Internet is the best place to look for travel insurance

When it comes to purchasing single trip or annual travel insurance, people should turn to the internet to identify the best deals, it has been suggested. According to travel expert Sophie Butler, a "common pitfall" when purchasing holiday insurance is to accept packages being offered by tour operators or airlines.

Writing in the Telegraph, she explained that doing so could leave holidaymakers paying out more for insurance that provides them with less cover than a policy from a specialist provider. Ms Butler also urged customers to consider buying an annual policy if they are planning on travelling more than three times within 12 months.

She wrote: "You're likely to get the best rates by purchasing cover on the internet." Urging travellers to check the small print of their holidays, the travel journalist suggested that it is "deadly boring to do, but it's the only sure-fire way to know what you are and aren't covered for".

Earlier this month, the Air Transport Users Council predicted that the online check-in procedure being introduced by Ryanair could lead to cheaper flights for passengers.ADNFCR-1320-ID-19064002-ADNFCR

news source : http://www.world-first.co.uk/

Five Historical Figures In Need Of Travel Insuranc

1. Byron :

In 1824 the immoderate libertine found himself in Messolonghi consorting with Alexandros Mavrokordatos on how best to recapture the Turkish fortress of Lepanto for Greece. Falling ill in mid-february he responded badly to the treatment of ýbleedingý, eventually developing a fever from which he never recovered. With the choice of repatriation offered by a basic travel insurance policy, would he have stayed and lost his life before the battle began? We will never know.

2. Hannibal

A nightmare proposition for any insurance broker. ýYouýre taking those elephants whereý?ý. Still, most holiday insurance policies would have offered ample compensation for the loss of a third of Hannibalýs army and most of his cavalry. With that kind of financial muscle, which was apparently unforthcoming from Carthage, very little would have stopped a march on Rome herself. Ah, what could have beený

3. Napoleon

Mired in snow and mud, starving hungry and marching towards an enemy that fled before their every approach, Napoleonýs invasion of Russia in 1812 was as catastrophic an experience as the Frenchman had even known. With a monstrous trail of dead behind them the French took Moscow, only to find the city razed and barren. Now, if travel insurance premiums had been top of his concerns, who knows how Napoleonýs plans would have developed? Perhaps, without finding a broker crazy enough to support him, le petit caporal would have stayed in Corsica and become a lawyer like his father. Or perhaps not.

4. William Buckley

With an astonishingly strong claim for ýWorst Holiday Everý, we have William Buckley. Transported to Australia in 1803 for stealing a piece of cloth, Buckley and a group of fellow convicts managed to escape their prison ship onto the shores of modern day Victoria. By now alone and lost in an unreal landscape of venomous creatures he was taken in by the Wautharong Aborigines. After 32 years of an affectionate life amongst this new community he was rediscovered by a European settler ship in 1835. Officially pardoned and then hired as an interpreter he soon became disenchanted and left for Van Diemenýs Land, where he lived until his death in 1856 in as much obscurity as he had lived. Madness, we say! He should have milked his holiday insurance for all it was worth and retired to a beach-side mansion in Queensland. If it had existed.

5. Odysseus

If thereýs anyone that could benefit from travel insurance, even cheap travel insurance, then itýs Odysseus. What if the Trojans decided to press charges after he sneakily trashed their city with his wooden horse? Surely thereýs some mental trauma involved in trawling through Hades? Just how many shipwrecks was this man involved in? Slaughtering the cattle of the sun-god Helios was definitely a bad choice too. Now, he may be mythical, but these are things that concern a dedicated insurance broker and all weýre saying is that if heýd had the support of a decent policy behind him maybe it wouldnýt have been such an Odyssey afterall.

news source : http://www.eco2day.gr/

Holidaymakers urged to buy insurance for breaks in Britain

Cash-strapped holidaymakers who opt to save money by spending their vacations in the UK instead of abroad are being urged not to overlook travel cover. Although the number of Brits planning to spend their holidays in the UK this year is booming, travel insurance providers say there has been no corresponding increase in the number of policies taken out for UK travel, prompting concerns that travellers are forgoing insurance simply because they do not think it is relevant if they are staying in the country.

The insurance price comparison website Confused.com said only 2% of all travel quotes sought via its portal were for customers looking for UK cover. "The number of UK insurance policies sold is dwarfed by that of European and worldwide policies, and in our experience fewer people shop around for UK cover," said Steve Williams, head of travel insurance at Confused. "But travel insurance should be seen as a vital part of any holiday you are planning, whether it be in the UK or further afield."

Although Brits do not need travel insurance to cover them for medical emergencies in the UK, it is recommended in case of cancellations or curtailment, which could leave holidaymakers with lost deposits and reservation fees, or hefty cancellation charges. However, Williams said holidaymakers should be careful to avoid doubling up on insurance they already have – items taken on holiday may already be covered by home insurance policies, while people with annual global or European travel cover will automatically be covered for trips in the UK.

Direct Travel Insurance said the most common reasons for cancelling holidays were redundancy, family illness or jury service. Last year, more than 150 claims relating to holidays taken in the UK were made by its policyholders, with an average of £1,074 being claimed for cancellations. Hoburne Holiday Parks, which has seven holiday parks in the UK, has seen its bookings rise by more than a third compared with this time last year. The company offers its customers an optional holiday cancellation scheme for its family lodges, which can cost more than £1,000 during peak times. Under the scheme, the company will waive its contractual rights if customers are forced to cancel a holiday.

news source : http://www.guardian.co.uk/

Insurance industry accused of genetic discrimination

TONY EASTLEY: You've heard of age discrimination or discrimination on the basis of gender, but what about people suffering discrimination because of what's in their genes? A new study has found that the insurance industry is using genetic information to decide who gets cover and how much they pay.

Simon Santow reports.

SIMON SANTOW: About a thousand people who'd undergone some form of genetic testing were asked about their experiences with insurance companies. Ten per cent of them had run into problems.

KRISTINE BARLOW-STEWART: Life insurance was the most common domain of concern cited by these respondents.

SIMON SANTOW: Each was in good health and unaffected by the area of family medical history for which they'd been tested.

According to associate professor Kristine Barlow-Stewart from the Centre for Genetics Information at Sydney's Royal North Shore Hospital, there was plenty of evidence of discrimination. KRISTINE BARLOW-STEWART: There was a range of concerns cited. In some cases people had been denied insurance outright either on the basis of their family history or because of a genetic test result.

In other cases their insurance premiums were loaded excessively or in other cases exclusion clauses were inserted into their policies for claims of cover at the onset of particular illnesses.

SIMON SANTOW: Simply because they had answered yes to a question 'have you ever had a genetic test for cancer' or that sort of thing?

KRISTINE BARLOW-STEWART: Some of the insurance applications would have asked that question directly but regardless of whether they'd been asked that question directly or not, it is part of the contract when applying for a life insurance that you must tell the insurer all information that is known to you that is relevant to your risk assessment. That would include, of course, your family history but also the result of genetic testing undertaken by you or your close relatives.

SIMON SANTOW: Isn't there a certain irony in all of this that genetic testing of course is completely voluntary and if you didn't find out, you couldn't be discriminated against? KRISTINE BARLOW-STEWART: Yes, and of course that's one of the concerns that we have. In two cases in this study we now have confirmed evidence that fear of discrimination by insurance companies and other perhaps employers are preventing people from accessing genetic testing and deriving the benefits that they may get from that and then this is a very concerning issue.

SIMON SANTOW: Experts expect the problem of genetic discrimination to grow with the popularity of genetic testing and screening at a time when medical science is evolving and becoming even more sophisticated.

news source : http://www.abc.net.au/

EHICs do not replace family holiday insurance

People should carry a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) with them when they travel abroad but it is not an alternative to travel insurance. That is according to the Post Office, which suggested that it is "essential" for Brits to carry their EHIC on holidays in other member nations of the European Union because it provides free or reduced-cost treatments.

That being said, Rachel Croft, head of travel insurance at the Post Office, warned holidaymakers that they should not feel the EHIC replaces any need for a comprehensive holiday insurance policy. "It won't cover costs such as mountain rescue, repatriation or lost baggage - so we urge people to ensure they are fully covered against all eventualities," she said.

To highlight the importance of being fully prepared for the worst, it pointed to several case studies suggesting that skiing accidents typically cost travellers between £4,000 and £10,500. Last month, moneysupermarket.com urged people with travel insurance to check their policies to see if they are covered for flight delays as a result of bad weather.

news source : http://www.world-first.co.uk/

Claims rise drives up Aviva car premium

HIBERNIAN Aviva yesterday said it expected to increase car insurance premiums by at least 7.5pc this year despite the deepening recession. The insurance giant's chief executive Stuart Purdy made the comments as he revealed a 50pc collapse in the company's annual operating profits, to €181m (€203m).

The poorer result included a €40m hit for weather-related claims, a multi-million euro provision for redundancies and a "5pc to 7pc" fall in average premiums, Mr Purdy said. Figures from UK parent company Aviva also showed the Irish division made losses of £4m on its core general and health insurance underwriting business last year, against profits of £101m in 2007.

Describing the result as "solid", Mr Purdy said increases in general insurance premiums were "needed" to deal with a 30pc rise in claims over the past year and significant falls in premiums over the past five years. "We're seeing an increase in 'own damage' claims and we're seeing people claim for things they maybe wouldn't have claimed for before the downturn," said Mr Purdy.

news source : http://www.independent.ie/

Brits scrimping on holiday insurance

Some 80 per cent of domestic holidaymakers do not take out travel insurance, according to the latest research from World First. With all figures showing domestic holiday traffic will increase sharply this summer – by as much as 30 per cent, according to Continental Research statistics - it is important these primary holidays are protected. Key advice from World First is that consumers at least take out cancellation cover to safeguard their 'staycation' holiday.

There are significant losses to be made if a UK break is cancelled for whatever reason; most hotels charge two thirds of the holiday cost and nearly all self catering, holiday and camping parks charge a full 100 per cent "Our advice has always been to ensure you are fully insured wherever you take your holiday," comments Martin Rothwell, managing partner, World First Travel Insurance. "However, a study of our own statistics has revealed that a worrying number of people forget to take out any cover at all if they are taking a domestic break.

"At a time when all of us are watching what we spend, financial protection is more important than ever before." “People simply forget that they could be charged for a holiday they cannot take and there could still be major cost implications during a domestic break. "For example, most long distance ambulance trips home following an accident whilst on holiday are not covered by the NHS; they are covered by our policies."

news source : http://www.travelbite.co.uk/news/

Mondial Assistance responds to new regulations

According to a report filed by e-tid.com, the Financial Services Authority (FSA) introduced new rules on 1 January requiring the sale of connected travel insurance to be conducted by authorised or exempt companies only. The new regulation means consumers can no longer buy insurance as part of a holiday package unless their agent, tour operator or online retailer acts as the Appointed Representative (AR) of an insurer or insurance broker.

Ben Smart, UK sales director for Mondial Assistance, said: “Offering travel insurance to customers allows travel agents and companies to deliver added benefits as well as enable them to reap the rewards of ancillary revenue. The new regulations made it imperative for us to act quickly to maintain this revenue stream for our clients and help them provide an uninterrupted level of service to their consumers.”

Towards the end of 2008, Mondial Assistance won a new contract with leisure travel group, TUI Travel UK & Ireland, to provide a complete travel insurance solution. It was shared that Mondial will provide underwriting capacity for both the UK and Ireland through its insurance arm: Elvia Travel Insurance International. In addition, Mondial will provide claims management and international medical assistance for travellers. In-branch sales and compliance training will be delivered in partnership with Citybond Suretravel, who will also act as the medical screening provider for the contract.

Travel companies, for instance airlines in the US, are increasingly looking at a la carte ­pricing. It is being said that already airlines in other regions of the world are taking notice of what the US network carriers are doing.

news source : http://www.m-travel.com/news/

Brits cutting travel and other insurance cover

Five million Britons will reduce spending this year by cutting back on their insurance cover, it was learned in a recent LV= survey. Of that number, 2.2 million, or nearly 45 per cent, said that they would be reducing or cancelling their home insurance cover, in order to reduce their overall spending. The next most likely to be cut is flood risk insurance, with 29 per cent of the respondents in the study indicating that it would be the first aspect of their policy to go. This result was somewhat surprising, given the significant increase in flood damage claims in the past few years, with amounts averaging £17,000 per claim.

John O’Roarke, who is the managing director of LV= general insurance, commented: “Home contents insurance is not legally required but anyone who has suffered a flood or break in will know how important it is to have cover in place.” Motorists who are feeling the impact of the credit crunch are saying that they plan to cancel their comprehensive cover to say on spending. Over the last year, there was a 10 per cent increase in motorists choosing third party fire and theft insurance as opposed to comprehensive cover when they renewed their policies.

According to the findings of the LV= study, this figure will likely increase, as 37 per cent of the respondents stated they planned to cut back on car insurance costs in 2009. Twenty-two per cent have indicated that they will reduce or eliminate travel insurance cover as well. Thanks to www.financemarkets.co.uk for the above quotes, for more information on this article please visit their website.

news source : http://news.carrentals.co.uk/

Fire Department May Receive An Increase In Health Insurance Premiums

CORPUS CHRISTI - Emotions ran high at Tuesday's city council meeting, as union representatives from the police and fire departments argued against city staff's recommendation to increase the fire department's health insurance premiums by 18 percent. Firefighters and some of the council members had questions about how the proposed hike was being justified.

While many police officers learned for the first time Tuesday that their health care premiums wouldn't be increasing, Corpus Christi firefighters learned they could be facing an 18 percent increase. Currently, the city's policy increases premiums based on claims cost, including doctor visits, hospitalization and pharmaceuticals.

"There is equity every time you pay for what you use and you're not dependent on another group to subsidize your increases," Assistant City Manager Oscar Martinez said. "The city still has close to 18 million dollars in reserves, and they can absorb this increase that they wanted, to give to the firefighters of 18 percent," CCFFA President Carlos Torres said.

City staff said firefighters had an 18 percent increase in claims for the last fiscal year in the dollar amount of $450,000. They said the only way to make up that money was to increase premiums by 18 percent for the next five months of the fiscal year to pump it back into the city's reserve fund. City staff added that without doing that, the burden of paying those and future claims would depend on the taxpayers.

news source : http://www.msnbc.msn.com

Shopping around can bring travel insurance savings

Holidaymakers worried about budgets can make their cash go further taking time to find the best deal on travel insurance. That is according to the Glasgow Daily Record, which suggests that comparison sites can be used to help holidaymakers find the best deals on their single-trip or annual travel insurance policies. "Some deals will include travel insurance but often it pays to take out annual cover for the whole family," it suggested.

The newspaper also recommended that people preparing to fly away for a much-needed break think about going for an all-inclusive package deal and booking a hire car in advance for savings, if they think they will be driving. Travelling during off-peak times (during school term-time), booking last-minute flights and staying outside of city centres can also help to make the costs of a holiday more manageable. Earlier this month, the Irish Independent claimed that single-trip holiday insurance can often be more appropriate for people only planning to travel for two weeks in search of summer sun than an annual deal.

news source : http://www.world-first.co.uk/

CSA Travel Protection Celebrates Mardi Gras With Fun Facts

SAN DIEGO, Feb. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- The celebration known as "Mardi Gras Carnival Season" kicks off Friday, ending when the last reveler heads home on Fat Tuesday, February 24. CSA Travel Protection (CSA), a company dedicated to providing value-driven travel insurance and emergency assistance services, provides the following list of fun facts about Mardi Gras.

1. Mardi Gras is the direct French translation of "Fat Tuesday." It refers to the last day before the season of Lent begins.

2. The first American Mardi Gras was celebrated near modern-day New Orleans on March
3, 1699.

3. The official colors of Mardi Gras are purple, green and gold (representing justice, faith and power).

4. In New Orleans, private social groups called "Krewes" put on parades during the season's festivities.

5. Fat Tuesday is a legal holiday in Louisiana.

6. More than 60 parades and hundreds of private parties, dances and masked balls are scheduled annually in the New Orleans metropolitan area during Mardi Gras.

7. The Zulu Parade, put on by the oldest and most prestigious, predominantly African American Carnival club in New Orleans, will celebrate its 100th year in 2009.

8. The term "Throws" refers to plastic beads and cheap trinkets thrown by masked krewe members from floats as they pass by parade goers.

9. Mardi Gras, the day, is actually the last day of a long celebration of parades and merriment that begins 12 days prior to Fat Tuesday.

10. In 2005, more than one million revelers attended Mardi Gras in New Orleans.

Travelers heading to New Orleans or other Mardi Gras and Carnival destinations are reminded to protect themselves from unforeseen circumstances that could potentially postpone or cut-short their trip. While travel insurance can't stop the unexpected from happening, it can protect and support travelers when mishaps occur, such as flight delays and missed connections.

CSA offers its customers convenient protection when traveling, with additional benefits like No Out-of-Pocket Medical Expense. If a traveler develops an acute illness while on their covered trip, a one-time medical expense will be paid for treatment under $1,000*. Travelers can call their travel agent to purchase, or request more information on, this CSA Travel Protection exclusive.

About CSA Travel Protection

CSA Travel Protection is dedicated to providing affordable travel insurance and emergency assistance services to protect travelers' valuable investments and provide the peace of mind one deserves while traveling. Since its inception in 1991, CSA has developed a reputation for standing behind its customers and evolving products and services to meet their needs. Through superior customer service, extensive experience and industry-leading innovation, CSA is with its clients every step of the way whenever and wherever they are needed.

* When using CSA's designated provider network of 30,000 physicians and 850,000 service providers worldwide.

news source : http://sev.prnewswire.com/

The Crafty Traveller: A cheaper way to cover your tracks

Doing without travel insurance or buying the cheapest policy on offer is a temptation if you're trying to cut back on the cost of your holidays this year. But either approach is a false economy. If you have an accident abroad and are uninsured, you could be liable for medical and repatriation costs running into tens of thousands of pounds.

Buy a policy on price alone and you may find that it has stingy levels of cover, punitively high excesses that make it pointless to claim for, say, a doctor's bill, and endless exclusions that severely reduce the chances of any payouts anyway. Yet decent policies are available at very reasonable rates to most travellers, and there are ways to save on travel insurance without skimping on the cover.

BOOK IT DIRECT

The websites of airlines such as easy-Jet, Flybe and Ryanair automatically add travel insurance to bookings. If you don't want the cover, you have to deselect it. By doing so and taking your custom elsewhere, you'll save money. A week's insurance for a family of four travelling to Europe with online provider Travel Insurance Web (www.travelinsurance web.com) - recommended as a 'best buy' by the consumer organisation Which? - costs £16 to £20 depending on the age of the parents but £47.96 on Flybe's website.

It's a similar story for long-haul travel, with insurance for an individual going to the United States costing half as much with Travel Insurance Web as it does with online agents such as Lastminute.com and Expedia. You are also likely to pay heavily over the odds if you book your insurance through a conventional travel agent or tour operator rather than direct with a travel insurer.

news source : http://www.dailymail.co.uk/

Weak sterling could inhibit overseas holidays

The number of families buying annual travel insurance and flying abroad could drop off this year, as less people are likely to invest in overseas holiday homes, it has been suggested. According to Nubricks.com, the weak performance of the sterling will make it much harder for Brits to buy abroad in 2009, particularly in countries such as Morocco and Dubai, as well as those in the eurozone.

Adam Samuel, director of the overseas property website, suggested that UK investors in foreign property "will be very few and far between" until the pound is able to rally. "UK investors at the moment are struggling to find anything that stacks up that isn't in sterling," he added, noting that Britain's new "investor population" will be small in the coming months.

With the value of the pound falling against the euro, the relative cost of emergency medical treatment abroad and repatriation will have become even more expensive, making travel insurance that much more necessary. Recently, Foreign Currency Direct reported that overseas property is 47 per cent less likely to appeal to Brits this year than last.

news source : http://www.world-first.co.uk

Committee passes bill giving income tax deduction to offset health care costs

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Legislation that offers a tax break to offset the cost of health care has been approved by a state House committee. The measure by Rep. Jason Nelson would grant Oklahomans an income tax deduction equal to the amount paid by an individual for health insurance coverage. If approved, the credit would be available starting in 2010.

The measure passed out of the House Revenue and Taxation Subcommittee Thursday. The Oklahoma City Republican says the cost of insurance is so high that many people feel they cannot afford it. He says his bill will help offset that expense and hopefully reduce Oklahoma's estimated 600,000 uninsured residents. An estimated 1.18 million Oklahoma families and individuals would be able to deduct about $2.23 billion in health insurance premiums if the bill becomes law.

news soruce : http://www.kfsm.com/news/

Medical travel insurance patients require better solutions

The industry needs to present customers with better options when it comes to travel insurance for people with pre-existing medical conditions. That is according to the British Insurance Brokers' Association (Biba), the UK's largest insurance trade association. It told the Daily Mail that a solution to the difficulties patients face when taking out holiday insurance is long overdue.

Graeme Trudgill, a spokesman for the association, suggested that it wants insurers to recruit and train staff that are more compassionate to the needs of people suffering from conditions such as cancer or heart disease. "We're also working with the government on an Equality Bill aimed at ensuring a fair system of risk-based pricing which reflects an individual's likelihood of needing treatment abroad," he added to the newspaper.

Research from cancer charity Macmillan suggests that two in five (39 per cent) people affected by cancer receive higher quotes from their travel insurance providers, while many say that they have been refused for cover altogether.

news source : http://www.world-first.co.uk/

Domestic travellers must still think about insurance

Brits take more than 50 million domestic holidays a year, even though many of them do not take out adequate travel insurance, Sainsbury's Finance has warned. According to the holiday insurance provider, nearly seven million people (15 per cent of adults) have never holidayed abroad, while £10.9 billion is spent on British tourism every year.

However, travel insurance appears to make up a small proportion of holiday spending money for Brits staying within the UK, even though they are at risk from many of the same things as overseas holidaymakers. Sainsbury's explained that domestic travellers would receive NHS cover anywhere in the country but would be forced to pay for their own repatriation if holidaying without cover.

They would also be unable to claim for accommodation cancellations due to illness, internal flight delays or lost or stolen luggage. Meanwhile, people taking long-haul trips to faraway lands have been encouraged by ABTA, the Travel Association, to ensure they are fully vaccinated against common local diseases before travelling.

news source : http://www.world-first.co.uk

Travel Insurance - Brits skip travel insurance to beat the crunch

As the credit crunch hits Britain harder it has been revealed that nearly a quarter of British travellers are no longer keen on taking out travel insurance before heading off abroad. According to the study from American Express many of the travellers, who try to escape the tough times in the country by going on holiday, only search for last minute holiday deals.

The insurance firm reminded that by not having a valid travel cover with them while abroad, such travellers are putting themselves at risk. It also explained that medical issues, flight cancellation or the loss of or damage to luggage could suddenly occur and be followed by huge costs, which may have to be paid for from the travellers’ own pocket if they are not covered. Head of American Express Insurance Services, Chris Rolland said people who have adequate insurance cover stand to enjoy their holidays, home or abroad, as they are rest assured that they are fully protected in the event of any eventuality.

news source : http://www.onlyfinance.com/

New travel insurance for people living with medical conditions

MedicAlert and insurance broker Heath Lambert have partnered to offer a range of specialist insurance products for people living with medical conditions, disabilities and allergies. People with these pre-existing medical conditions often find it difficult to get personal insurance policies, such as travel insurance. The new range of insurance, available as part of Heath Lambert’s Unique Insurance Services, means people with medical conditions will be able to buy travel, life, home, motor and pet insurance and pension annuities from a specialist provider.

The insurance cover will be comprehensive and be offered at a competitive price. MedicAlert is a registered charity and MedicAlert members wear a bracelet or necklace containg vital contact and medical information. Full details of the medical condition are then held by MedicAlert’s emergency response service and these can be accessed by healthcare professionals in case of an emergency. At no additional cost to the purchaser, a donation will be made to MedicAlert. This insurance cover is available for those suffering with the medical condition, their families and carers as well as supporters of MedicAlert.

news source : http://www.moneyhighstreet.com/finance-news

Brits still unaware of new US visa requirements

Following a report that nearly 60% of British travellers are unaware of ESTA - the compulsory, new US visa requirement - EssentialTravel.co.uk today cautions that any traveller denied entry into the US, because they lack the necessary travel documents, will not be covered by their travel insurance.

As of now, anyone travelling to the US under their visa waiver scheme, must register online for the new Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA), at least 72 hours before they go. Any traveller who has not been pre-approved under the ESTA scheme, will almost certainly be prevented from boarding their flight in the UK, or be denied access into the USA by Customs officials upon arrival.

“Sadly ignorance is no excuse”, says Stuart Bensusan, Insurance Director at EssentialTravel.co.uk. “We don’t expect US Immigration officials are going to be lenient to anyone who turns up without the necessary clearance. And anyone who forfeits their holiday - flight, accommodation, cruise etc… - because they don’t have an ESTA, won’t be able to claim on their travel insurance: it’s their responsibility to secure the necessary travel documentation.’’

Stuart Bensusan urges anyone lucky enough to be travelling to Washington to witness Barack Obama’s historic inauguration ceremony next Tuesday (20th January), or any part of the US in the foreseeable future, to apply for an ESTA immediately at https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta

news source : http://www.easier.com

Family's dream holiday hits the skids

AN Isle of Man family's dream ski holiday hit the skids after a visa fiasco. John Middlemas's Columbian partner Luz Garcia and daughter Oriana, 14, had never seen snow before and were looking forward to a week's skiing in Zermatt, Switzerland. But their holiday plans were dashed when they checked in at Ronaldsway Airport on December 20 to be told that Luz and Oriana now required a visitor visa to enter Switzerland and so they could not board their Flybe flight. Computer programmer John, 54, said from the family's home in Spaldrick Avenue, Port Erin: 'The law was changed on December 12 without proper notice so that Schengen visas would now be required for entry to Switzerland.

'My partner and daughter are alien British residents and no visa was required when I checked the continental.com airline website page on November 27 when I booked the holiday myself. 'I was not aware of any change in the law. Therefore there was nothing I could have done and we lost our holiday. 'I phoned the Swiss Embassy and they are getting calls every day from other people who also lost their holiday.' The European Union decision to change to Schengen visas was only taken on November 28, giving just 15 days' notice. Mr Middlemas added: 'It is ridiculous! They could have given three months' notice and made the changeover after the ski season. It defies common sense.'

He said he could have lost £3,000, which will not be covered by his travel insurance and he now plans to seek compensation from the Swiss government and the EU – but conceded: 'It is doubtful they will pay. 'My holiday insurance policy does not cover visa related problems even though I made no mistake. Flybe will not refund the flight money. The Swiss train service will not refund the Swiss Transfer Tickets I bought. My approximate loss may be £3,000 depending if the hotel debits my credit card as they said they would due to late cancellation. 'Worse than any monetary loss is the loss of the holiday since my partner and daughter have never seen the snow and we were all looking forward to it. I personally feel like I have suffered a robbery or a trauma.

'The experience at airport check in was extremely stressful since I did not believe the airport staff were correct in their refusal since I saw only a few weeks ago that no visa was required. 'I believe the 15 days' notice of changeover to be an extremely irresponsible action causing many people to suffer. 'When the decision was finalised the Swiss Embassy could have told all UK airlines to contact all customers travelling to Switzerland about this. Then we could have cancelled early or got a visa. I am afraid this looks like negligence on their part to me.' Schengen allows non EU nationals who do not fall under the European visa waiver programme to travel on the Continent with one visa. The UK is not part of the agreement.Ruth Zumbuhl, consul at the Swiss Embassy in London said notification of the proposed changes to the visa regulations was posted on the consular website in mid October and advice to check the website had been given as far back at June. She said visas were issued free of charge from mid-November until December 11 and 1,000 people had chosen to take this up.Schengen visas were issued from December 15 and anybody turned back from the airport from that date could have a visa issued to them by the embassy within a few hours if they were able to do so, Ms Zumbuhl added. She said: 'We had some doubts about the exact date when Schengen would be implemented. It is unfortunate that it was just before Christmas.

'But it was not in our hands. We did our utmost to inform people and help them. At the end of the day, the final responsibility for obtaining up-to-date information on immigration rules rests with the traveller and the travel agent.' She advised Mr Middlemas to make a claim with the travel agents he had booked with but also gave an address that disappointed travellers could write to with their complaints – Federal Office for Immigration, Visa Section, Quellenweg 6, CH3003, Berne-Wabern, Switzerland.

news source : http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news