in the coming 12 months then it might be worth hanging fire and just making sure that you search for the best single-trip insurance deal on an ad-hoc basis every time you travel.

And while annual travel insurance can often cover everything offered by single-trip insurance, there are some insurance requirements, such as extreme sports cover, that are sometimes not included in general annual policies – or if they are, the associated price jump no longer makes it a valid option. It’s always worth checking all of your options though, as specialist providers will likely be able to match your requirements at a price that suits you.

As always, do your research before making any concrete decisions. Surround yourself with as much information as possible when choosing whether to go down the annual policy route or to stick with single-trip insurance. There are plenty of good deals out there on both sides of the coin, so find the best option for you.

say that one fast after a few beers…

There really is nothing like heading out and hitting the open road, with the feeling of the wild wind rushing through your hair as the smell of petrol gently wafts in the breeze. Yes, there’s something just so completely exhilarating and liberating about a road-trip. I think it all stems from the unfettered feeling such a personal and involved journey brings; when a road-trip is involved the world is literally your oyster.

You can go anywhere, drive anywhere, stop whenever you like and even spend a few days in the complete wilderness, knowing that tomorrow you may end up somewhere completely different and unexpected. The whole notion of the ‘road-trip’ has become iconic throughout society, even the word has become a living breathing tribute to the ideals of freedom and experience.

However, a poorly planned trip can lead to utter disaster: Jail, breakdowns, starvation, injury and deportation are all potential outcomes and possibilities if your plans happen to crumble into the dust. Exterior factors often conspire against the road-warrior, but thankfully most can be avoided with a little due care and attention.

Securing a reliable vehicle is essential. Of course this all depends upon how long you’re going to be on the road for.  A lot of people tend to go for vans when they road-trip – at least with a van you know you’ll always have somewhere to sleep if things go wrong.

If you do decide to purchase a used van or a car make sure that the vehicle has been recently serviced and carries all it’s appropriate vehicle registration. If you’re going from one country to another you will need to read-up on all the necessary legislation to ensure that the vehicle complies with acceptable national standards.

Purchasing decent and comprehensive insurance and breakdown coverage is essential, because you need breaking down in the middle of nowhere and having to spend £1000 on a new engine for your beat-up motor like you need a Vanessa Feltz shaped hole in the head.

If you decide to go for van hire or a car make sure you shop around for the best deal, online offers are often cheaper, but make sure that you double check every document and read all the necessary small-print before you sign on the dotted line. Also ensure that your insurance/lease agreement covers you if you journey into another country. A lot of rental agreements only cover you for one specific area, so if you start in France and you want to pop over to Spain, or Italy, make sure that your contract covers you from country to country.

Lastly plan a route and try and stick to it. Sometimes this is just not possible or desired, but it makes sense to have a general idea of where you’re going, when you want to get there and how long you want to spend doing it. It never hurts to come up with a backup plan either, just in case things go wrong. Ultimately thou, whatever your plan is, it all comes down to you, the open road and the great back and beyond…

Relax and enjoy the view...

Staying healthy and safe during your gap year

No one wants their gap year trip ruined by a horrible illness or a stolen wallet. A lot of the precautions you need to take to avoid putting yourself at risk are just common sense — but it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of your travels and forget some of the basics.

Following the feature that covered ideas for taking a gap year we now offer this essential student guide to staying healthy – both whilst travelling and for those going abroad to study.

Staying Healthy – A Student Guide

Vaccinations and medication

Leave plenty of time before you travel to arrange any vaccinations and medication you will need while you’re away.

Apart from keeping your standard vaccinations up to date, such as polio and tetanus, you may also be required or advised to have additional vaccines, depending on your destination — including Typhoid, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Yellow Fever, and even Rabies.

Your GP can tell you which you need, and also whether you need to take malaria tablets (and if so, which kind). Don’t take any risks: malaria is a very serious, unpleasant, and sometimes fatal disease. Pack a mosquito net and insect repellent as an added precaution against bites.

Student Travel Essentials and First Aid Kit

It’s worth packing a travel first aid kit so you have the items you need when you need them.

Apart from obvious items such as plasters, insect repellent, sun cream, sterile dressings, tweezers, scissors, and antiseptic wipes, you may also want to pack a few extras for a fully loaded first aid kit. Handy items include:

• water purification tablets
• insect bite cream
• diarrhoea treatment and rehydration salts
• anti-fungal cream
• antihistamine (if you suffer from allergies)
• sterilised needles (particularly if you’re venturing somewhere remote with poor medical standards)
• condoms

Make sure your travel insurance covers you for medical expenses, and if you’re taking a job during your trip make sure your insurance still covers you while you’re working (not all policies do).

If you’re travelling to anywhere remote, some essential everyday items may not be easy to come by, particularly tampons and other sanitary products – so for girls it’s worth packing an adequate supply of your preferred brand.

Sexual health for travelling Students

If there’s a chance you’ll have sex during your time away, pack condoms, and use them – a sexually transmitted infection is not a great souvenir to bring home. Have fun, but be safe and don’t put your health at risk for the sake of a quick fling.

Food and drink

You can save yourself a nasty bout of ‘Delhi belly’ (or worse) by taking a few basic precautions with food and drink.

Firstly, drink plenty of water, particularly if you’re somewhere very hot — but always buy sealed, bottled water unless you are absolutely certain that the tap water is safe to drink.

Secondly, avoid eating salad and unpeeled fruit. Bananas and other fruits with a proper skin that you remove before eating are ideal since they can’t be contaminated (except by germs from your own hands!).

Finally, you should avoid cold or raw foods. The safest option is to choose piping hot food from an establishment with plenty of customers and a fast turnover.

Staying safe

Your gap year may be the first time you’ve travelled abroad independently, and it’s important to be prepared and stay safe.

Know before you go

Read the Foreign Office advice for the countries you’re visiting, and research safety issues and known scams at your destination.

Consider a gap year safety training course

There are even gap year safety training courses available, such as those offered by Objectivetravelsafety.com in London. They are generally a full day, cost around £150, and are designed to teach you safety tactics before you go, covering concerns such as theft prevention, food safety, emergency first aid and dealing with authorities.

Stay connected

Once you’re at your destination, make sure your friends and family know you’ve arrived safely, and stay in regular contact with them throughout your trip to make sure they know you’re safe and well.