Direct Travel Insurance are covering claims resulting from closure of airspace due to volcanic ash, and will continue to do so. Direct Travel are treating volcanic ash clouds as a “weather related” event.

All conditions and exclusions in your policy remain unchanged.

Direct Travel are covering claims under the following sections (subject to policy limitations):

• Section 7 Missed Departure and
• Section 8 Delayed Departure or Abandonment

What should I do if my travel plans have been affected?

If your flight has been cancelled or delayed, whether you are in the UK or abroad, in the first instance please contact your airline and/or travel company.

You can submit a claim under your Direct Travel Insurance policy for costs such as accommodation and transport that cannot be recovered from another source such as the airlines, tour operators, hotels etc.

For eligible claims they will pay:

• Delayed departure – up to £350
• Abandonment – up to £6,000
• Missed departure – up to £1,000

Please note that the policy limits and conditions specified in your policy document will apply, and will depend on the level of cover you bought.

If you are stranded abroad due to travel disruption, Direct Travel Insurance will automatically extend your policy period until you return home, at no extra cost, for all policyholders.

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Direct Travel Insurance are covering claims resulting from closure of airspace due to volcanic ash, and will continue to do so. Direct Travel are treating volcanic ash clouds as a “weather related” event.

All conditions and exclusions in your policy remain unchanged.

Direct Travel are covering claims under the following sections (subject to policy limitations):

• Section 7 Missed Departure and
• Section 8 Delayed Departure or Abandonment

What should I do if my travel plans have been affected?

If your flight has been cancelled or delayed, whether you are in the UK or abroad, in the first instance please contact your airline and/or travel company.

You can submit a claim under your Direct Travel Insurance policy for costs such as accommodation and transport that cannot be recovered from another source such as the airlines, tour operators, hotels etc.

For eligible claims they will pay:

• Delayed departure – up to £350
• Abandonment – up to £6,000
• Missed departure – up to £1,000

Please note that the policy limits and conditions specified in your policy document will apply, and will depend on the level of cover you bought.

If you are stranded abroad due to travel disruption, Direct Travel Insurance will automatically extend your policy period until you return home, at no extra cost, for all policyholders.

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Volcanic Eruptions and Travel Insurance

Thursday 6th May 2010

I am sure everyone has heard about the volcanic eruptions from Eyjafjallajokull in Iceland. Judging by many of the reviews left on this site it seems like a lot of people have been left out of pocket from their travel insurance companies.

There were believe it or not some companies that honoured their policies that customers that had taken out with them. The insurance companies that have actually been doing their job were; Marks and Spencer, First Direct, HSBC, RBS, Natwest, Direct Line, Churchill, Fortis and Aviva.

These companies have stated that they will cover policy holders who had taken out their insurance cover before the 13th April.

The problem now is that now the event has happened no insurance company, even the ones listed above will cover you for and claims related to the volcanic eruption as no company will cover you for an event which is known about at the time when the policy is purchased.

If there is anything we can learn from the past month then it would be to take out annual cover or to get your single trip cover as soon as you book your holiday and not leave to the last minute. Also there is something you may have noticed about the companies that have been paying out for the volcanic eruption. They are respected companies that do not offer the cheapest insurance going, but it seems like it was money well spent for some.

What are the airlines liable for?

If your flight is cancelled or delayed for more than 12 hours then most airlines are offering bookings on later flights or if that is impractical then a full refund of your tickets.

If you are stuck away from home then airlines based in the Europran Union are required to cover resable costs for accomodation and food.

What if I booked a package holiday?

If you booked your holiday via a package  operator and it included your flights then you are probably the best protected. If the company you booked through it ATOL protected then it is the companies responsibility to get you home if your flight is cancelled or delayed. They will also cover you for a refund if your holiday is cancelled before you go.

Please read through our independent user reviews and leave a review, both positive and negative welcome to help others make an informed choice on the travel insurance provider.

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With so many travel insurance providers all apparently offering the cheapest with great cover it can be difficult to choose who to go for. We are here to help you with that choice.

Read though independent user reviews on over 30 of the top insurers in the UK to see how past customers have found the company. Good or Bad.

You can also leave your own review to help others make an informed choice on their purchase of travel insurance.

To help you with your travel insurance purchase we have a comparison feature which does not just show you the cheapest available from a provider but the cheapest they offer with the minimum cover as recommended from respected consumer magazine WHICH.

Read interesting stats and facts on general statistics, how much its going to cost you if you do not have insurance and fun facts about different countries.(Read More)	All ready to go away? Make sure you have done and got everything with our checklist. (Read More)
There are quite a few common questions that get asked over and over again. Find the answers here.(Read More)

Top 10 most reviewed travel insurance

RANK	Product	Features	Price	Full Review
#1	Insure and Go 3.36 from 5 Users Rating: 3.36	N/A	N/A	12 reviews for Insure and Go...
#2	Insure with Ease 3.78 from 5 Users Rating: 3.78	Single trip / Multi-trip / Backpacker / Ski	N/A	9 reviews for Insure with Ease...
#3	World Nomads - Promotional Code 4.71 from 5 Users Rating: 4.71	N/A	N/A	7 reviews for World Nomads - Promotional Code...
#4	Go Travel Insurance 3.75 from 5 Users Rating: 3.75	Single trip / Multi-trip / Backpacker / Ski / Cruise / Golf / Group / Business / Over 65	N/A	4 reviews for Go Travel Insurance...
#5	Columbus Direct 3.22 from 5 Users Rating: 3.22	Single trip / Multi-trip / Backpacker / Ski / Business / Over 65 / Adventure	N/A	3 reviews for Columbus Direct...
#6	Churchill Travel Insurance 4.17 from 5 Users Rating: 4.17	Single trip / Multi-trip / Backpacker / Ski	15% OFF	2 reviews for Churchill Travel Insurance...
#7	JS Travel Insurance 4.33 from 5 Users Rating: 4.33	Single trip / Multi-trip / Backpacker / Ski	N/A	1 reviews for JS Travel Insurance...
#8	Direct Line Travel Insurance 5.00 from 5 Users Rating: 5.00	Single trip / Multi-trip / Backpacker / Ski	N/A	1 reviews for Direct Line Travel Insurance...
#9	Direct Travel Insurance 4.67 from 5 Users Rating: 4.67	Single trip / Multi-trip / Backpacker / Ski	N/A	1 reviews for Direct Travel Insurance...
#10	Travel Insurance Direct - Promotion Code 4.67 from 5 Users Rating: 4.67	N/A	N/A	1 reviews for Travel Insurance Direct - Promotion Code...

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Company Information

Holiday Insurance Web ou can go equipped with quality travel insurance that you can tailor to your needs, with the flexibility to add or remove cancellation cover, baggage cover, excess payments and winter sports cover. So you only pay for cover you need at the right price, and also with Holiday Insurance Web – kids go free.

Holiday Insurance Web offer cover for single, annual, backpacker, winter sports and those over the age of 65.

Policies and Sample Prices

Prices are to be used only as a guide and are not always the cheapest offered by the insurer.

Quotes are based on one adult of 35 with the following minimum cover:

Medical Cover – At least £2 million

Baggage – At least £1500

Cancellation or Curtailment – At least £3000

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Company Information

Travel Insurance Web aim is to offer a high level of cover for cheap prices. With your baggage, cash and documnets covered as standard we believe that they deliver on that promise.

Travel Insurance Web are an online only company which keeps the costs down passing the savings on to you. Offering Single trip, annual and winter sports. Over 65 then their sister company Insure For All can help.

Policies and Sample Prices

Prices are to be used only as a guide and are not always the cheapest offered by the insurer.

Quotes are based on one adult of 35 with the following minimum cover:

Medical Cover – At least £2 million

Baggage – At least £1500

Cancellation or Curtailment – At least £3000

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Going away for a weekend break or for that annual week or two away with the family. Then single trip insurance is ideal for you. A single trip insurance policy will cover you for all you basic needs whilst you are away on your holiday. This is the most popular type of insurance for people to take out and is usually fairly priced with many providers letting children be insured for free.

What will be covered?

Most companies offer various levels of cover starting from basic to a high level of cover. Basic policys will usually have a higher excess and lower cover limits whereas the top policies will have no excess meaning that if something was to happen whilst you were away you will not have to pay any money at all. Also think about what you will be doing on your trip. Are you going skiing then make sure you take out specialist ski insurance otherwise you will not be covered. In general most standard single trip policies do not cover any sports or adventure tours. If you are going to be doing adventure sports then it is best to take out backpacker cover as they are usually covered as standard. If you are going to be taking expensive electrical equipment such as a laptop or MP3 player then make sure that the cover you are provided is ample to cover your costs of the equipment as some may only pay out to a certain amount. It maybe worth to pay extra to get them covered to there full worth.

What to look out for

• 24 hour assistance
• Lost & stolen property protection
• Liabiltiy cover
• Cancellation and curtailment
• Personal accident cover
• Legal expenses cover
• Terrorism Cover (Now becoming standard)

Our Top 5 Picks

We have based our top 5 not on just the cheapest policies but ones that should cover you in case anything should happen to you on your trip.

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Do you go away for more than two trips a year? Then annual multi-trip insurance is ideal for you.

A annual multi trip insurance policy will cover you for all you basic needs whilst you are away on your holiday. This is the second most popular type of insurance for people to take out and is usually fairly priced and also is given away free with many credit cards and bank accounts.

What will be covered?

Most companies offer various levels of cover starting from basic to a high level of cover. Basic policys will usually have a higher excess and lower cover limits whereas the top policies will have no excess meaning that if something was to happen whilst you were away you will not have to pay any money at all.

Also think about what you will be doing on your trip. Are you going skiing then make sure you take out specialist ski insurance otherwise you will not be covered. In general most standard single trip policies do not cover any sports or adventure tours. If you are going to be doing adventure sports then it is best to take out backpacker cover as they are usually covered as standard.

If you are going to be taking expensive electrical equipment such as a laptop or MP3 player then make sure that the cover you are provided is ample to cover your costs of the equipment as some may only pay out to a certain amount. It maybe worth to pay extra to get them covered to there full worth.

What to look out for

• 24 hour assistance
• Lost & stolen property protection
• Liabiltiy cover
• Cancellation and curtailment
• Personal accident cover
• Legal expenses cover
• Terrorism Cover (Now becoming standard)

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Skiing is a sport that has become extremely popular throughout the world. Every year,thousands of people take to the slopes for a fun and relaxing holiday. Many people who ski do not think about the costs they may incur if they were to have an accident. There are many things that can happen while skiing. For instance, you could suffer an injury, have your equipment stolen, or a storm may force you to cancel your holiday.
Companies are now offering ski insurance as part of a travel insurance policy. The following is a list of reasons why you should purchase ski insurance before going on your next vacation:

Trip Disruption

If you are stuck for a few days due to a storm and cannot participate in ski activities, you will be covered for phone calls, lodging, and meals. Most ski travel insurance will reimburse your costs if you are unable to ski for two or more days due to bad weather. They will cover the cost of lift passes, ski school fees, and any other expenses you incur.

Trip Cancellation

You never know when nature is going to intervene and force you to cancel your trip. When there is a snow or ice storm, usually roads, highways, and even airports are closed. If you have to cancel the entire trip due to a storm or other unexpected event such as an illness or death in the family, ski travel insurance will cover your cancellation costs.

Delayed Luggage

When traveling by plane many people have gone through the frustration of having their luggage delayed. Ski insurance will cover the costs of basic necessities and even the cost of renting gear while you wait for your own gear to arrive. You will not miss a minute on the slopes

Injury

Skiing is an exciting activity. When you are soaring down the slopes, you run the risk of being injured. If you are in another country, medical bills can be very expensive. Ski travel insurance will cover medicals incurred as the result of an injury. It will be one less problem you have to worry about if you suffer an injury. Ski insurance also protects against others. You never know when a collision with another skier may occur. Legal and court costs can be very expensive. Having personal liability insurance will cover you in the event someone sues and you have to go to court.

Equipment Loss

Ski equipment can be very expensive. Not being able to use your ski equipment can be very frustrating. This could be the result of misplacing your equipment, theft, and damage. Ski insurance will cover any loss or damage to your equipment. Before you buy your policy, make sure your provider explains the term ‘unattended goods.’ You may not be covered if you step away from your equipment for a moment, or if you leave equipment outside, and it is stolen.

Ski Rescue

Every year it is common to hear about skiers who were lost on the slopes and needed to be rescued. This could be the result of a storm, damaged equipment, or skiing away from the slope. Rescue efforts can be very expensive, especially if a helicopter is needed. Ski insurance will cover you if you have to be rescued.

When choosing the appropriate ski insurance, you should not make a decision based on price only. You should make sure you obtain a comprehensive policy that will meet all of your needs. Read the policy to understand what you are covered for because if you make a claim and you are not able to be reimbursed, then you have wasted your money. You should also shop around for the best coverage and the best price. It is important to note that if you are in an accident where alcohol and drugs are involved, you will not be covered if you are the one under the influence.

Skiing is an activity that millions of people look forward to each season. Having the appropriate insurance will allow you to have a stress free and fun vacation.

To help you make an inform decsion with your winter sports travel insurance we have searched through all the insurers to find the best and most importantly cheapest policies.

We have listed the Top 5 below. We have made sure that all the policies will help you if anything was too go wrong on your trip with up to enough cover being applied, such as cover for off piste skiing, mountain rescue, piste closure and for your ski equipment. The quotes are based on an adult for 7 days in Europe.

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Backpacking is different from a regular trip in so many ways and that’s why its essential that backpacker travel insurance should be purchased before you travel. It tends to one of the main things that people forget and they may end up regretting it. There are just so many potential hazards with your trip! Firstly, the standards of hygiene differ from country to country. If you’re staying in a youth hostel some are more secure than others. You have to prepare yourself for the fact that you could lost your bag, passport and money! If you’re traveling to remote areas, you’re at a much higher risk than normal. You may have to consider the possibility of mugging. Then of course there’s always the chance of trying some sort of extreme sport, accidents do happen so you must take out an insurance policy before you go.

So what should you look for? Backpacker travel insurance tends to be aimed at individuals of the age of 35 and under although some will cover up to the age of 65. The length of time covered frequently starts at four months and can last anything up to a year. Much like any other type of travel insurance, any pre-existing medical condition has to be declared. If you don’t divulge this information when buying the policy you may find it void at a later date.

As a rough guide, your policy should cover the minimum.

• Baggage and belongings cover;

• A minimum of £1 million personal liability insurance, in case you injure a person or cause damage to their property;

• A minimum of £2 million of medical cover;

• Repatriation, including air ambulance, in the case of serious illness or injury;

• A minimum of £3,000 cancellation/curtailment cover, so you can get home if there is an emergency, such as a death in the family;

• A 24-hour emergency helpline.

As always, ensure you have thoroughly read the policy documents to ensure you’re covered.

Backpackers insurance will cover you for most places in the world although there are certain countries which may be deemed to dangerous. Areas such as Western Europe will be fine but more information about this can be supplied by your insurance provider. The best idea is often to call them, you are the customer and they want your business so they will be interested in meeting your needs.

In summary, backpacker travel insurance is well worth the initial outlay. Don’t put it off, the sooner you book it the better. You’ll have that peace of mind and know that you can concentrate on enjoying your trip!

Our Top 5 Picks

We have based our top 5 not on just the cheapest policies but ones that should cover you in case anything should happen to you on your trip.

More information regarding backpacker travel insurance can be found at http://www.insuranceforbackpackers.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ian_W_Bradshaw
http://EzineArticles.com/?Backpacker-Travel-Insurance&id=2541970

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