However, whether youre planning to take your car from Manchester to Aberdeen or London to Paris (via Dover and Calais, of course), its crucial to check that your vehicle is in working order and fit for extensive driving trips before you embark on your holiday. This could involve a range of tasks, from getting your car serviced to checking the limits of your car insurance.

Essential things to do before setting of on a driving holiday

To make sure youre well prepared for your driving holiday, write a check list so you dont forget anything essential. For starters, its important to ensure that your car is in working order – it might sound obvious but theres nothing worse than getting stuck on a quiet country road in the middle of the night, in an area you arent familiar with, and no help in sight. By getting your car serviced at a garage a few weeks before you leave, youll be able to establish whether anything is likely to go wrong and have plenty of time to get it fixed.

Next, check that your insurance is up to date and isnt going to expire while youre still on holiday. If youre travelling within the UK, your car insurance is likely to be valid wherever you go. On the other hand, if youre planning a driving holiday in Europe, its important to call up your insurer before leaving to check whether you will be covered.

The popularity of ferry routes like Dover to Calais in France, Harwich to Hook of Holland near Rotterdam and Holyhead to Dublin mean that driving holidays in Europe are becoming increasingly popular with British holidaymakers. Yet, research released in May 2009 revealed that 38 percent of drivers dont know whether their car insurance policy covers them when driving abroad, and 18 percent wrongly think that their vehicle will be covered by their travel insurance while overseas. The specifics vary between insurers but most will only offer a few days free cover for driving in Europe – so make sure you know what options you have before leaving.

Making sure European driving cover is included in your car insurance

If you go on driving holidays in Europe regularly, it might be worth getting European cover included in your motor insurance policy as standard. Its easiest to do this when its time to renew your policy – ask your current insurer what scope there is to increase the amount of European cover days on your insurance, or conduct a car insurance comparison online to find a cheaper rate.

Dont forget breakdown cover either – most insurers do not offer UK breakdown assistance as part of a car insurance policy, so theyre unlikely to include European breakdown cover. With the right insurance in place – as well as a spare canister of petrol in your boot and a fully-charged mobile phone – youll be able to embark on your driving holiday with the peace of mind that, should anything go wrong on the road, youre well protected.

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pHarvey McEwan writes to make insurance (especially car insurance!) a happier place. Youll often find him here: a target=_new href=http://uk.insurancewide.com/insurance/car/ rel=nofollowhttp://uk.insurancewide.com/insurance/car//a/pbr
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If you have been a person who has previously had cancer and wants to go on an overseas holiday, you may find that you have your work cut out for you when it comes to finding an affordable travel insurance policy.
In fact, there are some insurance firms which will not offer any insurance at all to those who have had or do have cancer. Of the companies that do offer insurance, they sometimes charge you more than the cost of your flights. For instance, one company, Free Spirit, charges a 48-year-old woman who had breast cancer five years ago ?248.70 for a 17-day worldwide policy. Compare this to someone without any health concerns where the insurance costs are as little as ?20.
This example has been backed up by a recent survey conducted by the charity ‘Cancerbackup’ which reveals that nine in ten people struggle to get travel insurance if they have had cancer. Even if people are fit to travel, seven in ten are offered policies with sky high premiums or else refused insurance all together, the survey suggests.
And so as a result of insurance problems, one in 20 people linked to cancer choose to travel without insurance. One in ten, as a result, cancel their trip.
But there is now, perhaps, some hope. As a result of the survey conducted by ‘Cancerbackup’, the Association of British Insurers (ABI) is investigating whether companies are in fact discriminating against cancer sufferers. The association says it also wants to make sure the ‘Cancerbackup’ survey results have not put people off taking out travel insurance all together before going on holiday. A spokesperson for the charity Macmillan Cancer Support calls for this sort of probing saying: “The insurance industry needs to recognize that not all cancers are the same and treat people accordingly.”
Cancer as a disease itself is so grueling for people it is only natural many of them want to give themselves a relaxing overseas holiday when their treatment is finished. And rightly so says, one of the firms that does offer cancer suffers insurance – Medi Travelcover.
A spokesperson for the company says the extra costs for the insurance are worth it because when someone is feeling low, a holiday can be just what they need. The company says it has sympathy with people who are refused travel insurance outright.
“Being refused insurance can have a terrible impact on their morale”, the spokesperson says.
When it comes to life insurance or private medical insurance it is quite understandable how someone might be refused the opportunity to take out cover. But then it seems crazy that someone who has had cancer a long time ago cannot get any reasonably priced medical insurance for a straight forward holiday. The situation is likely to become more of an issue too, with one million people having been diagnosed with cancer sometime in their life. So it is no wonder the Association of British Insurers is now doing some probing about the situation – some might argue that the probing has not happened soon enough.
Websites which offer more information include the Cancerbackup website (http://www.cancerbackup.org.uk) and Cancer Research website (http://www.cancerresearchuk.org).
New articles based around insurance for UK residents.

Travel Insurance Policies When Travelling To Australia

Travel insurance is often neglected when planning a holiday or business trip. In Britain we are used to a free healthcare system and often forget that in many countries this is not the case. We tend to not realise that luggage can be lost at an airport and that pick-pockets operate in Lisbon as well as London. Most of the time, travel insurance acts as a peace of mind…right up to the time you need it and then it can be the most important article in your suitcase.

Why Do I Need Travel Insurance?

As we are all aware, accidents can happen at any time and in any place to anybody In the worst of circumstances, this can cause significant injury as well as ruining a holiday or business trip. Unfortunately no-one can predict when these accidents will occur or the severity of them when they do. The only thing to do is to have a high quality travel insurance policy. It may feel like you are gambling against yourself when arranging such a policy, however, nothing could be further from the truth.

Luggage can be easily lost at airport, this in normally sufficient to ruin a holiday, having to endure a flight and then to traipse around a shopping centre to buy clean socks and shirts. Travel insurance can’t make this impossible to happen, but can help pay for your new clothes, which will ease the pain a little.

Something as innocent as a wet floor or trip down a flight of stairs could lead to a hospital trip, for example, to administer to a broken wrist or ankle. Medical insurance will usually cover the cost but if you need to return early your travel insurance policy may have a clause to allow this to be claimed for.

When in a foreign country and hiring a car try to know the local traffic laws. We drive on the left in the UK, not too many countries follow suit on this. In Australia they drive on the left hand side, and driving laws are similar to that in the UK. If you cause an accident, personal liability may be an issue. A good travel insurance policy will also have a clause that allows travel back to the UK if a medical emergency arises.

What Should I Look For In Travel Insurance

Travel insurance is a safety net when abroad. A good travel insurance policy should cover you for medical and health cover for an injury or sudden illness abroad, 24 hour emergency service and assistance and personal liability cover in case you are sued for causing injury or damaging property.

Other things to consider when purchasing travel insurance are, what is the value of your lost and stolen possessions cover? What’s the maximum you can claim on a single piece of your inventory? Are you covered for cancellation and/or curtailment of your flight or ferry? Does your policy have extra cover for activities that are usually not included standard policies, such as jet skiing or adventure activities? Are there any financial insurances in case your carrier airline becomes bankrupt before or during your excursion abroad?
Socio-Political Issues

Australia has a seasonal weather system of extreme weather conditions. There are seasonal flash floods and long periods of intense heat. There are occasional cyclone systems in the summer months November to April. These tropical storms can cause small creeks to become engorged and the strong winds can cause some damage to buildings.

During the summer months there is also the possibility of bush fires. These can cause large volumes of smoke to be blown from the source into population centres such as the Victoria bush fire in February 2009.

Australia has a general threat of terrorism, similar to the UK. Common sense is required in high density tourist location’s. But no more than would be used in the UK.

Driving in Australia is permitted on a valid UK driving Licence and similar road rules apply, seatbelt must be worn, similar speed limits etc.

Specific Insurances

Australia has a fabulous reputation as a holiday destination. The sun, sea and sand formula is exceptionally powerful draw for visitors. Care must be taken however at beach destinations. Crime rates are similar to the UK, therefore do not leave articles alone on a beach. Travel Insurance will replace lost goods and monies but it’s better to have not had them stolen. Before embarking on a holiday activity, check that it is covered within your travel insurance policy. An accident resulting from a non-covered activity is not going to be paid out for by the insurance company. Some activities will be covered and these will be detailed within the policy.

There is the obvious risks at Australian beaches of improper equipment so check all materials and vehicles to the best of your ability. Don’t be afraid to ask any instructors to show their qualifications if appropriate.

As you travel further to the centre of Australia, you enter the Outback. The dangers here are from heat and wildlife. Its advised to have a satellite phone as mobile signal is very sparse in the desert. It is important to know your travel insurance contact number should any mishap occur as well as the phone number of the territory police number.

If you decide to go on a more adventurous holiday such as skiing, make sure you have winter sports cover. There are places to ski in Australia, though for many visitors from the UK, its not the first thing they think to do when disembarking at Sydney airport.

If you partake in a helicopter tour of the local area, be aware that baggage and belonging are carries at your own risk. Therefore travel insurance is recommended to cover your effects.

Should you run into difficulties and they exceed the level of cover supplied by your travel insurance policy the British consulate is located at

British High Commission in Australia
Commonwealth Avenue
Yarralumla
ACT 2600
Australia

Canberra
Telephone: (+61) (0) 2 6270 6666 This number is NOT for passport or visa enquiries
Fax: (+61) (0)2 6273 3236

Visa & passport contacts:
1300 858 472 Visa enquiries
1300 367 066 Passport enquiries
1902 941 555 General info

Andy Harcombe is a freelance marketer who writes for a number of companies and magazines.

This article was written for Insure Your Trip. Experts in insurance worldwide travel insurance.