Annual Travel Insurance - Is It Enough?

Annual Travel Insurance - Is It Enough?
by Peter Ecob


In theory an annual travel insurance policy sounds great, you pay a one-off fee and all your journeys are covered for the next 12 months. For most standard journeys this is fine but if you delve deeper into the conditions of your policy you may find the level of cover is not as comprehensive as first appears.
Today people travel for a wide range of reasons and the travel insurance policies available to you have evolved to meet the more varied demand for appropriate cover. The nature of your travel and the activities you have planned upon your arrival now have a huge impact in determining which travel insurance policy is right for you. In this guide we will look at which policies are suitable for certain types of travel.
If you are planning to take a winter holiday you may want to consider taking out winter sports insurance. This form of insurance provides cover for activities such as skiing and snowboarding, covering both injuries and the loss or damage of sports equipment. Fewer than 60 countries have a reciprocal healthcare agreement with the UK and without adequate cover a broken leg in Switzerland could cost you around £25,000.
If your holiday is likely to involve you taking part in adventure activities such as bungee jumping or white-water rafting it would be advisable to take out a form of adventure holiday insurance. Many of these adventure activities may be exempt from a traditional travel insurance policy so failing to take out appropriate cover could mean you facing a hefty bill should something go wrong. When purchasing adventure holiday insurance always ensure your planned activities are covered by the policy.
A backpacking holiday is another activity that can require a specialised policy. Backpackers insurance is a form of long term insurance that can last up to 18 months. Policies also cover you when working abroad which may be necessary when travelling for a long period of time, particularly for students. When taking out backpackers insurance it is essential to check that all the countries you plan to visit are covered by the policy, particularly if you're travelling to countries where your EHIC card is not valid. Also remember that some third world or war-torn countries may not be covered.
If your work requires you to travel abroad you should consider taking out business insurance. This type of policy can cover business equipment such as laptops and PDAs and business documents. Some policies also cover the travel expenses if you are taken ill and another member of staff has to fly out and take your place. Business insurance also covers you for personal injury and liability, something that insurance provided by your employer may not.
Many standard insurance policies have an upper age limit (usually this is 65). Once you breach this limit travel insurance can become more expensive as you are considered a higher risk. In this situation you should seek insurance from providers who specialise in cheap travel insurance for the over 65s. Regardless of your age if you have any pre-existing medical conditions it is vital to let your insurance company know before buying the insurance. Such a condition is likely to increase the cost of your policy but it's a small price to pay; if you fail to declare any medical issues your insurance policy is unlikely to cover you and this could result in a large bill for any medical treatment.
As you can see the type of travel insurance you need varies wildly depending on the nature of your journey. In addition to choosing the correct type of policy also remember to check your travel insurance covers all the basics including medical expenses, loss of luggage, money and passports, repatriation costs, cancelled or delayed flights and damage to third parties.
When looking to save money on your travel insurance remember that choosing the correct policy is just as important and a few extra pounds could save you thousands.
About the Author
If you are searching for cheap travel insurance be sure to compare policies online. By searching hundreds of policies instantly you can get a great deal on your travel insurance.

Queensland- Top 10 Hot Spots

Queensland- Top 10 Hot Spots
by Jenny Brewer

1. Brisbane:There is so much to do in Queenslands capital city. Visit the Alma Park Zoo, picnic and swim at Southbank Parklands or view the city and coastal region from Mt Cootha lookout. There is always the option of the exhilarating Storey Bridge Climb, or why not take the ferry over to Stradbroke Island for a relaxing day trip. 2. Gold Coast:Known for its amazing theme parks, this is the ultimate holiday destination. Visit the tourist strip at Surfers Paradise with long stretches of white beaches, Currumbin Bird Sanctuary and Sea World are great for a family day trip, or for thrill seekers you cant go past Dream World or Movie World. 3.Lamington National Park:Including the Gold Coast Hinterland and stretching out to the surrounding mountains and valleys, you will find amazing rainforest and walking trails here with popular attractions including Binna Burra, Springbrook National Parks and Coomera Gorge. Mount Barney National Park and Mount Warning offer incredible walking trails, camping sites and lookouts. 4. Glasshouse Mountains:Easily accessible from the Bruce Highway, this tourist region offers exhilarating lookouts and camping spots at Coochin Creek. The best walks are Glasshouse Mountains Lookout and Wild Horse Mountain Lookout. Mount Tibrogargan is the most impressive as it looms over the forest below. The famous Australia Zoo is also close by at Beerwah. 5.Noosa:Being the main tourist centre of the Sunshine Coast, Noosa is a very popular tourist spot. The Cooloola National Park and Noosa National Park both offer fantastic camping sites with raw natural beauty. Hastings Street is the place to be for stylish shopping and beach side restaurants, and head to the Noosa River for all types of water sports, fishing and boating activities. 6. Montville:Located in the Sunshine Hinterland, this area is popular for weekend retreats and day trips. With exquisite art and craft shops and sweeping views of the coast through to the Glasshouse mountains, it is perfect for a weekend getaway or stopover. Visit Lake Baroon for a picnic, or travel down to Maleny for some more sightseeing. 7. Sunshine Coast:Packed with tourists, this region includes Alexandra Headland, Mooloolaba, Maroochydore and Coolum. It also extends to the great Blackall Range. There is so much to see, with fantastic coastal drives and blue waters. It is the ideal base for a relaxing holiday in the sun. 8. Mackay:This tropical city is a great base to explore the neighbouring islands such as stunning Brampton Island or smaller Keswick Island. Dont miss the Mackay Botanic Gardens or Marina Village close to the city centre. The coastline offers fantastic drives and scenery. The Cape Hillsborough National Park is located north from the city has excellent campsites and stunning beaches, plus inland lies the Eungella National Park which features the Finch Hatton Gorge. 9. Lower Barrier Reef Islands:This southerly region of the Barrier Reef is teeming with underwater beauty, known for unique tourist islands such as Heron, Lady Elliot and Lady Musgrave. Most popular activities include underwater diving and exploring the exquisite coral reefs, just metres away from the beach. Easily accessible for a day trip from Bundaberg or Gladstone. 10. Townsville:This is the ideal city to visit the lush tropical islands off the coast such as Orpheus, Dunk, Magnetic and beautiful Bedarra. The Hinchinbrook Island National Park is another world heritage listed gem that is a popular tourist hideaway. Why not take the family to the Billabong Wildlife Santuary close to the city, or relax at the Strand on the beachfront. Alligator Creek, next to the lovely Bowling Green Bay is great for a day trip.
About the Author
Jenny Brewer is a travel agent whose passion is writing. After spending her leisure time writing time writing childrens stories, she now enjoys writing about travel destinations. For more of her articles visit Car Hire Australia


del.icio.us
Furl
Technorati




Blinklist
Reddit
Spurl
Everywhere Else


-->

Online accommodation for Koh Phangan

Online accommodation for Koh Phangan
by Clint Jhonson


In the past few years, many people have turned their attention to unique holiday places and Thailand proved out to be one of the most popular. The island of Koh Phangan is visited by millions of people, looking for possibility to loosen up and who are captivated by this corner of heaven.
Situated in the gulf of Thailand, Koh Phangan can be easily reached in various ways and it can offer different choices for accommodation. The Internet has served very well to the advertising of exotic holiday destinations and today there are literally hundreds of websites on such subjects. The important thing is to stick with the one that presents the most interesting and easy to comprehend information.
What does the Internet has to say about the island of Koh Phangan? It starts with it being a wonderful destination, with white beaches and beautiful gardens. The accommodation offers online refer mainly to bungalows and houses but there are many other opportunities. The prices differe on the type of property one is interested in and also on the rental period.
The island of Koh Phangan is reputed for many things but nearly all the tourists are attracted by the incredible beaches, with an almost virgin look and likewise by the ethnic experience. The traditional cuisine is another element for which this island is known worldwide, including fascinating dishes with plenty of seafood.
When it comes to accommodation on the island of Koh Phangan, there are several options and they are very well presented online by professional websites. These are trying to highlight that there are many rental and sale possibilites, helping the customer to narrow down available choices. For any property, they present the surroundings, the main characteristics and of course the price. All these things are important and this is why specialized resources try to make them as accurately as possible.
For some tourists, saving money on the property rental is highly important. The purpose of these websites is to provide their customers with a wide variety of offers, with all kinds of properties and rental agreements. Also, it is significant to present a little of this tropical island and what opportunities are there. This may serve very well for the tourist, making him/her to take a better and informed decision.
Aside from the strolling down the beach and bathing in the wonderful waters, one can also enjoy training courses for snorkeling, fishing and benefit from the incredible herbal steam rooms. Apart from those, certain facilities offered include yoga, massage and other natural therapies. For more active tourists there are presented online special experiences regarding hiking, boxing and even elephant trekking.
All the tourists looking for accommodation in this amazing island should know that the Internet holds out the best information possible. Specialists are prepared to suit every taste of the customer, especially in case of the cozy and lovely bungalows. These are enjoyed by couples, wanting to retreat and be just themselves, in their intimacy.
The Internet can be a great online resource for property rental or sale, long/short term rental and bungalow possibilities. There are a multitude of offers online for accommodation on this beautiful island and one may be interested to check out the special offers. Thailand has many things to provide and it can tranform into one of the best holidays ever taken.
About the Author
Vacation houses and bungalows are just some of the accommodation we have in store for you, as the next tourist to visit the tropic island of Koh Phangan. Start your search for a perfect holiday using our services and you will see that you do not have to go any further.

Visiting London

Visiting London
by Kate Bond

While visiting London, don't forget these popular attractions. If you have always dreamed of visiting London and seeing the sights, you may have wondering what to do when you get there. There is so much to see and do in London when visiting that to see everything could take months. What if you only have a couple of weeks? Finding the tourist attractions that fit your agenda can be simplified by using this list of some of the top hot spots for tourists visiting London. Obviously, there is much more to London than what is listed here. These are just the essentials to touring one of the oldest cities in the world. Top Museums To See While Visiting London First on our list is the National Gallery. It houses one of the greatest collections of European paintings. If you are familiar with Leonardo da Vinci, Rembrandt or Van Gogh, this museum houses those collections and several others from famous artists. There are literally thousands of exhibits to see and it could take days to see it all. Special guided tours and holiday events make visiting extra fun. To get there, just ask to visit Trafalgar Square and walk from there. This museum is often considered the number one place to see while visiting London. Another great spot is the Natural History Museum. Kids dig the dinosaur exhibits. Not to be missed is the earthquake simulator and an elephant bird egg. This museum is interactive, educational and rewarding for anyone with a curious mind. Located on Cromwell Road, this museum is great for families. London isn't just a great place to visit the hundreds of museums; you can also take a peek at some of its most favorite landmarks. London is well known for its palaces and other historical buildings that allow visiting and tours. One of the most highly visited buildings in the London area is Buckingham Palace. It gives you the opportunity to see the Royal Throne Room, Ballroom and more on it's tour. Don't forget the world famous changing of the guards. Also, the Palace gardens are exquisite for anyone who likes to see a little green. You won't want to forget your camera. The Tower of London, a highly recommended place for anyone visiting the city, offers tours throughout most of the year. This tower began its life in 1078, when William the Conqueror first ordered its construction. The tower itself has been the location of palaces, prisons and even a zoo. Learn of its history by taking a free guided tour of this most famous tower, home of the Crown Jewels of England. The Rest Of The Best To See While Visiting London If looking for an experience you'll never forget, London offers its unique London Dungeon. This frightening tour offers an image of London in its most deadliest and frightening times. This fun adventure let's you explore the Great Plague, Jack the Ripper and more killer fun. For a family vacation, London offers its visitors a fantastic zoo. The London Zoo offers exotic animals, tiny and strange bugs and loads of fun for guests of any age. With over 650 animals on display, you won't want to miss this adventure. Admission also includes exquisite gardens, exceptional architecture and fine art exhibits. Whatever sort of attractions you crave, London offers some of the best in the world. When you book a trip, remember the top picks but also invent your own adventure while visiting London, England.
We run a High-Class escort and it's been a good number of years since we first launched the London escorts agency Bond & Mayfair web site. Originally we weren't based on the web at all, business has always been booming and all we had to do is rely on adverts in magazines such as What's On etc...good advertising is partly what we needed to do. Times have changed but in fact for the better in many ways as we are now the most recognised and respected escort agency in the UK.
To have a successful London escorts agency you need to put in long hours with a lot of determination and dedication. This is the minimum effort you need to actually stay in business in this industry, a lot of people will try to bring you down and try to make you look small. They think they know everything that there is to know but really and truly they don't know much at all, these are the 'Bedroom Boyz'.
Looking at the industry from a distance it is getting much better as more and more people are beginning to realise that acquiring cheap service from a so called high-class London escort agency is not always the right choice. Most of the time they get burnt.
Bond & Mayfair will at all times strive to provide the best value for you and we constantly keep a perfect blend of old world service at the same time keeping modern demands and comforts as high priority.
There are many others just likes us that are trying very hard to keep things nice, clean, friendly and professional but the list is now beginning to grow endlessly and only the best are being remembered.London escorts agency owner living in central London
About the Author
London escorts agency owner living in central London

The History And Origin Of Valentines Day

The History And Origin Of Valentines Day
The oldest Valentine card still in existence was sent in 1415 by Charles Duke of Orleans, at the time a prisoner in the Tower of London, to his wife. The Duke's Valentine's card is now preserved and displayed in the British Museum.
However, the origins of Valentine's Day lie in ancient Rome. Over the years the ever expanding Roman empire became more difficult to police and there was an increasing shortage of soldiers. Believing that married men were too attached to their families and unlikely to sign up for active service, Emperor Claudius II banned marriage, thinking this would increase the number of quality recruits.
The story goes that a Christian priest by the name of Valentine, seeing the unhappiness and trauma that resulted, secretly married couples in defiance of the new law.
It wasn't long before Emperor Claudius found out about Valentine's actions and the priest was imprisoned and eventually executed on February 14, 270.
Whilst in prison, Valentine was befriended by his jailer, a character called Asterius. Asterius had a blind daughter and the jailer asked Valentine to cure her, which he supposedly did. Shortly before his execution, Valentine asked for writing implements and signed a farewell message to the jailer's daughter "From your Valentine", a phrase that has lived on, much to the delight of modern day florists, rose growers and card companies!
Author: Tony Luck runs a personalized gifts site that specializes, among other things, in personalized ceramics - greeting cards, commemorative plates and tankards.

Birthday Gift Baskets ? The Ideal Gift For Everyone!

Birthday Gift Baskets ? The Ideal Gift For Everyone!
No matter how old we are, we enjoy being remembered on that special day of the year that celebrates the day we were born! Birthdays are a time to recognize special people in our lives with joyous celebration. It is a time-honored tradition to pay tribute the birthday gal or guy with a mouth-watering cake decorated with sugar-laden frosting sculptures and a candle representing every year of their life on earth! We bestow on them gifts and cards filled with birthday verses and best wishes for many more birthdays to come. Birthdays are just plain fun!
Typically, the most difficult part of the birthday celebration is deciding what to buy the recipient. After all, what do you buy for someone who has it all? Admit it ? every year it becomes more difficult to find the "perfect" gift for your mom, dad, sibling, husband, and even the kids in your family. How much time do you spend thinking about it and ultimately browsing through department stores without a clue?
Birthday gift baskets are an excellent choice for the birthday gal or guy at any age ? they are virtually fail-proof and always a big hit with the recipient. The question may come to mind, "What are the perfect ingredients for a gift basket?" That will vary from one individual to the next. The great thing about birthday gift baskets is that they can be built for children and adults of any age ? and based on their unique interests and likes. The following ideas may help you in selecting a birthday gift basket for everyone on your list:
Women
You can't ever go wrong with a birthday basket designed for every special woman in your life, whether it is your mom, grandmom, wife, sister, or daughter. Women love to be pampered. A pampering basket may include bath and body products, a loofah, a fragrant candle, an inspirational book, and a CD of soothing sounds of nature. The woman who enjoys gardening would welcome a basket containing a garden trowel, gloves, decorative garden picks, seeds, and hand lotion packed in a decorative flower pot. For the tea lover, a perfect basket would consist of flavored teas, biscotti, a tea infuser, and a china tea pot.
Men
Men are not as hard to please as you think ? and a birthday gift basket is a perfect solution for that hard-to-buy for dad, husband, brother, grandfather, son, or boss! If he is your handyman, fill the basket with small tools and gadgets he is always mentioning he needs but never buys. Don't forget to add some treats to round out the basket ? after all, you will want to satisfy that sweet tooth. Consider a sports-oriented theme for this birthday gift basket. There are great options out there for sports enthusiasts in every category. If you are thinking about something with a little more style, a bottle of cognac, his favorite cigars, and gourmet treats may appeal to him ? packaged in a brown derby!
Kids
The sky is the limit when selecting a birthday gift basket for a kid of any age. Stick to items that are age-specific from babies through teens. Consider items that you know the child likes. You can stick with a specific theme or create a hodge-podge of items that you know will bring hours of enjoyment to a child. Ideas for an assortment of items are a small stuffed animal, books based on age and interest, healthy snacks, travel-size games, small puzzles, and flavored beverages for kids. Consider containers they can reuse.
If you just do not know what items to select, consider a gourmet food basket that usually satisfies everyone's pallet ? even the most hard to please! There is no limit on what you can include in a birthday gift basket, but always consider the recipient when making a gift basket purchase and ask yourself whether or not he or she will like the birthday gift basket you select!
About The Author
Wendy Wood is the owner of Seek Gift Baskets, an online gift basket directory listing professional gift basket designers from around the world. http://www.seekgiftbaskets.com

Tools and Tips for Keeping the Holidays Organized

Tools and Tips for Keeping the Holidays Organized
It's November 1st. You've walked into your favorite store to buy half-priced Halloween candy and what do you see? Christmas decorations! "Oh, no!" you think to yourself. "That can only mean one thing..."
The HOLIDAYS are coming!
Don't stress-you're going to start early and be more organized this year...Here are some tools and tips for staying on top of the busy and sometimes stressful holiday season.
TOOL #1: Lists
Why keep lists? Whether they are written on paper or typed onto your computer, a list allows you to do a sort of 'brain dump' of everything you need to recall at a moment's notice. There are so many different things to remember when it comes to holiday time: Your husband's shirt size, the spices you need for this year's stuffing, what store has gift wrap on sale, etc. Unless you have an incredible memory, keeping lists will help get you through some of the stress of the holiday season.
Some examples of list topics you may need during the holidays are:
food shopping list
lists of dishes to prepare when entertaining
gift list
invitation lists
TOOL #2: Calendar
This may be the most important organizing tool you use this season. Why use a calendar? A calendar is a tool that helps you plan what you need to accomplish in a day, a week, or a month. And boy, is there a lot to accomplish during the holidays! As opposed to just making to-do lists, sometimes seeing time in visual blocks on paper (or electronically) helps one to manage their time more efficiently...
Examples of activities to be scheduled during the holidays are:
food shopping
gift shopping
cooking
wrapping gifts
trips to the post office
holiday parties (whether hosted by you or someone else)
Become a 'Master of Time Management.'
How will you know how much time to put aside for each task? Work backwards from the day or time that a task needs to be done by. Estimate how many hours/days it would take to complete the task. Schedule the time and and mark your calendar accordingly.
For example:
Task:
Cooking a turkey for Thanksgiving (to be ready by Thursday at 5pm)
Steps:
Purchase turkey at least one week before Thanksgiving (enter task in calendar for the week before Thanksgiving)
Defrost turkey 2-3 days before Thanksgiving depending upon size (calculate defrosting time and enter task in calendar to be started on Monday or Tuesday before Thanksgiving)
Cook turkey. This can take 3-6 hours depending upon size (calculate cooking time and write on your calendar for Thursday what time the bird needs to be in the oven by in order to finish cooking by 5pm)
A schedule is a guideline and should be flexible. Try to schedule tasks to be completed ahead of deadline. This allows for any problems or emergencies that may arise.
TOOL #3: Quality Storage Containers
Dishes
Are your holiday dishes in a box in the attic? A great product for protecting and storing your holiday (or any type of) dishes are China Keepers. They are padded/quilted, made of either cotton or vinyl and come in different shapes and sizes depending upon your storage needs.
*Lillian Vernon Online sells them in six different patterns including one set decorated for the Christmas season (www.lillianvernon.com).
Holiday Decorations
Some people decorate their homes only in the winter and some people choose to decorate for every holiday in the year. Whichever person you claim to be, it is important to keep your decorations from being ruined due to improper storage and care. A few options are:
large plastic bins with ornament dividers
ziploc bags for small items such as ornament hangers and anything small enough to get lost in a big box
small plastic bins for lights, candles, and the ziploc bags of smaller items
wreath boxes specially designed for wreath storage (found at www.organizes-it.com)
*Label everything so you can find it easily next year.
Leftover Food
Wrapping leftovers in tinfoil might be a quick way to get them from frying pan to fridge but you'll be spending a great deal of time figuring out what's inside of them. Use food containers such as those made by Rubbermaid or Tupperware or 'disposable' containers such as ones made by Glad and Ziploc. They're found in most supermarkets. They stack well and if you want to give out leftovers to your guests, they're not very expensive to replace.
Tips for staying organized throughout the holiday season:
Wrap gifts and write holiday cards as early in the season as possible. I don't know anyone (including postal employees) that want to be in the post office around the time of December 25th...
Shop early in the season, at off-peak hours or online if at all possible
When storing ornaments, group them by theme. This will make it easier to find exactly which ones you want.
After the holiday, sort through ornaments, wall/door hangings, linens, etc. and purge anything that you do not need, want, or is beyond repair.
Above all, remain calm. If you stay organized, the holidays will be less stressful and you will enjoy yourself even more. HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
About The Author
Stacey Agin Murray, professional organizer and owner of Organized Artistry, LLC, transforms 'mess' into 'masterpiece' with patience, organizing know-how, and a sense of humor. For more articles and to get your FREE e-list of 'Top Ten Tips for Organized Living' visit http://www.organizedartistry.com; stacey@organizedartistry.com