European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) Advice

All travellers visiting Countries within the EEC should have a valid E111 form BEFORE travelling – this will ensure that if you were taken ill abroad you would be covered for free or discount healthcare. From January the E111 form will be replaced by the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)

For more information please read our E111 advice page and ensure that if you are travelling over Christmas and New Year that you have a valid E111 form and/or European Health Insurance Card.

Please note that this does not replace travel insurance – you must ensure that adequate insurance is taken out before you travel.

Medical Treatment in the EEC

I’ve received a growing number of emails from readers who are confused about the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) and hopefully this article will help deal with some, if not all of the confusion.

The health insurance card will provide you with free or discounted medical treatment within an EEC country. It is worth pointing out that receipt of the EHIC doesn’t necessarily mean free medical treatment in all EEC countries, so I strongly suggest that you visit the Department for Health country by country guide for information on your holiday destination.

It’s essential that you buy adequate travel insurance prior to travelling, so that medical treatment and other expenses will be covered to the amount in your travel insurance documentation.

It is also worth knowing that the UK has reciprocal healthcare arrangements with some other countries and territories outside of the EEC, which means you are entitled to urgent treatment either at reduced cost or free. Again the Department of Health have produced a country-by-country guide.

Let’s put an end to the rumours..

No – you don’t have to pay for the EHIC it’s completely free.
Yes – the E111 form is no longer useable
No – you don’t get free medical treatment in every EEC country
No – the EHIC doesn’t replace Travel Insurance

If you need any further information or guidance then I strongly suggest that you visit the Department of Health’s Travellers website because it is very informative, easy to read and understand.

Tips for a healthy and Safe holiday

I spend all year working hard to save up for my annual holiday, and the last thing I want is for it to be blighted with health issues, especially since I’m in a different country, with doctors speaking another language and a varied standard of hospitals.

This is my guide to help you have a healthy and safe holiday.

Vaccinations and medication

Firstly, contact your doctor’s surgery and ask for advice on what vaccinations and medication they recommend you have before travelling. Make sure you do this in plenty of time prior to your departure because you do not want to be leaving it to the last minute.

Some vaccinations can have side effects – you might find you get a cold, sore throat or achy body, and you don’t want to be ill on your holiday. It’s also worth having a tetanus injection if you haven’t had one in the last ten years but make sure you always take the advice of your doctor before taking any medication.

European Health Insurance Card

Holders of a European Health Insurance Card will receive free or reduced health care during your visit to an EEA country or Switzerland. The EEA consists of the member states of the European Union plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. Switzerland is also covered with some exceptions.

The card is free and replaces the old E111 form. You can apply online, or call the EHIC Applications Line on 0845 606 2030. I received my card within 4 days of completing the form online – make sure you have your national insurance number to hand.

Travel Insurance

It is essential that you buy adequate travel insurance before you travel and make sure that you are covered for medical expenses, delays and lost luggage. If you plan to participate in skiing, water sports and other adventure activities make sure that the insurance covers you for this.

Shop around because the price for a single trip can range from £4 to £30 from my own experience. More of us are taking expensive gadgets like iPod’s on holiday so total up the cost of replacing any items that you plan to take with you, and if lost would the insurance cover the cost to replace it.

Know before you Go

Researching your holiday destination is a good idea and could save you a lot of stress. First point of call should be the Foreign, Commonwealth Office website. Read the information on your destination and check any warnings and essential telephone numbers like the local British consulate.

Use Google Maps to find the nearest hospital, chemist, doctors from the hotel and print out the map with directions. Find an online version of the local English speaking newspaper and read the news so you know what’s going on and where to avoid. Read guides on Lonely Planet and WikiTravel.

Deep Vein Thrombosis

Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) is a blood clot, or thrombus, that develops in deep veins such as those in the leg. These are most common in damaged veins, or in veins where blood flow in constricted. To avoid DVT make sure you get up from your seat occasionally and walk around to exercise your legs. Read my guide to Deep Vein Thrombosis for more information.

Do not store hand luggage in front of you as this will restrict you from moving your legs. Whilst sat in your seat try and run through some stretching exercises by moving your legs, arms and neck. Try not to stay in the same position for too long.

Coping with Jetlag

Jet lag is a condition that arises from crossing multiple time zones in a relatively short time and consequently disturbs your natural body clock or circadian rhythms. Try and get some sleep. Sleeping on-board will not only help to pass the time, but can help you feel refreshed upon arrival. Drink plenty of water.

Avoid sleeping pills at all costs. When you arrive, getting a quick nap will seem very attractive indeed – but resist this temptation. Go to bed at your normal bedtime (based on local time). This will force your body to adjust to any new time zones far quicker.

Protection from the Sun

The sun is at it’s hottest between 12noon and 3pm so it’s best advised to stay in shade and try to keep out of the sun as much as possible. It’s a good idea to wear a hat and cover up with loose clothing, wear sunglasses with UV filters to protect your eyes.

Make sure you protect children and babies from direct sunlight, apply SPF 25 (or higher) cover their head with a hat. Drink plenty of water to balance the loss of body fluid through perspiration and avoid alcohol. If won’t have access to water for more than thirsty minutes, make sure you fill up a flask of water.

Awareness of others

It doesn’t matter if I am travelling alone or with friends I always make sure that I am aware of the people around me when walking around the streets at night. I try my best to get to know the local area and appear to know where I am heading rather than wandering around looking like a lost tourist.

I remember within 10 minutes of walking outside of my hotel in Kuala Lumpur, a Malaysian man approached me, welcomed me to the city, and asked if I would like to have a chat in a local coffee shop. I politely said no because I had read a news article about the increase of tourist robberies.

Useful Travel Health websites

BBC Travel Health
Health Advice for Travelers
Travel Health
Travel Turtle

Heatwave hits the UK

Wahoo! The hot weather is finally here. I love warm weather – you can’t beat sat in a park, or in the garden with a cold drink taking in some sunrays. It’s not often that we get warm weather here in the North of England, so you have to make the most of it.

It annoys me though when you hear people complaining about the nice weather – with some people you can’t win, and these are probably the same people that complain when it’s cold and it rains.

Since we are having a heatwave I thought I would leave a some tips to ensure that you keep yourself and your family healthy during the warm weather.

- Wear a hat and cover up with loose clothing.
- Sunglasses with UV filters will protect your eyes.
- Protect children and babies from direct sunlight.
- Cover children and babies with hats and long sleeves and apply SPF 25 (or higher)
- Babies under 12 months should be kept out of the sun.
- Avoid strenuous activity during the hottest part of the day.
- Drink plenty of water to balance the loss of body fluid through perspiration.
- Reguarly check on any elderly relatives to make sure that they are well.

There’s nothing worse then sat on a bus or train sweating like a pig, so buy a hand-held fan, or sweatband, or better still a spray bottle of water which is a great way to keep cool. Have fun but make sure you wear plenty of high factor sun cream!

On Travel-Rants – Travel-Rants Apology to DialAFlight

Travel-Rants Apology to DialAFlight. Travel-Rants offers an unreserved apology to DialAFlight in respect of a post published on this website during the past several months.

DialAFlight contacted us on several occasions pointing out that they believed this particular post (they were not objecting to any of the other handful of posts about them on Travel-Rants) was made by a competitor who had posted precisely the same post on any number of other websites.

Regrettably, Travel-Rants failed to make its normal range of enquiries in such situations. Had it done so, as it now has, it would have concluded that, whether the poster was indeed a competitor, or merely a misguided consumer, the commercial insinuations they were making against Dial a Flight went some way beyond reasonable ‘fair comment’, and DialAFlight had every right to feel they had been unfairly treated.

Just as importantly, when we finally undertook an investigation into the facts, we found that, tellingly, there was an absence of any other consumer comments on the Internet backing up the assertions of this one poster. Whenever there is a real consumer issue at stake, it is almost invariably the case that one post on the subject breeds a multitude, and that certainly failed to materialise in this case.

Indeed, our review demonstrated that DialAFlight, though of course having its own typical fair share of negative consumer comment on the Internet as almost every company of any size (DialAFlight is one of the largest travel companies in the UK), also has an unusually high degree of positive consumer comment and indeed praise, including on this very website. The breadth and depth of this positive opinion around the web was enough to suggest to us that such comments were made by bona fide consumers.

On this basis, we are very sorry that we allowed serious, and we now believe unfounded, allegations against DialAFlight to remain published on this site for so long. That is not what Travel-Rants is about, and we very much regret that DialAFlight has suffered as a result of this neglect.

Unfortunately, Travel-Rants neglected this issue for so long that DialAFlight felt compelled to launch a libel suit against us in the High Court, claiming the removal of the post and considerable damages. Since Travel-Rants has belatedly communicated with DialAFlight admitting its mistake and offering this apology.

DialAFlight have shown themselves magnanimous by waiving their legitimate and substantial entitlement to compensation; on the basis that they had no wish to unnecessarily penalise a website whose merits, as an enabler of fair consumer comment and critique, they generally recognise… as they have demonstrated by focussing only on the one offending post.

The best airport in the world

The results of the World Airport Awards from Skytrax are out. Congratulations go to Incheon International Airport in Seoul which beat last year’s winner (Hong Kong International Airport) into second place. The top 10 were as follows:

1. Incheon International Airport
2. Hong Kong International Airport
3. Singapore Changi
4. Zürich
5. München
6. Kansai
7. Kuala Lumpur
8. Amsterdam
9. Centrair Nagoya
10. Auckland

What is your favourite airport in the world and why?

Keeping healthy while flying

The definition of a long haul flight is seven hours or more but for many people a shorter flight can prove just as uncomfortable. This guide will provide you with tips to help you keep healthy on your next flight, after all, you want to arrive at your destination relaxed.

Upgrade for comfort

The first thing to consider is your simple comfort level, if you can afford it, or if you have a medical condition or some other physical problem flying either premium economy or first class may be the solution that you are looking for. 

Flight exercises to keep mobile

The most likely health complaint you will have after flying will be simple aches, pains, and cramps. Not exactly, life threatening but best avoided if possible. One of the best solutions for these complaints is to move around the cabin whenever practical. 

When you unable to move around, try to do exercises whilst sat in your seat, curling and un-curling your toes, and constantly changing the position of your legs and simply stretching your back and arms. Move your legs in a walk motion to aid against deep vein thrombosis.

Drink plenty of water

The next minor threat is dehydration, the pressurised atmosphere within the aircraft causes high levels of dehydration even though you may not feel hot or even feel like you are sweating. The inside of an aircraft at altitude has 5% less humidity than that of a desert.

Drinking lots of regular water is the best solution; alcohol should definitely be avoided, as its dehydrating effects are far stronger at altitude. 

Tips for a sleepy flight

Another good way to shorten a long haul flight is to sleep, sleeping tablets that allow you an eight-hour rest will not only have the effect of shortening the journey but also assist in allowing you to arrive refreshed and relaxed.

There are a few more items you can pack to help; ear plugs and eye masks will help you sleep. And those inflatable collars that wrap around your neck can be highly effective in keeping you comfortable and allowing you to sleep.

Combating Deep Vein Thrombosis

A more serious health problem on flights is deep vein thrombosis. Not being able to move your legs around properly for long periods of time can cause problems with circulation and the results can be serious such as blood clots forming. Crossing your ankles should definitely be avoided.

There are special socks that are easy to say that will assist with circulation, but the easiest way to deal with it is to move around and exercise as mentioned earlier in this article. This problem is caused by lack of movement, so just keep your legs moving and you will not have a problem.

Dealing with Jetlag

The biggest draw back with long haul flights occurs after you land, jetlag. This is not an easy thing for many people to combat as your body struggles to deal with the midday sun when it thinks it is the middle of the night and you should be asleep.

Vitamins C is said to be highly effective in combating that general lethargic “jetlag” feeling. Again drink water and avoid alcohol, this will help combat jetlag effects. Sunshine gives your body vitamin D, which is effective against jetlag problems; in addition, it helps your body clock to be set more quickly.

Healthy flying resources

» Avoid getting sick from flying
» Deep Vein Thrombosis symptoms and advice
» Advice when flying with kids
» Coping with Jetlag
» Health advice for travellers

Fight the body clock 

Another way to fight jetlag is to stay awake, if the time back home to 3am and the time at your destination is 6pm your body clock will tell you to sleep. This should be avoided, right from the very first day no matter how tired you are stay up until the local bedtime. 

Going to bed at the correct local time will mean that you will wake up in the morning at the correct local time; this is because you have pushed yourself to stay awake all those additional hours.

Independent travel insurance advice

Before I start let me confirm that I’m not a qualified financial or travel insurance adviser, and don’t pretend to be, so the information in this article is written from my own experiences, and you should always speak to a qualified travel insurance broker or adviser before you buy.



Apart from covering items that may be stolen while you’re on holiday, including small amounts of cash; travel insurance offers many other important benefits. Policies usually include cover for medical expenses, useful if you fall ill or if you’re unfortunate enough to be attacked and injured. You must disclose any pre-existing medical conditions. 

Cancellation cover

Travel policies also tend to include some basic “personal accident” cover, paying a set amount in the event of loss of sight, limbs or injury resulting in permanent disability or death. Another important element is cancellation cover. 

If you have to cancel your holiday because of injury, illness or a disaster at home such as a fire, this will pay for any holiday expense you cannot recover. You need to check carefully what is covered and what isn’t, read the small print too.

Check the validity

Make sure your policy is valid for the whole journey and includes medical and repatriation cover. Always take a photocopy of your policy, along with a note of any 24-hour emergency numbers. Take the time to read the small print because it is this area of the policy where you will find out exceptions and what you are not covered for.

Travel insurance restrictions

Like all insurance policies there are restrictions. Limits to the amounts that will be paid under different parts of the cover usually apply and you won’t be covered for dangerous activities, such as abseiling or scuba diving. 

A claim could be turned down if you don’t look after your belongings properly. For example, if someone steals your things off the beach while you’re taking a dip in the sea, the insurance company might decide that you have not taken “reasonable care” and refuse to pay up.

Fraud in Travel insurance

Insurance companies are also growing increasingly concerned about fraud, especially with travel insurance. If you claim for anything that has been stolen they’ll probably want evidence that you actually owned the item in the first place. Keep photos at home of personal belongings that you’ve taken with you. Some insurers even ask for receipts.

Check household insurance policy

Check to see if you already have cover under your home insurance for personal belongings while travelling abroad or away from home in the UK. It might not mean that you will get a lower premium (try asking though), but it’s worth knowing as the cover under your home contents may be better or may have a lower excess.

Scheduled airline failure insurance 

Keep a look out for insurance that include scheduled airline failure insurance (SAFI) so that if your flight will be covered should the airline go into administration. In this day and age it is a good idea to take out this additional insurance. 

European Health Insurance card

The European health insurance card will provided you with free or discounted health care in the EU and in some non-EU countries. You can apply for the card online. It is important to remember that having this card does not substitute travel insurance, and it is recommended as additional protection.

Benefits of credit cards abroad

Don’t forget the benefits of using your credit card to buy things abroad. Most include automatic insurance cover on items bought with your card for a short period of time, including things you buy overseas. Check with your card company. 

Finally, if you and/or your family travel often, ask your insurance company about an annual policy. You pay a premium each year and are then covered for all holidays in that period without needing to take out individual policies - although you may be limited to a certain number of trips.

Tips for staying fit while you’re travelling

When you travel, it’s easy to get out of healthy routines that you usually manage to follow at home. Don’t get me wrong, you should enjoy yourself on holiday, but there are a few things you can do to try and minimise the damage to your waistline or your general fitness.



Don’t make holidays an excuse to eat junk
When you’re in a foreign country it’s easy to walk into the nearest fast food franchise just because you know what you’ll find and how to order it. Been there, done that. But there are two reasons not to – first, because it’s not that healthy, and second, it’s much more exciting to check out the local cuisine.

Get some exercise while seeing the sights
If you’re a runner, packing your jogging shoes and get up early a few mornings of your trip. Head out into the dawn on a job and you’ll see the city waking up or the animals strolling through the countryside. You’ll keep fit and see a new side of your destination.

Alternatively, skip a bus or train during the day and walk to your next sightseeing destination instead. Not only will it be good for you, at a walking pace you’re also more likely to discover some special restaurant, an interesting souvenir shop or a beautiful church or park you would have missed seeing from the underground.

For swimmers, pack your bathing costume not only for the hotel pool but for any interesting spa or hot spring that might show up.

Explore the markets for fresh fruit and veg
Down in southern Europe you’re likely to get a big variety of fresh fruit that somehow tastes better when you’re buying it in the country of origin. Or check out the local favourite vegetables in season.

Related posts

How not to come home broke from your holiday
Walking in the Yorkshire Dales
Specialised Travel Agencies Winning High Street War
Yahsu from Crete

ATV adventures in Mui Ne

Situated just 10 kilometers from the heart of Phan Thiet, one of the largest sand dunes of Mui Ne stretches over an area of 10-hectares with breathtaking views of the seascapes.


One of the best ways to get around the dunes, and by far the most fun, is to rent a four-wheel, all terrain vehicle (ATV).

Seeing a demand for a greater range of tourism services, Binh Thuan authorities have licensed the local Mico Company to offer rental services for the four-by-four vehicles.

Fitted with high-power engines, ATVs are specially designed to overcome challenging terrain and can handle a wider range of road surfaces than other vehicles. Great for adventure-lovers, ATVs offer a fun way to explore the sand dunes and make for an especially exhilarating way to travel along the beach.

One visitor named Van tried the activity for the first time last February when the company began offering the service, and said he found the ATVs thrilling.

“Me and my girlfriend tried it out,” said Van. “At first, it felt really difficult to control, but when you get used to it, what you gain is terrific. A little danger like this makes our vacation much more exciting,” Van added.

According to Mico Company, the cost of renting a four-wheeler depends on how long the drivers wish to use it. The company charges VND175,000 (US$9.84) for 10 minutes, VND350,000 ($19.70) for 30 minutes, and VND600,000 ($33.75) per hour. In the near future, Mico says it will begin offering other leisure activities such as camel rides.

For more information on renting an all-terrain vehicle in Mui Ne, contact the company at (062) 3 374 3511.

Hotel building work ruins holidays

I seem to be writing about hotels a lot lately, but when I book a holiday I assume that the travel agent or tour operator is up-to-date with any planned building work in my hotel and I would not be happy if I walked into the middle of a building site.

Consumer concerns

Today, I received an email from a reader who found out online that the hotel he is staying in next month is being renovated. He has contacted the hotel and they have confirmed that there is building work in progress but it will not affect his stay.

He contacted the travel agent who he has booked through and they have told him that no work is being carried out at the hotel and that if this changes they will advise him prior to his holiday and look at what other options he has.

Hidden agenda

The hotel will not want to lose bookings, so, are they being truthful about the impact the building work will have. The travel agent does not seem to want to find out the extent of the hotel building work. I think they should be more pro-active.

Help the consumer

So, my question to anyone that can help out is what happens if the travel agency does not receive notification from the hotel and the consumer walks into a building site. Can they claim any compensation, or should the agent be liaising properly?

Boycott WH Smith over travel guide books scandal

News this week that WH Smith has signed an exclusive deal with Penguin travel guides in their 460+ shops, including most airports and train stations has disgusted me. On the rare occasion I do purchase a guide book I want choice not restricted to a certain brand.



You will not be able to purchase guides from the likes of Frommer’s and Lonely Planet.

Last week I purchased an AA city guide to Venice from a WH Smith but I for one will be purchasing any future guide books prior to my arrival at the airport. My meagre purchase of the occasional guide book will not bring WH Smith to its feet, but I suspect I will not be the only person boycotting them.

Debate on the future of the guide book

You have to also think about the writers who write for smaller brands or are independent. The debate over the future of the travel guide book is one that has been discussed at length. If more outlets like WH Smith go down a similar route could this be the end of the travel guide book.

Money talks

I do not know why WH Smith have gone down this path, I suspect its because it’s a lucrative deal but for consumers it’s not right and it’ll only be a matter of time before we find out of if it’s the right decision. I am interested to read your comments on their decision.

Lang Co: pride of the central coast

Last month, Lang Co inspired the Most Beautiful Bays in the World Club to make it the club’s 30th member. 


It’s the third Vietnamese bay to join the club, the other two being Ha Long and Nha Trang bays. Other new members this year are Pemba Bay in Mozambique and Cartagena Bay in Colombia.

Ha Long in Quang Ninh Province is where the club will hold its annual conference next year, according to general secretary Bruno Bodard.

To celebrate Lang Co’s club membership, the authorities of Thua Thien-Hue Province put on a gala of entertainment and ceremony on Saturday June 6. The event also kicked off a tourism festival called “Lang Co - The Legendary Beach.”


A magnificent view of Lang Co Bay, which has recently been recognized as one of 30 most beautiful bays in the world

Lang Co itself is a fishing village 60 kilometers north of Hue and 40 kilometers south of Da Nang, and lies between Phu Gia Pass to the north and Hai Van Pass to the south.

Tourists love the area and are flocking there in droves these days, as are the resort developers.

The huge lagoon by the village extends for eight kilometers inland and is lit up at night by thousands of lamps in the fishing boats lying at anchor. The scene has been immortalized in poetry and prose innumerable times.

Turquoise water, sweeping expanses of white sand, coconut trees, soft coral extending out for ten kilometers, and a backdrop of seemingly endless mountains characterize the area.

The best time to go swimming there is from April to late July, when the temperature averages 25 degrees Celsius and each month has 158 hours of sunshine.

Lang Co is rich in marine life with plenty of lobster, shrimp, crabs, mackerel and blood ark shell.

At night, local fishermen escort tour parties to the lagoon to catch gobies and to sup on bowls of rice porridge mixed with fresh seafood.

Economic potential

In one of the speeches at the event last Saturday, provincial Chairman Nguyen Ngoc Thien said that Thua Thien-Hue would build Chan May-Lang Co Economic Zone into a modern center of international trading and tourism.

Above all the province is looking for investment in environmentally friendly projects, “human resources” and vocational training, Thien said.

Thanks to the 130-meter Chan May Pier and the tunnel under Hai Van Pass, it’s much easier for surrounding areas to trade with Lang Co nowadays, he said.

Vo Phi Hung of the Thua Thien-Hue Tourism Department said the province had to make the most of Lang Co’s natural beauty to draw more tourists to the area.

He also said it was vital to formulate long-term development strategies and stick to them.

For now the focus is on improving “tourism infrastructure” in the province, which is spending VND1.2 trillion (US$65 million) for this purpose.

Chan May-Lang Co Economic Zone has already gained 32 licensed projects with a combined investment capital of almost $2 billion. Ten of the projects are foreign and account for 71 percent of the capital.

The standouts are Laguna Hue and Bai Chuoi beachside resorts, on which Singapore-based Banyan Tree Group and Cattigara have lavished $977 million.

As evidence of Lang Co’s growing popularity, the 300-odd guest rooms in the area accommodated more than 8,000 overnight visitors in the first five months of this year.

UK passport confusion and advice for travel to the US

One of the rants submitted by a reader this weekend has me concerned because later this year I will be travelling to the United States and I would not want to have to experience what David Pickett and his family did on arrival at the airport.

Airport check-in nightmare

David booked the flights online and they found at check-in that his wife’s UK passport was not valid for entry to US because there was no machine readable code at the bottom of the photo page. They had the visa waiver program documentation but were turned away.

He cannot remember reading that the visa waiver program was not sufficient for the type of passport his wife has. The Foreign, Commonwealth Office website does not mention a specific type of passport to enter the US; they just confirm that you need to apply for the visa waiver program via ESTA.

Machine readable passports only

Reading the Visa Waiver program notes, the passport does have to be a machine readable and it shows an image of what one could look like. To me it looks like any other passport, and my UK passport looks familiar

It seems from the digging around I did this evening that if you applied or renewed your passport prior to 26 October 2005 then it’s likely that it will not be machine readable and you might not be able to enter the US. Consulate affairs offers a useful wizard to guide you through the visa waiver process.

Help for consumers

If you are travelling to the US then I would recommend that you contact the UK Identity and Passport Service via its website or helpline to check before booking or travelling because you would not want to ruin your holiday and be turned away at the airport.

As for David and his family, would travel insurance cover them through this scenario, what about credit card protection, surely it’s not fair that they lose the cost of their flight. Any advice for the consumer would be appreciated.

Lack of flexibility when booking holiday online

Booking your holiday online can sometimes be frustrating and time consuming if you are looking for something out of the ordinary. If you want to book a package holiday, 7 or 14 days, then the process of booking online can be a breeze when you decide on the destination.

Consumer requirements changing

Consumers have become more adventurous, or know the hotel and how and where they want to depart from. Some holidaymakers do not like staying in the same place and prefer a multi-centre holiday and this is when booking online becomes frustrating.

One reader ranted that he knew the Paris hotel that he wanted to take his partner to, and they wanted to travel on Eurostar, but could he find an online travel agency to meet his requirements, no. Quite rightly he wanted to book through a reputable bonded agency.

To be honest; he would have been quicker booking it himself.

More travel agencies need to change with the times

I think this is one of the things that frustrate me in that ABTA, CAA, tell us to book holidays through their members, but, they are not flexible enough to deal with consumer’s demands in 2009. Time has moved on, the number of people demanding simple holidays has reduced in the last four years.

First impressions count when booking with a travel agent

You want to feel like the travel agent wants your business and a rant received questioned the commitment and helpfulness of some travel agents. As the ranter said, you’re not asking for miracles, you just want the agent to give you the impression that they want to help you book your holiday.

You do not want to feel like you are an inconvenience.

Coming across as helpful

I have sometimes come across the same issue, but to be fair, it’s not an issue just associated with travel agents.

This weekend I took my sister to an Italian restaurant for lunch, the food was average, but what annoyed me more was the lack of customer friendliness by the staff. I’ve probably put a few people off going there because I ranted about them today at work.

Word of mouth is powerful

Travel companies have to realise that first impressions count.

Consumers have the tools to be able to share their experiences, and we can be nit-picky, and while their holiday might be fantastic, how the agents come across when booking is vital to the consumer’s impression of the company, and word of mouth is very powerful.

Venice, my life in Leeds and recession impacting holidays

Next week I am taking a trip to Venice for four nights and leaving the laptop at home. I’ve not written as many posts in the last few weeks because I have been busy working on a new project called Life in Leeds, and I launched it this week.

Impact of the recession

Since I am away on my holiday, I thought I would open up this post and I would like to know where you are going on holiday, how you have booked your holiday this year and has the recession impacted where you are travelling to.

Hotel and travel product blogger reviews lack the trust factor

While getting ready for work this morning I wondered if people trust hotel and travel product reviews written by blogger’s. Before you all start giving me a hard time, let me say I understand why blogger’s take free hotel rooms and travel products in return for reviews.

Blogger reviews seem one-sided

The posts I have read recently though seem very one-sided and if I want to stay in a hotel I want to read mixed reviews, both positive and negative. I realise some hotels could create fake reviews, and that’s why I do not rely on one person for their opinion when reading reviews.

I read a review on luggage, but it was all about how fantastic the product was. Personally, I would have trusted that review a lot more if they had also stated what they did not like about it. Part of the problem is that some PR agencies and travel companies expect you to write something positive.

Ranting about Krakow

Only last week I was asked if I wanted to go on a long weekend break to Krakow and write a review, out of interest I asked if they minded me ranting about their client, if it was not a positive experience. Let’s just say that the PR agency decided it would not be a good idea to send me.

Consumer trust ranks high

A study by Yahoo revealed that “trustworthiness” is the most important characteristic for a travel web site looking to appeal to users. Interestingly, German’s and Italian’s have scored the highest for trusting consumer reviews when making a booking. Brits are more likely to search online after work.

Hotel building work ruins holidays

I seem to be writing about hotels a lot lately, but when I book a holiday I assume that the travel agent or tour operator is up-to-date with any planned building work in my hotel and I would not be happy if I walked into the middle of a building site.

Consumer concerns

Today, I received an email from a reader who found out online that the hotel he is staying in next month is being renovated. He has contacted the hotel and they have confirmed that there is building work in progress but it will not affect his stay.

He contacted the travel agent who he has booked through and they have told him that no work is being carried out at the hotel and that if this changes they will advise him prior to his holiday and look at what other options he has.

Hidden agenda

The hotel will not want to lose bookings, so, are they being truthful about the impact the building work will have. The travel agent does not seem to want to find out the extent of the hotel building work. I think they should be more pro-active.

Help the consumer

So, my question to anyone that can help out is what happens if the travel agency does not receive notification from the hotel and the consumer walks into a building site. Can they claim any compensation, or should the agent be liaising properly?

The Liberty Wreck Tulamben

OUR RUN IN WITH THE LAW

Wow the bus station here in Tucuman is huge! Like a shopping center, well it actually is. 12 hours in the bus relieved to be off it, there were a group of guys who sat around me one is my seatmate, annoying as hell, played music loudly and the guy sat next to me keeps changing seats, one time bumping his head on the tv , he never came back to his seat and I slept pretty well through the night. Thre was a bad smell in the bus that pervade for awhile, either i got used to it or it disappeared, I took the semi cama to save 7 US dollars, the upgrade was grand! Next time.. 

Took a taxi to La Posta de Viajero hostal. Paint peeling from the rooms, but its nice overall, hardly anyone there, was alone in my dorm, kitchen to use and lots of toilets! Showered and went for a walk to town, Plaza San Martin is my 1st stop, a statue of San Martin again, in the middle, around the park are kids in uniform milling about the 
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park some still wearing a white lab coat, i see them here and is fairly 
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students to wear them outside of school, quite unusual for me as I only wear lab coats at work. Anyway walked towards the center of town to Plaza Independencia lots of nice buildings around the square, and museums too but did not go into any of them. Had a good lunch on one of the ped. walkway streets then went to look for the cinema, found it but it was shut! Damn that siesta! Hardly anyone in the center around 3pm so decided to go back to my hostel to chill, as i was crossing one of the streets I almost got run over by a freaking taxi, It made a sharp left turn and almost nicked me, hate these Argentine drivers! 
Had a siesta of my own, got up and walked the center again, this time very lively, full of people and then went to shop for steak! at Carrefour, went back and cooked my meal of what else, steak!Walter, the reception dude offered me mate´ and so we sipped the traditional drink while chatting in Spanish, quite difficult task as I have forgotten 
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they have a different accent, took me awhile to adjust once again, but 
MENHIRES MONOLITHShe was very helpful and gave me tips for our road 
trip coming up tomorrow. After breakfast left the hostel and walked to the bus station where I waited for Aurelie, Georgina and Joe coming off the bus from Mendoza, we left our luggages at the left luggage facilitiy and went to town and had a walk around, brunch at the Mercado Central so cheap but quite good. Then we eventually walked back to the bus station to meet Andy, the Aussie friend of Joe who is driving from Salta with the hi lux he rented and we will all do the road trip for a week up north. 

Joe decided to drive out of the bus parking lot on our way to Tafi del valle, not 2 minutes out and we got pulled over by traffic police! He missed a no left turn sign and the police dude wanted us to pay a fine of 2,500 pesos! or pay him 400 pesos and save all the paper work, this guys are so corrupt, Joe got annoyed and asked Georgina 
DRIVE TO QUILMES
to help with the translation, all in all it took us a good 2 hours arguing with the traffic 
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police, just to get the hell out of there we offered 300 pesos bribe but they insist on 400! Then a local couple came and asked what was going on, after explaining our situation hoping for some sympathy they started giving the cops a sermon on how they are fed up with corruption and that she threathened to write an article on a local paper about it, they said locals get away with a warning and just because we are tourists they are taking advantage of us, then the cops denied having asked us to pay 400 pesos! A tow truck came and like hell we will give up the truck, we drove and parked the car out of site a block away while georgina and Joe sort out things, Aurelie meanwhile called the French embassy in Ba for advice, and was told to get attention from locals to deter them as they are illegal bribes, just then that Joe and Georgina came back walking to where we are with all the paperwork returned to them, they were told to follow the cops but we just floored it and left right away, thus we are now fugitives! 


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JOE BEING REPRIMANDED BY THE CORRUPT TRAFFIC COP
Driving towards 
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JOE BEING REPRIMANDED BY THE CORRUPT TRAFFIC COPValle del Taffi we have to go up on a winding zigzaggy road through a humid forest, all green really 
gorgeous scenery then suddenly turn dry. Arriving in Valle del Tafi we found Los Cumbres hostel, nice small hostel with a tiny kitchen where we cooked our dinner of veggie pasta. Had a few more red wine to celebrate getting away from the corrupt cops of Tucuman without bribing. Apparently Andy and I had a snoring contest that night and had to be poked couple times to shut up! The bad news came next morning, Goergina was feasted on by bedbugs and we think we all will get them as well, she started the day itching. Visited the Reserva Arquelogica de los Menhires to visit some monoliths, then walked around the manmade lake. from there we moved on to Quilmes a small town that resisted the Spaniards during the conquest. up on the hill, hiking on a very hot day we managed to go up to the top of the site and walk around shading ourselves from the intense sun under the huge cacti around us, quite a nice landscape.Drove to Cafayate and found the hostel 
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JOE AND GEORGINA NEGOTIATING WITH THE TRAFFIC COPS
Rustyk which is very 
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JOE AND GEORGINA NEGOTIATING WITH THE TRAFFIC COPSnice with a nice courtyard. We decided to sign up for the asado 
cookout tonight for dinner for 25 pesos each. we walked around town, quiet and not rushed as other towns. We started drinking early, a few Saltas and a few Quilmes at a bar near the plaza, we found a hotel called Briones! Did not know we have a hotel here! The church is nice inside and when we got out there was a small procession going carrying a very small image of a saint. went back to the hostel and had our asado, delicious, and with salad greens and free wine! typical of hostels here in Argie. When we had our fill and booze I went to bed, by now it is very cold and tucked myself in my bed. Joe went out with the lads from the hostel till 3am, woke me up when he was getting ready to bed. Our roomie from Switzerland threw up on the sink, stinks! 

The next morning we all got ready for the hike, we will take a hike along the valleys around the town and do some wineries 
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Corrupt Tucuman traffic cops trying to extract 2,500 pesos($667!)from us for making an illegal left turn near the bus terminal.
as well. The view was fantastic, a small dog followed 
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Corrupt Tucuman traffic cops trying to extract 2,500 pesos($667!)from us for making an illegal left turn near the bus terminal.us up as we follow an aqueduct, cacti, tall grasses, colorful trees, 
amazing landscapes, what more can you ask for and we keep following the stream to hopefully find the waterfall but failed, we walked about couple hours and we lost the trail and we decided to go back to do the wineries. we made it down and met more hikers and we gave them advice where to go. A local dude on the trail told us the direction of the waterfall and if we pay him he can lead us there but we decided enough is enough so we headed to the wineries. Las Nubes is our first winery. We had lunch of humitos and washed it down with torrontes, a slightly sweet wine that is quite refreshing. Then we headed off to town and dropped off Andy at the hostel and we looked for the goat cheese factory, we had a tour of the facility, showing us the goats, and how they process cheese and at the end we bought some for later. we got dropped off by Joe in town and we 
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went to another winery called Ninna, we got a tour of the bodega and we 
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decided to buy another torrontes for dessert.

Mediterranean beaches

With the promise of warm weather, cheap flights and delicious food it's no wonder that the Mediterranean attracts throngs of holidaying Brits to its sunny shores each year. See our top picks for best Med beaches.

Agios Gordios, Corfu

Although it has earned a noisy reputation in recent years, mainly in the lively resort of ‘kicking' Kavos, much of Corfu still remains tranquil and picturesque. Set on the west coast, Agios Gordios is a rural gem set away from the busy tourist hordes. Still retaining much of its traditional Greek charm, bougainvillea-clad houses painted in pretty pastel hues wind down the hillside towards to the long stretch of sandy beach. The beach itself has been granted a Blue Flag for cleanliness and safety, making it an ideal spot for some family fun. Adults will also be entertained with the numerous watersports on offer such, as banana boats and jet skis. 

Barcelona


The Spanish city might not be the first resort that springs to mind when considering a beach holiday, but with one of the best urban beaches in the world at Port Olímpic, Barcelona perfectly combines city energy and beach relaxation. The stretch of golden sand also comes alive after dark when the area's bars and clubs attract party revellers. For a touch of seclusion, head down the coast to Lloret de Mar for the sheltered white-sand stretch, or if it's an all-over tan you are looking for then the private cove at Caldes d'Estracs is a naturist hotspot. Those with nippers should head to the stretch of beach to the north of the city, from La Barceloneta to the seawater pool at Forum, as they are shallow with low waters - perfect for kiddies to paddle in. 

Alghero, Sardinia


Alghero is one of the most popular resorts on Sardinia, yet retains the charm and atmosphere of a working fishing village. It manages to cater for all tastes, with cultural sites and plenty of amenities. It is less glitzy than the busy Costa Smeralda on the north coast of the island, but has plenty to offer those wanting sun, sand and sea - with clean beaches, and a lively clutch of bars and restaurants. The medieval old town is the most picturesque on Sardinia, and has a fascinating Catalan heritage: a legacy of centuries of Aragon rule. 

Santorini


The volcanic island of Santorini is one of Greece's most glamorous island destinations. The most upmarket resorts are Fira and Oia, which are perched upon the reddish-black cliffs plummeting into the deep-blue waters of the caldera, and offer sophisticated boutique hotels and gourmet dining. Moneyed travellers, including a smattering of celebrities, favour the glamorous west coast, while the east coast caters for those on a lower budget. For many people, the quintessential Santorini experience is watching the sunset from Oia, an evening ritual during high season, when crowds applause as the sun sinks into the horizon. 

Corsica


This vine-filled island rewards visitors with sun-kissed beaches and rugged mountains, as well as verdant pastures and dense forest. At the height of summer, warm Mediterranean waters, balmy evenings and beaches from which a host of watersports can be enjoyed are the main attraction. Some of Europe's least polluted seas see scuba divers make a beeline for the island, with adventure activities like rock climbing and canyoning also available to keep the adrenaline pumping. Corsica is blessed with everything from small rocky coves and beaches strewn with multicoloured pebbles to those replete with fine white sand. Bustling resort beaches, complete with watersports centres are balanced out by tranquil, almost deserted spots. Choosing where to soak up the sun's rays, or where to take a dip in the bath-temperature sea is a matter of personal preference. Beaches consistently rated as some of the island's best (and some of the finest in Europe) include Barcaggio, Ostriconi, Palombaggia and Saint Giulia.

Angling made simple

The island in Chau Thanh District, Tien Giang Province sits in the Tien River and can be reached in 25 minutes by motorboat from the city of My Tho on the Tien’s northern bank.


A quicker alternative is to cross the Rach Mieu Bridge and take the sign-posted exit.

Thoi Son is 1,200 hectares of populated fertile land with many canals, ponds, and orchards full of jackfruit, plums, papaya, bananas, oranges and mangoes begging to be picked.

Angling is popular there though it’s not done in the traditional way, at least not by visitors at one of the island’s small resorts.

What they do is don farmers’ garb and bail out a fish-filled pond with a bucket, pouring the water into an empty adjacent pond and leaving the fish exposed. Then it’s a simple matter of picking them up and stowing them in a basket.

The catch of the day can be cooked and eaten with rice wine under shady trees in the cool breeze off the river.

During meal time, local singers and musicians entertain the guests with the southern folk music known as Cai luong and the more formal Don ca tai tu, which combines southern folk rhythms and Hue Royal Court music.

A popular excursion at Thoi Son is visit the venerable house of local identity Tam Cho, whose home is made of precious hardwood in the Mekong Delta style and surrounded by ornamental trees and flowers.

A package tour to the island inevitably takes in one or more of the island’s many apiaries, where bees are raised for their honey, pollen and queen bees’ milk.

The beekeepers tell visitors all about keeping bees, harvesting honey and collecting pollen, which is done by putting a tray under a hive to catch the pollen falling off the bees’ legs before they enter the hive.

Another must-see is one of the workshops where coconut candy is made by hand, along with handicrafts and household utensils fashioned from different parts of the coconut palm. They can all be purchased by visitors.

To get the most out of Thoi Son Island, book a tour with the Indochina Star Tourism Company at 85 Dien Bien Phu Street, District 3 or the Hanh Dung Tourism Trading & Tourism Company at 83 Truong Son Street, Tan Binh District, both in Ho Chi Minh City.