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Schengen Visa Insurance

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Health Steps for Travelers to UK

November 23, 2016 by Mrithyu

Travel health requirements for visitors to the UK are not extensive, compared with other destinations in the world. When visiting the UK you do need to make sure you are in good overall health in order to make the trip and enjoy your time in the country, but the list of specific vaccinations needed to travel is not long.

travelers

However, there are still things you need to do before travelling to the United Kingdom. Take a look at the health steps you need to take when visiting this popular country as a tourist or business traveler.

Vaccinations for Visiting the UK

It is best to check with your doctor four to six weeks before you travel in order to plan what vaccines or medications you need for your travel plans and to create your own healthy packing list including your own medications and other essentials you need to take.

In the case of vaccine requirements for visiting the UK, you should be up to date on your routine vaccinations. Routine vaccinations include the MMR vaccine (measles, mumps and rubella), the diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine, the vaccine for varicella (chickenpox), the polio vaccine, and the yearly flu shot. These vaccinations should be administered regardless of whether you are going to travel to the UK or elsewhere.

In the case of some travellers, other vaccines are needed. You may need a hepatitis A vaccine. There are occasional hepatitis A outbreaks in developed countries like the UK and the US, and it can be caught through contaminated water in the UK although this is rare. Ask your doctor if the vaccine is needed.

Hepatitis B is transmitted through sexual contact and contaminated blood products. If you are at high risk of this transmission you may need a vaccination against hepatitis B – check with your physician. It is most often necessary when you are having medical procedures in countries with low medical hygiene standards – the UK is not classed in this category.

Rabies is present in bats in the UK but not elsewhere. It is not a major risk and travellers are only advised to have the rabies vaccine if they are going to be working as a wildlife professional with bats, or taking part in caving or adventure travel in remote locations. Even then, the vaccine is not often recommended.

Medical Care in the UK

Access to medical care in the UK is not free if you are not a UK or European citizen. Access to immediate first aid or emergency treatment is free but it begins to be charged after the emergency period is over. Most non-European visitors to the UK need travel medical insurance, which will cover the cost of emergency treatment as well as visits to the doctor’s office, prescription medication, and hospital stays.

Many travel health insurance policies also include repatriation cover and the medical insurance can be linked with baggage insurance and other travel essentials.

Health Concerns in the UK

Mostly, there are few health concerns which apply to overseas visitors to the UK. The food is safe to eat and is monitored by different government agencies. You can drink the tap water but depending on the area you visit you may find it tastes of chlorine or other chemicals. Bottled water is widely available and you can boil or filter water from streams when you are walking or camping.

In terms of temperature, the UK does not see major extremes of temperature and summer is not particularly hot. However, you do still need to use sunscreen in the summer, and days can reach above 30 degrees C sometimes. In the winter the temperature will drop so it is advisable to bring warm layered clothing, good shoes, a hat and a scarf.

If you are hiking or taking part in other outdoor sport you will need to consider abrupt changes in the weather and carry the appropriate gear to be protected come rain or shine. You may need to consider protection against tick bites if you are walking in the Scottish Highlands – ticks are rare in the UK but they are known to spread Lyme disease. Wear insect repellent and tuck your trousers into your socks.

Filed Under: Europe Travel Tagged With: health, healthcare, travel insurance, travel tips

Effects of Brexit on UK-Europe Travel

September 1, 2016 by Mrithyu

In June 2016 the United Kingdom voted in a referendum to leave the European Union. You can hardly have missed the headlines about “Brexit” – Britain’s exit from the EU. The historic move stands to cause as-yet unknown consequences for finances and social policy in the UK and beyond.

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But how does it affect your travel plans – what does Brexit mean for travelers ? Will it be easier or harder to travel around Europe and the UK? What will Brexit mean to the cost of your vacation?

What Happened?
The UK joined the EU in the beginning of the 1970s. It has not been an easy relationship since then, and after a recent spell of political pressure the UK voted to leave the organization of member states in June. Initially, global markets fell massively and many international travelers put their vacation and business travel plans on hold. What now?

While the complete effects of Brexit on financial markets and the Brexit effect on UK-Europe travel will not be known for many years, there are some things you can understand now to help make travel easier and more affordable in the UK and Europe.

Cost of Travel After Brexit
One of the main ways Brexit affects travel from US is the exchange rate between the dollar and the pound (the currency the UK still uses.) In the immediate aftermath of Brexit, the dollar was worth a lot more against the pound meaning that dollars go much further in the UK. The pound has strengthened since but it is still better value to travel to the UK from the US than the other way around – UK travelers have seen the amount of foreign currency their pound buys drop considerably.

It is too early to see how the price of vacations, flights, and travel in general will change following Brexit. Last year there were a flux of deals on Atlantic airfares that made it much cheaper to travel between the US and the UK. European travel between countries was relatively cheap with price advantages from budget European airlines like easyjet.

Will buying flights remain so affordable? Travel companies claim to be working to keep costs down, but it is worth looking widely into prices before booking a vacation or flight in the near future.

Cost of Post-Brexit Medical Care
Currently the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) enables UK citizens to access reduced-cost or free medical treatment in other countries in the EU. While the benefits of the EHIC are lower than travel medical insurance, it is an advantage for UK travelers. The agreement will be negotiated and there may be a corresponding hike in medical costs for Brits. Any travelers in Europe from abroad should have travel medical insurance, as there is no free healthcare for non-UK citizens.

End of Free Movement Around Europe?
One of the benefits of the UK being in the EU was the ease with which UK citizens could travel and work in the countries within the European Union. But with the UK’s exit from the EU comes uncertainty about the future of travel across European borders.

One possible outcome of Brexit is that the UK could stay in the EEA – the European Economic Area – and by doing this could remain signed up to the “four freedoms” of the EU where people, capital, goods, and services can move freely within the area.

The UK could also take on the Swiss model. Switzerland is part of the European Free Trade Association and this organization has more limited scope than the EEA but still permits permit-free travel around Europe.

But in the absence of any kind of membership of the EEA or the European Free Trade Association, the UK would probably see its citizens needing a visa for business or vacation travel in other European countries. This outcome seems unlikely – the most probable final outcome will be that UK citizens will not need visas for vacation purposes in Europe but they will have to go through passport control when they enter a different country.

Citizens of other countries around the world still need visas for the UK and other European countries depending on their nationality – before travel all foreign visitors to the UK and Europe must check with local embassies for their visa status and what they need to do before they travel.

Filed Under: Brexit, Europe Travel Tagged With: Europe travel, travel tips

10 Reasons for Winter Travel in Europe

February 8, 2016 by Mrithyu

When we think of European travel, we often think of our favorite countries in the summertime. We picture a sunbathed Eiffel Tower, bustling crowds on Riviera beaches, and Austrian mountain wildflowers. We imagine ourselves hiking through ancient forests, exploring romantic marketplaces, and watching lush pastoral scenes stream by our railcar windows. We forget winter tourism exists in Europe! Some of the most satisfying European travel experiences can be had when the snow is flying.

Winter-Europe

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1. Less expensive attractions

Prices for some winter attractions, such as skiing, can be high. However, in most places, winter attendance is low, so prices are lower. Because they still welcome many visitors, large cities have fewer reasons to reduce prices, but small towns are more likely to offer discounts. Some attractions close down for winter—check schedules for your favorite destinations before traveling.

2. Smaller crowds

In summer, hundreds of millions of visitors flood into European countries to fulfill dreams of foreign travel. It can be difficult to book hotels and purchase tickets. Lines are longer and travelers must plan extra time to accommodate crowds. Not so in winter! Cold weather travelers enjoy shorter lines, with less time wasted waiting.

3. Winter events

To experience some of Europe’s most exceptional events, one must travel in winter. A famous example is Christmas markets. Entire itineraries are centered around these magical affairs. If you wear proper clothing and footwear, this could be one of the best places in the world to immerse yourself in the peace and beauty of winter.

4. Beautiful scenery

If you’re not a winter person, you may not be excited by snow-covered hills, gently falling flakes, or icicles hanging from architectural wonders. However, with an open mind, you can experience traditional European scenery on an exciting new level in winter. Far-north destinations such as Scandinavia take special pains to incorporate ice and snow into attractions. Don’t forget, the mild south still offers beaches, sundrenched greenery and warmer temps.

5. Local encounters

With smaller crowds and a slower pace, winter travel in Europe offers a very special advantage: more opportunities to meet the locals. It’s natural for residents to withdraw from teeming crowds in summer. When temperatures cool and crowds thin, there’s time and space to slow down and meet visitors. Research off-the-beaten-path restaurants, trails and remote destinations.

6. Easy travel

Transportation in all forms can be better during European winters. Trains, cabs, rental cars and boats all are more laid-back. Winter scenes, viewed through the windows of your favorite mode of transportation, are likely to be much more enjoyable when not blocked by crowds of people. Summertime sidewalks often are crowded with bodies heading every direction. In winter, it’s easier to get around and more enjoyable to walk.

7. Indoor adventures

Some indoor attractions gear up especially for winter and provide robust offerings not available during warmer months. One exciting example is concerts in beautiful architectural venues. Many cities know tourists will be looking for memorable winter experiences, so they pay special attention to organizing cold weather adventures. Don’t forget to add museums, libraries, houses of government, indoor shopping centers, and famous homes to your list of wintertime trip activities.

8. Souped-up shopping

Breathtaking Christmas markets and other winter shopping experiences can be one of the most satisfying European winter activities. Wintertime crowds are forced indoors. As a result, shopping venues provide special events and beautiful displays not found during summer. Shop owners are often thrilled to see new customers and treat them with special care.

9. Beaches

Admittedly, southern Europe in the winter cannot offer the sunbaked, sultry beach experiences many crave. Instead, winter beachgoers love having large expanses of sand to themselves—a perfect place for walking, spending time with loved ones, thinking, and leaving the cares of daily life behind. Although many attractions close for the winter, any location is likely to offer at least a few diversions. In these regions, prices are lower and travelers can further reduce costs by walking between destinations.

10. No bugs

The lack of annoying little creatures of the outdoors can make winter one of the best times to travel in Europe. Simply slip on a hat, scarf and jacket, and trade your sneakers for boots, to keep cold breezes at bay. This winter travel advantage will lie at the top of your list if you really hate bugs and at the bottom if you don’t mind them.

For better or worse, European winters offer interesting alternatives for travelers. Cold-weather continental adventures can be especially attractive to those who have traveled to Europe before and are looking for something new and different. Don’t let winter keep you from exploring the world and enjoying the pleasures of European travel!

Filed Under: Europe Travel Tagged With: Europe travel, travel tips
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