-
Read more
Monarch crisis – what compensation can travellers get?
The collapse of Monarch airlines has caused another holiday meltdown, leaving thousands of travellers stranded. Monarch has caused the CAA to step in and rescue over 100,000 people from abroad but has also left many half term and winter sun-seekers without a holiday.
But when does your travel insurance kick-in with a crisis like this, and are there ways to protect yourself from the continuing travel issues the UK is facing? Can you buy travel insurance to protect yourself?
I am not an expert here, so I asked Stephen Howard, director of Postcard Travel Insurance, to advice on what compensation consumers are entitled to and how to claim:
What if I bought a package holiday via Monarch?
Firstly, the package travel industry in the UK is regulated, protecting the traveller.
Anyone who booked a package …
-
Read more
Top tips on how to be an economical and environmentally-friendly driver
I bought my car because it gives out low carbon emissions, but to my horror it’s a diesel and now they are not great in terms of air pollution, so I am very interested in eco-driving as it can save the environment and us all money – both in terms of fuel consumption and wear and tear to our cars. According to a study by Fiat (which included 5,700 drivers in five countries), eco-driving saves an average of 15% of fuel costs and greatly reduces maintenance expenses.
There could be enormous benefits to the environment too, as air pollution in the form of emissions could be reduced significantly. The European Climate Change Programme calculated a reduction potential of at least 50 million tons of CO2-emissions in Europe, which could save as much as 20 billion …
-
Read more
How to make money from your car
So I am a big fan of the shared economy, where you can make money from renting out things you own, think JustPark or AirBNB.
Now can that be done with a car? I asked Richard Laughton CEO of easyCar Club to share some ideas on how to make money from your car.
Most of us own or need access to a car, but is your car working hard enough for you? A huge 96% percent of the time cars are sitting unused, providing great potential to make some extra cash when you’re not driving it. A car can be considered a ‘hidden asset’, capable of bringing in revenue in a number of ways. Here are five ways that could help you earn some extra cash.
Using your car for ads:
One easy way to …
-
Read more
20% off Family & Friends Railcard this half term
National Rail has announced 20% off its Family & Friends one year Railcard from 3-20 February – perfect for fun trips this February half term.
The sale means that the Railcard, which saves a third off most adult rail fares and 60% off kids’ fares, will be available for just £24, for a year’s unlimited usage – helping family and friends enjoy fun-filled trips, without breaking the bank.
To take advantage of the sale visit: familyandfriends-railcard.co.uk/sale and use code: FEB17, but remember to wait till 3 Feb before trying!
For cash-strapped parents needing inspiration this half term, Family & Friends Railcard has compiled five exciting trips for families:
Get back to nature
There are plenty of opportunities for children to learn about nature this half term, and have fun getting up close with some …
-
Read more
Kids go free or discounted to Sea Life centres
Fancy seeing a tropical fish but can’t afford an exotic holiday, well head to a Sea Life Centre. I’ve looked up how you can get discount tickets this holiday and have found the following:
- At Sea Life Brighton, the attraction is offering kids free entry to our aquarium when accompanied by an adult, until 19 August. Adult ticket prices start from £10.50 for the Basic Saver Package, reaching £14.50 for the Ultimate Package which includes a behind-the-scenes tour, guidebook and exclusive Sea Life pop badge.
- Sea Life Centres across the country are also offering 2 for 1 entry as part of the Days Out Guide. Details can be found at: https://www.daysoutguide.co.uk/search-results?q=sea%20life&r=
- 2 for 1 tickets to Sea Life Centres and other Merlin attractions in the UK are also being offered with selected Cadbury products.
-
Read more
Brexit holiday spending tips
While it’s still not fully clear how our money will be affected by Brexit, one area where we are likely to notice a difference in our pockets is around holiday spending this summer.
Since the referendum result, exchange rates have dropped against both the dollar and euro. What this means is that you’re now likely to get less dollars or euros than you would last year. At its highest point in the last year, you would have been able to exchange £100 for €143, whereas now you’ll get €119. Likewise with the dollar, at its highest point in the last year, you would have gotten $157 for £100, $26 more than £100 would get you today.
While your pounds may not go as far as they would have last year, there are some savvy ways …
-
Read more
The Shard is 25% off till end of August
I love The Shard in London and although you can go up to the 30 somethingth floor for “free” in return for an extornionately priced drink, I do believe that it’s worth going all the way. If budget is stretched though, try the Sky Garden opposite for “free” too, though you have to book in advance.
The View from The Shard, the viewing platform at the top of Western Europe’s tallest building, is offering visitors 25% discount off its standard ticket price until the end of August.
And if you are a The BFG fan, The View from The Shard is also home to one of The BFG Dream Jars which can be found all over London and the country this summer. 50 jars have been designed by celebrities and placed in prominent locations to …
-
Read more
New search engine for luxury holidays at bargain prices
Today, Travelex launched travel inspiration search engine Luxury for Less – a one-stop-shop for luxurious holiday planning on a budget.
Luxury for Less combines flights and hotels pricing powered by global travel search engine Skyscanner, together with Travelex exchange rate figures and the average spend of past holiday goers to help users create a luxury holiday to suit their budget. It’s the single source of information which does all the hard work for the holiday planner.
By factoring in the cost of everyday holiday spending items, such as wine, taxis and food, the travel inspiration search engine creates peace of mind by helping people to pre-plan their spending money requirements. Luxury for Less works by letting the holiday planner plug in their budget along with a few other essential factors to help them discover luxurious …
-
Read more
Tenerife holiday on the cheap
Tenerife is a fantastic destination for those seeking a getaway without breaking the bank. And, what’s more, if you’re particularly crafty, you can get a great Tenerife holiday for even less! We’ve put together some top tips for getting there on the cheap, so you can enjoy a sunny break away, even on the tightest of budgets.
- Choosing Your Accommodation
If you know in advance what sort of accommodation you’re after, then this certainly helps. All-inclusive holidays might seem like a wildly expensive option, but if you’re travelling with kids, who seem to want another drink or ice cream every five minutes, then having everything pre-paid can be worth its weight in gold.
If travelling with friends, a large apartment divided between you can cut the price per head right down. Equally, if you’re one …
-
Read more
Insurance that rewards your careful driving
Our homes are getting smarter, and now our cars too. They can tell your insurance company whether you are a careful driver and then the insurance guys set your premium accordingly.
Sounds good? Here are some more details. DrivePlus is Direct Line’s telematics insurance policy, which offers drivers of all ages an upfront discount when they take a policy out.
DrivePlus gives customers a driving score which is calculated by analysing driving style, including smoothness, braking and contextual speed and where and when you drive. Users can review their overall driving score and their score for each individual journey to see how they have improved over time. The price of the policy is reviewed at the point of renewal and takes driving scores from the prior year into consideration.
Customers have achieved discounts of up …
