Posts Tagged ‘Holidays’

Travel Insurance for Skiing or Snowboarding Holidays

Tuesday, October 5th, 2010

Obviously some holidays and activities will be riskier than others.  The risks involved in skiing and snowboarding far outweigh a relaxing holiday on the beach.  This is why it is more expensive to get travel insurance for a holiday in which you plan to partake in winter sports.  A lot of people however, are continuing to head off on their skiing or snowboarding holidays without adequate travel insurance.  By leaving themselves unprotected, they could be facing huge medical bills if anything were to happen while they were away.

Aside from the obvious causes for concern when going on a winter sports holiday, there are also other problems which could result in your holiday being ruined.  Going on a winter holiday means you are taking the risk that your holiday could be cancelled due to adverse weather conditions.  You will still be at risk of theft or loss of luggage.  As everyone who’s ever gone on one of these holidays will know, skis, snowboards, and other equipment associated with these sports, are extremely expensive.  If yours were to get stolen, you would want to have a suitable insurance plan in place.  A skiing or snowboarding holiday can also sometimes result in serious or even life threatening injuries.  It is imperative therefore, that you take out a travel insurance plan before jetting off to the slopes.

A lot of people rely on the European Health Insurance Card which will cover you for either free medical treatment or discounted medical treatment in the same way that the nationals would get.  This cover only applies to medical treatments and will not cover you for loss of luggage, cancelling of holidays or theft.  It will also not cover you should you require the services of an air ambulance which could cost you or your family thousands should it need to be utilised.

It really is worth paying out that little bit extra for a good comprehensive travel insurance package before you go on any winter sports holiday.  It can give you the security that should anything disastrous happen, you will be looked after and your family will not have to worry about the huge financial burden that could occur.  To be on the safe side, before you head off, make sure you are fully covered for any activities which you think you may participate in.  You wouldn’t want to get there only to discover your travel insurance does not cover you for simple activities such as skiing on the nursery slopes!

Always remember to check exactly what your policy covers with your insurer.

Graham S Doyle writes for Theidol.com whom specialises in providing Cheap Travel Insurance and has many options available. The company work with the UK’s major insurers and strive to find the best insurance deals available. Visit the company?s website at http://www.theidol.com to compare insurance policies instantly.

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Travel Insurance – Adventure Holidays and the Importance of Being Insured

Sunday, September 5th, 2010

There are a wide range of extreme sports on a variety of terrains – from snow, surf and even stone.

The added risk factor of activities such as rock climbing, surfing and snowboarding adds to the appeal of these very popular sports.

Every year, thousands of eager adrenaline junkies, young and old, choose to go abroad to partake in such activities. From up north to down under, many head to exotic locations for the experience of a lifetime.

Finding suitable travel insurance before embarking on such trips is a vital part of the planning process. It’s all very well finding the highest peak to base jump from, or the biggest waves to ride – but what happens if something goes wrong?

Injury can be commonplace on an adventure holiday if you don’t take necessary precautions. If something happens and you need to be rescued from say, the side of a mountain, you could find yourself facing a hefty bill at the end of your trip if you don’t have suitable travel insurance.

Depending on the terrain involved, getting injured on an adventure holiday can prove costly if you don’t have sufficient cover, particularly in scenarios which result in you having to be airlifted to hospital (or in some cases back to your home country)

Therefore you need to make sure you take out suitable holiday insurance, and have all bases covered, before you travel.

For adventure holidays it can be worth taking out single trip policies, and it’s always best to ensure that you are covered against a range of factors associated with your activity of choice – such as winter sports cover and ensuring your possessions and passport are covered in case of theft or loss.

Many companies have specialist insurance packages to cater for thrill seekers of all ages and abilities. It can be worth paying that little bit extra to save you all kinds of hassle and financial trouble, meaning you can make the most of your thrill seeking adventures.

David is an experienced writer based in the UK, currently working in the dotcom industry.

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Women Only Snowboarding Holidays Can be Healthy, Fun and Great for Your Relationship

Tuesday, June 15th, 2010

Being taught to snowboard by a partner can be the quickest way to end a perfectly good relationship.  So why not ditch your man for a week and head off to the slopes on your own.  By the end of the week you could have improved immensely; gained fitness and be a lot happier about going snowboarding with him next year. If you or your partner needs convincing that this is a good idea here are a few great reasons why.

// Get fit – Burn some serious calories
Learning to snowboard can burn up to 300 calories an hour – fact. So if you are super keen and make first lifts and ride all afternoon you will burn as many as 1200 extra calories per day! By the end of the week you will have easily worked off the 6000 calories which the average person is said to consume on Christmas day!

// Get social – Find yourself a female companion for future trips
Everyone knows the saying “no friends on powder day”…well this should really be extended to encompass wives and girlfriends and husbands and boyfriends… because it works both ways.  Let me paint the picture… the night before the big snowfall arrives he spends every waking hour adjusting his stance, waxing his board, adjusting his stance again, packing his bag and so it goes on until he has every eventuality covered. In the morning he wants to miss breakfast, not wait for anyone and is in a constant state of stress. And you’re quietly thinking… I don’t want to spend the day tearing around after him whilst he searches for every fresh line in the tree sections secretly knowing that although he does a great job of talking it up he doesn’t have the skills to make it out the other side unscathed. And this is when you thank your lucky stars you met Julie on the women’s only week last year… you can relax knowing a quick stroke of his ego and the line “I wouldn’t want to hold you back darling.. I am going to spend the day with Julie” will help you avoid a ruined day on the mountain and a costly taxi back from the back end of nowhere.

// Get Positive – Take up yoga
The benefits of yoga are so far reaching (pardon the pun!) that for anyone wanting to turn-over a new leaf, re-energise their body, stimulate their mind and re-vitalise their soul practicing yoga is a must. Yoga can also bring huge benefits to snowboarders by vastly improving their skill, ability and endurance on the mountain… and there are number of women’s only snowboarding weeks that include YOGA. Check out rudechalets™ rudegirls week – featured in the Daily Mail Ski and Snowboard Magazine.

// Get chilled – De-stress and relax
Snowboarding is not just about charging around the mountain! The cosy mountain restaurants with roaring log fires, the après ski bars with panoramic sun terraces and the steamy outdoor hot tub back at the chalet mean there are plenty of opportunities to kick-back, relax and soak up the mountain ambiance. And if you want to push the boat out you can arrange for Heinrick the masseuse to give you a quick rub down… safe in the knowledge that “what goes on tour, stays on tour”

// Get cultured – Brush up on your language skills
“Excuse em wah.. un beer please and un portion of frites” You love him to bits but every meal he insists on ordering for you.. so with him nowhere in sight you can re-discover your love for foreign languages.
Not only does learning a foreign language stimulate your brain thus enhancing your communication and thinking abilities, it also gives you a greater cultural understanding of a different country and the world in general. So before you head off dig out your old French GCSE Tricolore books, they can be surprisingly rewarding.

// Get healthy – Eat less junk food
If you choose the right company for your holiday you will likely spend the week eating energy packed breakfasts… porridge, honey, cereals, eggs etc and nutritious evening meals made from seasonal vegetables, fresh meat and local freshwater fish. Add this to your daily snowboarding work out and you are going to be ending the week leaner and stronger as well as fitter. And it has to be more fun than going to the gym.

There are lots of companies offering women only snowboarding weeks so why not try one.. I hear rudechalets run one in their morzine accommodation ;-)

Chris Lavender has been skiing and snowboarding for over 20 years and is the founder and director of rudechalets which provides summer and winter accommodation in Morzine & Chamonix.

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Holidays where cheap travel insurance is a MUST

Sunday, April 18th, 2010

If you’re going on holiday this year then there may be a temptation to skimp on cheap travel insurance in a bid to cut corners and save money. With the worsening economic situation, it is understandable that travellers want to make cutbacks and not shell out on unnecessary extras.

Cheap travel insurance is one thing you cannot afford to skimp on however, especially with as many as one in three Brits claiming on their travel insurance after going on holiday. If you are prepared to shop around then there are some excellent deals to be found and quality cover on the cheap. Travel insurance is needed on most holidays abroad, but for these three holidays it is absolutely essential:

Prague, Czech Republic

Tourism to Eastern Europe has been growing in popularity steadily for a while now but the Czech Republic has probably got more of a boost in tourism than other surrounding countries. The capital Prague offers some stunning gothic architecture at the Prague castle which includes the St Vitus Cathedral.

Unfortunately, the darker side of Prague is notorious for petty crime, particularly pick-pocketing. Cheap travel insurance is an essential for a holiday in the Czech Republic but in Prague in particular, in case your wallet is stolen. Holidaymakers are also advised to take travellers’ cheques with them instead of large sums of money.

Colorado, USA

If you’re worried about the depreciating value of the pound against the euro but can’t give up on the adrenaline rush of skiing, then Colorado is about as good as it gets. Your cheap travel insurance is well warranted here though, as is a crash helmet.

The Crested Butte resort was voted one of the most dangerous mountains in the US, and with extreme runs such as Body Bag it’s not difficult to see why. For extreme winter sports like skiing and snowboarding cheap travel insurance is a pre-requisite.

Bangkok, Thailand

Thailand is the back-packers country of choice and for those travellers on a budget provides an excellent snapshot of Asia. Bangkok is an unusual blend of simple elegance and awe-inspiring extravagance. The Grand Palace is about as opulent a marvel as you will ever see but it’s set against a backdrop of vendors selling succulent street food.

Thailand also dominates the travel insurance claims in the UK: from illness, to injury, to missing luggage or traffic accidents. Bangkok itself is responsible for some of the most numerous and varied travel claims on the planet, making cheap travel insurance a necessity for travellers visiting the Thai capital.

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A Short Guide To Snowboarding Holidays For Beginners

Saturday, December 12th, 2009

A sporting winter holiday that is most popular amongst families and individuals are skiing and snowboarding holidays. These sports are more suited for people looking to keep fit and ride out the winter blues. Snowboarding is a sport that has not been around for as long as skiing and is a more modern way of skiing catered more for the younger generation. This was formally known as the Snurfer, created in 1965 by Sherman Poppen in Muskegan, Michigan.


Beginners will be interested in the origins of snowboarding holidays. I feel for those looking for a challenging experience will be enlightened by how it became a popular sporting event and has now turned into an international competition. It was known as the Snurfer because of the idea of it involving surfing on the snow. It was initially designed for his children, but then was subsequently manufactured as a toy as the year followed on.


Its popularity grew during the 1970’s and 1980’s whereby young people were beginning to pick up this sporting skills and snowboard designing was becoming a fast big business for many. The first ‘World Snurfing Championships’ was held in 1979, at Pando Ski Lodge in Michigan. This was the start of many more competitions sealing it as the new wave in extreme sports. This was essentially seen as surfing on the snow, or skateboarding without wheels, so it was relatively new to people and somewhat unfamiliar.


Snowboarding holidays have grown in popularity over the years that is reflected in its world renowned sporting event, having seen snowboarding tricks develop over the years from professionals and young people. This had become both a serious and recreational sport that attracts thousands of people ever year. Many start from as young as 12 and develop their skills to compete in the championships. Holidays include tuition for beginners and activity exercises for avid snowboarders.


Of course, snowboarding will expose beginners to various levels of danger, therefore it would be wise to prepare and take extra precautions when choosing to go snowboarding. Such precautions include taking enough warm clothing to keep you protected from the elements. It is always a good idea to wear layers, as often you may feel cold to begin with but you will then warm up very quickly which will help you get rid of any extra layers keeping you warm.


Insurance is vital with any snowboarding trips, without which you could face hefty fines caused by sudden accidents. Your insurance will not be the expensive thing to purchase, when comparing it to the fines you would need to pay if you had no insurance, as it will cover for all medical expensive, third party injuries and any equipment replacement. There are always special deals for people snowboarding for the first time or for families.


One final thing to think about is choosing the most suitable ski resort that will cater for beginner snowboarding. The last thing any beginner would want is to share the slopes with advanced or professional snowboarders; this will put anyone off from learning to snowboard. Most of all, you should travel with a view to experience something new, learn a new skill and have fun. You will find that all of your preconceptions about the holiday will be forgotten.

Anna Stenning loves to take part in snowboarding holidays and is currently learning to snowboarding picking up new simple tricks.

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