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Crunch time for city breaks as eastern European prices undercut Eurozone

April 9th, 2009 by admin | No Comments | Filed in Package Holidays, The Post Office, Travel, Travel Insurance
  • New Post Office® City Costs Barometer makes Budapest a best buy
  • Sterling still strong in Turkey and Poland, as well as Hungary

Eastern European cities outside the eurozone are the places to head off for a bargain break this spring, according to the new City Costs Barometer from Post Office® Travel Services (postoffice.co.uk/). 

As the euro continues to fly high against sterling, the Post Office report into non-euro city destinations shows that Budapest, followed closely by Warsaw and Prague, are the cities where thrifty tourists will get more for their money.¹ 

The three eastern European capitals emerge as cheapest of 10 ‘alternative’ cities outside the eurozone where UK tourists, daunted by the idea of sky high prices in traditional favourites like Paris, Amsterdam and Barcelona, can bag a bargain break.   

And, despite the bad press for sterling, UK tourists will actually get more for their money than a year ago in three of the cities surveyed – Warsaw, Budapest and Istanbul – as sterling has strengthened against their currencies.² In the case of the Polish zloty, the UK pound is over 10 per cent stronger, making city breaks to Warsaw and to Krakow much cheaper than in 2008. 

The Post Office City Costs Barometer examined the price of typical tourist items like drinks and meals out, together with three-star city centre hotel accommodation, airport transfers and sightseeing costs.  It found that all five eastern European cities surveyed – including the Baltic duo of Tallinn and Riga – are much less expensive than those in Scandinavia. 

Individually, Warsaw rates as cheapest for weekend accommodation – so independent travellers can expect a great deal if they travel while the Polish zloty remains weak.  Budapest and Prague are best value for eating out, while return transfers between airport and city centre, a cost that tourists cannot avoid, is cheapest in Riga.  

The Post Office also surveyed the costs of visits to art galleries and top heritage attractions, finding that culture comes cheap in Warsaw, Tallinn and Budapest – but costs nothing at all in Oslo, where the key visitor attractions are free.³ 

However, while costs on the ground may be significantly cheaper in eastern Europe – at under £130 for 11 items, the Budapest shopping basket weighed in almost half the price in Copenhagen – the Post Office report also established that flight costs to Scandinavia could be significantly cheaper than elsewhere in Europe. 

Andrew Spice of Post Office Travel Services said: “There are lots of factors for consumers to consider when booking a city break, including the cost of getting to a destination.  Our ’snapshot’ of flights available in late April4 showed that Copenhagen actually had the cheapest weekend price of just £41.98, so there are definite benefits to considering a Scandinavian break. 

“The exchange rate is another crucial factor.  With sterling’s continuing weakness against the euro, doubts have been expressed as to whether the traditional spring getaway to popular cities in the eurozone will survive this year.  However sterling is holding up well against several European currencies and our costs barometer of non-euro cities shows that there is great value to be had for UK holidaymakers. 

“Capitals like Budapest and Warsaw are extremely cheap places to visit at the moment and have attractions to rival those of the traditional city break favourites.”    

Over 1,600 Post Office bureau de change branches offer the most widely requested European currencies on demand, including all those featured in the Post Office City Costs Barometer, except the Hungarian forint and Estonian kroon, which can be pre-ordered.    

All currencies can be pre-ordered for next day branch collection at all 11,500 Post Office outlets or online at postoffice.co.uk.  Home delivery can also be requested online.  Travellers to the eurozone can obtain euro currency over the counter at more than 8,000 Post Office branches. 

The full results of the Post Office City Costs Barometer can be viewed online at: postoffice.co.uk/citybreaksreport.

Ends 

CBPR     Post Office Press Office 

Christine Ball    Hayley Fowell

01798 874177   020 7250 2417

cball@cballpr.co.uk    hayley.fowell@royalmail.com

Notes to Editors:

 

¹ Post Office City Costs Barometer 2009 of cities outside the eurozone.  Prices supplied by tourist offices of participating countries. Hotel prices were researched independently and are based on two adults sharing a double/twin room in a three-star city centre hotel over a weekend. Where possible, these were verified by tourist offices.

POST OFFICE CITY COSTS BAROMETER 2009: NON-EUROZONE CITIES


Items Budapest

Hungary

Warsaw

Poland

Prague

Czech Republic

Tallinn

Estonia

Riga

Latvia

Cup of coffeeBar/café £1.00 £2.20 £1.68 £1.29 £2.66
Bottle of lagerBar/café £1.67 £2.20 £2.80 £2.57 £2.66
Bottle/can of Coca-ColaBar/café £0.83 £1.10 £2.24 £1.61 £0.87
Bottle of still mineral waterSupermarket £0.33 £0.51 £1.01 £0.64 £0.44
Postcard and stamp to UK £1.00 £1.10 £0.84 £1.09 £1.26
Pack (20) Marlboro Lights cigarettes £1.90 £2.20 £2.80 £2.57 £2.59
3 course evening meal for 2 in a local restaurant (inc bottle of house wine) £20.03 £65.98 £28.93 £44.98 £69.54
Return bus or train transfers from airport to city centre for 2 adults £4.01 £3.69 £3.88 £5.14 £2.96
Top tourist heritage attraction £3.67 £1.98 £11.20 £4.18 £2.96
Leading art gallery £4.67 £2.91 £8.96 £4.18 £4.44
1 night 3* hotel accommodation (weekend) for 2 adults £90.12 £53.22 £89.58 £89.44 £82.14
TOTAL COSTS £129.23 £137.09 £153.92 £157.69 £172.52



Items Istanbul

Turkey

Geneva

Switzerland

Stockholm

Sweden

Oslo

Norway

Copenhagen

Denmark

Cup of coffeeBar/café £2.65 £3.02 £2.06 £2.83 £3.26
Bottle of lagerBar/café £3.53 £3.11 £4.02 £5.67 £3.91
Bottle/can of Coca-ColaBar/café £1.76 £2.54 £2.24 £3.74 £3.26
Bottle of still mineral waterSupermarket £0.44 £0.32 £1.07 £1.08 £1.04
Postcard and stamp to UK £2.21 £1.46 £1.34 £1.93 £2.09
Pack (20) Marlboro Lights cigarettes £2.21 £4.38 £4.38 £8.16 £4.17
3 course evening meal for 2 in a local restaurant (inc bottle of house wine) £52.95 £66.68 £75.99 £79.35 £78.19
Return bus or train transfers from airport to city centre for 2 adults £17.65 £7.62 £39.34 £42.62 £15.64
Top tourist heritage attraction £8.82 £2.54 £8.49 £0.00 £11.08
Leading art gallery £3.09 £5.08 £8.94 £0.00 £0.00
1 night 3* hotel accommodation (weekend) for 2 adults £119.13 £123.84 £94.94 £106.55 £129.66
TOTAL COSTS £214.44 £220.59 £242.81 £251.93 £252.30

Source:  Post Office. Data relates to 25 March 2009 exchange rates. 

² Post Office year-on-year currency comparison: 

Country Percentage+/-2009 v 2008 Mar 25 2009 Mar 25 2008
Poland zloty 10.25 4.55 4.12
Turkey lira 0.55 2.27 2.25
Hungary forint 0.49 299.61 298.15
Sweden kroner -2.76 11.19 11.50
Czech koruna -7.26 26.79 28.89
Norway kroner -10.24 8.82 9.83
Estonian kroon -13.82 15.56 18.06
Latvia lats -15.64 0.68 0.80
Denmark kroner -15.66 7.67 9.10
Euro -16.37 1.02 1.22
Switzerland franc -17.19 1.57 1.90

 

³ Heritage attractions and leading art galleries suggested by tourist offices of participating countries: 

  Budapest

Hungary

Warsaw

Poland

Prague

Czech Republic

Tallinn

Estonia

Riga

Latvia

Top tourist heritage attraction Castle district: Matthias Church & Fisherman’s Bastion Royal Castle Prague Castle Kadriorg Palace Ethnographic Open Air Museum
Leading art gallery Museum of Fine Arts National Museum National Gallery KUMU  Art Museum National Museum of Art


  Istanbul

Turkey

Geneva

Switzerland

Stockholm

Sweden

Oslo

Norway

Copenhagen

Denmark

Top tourist heritage attraction Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya) Cathedrale et Espace St Pierre Vasa Museum Vigeland Sculpture Park Tivoli Gardens
Leading art gallery Istanbul Modern Museum Museum of Modern & Contemporary Art National Museum National Gallery National Gallery

 

4 Post Office research into the cheapest weekend flight prices available for travel over the weekend of 24th-26th April at the time of research (March 2009).  Copenhagen had the lowest return fare of £41.98 (low cost carrier departing from Stansted).

Post Office® Travel Money Card

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Recession Chic

February 24th, 2009 by admin | No Comments | Filed in Package Holidays, Thomas Cook, Travel, Travel Insurance, eCommerce Associates

In the good old days, when the words credit crunch had yet to be invented, it was the done thing to aspire to the best method of travel possible and the best holidays.

It was de rigeur to be seen flaunting your wealth and this was especially evident when flying. Airlines made it very clear that for those enduring the ‘walk of shame’ through the sumptuous luxury of the business cabin into the cramped cattle pen conditions of economy, flying was about spending your hard earnt money on the best seats. Okay, all those on the bucket airlines didn’t really care where they sat, even on the wing, as long as they did so at the least cost, but at least there are no other classes to show you up.

Also, travel destinations were all about being pampered; going to exotic locations, preferably as near to the sea as possible and having to hand international 18-hole golf courses for the men and with beauty salons for the women.

It was the time of the travel ego, when money was spent on giving yourself a treat and letting everyone else know that you were doing just that. It was the personification of hedonism and summed up the start of the 21st century.

Now, with world economies crashing with greater frequency than Eddie the Eagle, a new phrase has been coined by the travel industry: recession chic.

In the true sense of the ingenuity of the human race, people are trying to make the best from having to make their money go further.

Leading the way are the Americans and the trend for getting a better deal for holidays has been spotted at a New York travel show, where people are said to be on the hunt not only for bargains, but for a chance to show an heightened awareness of the new world order.

Those in the industry attending the travel show say their customers are not only considering how much their dwindling savings will buy them, but also how they can show that the important things in their lives, such as family, their health, or the environment, can in someway be accommodated when booking their holidays.

And for those holiday destinations that offer guilt-free pampering to those wiling to pay for it, they are worried that people will spurn their enticements and go for something more akin to the recession chic experience.

And to try and cope with this development, many of the more luxurious resorts are trying tone down their top end holidays with chances of doing good. Therefore, in certain destinations, such as Central America, Asia and the Far East, travellers are encouraged to participate in conservation and social projects.

In one such project holiday-makers are given the chance to purchase a book for a village that has no library. And not only purchase the book, but also deliver it in person and talk to the villagers themselves.

It’s almost a case of social guilt offsetting. So you can not only now offset your carbon footprint, you can also now offset your conscience.

Another company has hit upon a novel idea of ‘Laid Off, Take Off’, possibly a pretty sad reflection of the hard times people face. Simply, when you get made redundant, take some time off. Whether that’s a good use of their money remains to be seen, but, maybe it’s a good an idea as any.

So, when booking your holiday, remember now that its cool to be cost conscious and maybe, as you walk down the plane to cattle class, you can hold your head up high with a new sense of superiority.
Millions of holidays

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Happy Birthday Jumbo

February 17th, 2009 by admin | No Comments | Filed in Package Holidays, Thomas Cook, Travel, Travel Insurance, eCommerce Associates

The Jumbo has reached middle-age; its 40 years old this year.

But far from showing it’s age; there’s still life in the old dog yet, with the next version, the 747-800, about to be launched in 2010. And to think that it has taken forty years for a true competitor to try and fill the Jumbo’s shoes, in the shape of the Superjumbo, the Airbus A380, is testament to Boeing’s engineering skills.

And when you talk about the Jumbo, you have to use superlatives. The main one being that the 1,525 Jumbos ordered have collectively clocked up around 42 billion nautical miles. That’s the equivalent of having flown to the moon and back 100,000 times, having made approximately 17 million flights.

The first Boeing 747 flexed its wings over Washington State in 1969 and enjoyed around 75 minutes in the air. It was called City of Everett, the place where it was built, and it carried the hopes of the Boeing company. Repeated funding exercises have been needed to get the cash needed to build the Jumbo and observers at the time had said that had it proved a white elephant (an appropriate simile), it would have been the end of the Boeing Company. The Jumbo proved anything but a white elephant, and it has been one of the world’s greatest products.

In 1970 the first commercially equipped 747, decked out in the colours of the now defunct airline Pan-Am, was christened by the then First Lady of the U.S. Pat Nixon and made its first commercial flight on 22 January, 1970.

The Jumbo had a number of aviation firsts. It was the first commercial airliner to have twin aisles and provide the passenger with a sense of roominess. It was also the first to have an upper deck and gave the marketing men a chance to show first class passengers leaning against a top deck bar enjoying a mid-flight drink.

That novel idea was eventually dropped when the airlines realised that a 37,000 feet high bar was not a good use of space. Nowadays most Jumbo’s use the three-class system (between 350 to 400 seats) and put their pampered first-class passengers in the nose of the Jumbo, with the upper deck for business class (or sometimes economy, in those Jumbos exploited for maximum seating capacity) and the economy passengers in the main cabin.

The pilots also have their cockpit at the upper end of the upper deck, meaning that they had to be re-trained to not only fly such a larger aircraft, but one where they are positioned so far off the ground. And it was not only the pilots that had to change. Airport runways had to be widened and lengthened; taxi-ways had to be strengthened, and, terminal buildings made larger to accommodate the bigger aircraft and their larger loads of passengers.

The 747 also introduced the concept of ‘big fan’ engines. Such was the power needed to get the Jumbo in the air, that it was only possible after a leap-forward in jet-engine technology. Not only did they become more efficient, they became huge, having to collect as much air as possible to force along the engine, which was then mixed with aviation spirit, before being ignited and creating the thrust necessary to lift tonnes of metal into the air. And such is the size of a modern turbo fan jet engine, that you could fit a fuselage of a 737 into the front of it.

But, for the airlines, the Jumbo was not about remarkable engineering, or the beauty of the aircraft’s design; for them, it all comes down to economics. The Jumbo offered lots of seats and that meant lots more passengers on each flight. Of course, the downside is that the more seats you have and the more you can’t possibly fill it, then the more money you will lose.

So whilst the airlines were salivating at the thought of getting more passengers on board, they were also worried if the travel industry could stand that increase in numbers of people wishing to fly. They needn’t have worried, because apart from the times when recession has blighted the world economy (such as the various oil crises), the Jumbo has done much to stimulate air travel, opening up the market by allowing airlines to lower fares.

In the broadest terms, a commercial airliner with 400 seats does not cost twice as much to run as one with half the number of seats. The effect is that the cost per seat on a large aircraft is reduced over its smaller counterparts, so once airlines realised there were major economies of scale to be achieved, then fares came down (not only because they could, but they had to to increase the market size) and modern aviation as we know it now, was away.

And few aircraft have played such a part in modern culture. The Jumbo has played a starring role in many movies, novels and songs.

Whether the pretender, the A380 Superjumbo will prove such a hit with people’s imagination, remains to be seen, but one thing is for sure, the good old Jumbo is set to be around for many decades to come.

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Renew or Face the Cost

February 17th, 2009 by admin | No Comments | Filed in Banking and Insurance, Package Holidays, Thomas Cook, Travel, Travel Insurance, eCommerce Associates

The Department of Health is urging U.K. holiday makers to check that their European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) are up to date before they travel.

If they don’t, warns The Department of Health, they could face unnecessary medical costs if they are treated in mainland Europe.

The EHIC replaced the old E111 form and has an expiry date printed on the credit card type piece of plastic. Should the card have lapsed before the date of travel, then travellers will be charged full medical costs if they become ill.

The Department of Health estimates that over half of U.K. travellers do not realise that their EHIC has an expiry date. So the message is check before you travel, as it would be too late when abroad.

Renewal is straightforward, either online, or by phone, and can be renewed up to six months before the due date. Be warned that it can take up to ten days to deliver the renewed card, so people are warned not to leave it too late before they leave.

Log onto the NHS website to get renewal details.

Consumer groups and The Department of Health point out that the EHIC is a superb system, allowing the holder to get the same treatment in any EU, or Swiss hospital, that the locals can obtain. It is free to get the card and once acquired, is easily updated. For everyone travelling in Europe, it is seen as a must-have credential.

It is reckoned that over 28 million U.K. residents hold an EHIC, which replaced the E111 form in 2005, but that over three million are due to expire in March 2009. The EHIC officially entitles the holder to free state provided healthcare, should they fall ill, or have an accident.

But although a superb system, both The Department of Health and consumer groups warn that the EHIC should not be seen as a replacement for travel insurance. It is there to signify that the holder is entitled to a base level of medical cover within Europe. Most importantly, it does not cover transportation costs home in the event of a serious, or debilitating accident, and that can cost a fortune.

Nor does it give cancellation cover should your plane/train/ferry be delayed, provide compensation for lost luggage, or offer personal insurance cover. It also does not cover accidents when ski-ing.

So, be warned, if you haven’t got an EHIC in your wallet, get one. And if you have, check the expiry date, otherwise it could cost you a lot of money in the long run.

Do Just Book It Thomas Cook It!!!

Do Just Book It Thomas Cook It!!!

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Top ten most undesirable travel destinations

October 2nd, 2008 by admin | No Comments | Filed in Package Holidays, Travel, Travel Insurance, eCommerce Associates

The top ten most undesirable travel destinations? Right, here goes.

Iraq is top of the list. There are signs that things are getting a little better, but the sheer horror of what has happened and the time that the country needs to heel, cannot be ignored. There is also a very good chance of being killed, either by a roadside bomb, or sniper, so if you insist holidaying there, take a British army squadron with you.

Afghanistan comes second from top and, unlike Iraq, it seems to be slipping back into the troubles of the past. The Taliban is planning a comeback tour and political unrest is rising. The two recent deaths of Japanese schoolteachers in the south shows how dangerous things still are.

Third on the list is Pakistan. A near neighbour of Afghanistan, it has a new political administration trying to deal with religious extremists on one hand and the re-emerging Taliban on the other. The recent bomb attack at the Marriott Hotel is evidence of that and when British Airways announces that it has stopped flights, take note, as those guys don’t scare easily.

Number four is the Democratic Republic of Congo. Situated right in the middle of the African continent, this country conducted a major war between 1998 and 2003. The legacy is a land where cruelty and death are commonplace.

The fifth on the list, Somalia, is better known as the backdrop to Ridley Scott’s violet movie Black Hawk Down. If you want to travel outside of the capital Mogadishu, which is relatively safe, then don’t, unless you hire armed body guards.

Sudan comes in at six and in 2007, it was officially named as the most unstable nation in the world. Its western region of Darfur has redefined the word barbarity, but many parts of the country are scenes of civil war, terrorism and general chaos.

On the southern border of Sudan is number seven on our list, Uganda. This has been comparatively stable recently, but the Ugandan Lords Resistance Army might be helping to change that. In their fighting with the Ugandan army in the north, they use abducted child soldiers to inflict their inhumanity on the local population. Being helpful to tourists is not top of their agenda.

And while in Africa, few would venture to Zimbabwe for a relaxing break, although this country used to be a top destination. Political instability, civil war and hyperinflation have all contributed to a massive decline, but if all goes well with the recent leadership concessions, Zimbabwe might well soon recover.

Number nine is Chechnya, a former Soviet state, but now labeled a Federal Subject of Russia. Recently separatists, anxious to get away from their Russian overlords, have fought tooth and nail with pro-Moscow fighters, and no-one is too sure who will win out.

Another former Soviet state and a neighbour of Chechnya is number ten Georgia. Most recently in the news for Russian baiting, it has had to back away from its plans to join NATO as Russian tanks occupied the north of the country. Hopefully this country will drop out the top ten pretty quickly, but until happier times return, this might be the start of a new cold war.

Okay, so that’s it, the top ten most undesirable travel destinations. Use the list so as to avoid making a horrible mistake.

Source From http://package-holidays-direct.co.uk/ the best place for Package Hoildays


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Insurance and Age

August 13th, 2008 by admin | No Comments | Filed in Banking and Insurance, Car Insurance, Home Insurance, Personal Insurance, Pet Insurance, Tesco Insurance, Travel Insurance, eCommerce Associates

Sourced from http://www.insurancebanking.co.uk

How old do you have to be before insurance becomes a pressing concern in your life? Is it something that comes along with kids and a house? Should you care about insurance while you are in school? Should you focus on saving money or buy insurance?

No one would ever argue that growing up is easy and as the years go by it seems that more and more responsibilities keep being added to your plate. As if a job and home were not enough to worry about, now you are being asked how much cover you are carrying!

Here is some simple and straightforward information to help you get started with your first venture into the world of purchasing insurance. This article will over which types of insurance are most important for young adults and which can be postponed to a later time.

Car Insurance

A minimal amount of car insurance is a legal necessity, and one that can only be forgone by committing to riding public transit. However, the amount of insurance that you purchase is quite flexible and should reflect your unique position.

Are you driving a thrice handed-down vehicle with duct-taped seats and more miles than the Challenger? If this sounds like you then maybe protecting what is inside the vehicle (you and your passengers) is more important that carrying extra insurance against theft.

>> Get your free quote today

Home and Contents Insurance

You may just be starting to build up your possessions, but its likely true that you have one or two valuables that you would like to protect. There is a variety of home and contents insurance options available to you; some for individual items and others for your entire home.

Balance the cost of contents insurance against the risk of damage and the value of your belongings. Also be sure to understand clearly how your landlord’s insurance works. It is a common mistake for people to rely on their landlord’s insurance, when it may not provide them with any cover.

>> Learn More

Health Insurance – For You and Your Pet

Health insurance is one of the places that people tend to try to scrimp and save – but this makes the least amount of sense for a budget. Even though you may feel young and invincible, a health crisis can strike at any time and such problems can be financially and emotionally devastating.

Health insurance is one area where purchasing the maximum amount possible is always a safe bet. Learn more about how Tesco can help (link to health insurance)

As for your furry friend, pet insurance can be a good investment, especially if it will cover your pet for their entire life without age limit. It is likely that your pet is the first member of your new adult family, the first being to rely completely on you. Do not let them down and do not put yourself in a position where financial constraints force you to make a difficult decision.

>> Learn more about Tesco Pet Insurance

Final Thoughts

Remember, insurance is not meant to be a lottery – you do not want to carry such excessive cover that making a claim seems like a dream come true. Instead, your level of cover should reflect your lifestyle.

Purchase as much as you can afford and remember that you can always increase the level of cover as your circumstances change.


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Save On Insurance and Then Grow Your Funds

August 13th, 2008 by admin | No Comments | Filed in Auto Cover, Banking and Insurance, Car Insurance, Home Insurance, Personal Insurance, Pet Insurance, Tesco Insurance, Travel Insurance, eCommerce Associates

Sourced from http://www.insurancebanking.co.uk/

Many people living in the UK are simply paying too much for their insurance. Whether you carry home, car, pet, or health insurance, or some combination, if you are not covered by Tesco then you may be paying more than you have to.

Signing up with Tesco can mean big insurance savings on car cover, pet cover, health cover, and home cover. Plus, cheap insurance from Tesco does not mean a sacrifice in value. Tesco’s comprehensive cover provides a variety of options not available from other companies, along with customer service that cannot be rivalled.

How much could you save?

Depending on your insurance needs and your current costs, you could create substantial savings by switching to Tesco.

>> Discover how much you could save today

Watch your savings grow…

After discovering how much you could save every month by switching to Tesco, consider stashing these funds away in a high-interest savings account.

If you think about, these savings are a bonus above and beyond your current monthly budget, so it is money that could be easily parted with. Instead of splurging on a shopping trip, pay yourself and think about your future.

Tesco Internet Saver accounts provide high interest rates, as well as quick and easy access to your funds. With a Tesco Internet Saver account, you are not limited by minimum deposit amounts or maximum transaction rates. You are truly in charge of your funds.

Plus, some of the highest interest rates available ensure that your money grows quickly, providing fast return for your good saving practices.

Quick Steps to Fast Savings

By taking advantage of Tesco’s products, you are well on your way to fast savings. Follow these simple steps…

  • Learn more about switching your health, pet, car, and house cover to Tesco and start saving each month on your insurance costs. Receive your quote now!
  • Commit that every month you will put the amount you are now saving on insurance into a high-interest Tesco Internet Saver account.
  • Sit back and watch your money grow!

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Selecting the Best Travel Insurance

August 12th, 2008 by admin | No Comments | Filed in Banking and Insurance, The Post Office, Travel, Travel Insurance, eCommerce Associates

Sourced from http://www.quoteservices.co.uk/

When you’re planning a fun holiday for you and your family, one of the last things you want to think about it the potential for something going wrong. However, it may be critical to consider purchasing traveller’s insurance for those times when you may need a little help. And considering the fact that you may be in a completely foreign country, a little traveller’s insurance can mean the difference between a good holiday and a bad one.

Don’t Create a Hassle

If you leave buying your traveller’s insurance until the last minute, you may have to deal with the agony of spending more money. While it may be easy to simply dismiss the idea of having insurance at all, things do happen. You could miss your flight, lose your baggage, lose your money, or become ill or injured while you are in a completely foreign land.

Travel Insurance Works for You

Travel insurance is designed to help you deal with these unforeseen circumstances that, if faced without, may lead to an expensive adventure that could very well have been avoided. For many people, travel insurance allows them to continue their holidays, when without, may not have allowed the holiday to take place. Travel insurance brings a piece of mind that should accompany every holiday – and allow you to do what you intended to do in the first place: relax and enjoy.

What Coverage Do You Have Right Now?

Are you sure you’re covered? It has been brought to many people’s attention, who are travelling abroad, that the terms and conditions on many credit cards contain clauses that mean many people are not insured when travelling abroad. Many people believe they are covered, when in fact, they are not. It is critical to be insured and important to be covered for every eventuality.

Consider these points

Your travel insurance should reflect the personal needs of you and your family. Reflect on your unique requirements by considering these points:

  • How many members of my family are covered under the family policy of the insurance?
  • Are legal costs included if a damage claim needs to be made?
  • Does the policy include all of the activities you may do on your holiday? For example, if you’re planning to go to Switzerland to sky-dive, ask your insurance provider if you’re covered in the event of an accident
  • Does your policy cover personal liability? In the event that you accidentally cause an accident, are you properly covered?
  • Does the cancellation policy start once you’ve signed the document and the cheque?
  • Is the travel insurance coverage dedicated to your service? Do they provide a 24-hour emergency service/assistance company?
  • Does the policy provide a proper amount of coverage for any sort of medical emergency? The government recommends at least £1 million in coverage
  • Is the insurance provider able to provide you with a full refund if your trip is cut short or cancelled?
  • Does the limit for stolen, lost or damaged possessions sufficiently cover what your travel items are worth?

Enjoy Your Holiday

Travel insurance is often an after thought when booking your holiday, but can be a saviour if things go wrong, especially is you’re thousands of miles away from home. Consider being properly prepared for anything when you go on holiday. It will mean a truly relaxing and enjoyable trip for you and your family.

Planning a holiday in the near future?

The Post Office™ provides comprehensive and affordable travel insurance plans.


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For all the best deals on Home, Car, Travel and Life Insurance, Credit Cards, Travel Money cards and Savings Accounts from The Post Office visit www.quoteservices.co.uk/

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Getting the Best Currency Exchange

August 12th, 2008 by admin | 2 Comments | Filed in Banking and Insurance, The Post Office, Travel, Travel Insurance, eCommerce Associates

Sourced from http://www.quoteservices.co.uk/

Of all the different ways to protect your money while travelling, none is more important than getting the best currency exchange rate for your traveller’s cheques. It is very easy to become convinced that you are getting the best currency rate, but how do you know for sure? How do you know where to go for the best currency exchange rate?

Whether or not you’re looking for a favourable exchange rate for your next holiday, or you’re considering purchasing overseas, and you need to transfer a large sum from UK pounds into local currency, you should always be looking for the best rate.

Currency Exchange Rates Matter

It is always critical to be on the lookout for good exchange rates, no matter what amount of money you’re planning to change. The better the exchange rate, the more money you’ll find in your pocket. Also, if you plan to change money back into pounds and pence when you return to the UK, you want to make sure you’re getting the best possible deal during both exchanges.

Going on Holiday?

If you are planning on travelling to a location where currency exchange is your only option, make sure you keep these tips in mind:

  • Try to avoid exchanging your foreign currency at the airport before you fly
  • Airport currency exchanges are often less favourable and also require a set commission for merely changing your money
  • “Commission-free” often does not mean commission free
  • “Commission-free” deals often alter the exchange rate in their favour in order to recover the lost commission

More Exchange Tips

There are several other good tips for those overseas travellers looking to save money. Take the time to review these tips when looking to avoid onerous currency exchange rates:

  • Take out money from your account at an ATM instead of an exchange counter
  • Avoid credit card advances
  • Try to get a credit card that best suits your overseas travelling needs, especially a card that doesn’t add extra percentages to a standard 1% conversion fee
  • Read up about your destination to see what works best
  • Consider wearing a money belt

Big Purchases? Big Exchange Rates?

Exchange rates can be at their most expensive if you plan to buy property or something of significant financial impact. If you are planning to buy property overseas, you will be required to change your UK sterling into the currency required to compete your purchase. By transferring a large sum of money, you don’t want to lose hundreds of pounds simply through the currency exchange. It is always important to consider hiring a specialist broker, rather than simply exchanging money through your bank. Talking to a specialist broker can also save you money, if you had planned to use currency exchange company suggested by your real estate company. Specialist brokers can offer extremely favourable exchange rates on small or large amounts of money.

Always read and inform yourself about the best possible rates and appropriate action when dealing with currency exchanges. It will ultimately save you money and improve your overall holiday.

Planning a holiday sometime in the near future?

Click here to find out more information about foreign currency exchange and holiday insurance packages.


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Child Passenger Safety – Taking Care of Your Most Precious Cargo

August 12th, 2008 by admin | No Comments | Filed in AA - Automobile Association, Auto Cover, Banking and Insurance, Personal Insurance, Travel Insurance, eCommerce Associates

sourced from http://www.cover-direct.co.uk

Are you protecting your most precious cargo when you drive? Seatbelts have long been mandatory in the UK, however, it was not until recently that legislation was passed to ensure the safety of UK children when driving. On Sept 18th, 2006, new regulations became law concerning the enforced use of child car seats in the UK. The changes to child car seats were long overdue: the last time the laws were updated was back in 1993. Previously, child seats and booster seats were suggested to be used “where available”.

New Regulations to Change Old Habits

What exactly are the new rules? The regulations state that “all children travelling in an automobile must be subject to the appropriate safety restraint.” Although simple sounding, these regulations are designed to prevent a repeat of the nearly 11,000 children under the age of 11 killed or injured in car accidents in 2005.

It has been suggested that the proper use of a child restraint could have prevented a large number of these injuries and deaths. These new rules also apply for the transportation of babies – for example rear facing baby seats cannot be used in the front passenger seat when an airbag device has been activated.

While seatbelts create safety for adults, child restraints are far more capable of protecting a child’s life. Seatbelts are designed with the adult body-type in mind and are not suitable to the smaller child frame. Lawmakers have suggested that recognizing this fact and implementing the changes in child-restraint laws could prevent over 2000 child deaths each year.

How Do I Know Which Child Restraint is Legal?

An appropriate safety restraint conforms to the United Nations standard, ECE regulation 44-03. Yet in addition to this, the child must fit into the child restraint! Make sure you have found the seat most appropriate with your child’s weight and height. Don’t forget to check with the manufacturers’ instructions – it may save your child’s life.

Choose Your Child’s Seat Carefully

It is important to understand the different types of child seats and their proper usage. A child’s weight and height must be considered when choosing a child restraint. There are several different child restraints which the government has suggested to match a child’s weight/height ratio.

  • Group 0 – Rearward facing child seats (for babies up to 10 kg)
  • Group 1 – Forward facing child seat (for children 9-18 kg)
  • Group 2 – Booster seats (for children 15-29 kg)
  • Group 3 – Booster cushion (for children 22-36 kg)

Some Extra Precautions

Now that you have chosen your child’s restraint seat it is imperative to remember to make sure that the belt is worn snugly. Also, the lap belt should go over the pelvic region, not the stomach. Finally, the diagonal strap should rest over the shoulder, not the neck. If you can apply these new rules and regulations to your child’s protection, you are well on your way to protecting your most precious cargo!


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