Now that the clocks have changed and our evenings are lighter once more, many of us will be thinking of an Easter get away. And if it’s the sun you’re after then Spain has to be high on the list. After this week’s blog about the FEVE railway, we thought we’d continue on our journey off the beaten track. So we’re heading for the hills above the Costa del Sol, where you’ll find plenty of places to enjoy an authentic Spanish experience.

The Costa del Sol is still a massively popular destination. North Africa is only twenty miles away and the weather is hot and glorious for most of the year. Local infrastructure has been well developed over the last two decades with good road, air and rail connections. Cheap flights arrive from all over Europe with a clientele ranging from those seeking cut price simple family packages to the glitz and glamour of yachts and million pound villas in the environs of Marbella. Millions know about this stretch of coast and arrive by the thousands from Easter to late October to enjoy the long season of sun and beaches.

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The north coast by train.

For many travellers, the key to a good trip is to really get immersed in the local culture. When it comes to the north of Spain, one of the best ways to do that is to travel the coast along the FEVE, the narrow-gauge railway system that connects the towns and cities of what is unquestionably one of Europe’s most beautiful coastlines. It’s a backpacker’s delight. But you don’t have to miss out on the luxuries if you don’t want to. This May will see the launch of a new season of services aboard El Transcantábrico, one of the world’s most luxurious trains.

So, are you ready for the trip of a lifetime?

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Occasionally we write guest posts for other blogs who are looking for a little expert travel insurance advice. In this post for independent baby product retailers Justanotherbaby.co.uk we explained how to pick up a great travel insurance deal for the family that doesn’t cost the earth.

Family holidays are always exciting. What better than jetting off to make memories in the summer sun with excited kids? But sometimes it can feel like there are so many niggly bits to take care of before you leave. Don’t worry. Your travel insurance needn’t be one of them. In fact, organising travel insurance for the family can be a doddle. And we’ll show you how.

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Following the massive earthquake and resulting tsunami that hit Japan on Friday (March 11^th), many Japanese airports have reopened and airlines have resumed flights in and out of the country. The exception is the airport in Sendai, which remains closed due to flood damage from the tsunami.

However, just because airlines are flying there doesn’t mean you should travel. The British Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) are currently advising against all but essential travel to north eastern Japan and Tokyo. If you travel against that advice you will invalidate your travel insurance policy. It’s common throughout the travel insurance industry for policies to have a general exclusion which means you are not covered if you travel against the advice of the FCO. So unless your trip is deemed essential, you won’t be covered and your policy will be invalidated.

The main message is simple: keep an eye on the latest travel updates from the FCO. You can do that by following this link. If you are due to be travelling to north eastern Japan or Tokyo, check with your tour operator or travel agent to see what their cancellation policy is. You may be entitled to compensation.

There are currently no warnings in place, however, for other parts of Japan. For this reason, some airlines are waiving penalty fees for their customers should they wish to amend their travel routes. Your airline will be able to give you any information you need on this before you travel.

Friday’s earthquake and tsunami was a major disaster and the situation in Japan is still volatile. If you have travel plans please keep an eye on the FCO website and remain in touch with your airline for their latest announcements.

It’s heartbreaking watching the news today. As we stare open mouthed at our televisions it’s hard to imagine the magnitude of what has happened in Japan and what is about to happen in the rest of the Pacific. Tidal wave alerts are in force in Russia, Hawaii, The Philippines, Indonesia, Alaska, Central America and even South America. The Tsunami that resulted from the largest earthquake to hit the country since records began over a hundred years ago has already hit the north east coast of Japan. Its magnitude has been put at 8.8 on the Richter scale with some reports putting the wave height of the tsunami at 10 metres. To give it some scale the earthquake that hit Christchurch last month was 6.3.

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Airlines are bracing themselves for disruption after news that Spanish Airport Authority, Aena, are planning a series of summer strikes. Aena are state-owned and control many of Spain’s key airports.

Union syndicates have confirmed that Aena are planning to strike on a number of dates between April and August (see below for full details). Airport staff are taking the action in protest against government plans to sell off parts of the company.

But what does it mean for your travel insurance?

Well, it depends on when you took out your policy. News of the strikes was announced in the Spanish press on Tuesday night (8^th March). More importantly, the UK media has been aware of the news since 8.40am yesterday morning (9^th March). Any travellers whose policy was purchased after 8.40am on 9^th March will not be covered for the strikes on the dates shown above. But those who purchased their policies before this time will be covered as per the policy wording under the sections for Travel Delay/Abandonment and Missed Departure.

Also, remember that if you do get caught up in the strikes it is the legal obligation of your airline to offer alternative flights as well as compensation for additional accommodation and sundries. Therefore, these elements will not be covered under your policy.

If you’re worried about the industrial action in Spain, keep an eye on our blog. We’ll bring you the latest news as it develops. And if you have any questions, call our support team on 0845 90 80 161.

Strike dates:

April:
20^th, 21^st, 24^th, 25^th and 30^th

May:
2^nd, 14^th, 15^th, 19^th and 20^th

June:
13^th, 23^rd and 30^th

July:
1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th, 15^th and 31^st

August:
1^st, 15^th and 31^st

Budget airlines. We seem to have developed a bit of a love-hate relationship with them. Sure, we love the cheap flights. They’re great. But the customer service can sometimes leave a lot to be desired. And that’s being kind. Because the consensus would be that certain frugal flight providers seem bereft of even the slimmest modicum of customer service.

But that’s not the problem here. What really worries us is the fact that budget airlines are rolling out increasingly sneaky ways of doing us out of an extra bob or two. Or more. Yep, we’re having to be more and more savvy to rake in the savings. Fail to be vigilant and you could end up spending a lot more than you expected.

Luckily, we’ve got a few tips on how you can play the budget airlines at their own game and keep your costs low.

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Taking a baby on your travels? It needn’t all be tears at the terminal and tantrums at check-in. Charlie Pascoe from Justanotherbaby.co.uk, independent retailers of specialist baby products, recommends her top travel tips and products for helping to keep your holiday hassle-free.

Your first trip away with your baby, whether in this country or abroad, is an exciting yet daunting prospect. As much as you want them to be on their best behaviour and for everything to run like clockwork, the chances are that it won’t. Being a little prepared can go a long way to help ease the stress that unwanted situations can often cause. Here we have compiled some travel tips which may help to make your family time away a bit more like a holiday!

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