UK Travel Insurance Deal For EU Residents

Posted on November 1, 2015 by worldwideinsure

No matter where you live in the EU, you can now get comprehensive travel cover, including repatriation to your EU home country at a lower price than last year from WorldwideInsure.com.

EU residents, whether ex-pats or on home turf, can buy travel insurance from one of the UK’s favourite travel insurance providers and benefit from having a comprehensive yet flexible policy next time they take a break. WorldwideInsure.com can tailor individual policies to suit anyone’s individual needs – whether you have a pre-existing medical condition, you want cover for competing in extreme sports, or you just want to make sure you get home safe should the worst happen – you are in good hands, no matter where you live in the EU.

Lower Premiums – This year WorldwideInsure.com has lowered the premiums on its European Resident Travel Insurance policy, resulting in one of the best deals on flexible comprehensive cover for travel anywhere in EU.

Repatriation – Having an accident abroad could cost more than an arm and a leg, it could cost you your possessions too if you can’t foot the bill for treatment and missed flights.  EU Resident Travel Insurance includes repatriation to your EU home country – one less thing to worry about if your holiday does not go to plan!

Pre-existing Medical Conditions Welcomed – There is no need to give up holidays just because you have a known illness. Cover is available from WorldwideInsure.com for most pre-existing medical conditions. In most instances, you can declare the condition, and it can be insured. Some conditions may be subject to additional terms and an extra premium may apply.

Lost Luggage – This is top of the holiday horror list! Losing your luggage is a bad start to any holiday, and we don’t want to let it ruin yours, which is why lost luggage cover comes as standard with our policies.

Missed Departure and Cancellations – Ever lost out on holiday time when it wasn’t your fault? Maybe due to illness, a family bereavement or maybe you missed a departure because the coach to the airport broke down? Once again, we don’t want to see a bad event made worse, so we cover cancellations too.

 EU Resident Travel Insurance

  • Annual multi trip cover
  • Travel insurance for short breaks
  • Longstay cover for backpackers
  • Cover if you have already left your home country
  • Most pre-existing medical conditions can be declared and insured
  • Repatriation to your EU home country
  • Option to add cover for extreme sports

For a free instant quote go to WorldwideInsure.com’s EU Resident Travel Insurance page or call the UK office on: 00 44 1892 833338.

 

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Double Win For Bidborough Dragons!

Posted on October 2, 2015 by worldwideinsure

Worldwideinsure.com’s Søren V Nissen and his team, the Bidborough Dragons, had plenty to celebrate after a double Dragon Boat victory. The team also raised much-needed funds for local charity Demelza Children’s Hospice and Bidborough Primary School in the process, bringing the total donated over the last 6 years to over £30,000!

Bidborough Dragons 2015

 The dragon boat races in Kent have provided turbulent turf over the past 6 years as Bidborough Dragons have consistently competed in the finals, taking on Bewl, in the hope of winning gold. The best Bidborough have placed in the past is 3rd, but this year they finally did it – taking Gold at Bewl Water Dragon Boat Festival, officially Europe’s largest such competition, against nearly 60 other crews. This victory was followed by a second Gold medal at Tonbridge less than 24 hours later against 20 crews!

Søren says that planning, experience, power and tactics got them the victory they were looking for, against some of the fittest athletes in the sport who are fitness instructors and water sports professionals.

Bidborough Dragons 2015Victory tasted even sweeter as Bidborough Dragons were two men down and had to call in past crew members – this meant that 12 of the team that won were from the original lineup 6 years ago, when the battle against Bewl began.

As gratifying as their victory is, Bidborough Dragons are even more proud to have raised over £30k for Demelza Hospice and Bidborough Primary School over the past 6 years. You can show your support, and your congratulations, by donating on the Bidborough Dragons Just Giving page.

Bidborough Dragons 2015

 

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Vayable Travel Reviews – Travel App of the Month Sept 2015

Posted on September 25, 2015 by worldwideinsure

Want to see your destination through the eyes of a local? Want to hunt down the best places to see and be seen? Want to deviate from the well-beaten tourist path and explore the more exciting side of life? In that case, you’ll want to get the Vayable Travel app on your phone before you go. Available for free from the iTunes Store.

What is the Vayable Travel app?

Vayable Travel Reviews AppIt is a simple app that achieves great things. Quite simply, you can connect with local people wherever you are and explore the best a city has to offer with custom “tourist” trips, excursions, happenings and events. We can’t help but think that this app is ideal for those interested in street art tourism.

  • Book fun things to do with locals
  • List an experience
  • Request a trip
  • Give the gift of a trip to someone else

In the words of the developers, or their marketing team, “Get off the beaten path. Discover and instantly book the best local experiences in your favourite cities. All experiences are created with love by locals.”

Where does Vayable cover?

Well, it certainly isn’t worldwide, but it does cover a good selection of favourite destinations:

  • Paris
  • Barcelona
  • Istanbul
  • Amsterdam
  • Rome
  • London
  • Athens
  • Berlin
  • Dublin
  • Vienna

Types of experiences

The offerings are always changing, and you can always put in your own special requests. At the time of research there was a huge range including:

  • New York Midnight Street Food Crawl
  • San Francisco Scout for Street art
  • The Louvre in an Hour
  • Explore London Like A Local
  • Central Park Photo Tour
  • Learn To Eat Like A Local In Paris

Help, I don’t have a compatible device!

Don’t panic! You can access the full suite of services on the Vayable website – no app required!

Vayable Travel Reviews

By and large, the reviews are good, but users are unanimous in thinking it requires more personalisation and that more cities need to be added. Here are some of the high points in the reviews:

“Vayable is essential for any traveler because it puts authentic experiences at your fingertips, all delivered by local guides who have typically lived there all their lives.” 5 stars by Novaurora

“Love being able to spontaneously book something from a real local. Nothing touristy here!” 5 stars by by jjwonglet

Requires iOS 7.0 or later. Compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. This app is optimised for iPhone 5. Visit the Vayable website or download on iTunes.

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Best Cities For Street Art – Graffiti Tourist Tips

Posted on September 18, 2015 by worldwideinsure

Want to base your travel itinerary around outdoor galleries? Well, there is no better way to create one than to visit the best places on the planet for street art! Here are our top picks!

Paris, France

In Paris you can actually book yourself a place on a street art tour. You can get the lowdown on infamous individuals such as Space Invader and Blek le Rat as well as superb photo opportunities in some tucked away neighbourhoods that you might not discover on your own!

ALT PARIS TOUR v3 from Underground Paris on Vimeo.

Sao Paulo, Brazil

Entertaining, beautiful, and often shocking, the street art of Sao Paulo is not to be missed. Take a wander to view art by the likes of Eduardo Kobra, Nexus, Cadumen and Cranio. The art here is strong with political statement, and is a unique showcase for a wide range of graffiti styles.

Sao Paulo Street Art
Image Credit: Google Cultural Institute

New York, USA

In the Big Apple, you can book a place on a FREE street tour to view the dazzling talents of NYCs street artists. On the tour you’ll find out the background and history of artists that like an urban canvas including Buff Monster, Skewville and Beau Stanton.

Berlin, Germany

Berlin’s tourist industry celebrates the street art that graces its walls, doorways, shelters and street furniture, which is wonderful! As well as the usual spray paint on concrete, you will find urban knitting and guerrilla gardening, all of which serves to brighten the lives of visitors and residents alike. For those in the know, El Bocho, XOOOOX and Evol live and work here.

Berlin Street Art
Image Credit: visitberlin.de

Lisbon, Portugal

Street Art Tourism is big in Lisbon, a visual centre for the contemporary arts scene. French street artist C215 has blessed the concrete jungle here with some iconic and instantly impressive murals. You’ll also witness some of Sam3’s huge artworks, so pack your wide angle lens if you want to get a good picture!

C215 Lisbon Street Art
Image Credit: janetmillslove.tumblr.com

Mexico City, Mexico

As a cultural mecca, it is no surprise that Mexico City has a great street art scene. Urban art here is well accepted by residents as it is seen as another chapter in the city’s long heritage of mural masterpieces. Generally speaking as long as the art is good and has a message, it isn’t seen as invasive. Check out the work of one of Mexico City’s most prolific artists, Edgar Saner!

Edgar Saner Street Art
Image Credit: thewynwoodwalls.com

Street Art Tours: What to take…

If you are going on a street art tour, you need to be armed with a smart phone and a decent digital camera, and probably a GoPro.

Make sure you pack a wide angle lens, as street art is BIG, and you need to be able to fit the whole image in to one shot. Alternatively, if your smartphone has a decent camera on board, opt for some panoramic views!

The GoPro is the best bet for taking some spectacular short vids, adding context to graffiti art tours, and for capturing any commentary provided by a guide.

The reason you’ll need your phone is to make sure that you geo tag your experiences, and let the world know where you have been and what you have seen.

The world of street art is constantly evolving, and murals rarely stay around for long before another artists makes their mark – so see it as your job to document your day and upload to your fave social media channels!

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Singapore Travel Guide For F1 Fans

Posted on September 11, 2015 by worldwideinsure

As if Formula 1 isn’t exciting enough as it is, the Singapore Grand Prix has been billed as a “National Festival” by Mr S Iswaran – Singapore’s Minister of State for Trade and Industry. So we thought that we would take a look at what F1 fans and curious globetrotters can expect of the city during this spectacular event!

Singapore in a Nutshell

Singapore is diverse, clean, organised and expensive. In fact, it is the most expensive city in SE Asia, so perfect for hosting such a prestigious event as Formula 1 racing! There are lots, and we mean LOADS of high-end shopping malls – vast landscapes of consumerism – to explore, and with the price of running a vehicle and the price of alcohol very high here, it is a comparably quiet and safe place as far as major cities go.

What to wear…

Weather-wise, in September you can expect temps of around 30 degrees C during the 12 daylight hours, with only a small drop to high 20s in the evenings. Humidity is likely to be high, with plenty of overcast skies, light rain and thunder. Best to pack light layers of your best Prada, Versace and Gucci to ensure you don’t overheat, get too cold, and at the same time maintain the essential high-society style! Oh, and ladies, flat shoes are essential as the circuit entails a fair bit of walking to explore all 799,000 square metres!

The Race

The Singapore Grand Prix takes place on the 20th Sept, but the weekend will be packed with plenty of F1 action from the 18th! The race takes place on public roads around the Marina Bay area, illuminated by powerful lighting systems to replicate daylight conditions.

There will be room for more than 80,000 spectators, but as with any prestigious racing event, you better book a seat in advance to get the best price, and the best views!

Singapore F1 2015 MapImage Credit: singaporegp.sg

The Entertainment

So, hitting the event are over 300 artistes from around the world including Pharrell Williams, Jon Bon Jovi, and former Cirque du Soleil artists Duo MainTenanT. There will be fireworks, death-defying motorcycle stunt riders, illusionists, street performers, a huge selection of restaurants, exclusive access to circuit-side activities, and plenty of well-branded shopping opportunities.

Other Activities

Chances are that if you are heading to the race, you’ll be staying longer than the weekend – unless your Lear Jet hire is for a limited time only! Here are some must-not-miss activities to seek out during your stay:

  • Visit the ultra luxurious restaurant KU DÉ TA. Not only is it the place to be seen, it is the place to see! From here you can view Singapore in full 360° glory!
  • Go to Marina Bay Sands’ Sky Bar at CÉ LA VI – but only if you have a head for heights! The restaurant is on the 57th floor, a staggering 200 meters above the ground.
  • Get some retail therapy in Little India. This place is full of people, very colourful and has a fantastic buzz, a great place to feel full of life.
  • Another activity for those with a head for heights… a visit to the Supertrees Grove, a vertical garden at Gardens by the Bay. Here you can take a wander 22 metres above ground!
Supertree Grove

Supertree Grove

For a full event guide, and advice on what to take and leave behind, and what to expect in general – visit the Singapore GP website! For travel insurance for your visit, visit us at WorldwideInsure.com

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What To Do When A Holiday Disaster Hits

Posted on September 4, 2015 by worldwideinsure

Keep calm and carry on? A nice idea, but if disaster hits while you are abroad, chances are your first reaction will be panic! But don’t fear, we are here to tell you how to handle a variety of disasters that can hit while you are away on your hols.

Disaster 1 – Missed Flight

Oh dear, with this disaster you are off to a bad start before you’ve even left the country! If you miss your flight, head straight for the help desk and explain your situation. If you miss it because of an accident, or broken down public transport, the airline may well be understanding and accommodate you on the next flight. Or maybe it is the airline’s fault, in which case you’ll be compensated. If the error is yours and incurs additional travel costs, you may be able to recover these costs through your travel insurance, providing you got the right level of cover.

Disaster 2 – Lost Passport

If you lose your passport while on holiday, you must take the following steps IMMEDIATELY!

Report the loss to the local police and get a crime reference number – you will need this to get a new passport. You must also report the loss or theft to the British Embassy by filling in an LS01 form, which will be available from the Embassy or online. Want to know more? Read more in our blog What To Do If Your Passport Is Lost Or Stolen Abroad.

Disaster 3 – Stolen Bank Cards

As with losing your passport, file a police report straight away. The next step is to contact your insurance company and see if you have emergency cash cover. You will also need to contact your bank and credit card providers to stop your cards, and also to see if they are able to arrange a cash withdrawal from a local branch at your destination. To make the process easier, it is a good idea to ensure that you have emergency phone numbers and the right documentation with account numbers etc. to hand while on holiday, or with a family member back home.

Disaster 4 – Hire Car Crash

With any luck, you have taken car hire excess insurance, so won’t have to face the hire company’s charges! Hopefully you have also hired a car off a reputable dealer, and filled out paperwork that states what damage the vehicle had before you drove it away. It is a good idea to take photographic or video evidence before you drive off, as it is hard to dispute. Even if you have done all that and you have found yourself in a spot of bother, you will need to get your camera out again to document the scene of the accident, record the registration of the other car, and of course document the damage that has been caused. Then it’s time to call the insurers, and the car hire company!

Disaster 5 – Hospitalisation

With this disaster, you’ll find that preparation is the best medicine (pardon the pun). If you are travelling to Europe, make sure you have applied for and have your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) with you. This can drastically reduce your medical bills while abroad. Even if you are travelling to the EU, and definitely if you are travelling outside the EU, get adequate travel healthcare insurance, and keep your information and your papers with you at all times. If you end up in hospital contact your insurers straight away. Without travel insurance, you may have to pay for medical care and repatriation, bills which can run into tens of thousands of pounds!

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TravelSafe Review – Travel App of the Month August 2015

Posted on August 28, 2015 by worldwideinsure

This recently revamped app has been an essential resource for travellers over the last few years, but now it boasts even better features and functionality as well as a brand new interface.

Travelsafe AppTravelSafe – what does it do

This app offers crucial information at the touch of a button for every country around the world. So, should you get in a pickle and need to call emergency services, or your embassy, you will have the numbers you need right there and then. The app also has a host of other features that frequent travellers and tourists will find useful!

Features

The majority of the functions don’t need any internet connection, but there is a difference between the free LITE version and the paid for PRO version. We think that for just 99p, you might as well upgrade this easy to use app!

Travelsafe App Screen

TravelSafe LITE – free
– Country Emergency Numbers

– Useful Country Information including voltages, plug types, tipping ettiqette, and timezones

– Tip Calculator

– Panic Button Widget that can send an SMS message to 3 registered contacts

– Currency Exchange Rate Calculator for 9 currencies

TravelSafe PRO – 99p
– Embassies information and numbers

– Country Emergency Numbers Widget

– Currency Exchange Rate Calculator for 154 currencies

TravelSafe Reviews – what the uses say!

TravelSafe Review Overview

5 star review – Great little app. Simple, easy to navigate and helpful. Was very useful to me when travelling.

2 star review – Waste of time. Only has 1-3 main emergency numbers- easy to write down/find out when travelling. UK numbers wrong, so others unreliable. LG gw620.

4 star review – Minimal but useful. @Matt UK numbers are correct (112 is a valid emergency number throughout most of EU countries

TravelSafe is available for Android only.

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TRAVEL GUIDE – UCI BMX World Championships 2015, Belgium

Posted on August 24, 2015 by worldwideinsure

Adrenaline fuelled activities – just what every fun-loving, globe-trotting, sports-fan wants in a weekend break. This month we recommend you take a trip to Belgium and catch the UCI BMX World Championships in Heusden-Zolder, held from 21st-25th of August. Here’s what you need to know…

The Event

Circuit Zolder has been hailed as an exciting course indeed, in fact it has been given status as an F1 circuit at BMX level and is one of the top 10 circuits of its type in the world. This means that the UCI BMX World Championships is guaranteed some incredibly exciting races. To get a taste of what could be in store, just take a look at last year’s Championship final:

There will be 55 nationalities from around the entire world taking part, with a staggering 3,000 riders taking to the course throughout the week. As if those numbers aren’t impressive enough, if you go visit, you’ll be one of 18,000 spectators there!

The Location

To be fair, Heusden-Zolder offers little for the visitor apart from the high-octane Circuit Zolder.  There are more leisurely attractions about the place including some picturesque churches, parks and gardens. Visitors should head to the nearby city of Hasselt which boasts a grand palace, restaurants, cafes and bars!

Where To Stay

Head to Yup Hotel in Hasselt, a 3 Star hotel only 11km from Circuit Zolder. It has undergone recent renovation, and as it is slap bang in the city centre, ideal for frequenting those bars and restaurants we mentioned!

Yup hotel is the perfect choice for those attending the BMX World Championships because BMX bikes are allowed in the hotel rooms, and there are special group rates during the event. Prices start at just €53.50 p.p. in a double room, with breakfast included.  Email info@yuphotel.com to find out more!

Fond of extreme sports? Don’t forget to take out our special insurance that covers all sorts of adrenaline-fuelled antics on holiday!

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Getting Married Abroad – 10 Facts You’ll Want To Know

Posted on August 18, 2015 by worldwideinsure

Destination weddings are decidedly en-vogue. If you and your other half are one of the increasing number of couples taking to the skies to get married abroad take a peek at our top 10 wedding facts.

1. The average spend on an overseas wedding is around £7,000 – half of what the average UK wedding costs!

2. You can’t actually get married at the top romantic destination, the Maldives. Instead couples can head here to renew vows.

3. You can only marry on certain days at many destinations, this is often dependent on the flights that go to your chosen location.

4. Seasons are different abroad! The summer months at your chosen destination might well be during the UK winter. Check your climate facts before booking a wedding, or else you might find you bag a bargain because it is monsoon season!

5. If you change your passport to your married name before you travel, you may have trouble entering the country as the ticket name has to match the passport. You don’t want to miss your own wedding!

6. You’ll want to purchase wedding insurance as well as travel insurance for your destination wedding. Wedding insurance provides cover should a close relative become ill and the wedding has to be cancelled, or if adverse weather conditions mean that the bride and groom, and the majority of guests cannot get to the wedding.

Worldwideinsure.com Wedding Insurance includes:

  • Cover for damage to the wedding dress and other ceremonial attire
  • Loss or damage of wedding gifts
  • Loss or damage to the wedding cake, wedding rings, flowers

7. Weddings abroad are more likely to be rescheduled due to inclement weather. Therefore it is advisable to avoid having your wedding date on any gifts or décor at the reception.

8. Wedding gowns and suits made of natural fabric can be rescued after a long journey by being hung in a hot steamy room.

9. You must reside in the destination of your choice for a set amount of time before you marry. This varies from country to country. For example in Turks and Caicos Islands you must be in the country for at least 24 hours, but in France you need to arrive at least 40 days before the wedding. Check your destination to find out before you book!

10. The Top 10 Wedding Destinations of 2015!

  1. Mauritius
  2. Sri Lanka
  3. St Lucia
  4. USA
  5. Barbados
  6. Thailand
  7. Antigua
  8. Mexico
  9. Maldives – renewal of vows only
  10. Seychelles

Find out more about wedding insurance for the UK and away in our recent blog.

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Travelling Europe – A Guide for Students August 2015

Posted on August 14, 2015 by worldwideinsure

With exams well out of the way, and the new term on a distant horizon, now is the time for students to don their backpacks and explore Europe!

Where to go

Head to the cities, or head to a festival! As a student, chances are you are looking for a wild time, an adventure worthy of posting on Facebook so folks back home become green with envy!

  • Zurich Street Parade, Switzerland – 29th August – one of the world’s largest techno street parades.
  • Tomatina, Buñol, Spain  – 26th August – an unusual festival where thousands of participants hurl tomatoes at one another.
  • Rock en Seine, Paris, France – 28th August –  the biggest rock festival in France takes place over three days on the outskirts of Paris.
  • Mysteryland,  Haarlemmermeer, Netherlands – 28th August –  electronic music, culture and arts festival.

How to get there

Saving precious pennies is paramount! After all, there are better things to spend beer money on than transport! Put those hitch-hiking thumbs away, and check out these money-saving options!

Interrail is synonymous with gap year adventure! Interrail lets travellers discover up to 30 European countries on just one pass. Prices for a pass start at £30 for one country and £140 for all 30!

Bla Bla Car is the budget friendly and environmentally friendly option for adventurous individuals. Simply find someone on Bla Bla Car who is travelling from where you are to where you want to go, and chip in for petrol. It is great way to meet new people, and ace for travelling on a budget!

Where to stay

If you want to meet new people and keep your spend minimal you can forget pitching up at a dusty campsite – there are better ways to get to know fellow travellers and sort out a roof over your head!

One of the best ways to get to know a new place is to stay with someone local. Couchsurfing is the number one cost-effective way of getting the lowdown on the local area and making new friends while you travel. Half hospitality exchange and half social networking, the site has members in every corner of the globe, so plenty of options for a European adventure!

The Youth Hostel Association has hostels and bunk houses well suited to those looking to maximize their budget. Hostels are well known places to meet like-minded travellers and find a fun place to stay, and for those looking to find somewhere to stay abroad, Hostelling International is the brand name of more than 90 Youth Hostel Associations around the world, with a total of over 4,000 hostels in 90 countries!

Get more tips for travelling on a budget in our travel for free blog and to find some value for money insurance for your journey, check out worldwideinsure.com.

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