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How Comprehensive Should Travel Insurance Be?

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It is never fun to contemplate the possibility of anything going wrong while travelling. Most of us get swept up in the excitement, or distracted by all the planning details involved, so we barely give the ‘what ifs’ a second thought. However, with so many factors and variables involved in the experience of ‘going on holiday’ it is vital that the majority of them run smoothly. Unfortunately, the laws of probability may be against you, so it is best to fight back with comprehensive travel insurance.
Worst Case Scenarios

So, let’s just for a minute indulge all those nagging little voices in your head and contemplate all the things that could possibly go wrong. The basics come to mind first; what if my flight is cancelled or delayed? Beginning a trip on this very wrong footing can start an even worse domino effect. Flights, despite most airlines’ best efforts, are still a somewhat unreliable form of transportation. They are subject to both the whim of Mother Nature and the human ability to accurately adhere to a tight schedule, neither of which have a typically strong or steady track record. It is best to think about comprehensive travel insurance as the voice of a reassuring granny, offering sage advice and telling you not to worry, go and have a good time. At its most basic, travel insurance will cover the expense of flight delays, cancellations and general transportation related shenanigans that you might encounter.

The other common concerns that most people have about travel include problems with accommodation, lost luggage, and/or personal injury or sickness. Depending on your destination, some of these concerns are more warranted than others. Prior to any trip abroad it is best to peruse the FCO’s (The Foreign and Commonwealth Office) website for any travel advisories pertaining to health and safety, including any recommending travel inoculations. Again, comprehensive travel insurance is your safety net in the event that you do become sick or injured while abroad. The expenses that can potentially be incurred abroad from a trip to A&E vary highly from country to country. Regardless, the last thing you want to be worried about at the time is an astronomic hospital bill to take home as a souvenir.

More Means Less

The more ‘comprehensive’ your travel insurance is, the less you have to worry about. Even the most talented worry-wort cannot possibly fret over every possible problem or disaster that could occur while travelling. Most of us cannot anticipate the random falling-coconut related concussions, or the complete lack of snow while on a ski trip, which are both true insurance claims that have been covered in the past. Comprehensive travel insurance’s job is to take both the headache and the worry out of the process of travelling.

Think Positive!

In the end, the best form of comprehensive travel insurance that you can purchase is the kind that you never use, and then wonder ‘was it really worth the money’? The answer is ‘yes’, it is really is worth the money, and it is always best not to tempt fate. Fate loves a good challenge and rarely fails to deliver. So take your granny’s wise advice and get the most travel insurance you can. Then you can truly go and have a good time and not worry about a thing!

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Patrick Chong is the Managing Director of InsureMore, an award-winning team of specialists in annual, family, single trip and all other kinds of comprehensive travel insurance. Besides offering great deals on travel insurance, Patrick also collects and shares the best free travel competitions to help his clients get the most out of their holidays.

Keep Up-to-Date with Cutting-Edge Wearables

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Technology changes so fast these days that it’s easy to feel left behind, even when your gadgets are only two or three years old. Travel is one area in which having the latest tech can be super useful, allowing adventurous travellers to completely transform their holiday experience. Whether you are keeping fit in Bangkok or getting some sleep in Mexico City, there are wearable gadgets for every situation.
Wearables – The Tech of the Future

Smartphones have had the rule of the roost for some time now, but have they got a new challenger in wearables? Just as it is unimaginable now to go travelling without a smartphone, there are plenty of wearable gadgets out there that may soon be essential for all travellers.

Nosie Control

Travelling isn’t all quiet beaches and tranquil old churches. Sometimes – whether you are sat behind a baby on a long-haul flight, or simply need a few hours kip in a busy city – you just need a bit of peace and quiet. That’s where noise-cancelling earphones come in. QuietOn headphones are at the cutting edge of the market and cancel out distracting noises for complete silence. If you also want a built-in microphone so you can get directions straight from your phone, try the InspEar Active earplugs. These earplugs also translate, perfect for travellers who appreciate some help with languages.

Fitness

It’s hard to keep track of your fitness while on holiday, even if you are hiking, biking and generally being active. Wearable fitness devices such the Fitbit are a clever way to track your steps and other fitness information. With a Fitbit you can set yourself goals every day to make sure you return from your travels even fitter than when you left.

Smartwatch

Smartwatches may have started out as a bit of a gimmick but as the technology has developed they have become increasingly functional. The best bit about a smart watch is how they enable you to move easily around foreign cities without having to get out your expensive smartphone and risk it being snatched from your grasp. The Apple and Android smartwatches will even buzz you in the right direction so there is no need to look down at the watch as you are enjoying new places.

Envirotrackers

In heavily polluted cities across the world it can be difficult to enjoy the sites without worrying that what you are breathing is not all that good for you. The latest wearable tech such the Clausette’s Wair scarf will monitor the air you breathe as well as UV levels, pollen and more. The most advanced models will even filter the air for you.

Whether your tech is wearable or not, it’s always wise to invest in gadget travel insurance to protect your new devices. Nothing can disrupt a holiday like a damaged or lost gadget. Travel insurance on its own will likely not cover all of your tech, so it’s worth picking up some gadget travel insurance that covers multiple items. It will only cost you a few pounds and could save you hundreds.

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Ethan Bailey is an experienced adventure traveller and insurance expert with the team at Let’s Go Insure. Ethan’s passion is to inspire his clients to go just that little bit further, deeper and higher on their travels and his expertise in providing the ideal insurance cover allows them to do just that. If you’re looking for the best gadget travel insurance Let’s Go works with the most experienced underwriters, intermediaries and insurers to offer a range of competitive insurance without compromising on cover.

Ghost Tourism: All the Thrills Without the Risk!

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A new trend is growing amongst thrill-seeking travellers: ghost tourism. Here’s what it is and where you should go to experience a touch of the supernatural whilst on holiday.
What is Ghost Tourism?

The idea is simple. Ghost tourism refers to holidays that involve learning about apparitions and hauntings. It also includes trips that involve encounters with spectres. An example might be staying in a haunted hotel or going on a late-night ghost walk around a spooky town.

This type of tourism actually has a rich history. People have visited Scotland, for example, for years in hopes of encountering the paranormal. Though most tourists these days don’t expect to see any spectral figures, they are interested in the history of hauntings.

If you like getting goose bumps and the creepy feeling that someone is standing behind you, this might be the travel trend for you.

Supernatural Spots: Where to Go to Get a Thrill

Here are some of the best places to start if you want to get your blood pumping and maybe, just maybe, give yourself a few nightmares.

• Salem Witch Walk – Salem is famous for its witch trials and this mystical walk features an unusual witchcraft ceremony.

• The Most Haunted Castle in Europe – It is Denmark’s Dragsholm Slot that has earned this title. Legend has it that Mary, Queen of Scots’ husband died a painful death in the dungeons.

• Ghost Towns – Deserted towns, with their unmistakably mournful atmosphere, have long been popular with tourists. Some of the best are Kayakoy in Turkey, Oradour-sur-Glane in France and St Elmo in Colorado.

• Wall Street Walk – Discover Wall Street’s history from a different angle. Learn about Alexander Hamilton, the Wall Street Crash and the spirits left behind.

• Sweet Dreams – Haunted hotels are big business. Stay in the Stanley Hotel in Colorado (it inspired The Shining). Or, if you have a real taste for the macabre, you can spend the night in the home of the infamous Lizzie Borden.

You don’t have to devote your entire holiday to searching for ghouls but including one of these places as a day (or night) trip can add an extra frisson of excitement to your trip. What’s more, it is an interesting way to experience a different side to a country’s culture than is seen in museums or art galleries.

Boo-fore You Go

You’ll soon realise that ghost hunting is truly addictive – one trip just won’t be enough. Before you head off, take out an annual multi-trip travel insurance policy. That way no matter how many trips you take a year you are covered for accidents, theft of your valuables or other mishaps. Ideally all travel would be risk-free; however annual multi-trip travel insurance makes sure you won’t lose out in the unlikely event that something does go wrong. (Disclaimer: No insurance can help you if a sneaky poltergeist steals your stuff, so make sure keep your eyes open while ghost hunting!)

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Ethan Bailey is an experienced adventure traveller and insurance expert with the team at Let’s Go Insure. Ethan’s passion is to inspire his clients to go just that little bit further, deeper and higher on their travels and his expertise in providing the ideal insurance cover allows them to do just that. If you’re looking for the best annual multi-trip travel insurance Let’s Go works with the most experienced underwriters, intermediaries and insurers to offer a range of competitive insurance without compromising on cover.

Here’s How To Avoid The 3 Most Common Affiliate Mistakes

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Affiliate marketing is one of the most effective and powerful ways of earning some money online. This program gives everybody a chance to make a profit through the Internet. Since these affiliate marketing programs are easy to join, implement and pays a commission on a regular basis, more an more people are now willing in this business.
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However, like all businesses, there are lots of pitfalls in the affiliate marketing business. Committing some of the most common mistakes will cost the marketers a large portion taken from the profit they are making everyday. That is why it is better to avoid them than be regretful in the end.

Mistake number 1: Choosing the wrong affiliate.

Many people want to earn from affiliate marketing as fast as possible. In their rush to be part of one, they tend to choose a bandwagon product. This is the kind of products that the program thinks is ?hot?. They choose the product that is in demand without actually considering if the product appeals to them. This is not a very wise move obviously.

Instead of jumping on the bandwagon, try top choose a product in which you are truly interested in. For any endeavor to succeed, you should take some time to plan and figure out your actions.

Pick a product that appeals to you. Then do some research about that product to see if they are in demand. Promoting a product you are more passionate about is easier than promoting one for the sake of the earnings only.

Mistake number 2: Joining too many affiliate programs.

Since affiliate programs are very easy to join, you might be tempted to join multiples of affiliate programs to try and maximize the earnings you will be getting. Besides you may think that there is nothing wrong and nothing to lose by being part of many affiliate programs.

True, that is a great way to have multiple sources of income. However, joining multiple programs and attempting to promote them all at the same time will prevent you from concentrating on each one of them.

The result? The maximum potential of your affiliate program is not realized and the income generated will not exactly be as huge as you were thinking initially it would. The best way to get excellent result is by joining just one program that pays a 40% commission at least. Then give it your best effort by promoting your products enthusiastically. As soon as you see that it is already making a reasonable profit, then maybe you can now join another affiliate program.

The technique is to do it slowly but surely. There is really no need to rush into things, especially with affiliate marketing. With the way things are going, the future is looking real bright and it seems affiliate marketing will be staying for a long time too.

Mistake number 3: Not buying the product or using the service.

As an affiliate, you main purpose is to effectively and convincingly promote a product or service and to find customers. For you to achieve this purpose, you must be able to relay to the customers that certain product and service. It is therefore difficult for you to do this when you yourself have not tried these things out. Thus, you will fail to promote and recommend them convincingly. You will also fail to create a desire in your customers to avail any of what you are offering.

Try the product or service personally first before you sign up as an affiliate to see if it is really delivering what it promises. If you have done so, then you are one of the credible and living testaments aware of its advantages and disadvantages. Your customers will then feel the sincerity and truthfulness in you and this will trigger them to try them out for themselves.

Many affiliate marketers makes these mistakes and are paying dearly for their actions. To not fall into the same situation they have been in, try to do everything to avoid making the same mistakes.

Time is the key. Take the time to analyze your marketing strategy and check if youa re in the right track. If done properly, you will be able to maximize your affiliate marketing program and earn higher profits.

3 Reasons to Hire a Pool Service Company

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Owning a pool can be lots of fun for the entire family. Until the pool needs to be cleaned, and then it can be a nightmare. Many homeowners will hire a professional company like Andy’s Pool Service to take care of the hassle. Hiring a full service company will cover everything a pool may need.

Cleaning and Chemicals
One of the most dreaded parts of owning a pool is maintaining it during the swimming season. It’s a constant battle to vacuum the pool bottom and to skim the water’s surface. Once the water is all clear of debris, the chemical levels need to be checked to get the water crystal clear. The technician will not only check the chlorine levels, they will check the pH levels to ensure the pool is safe to swim in. They will even check that there is enough water in the pool to ensure all the equipment runs correctly.

Equipment Maintenance
Along with cleaning the pool water, the technician will clean out the filter and the other parts of the cleaning system. They will remove the filter cartridge and rinse it off or replace it if necessary. All the skimmer baskets will be removed and rinsed off as well. Not only will they clean out the different equipment parts, they will inspect them for any signs of wear and replace them before they break.

Repairs or Renovations
During the weekly cleaning, the technician will also check the general condition of the pool structure. They will examine the sides for any signs of cracking or peeling. Ladders and rails will be checked for sturdiness. They will check for any loose tiles or trim as well. At the end of the season they can power wash the pool deck and clean the sides and bottom once it has been drained. They can also use an acid wash on the pool sides and bottom to remove any algae that has started to form in the pool. They can also give the pool a facelift by changing the surface color or even using new materials.

Many pool owners will look to companies like Andy’s Pool Service first when they need new equipment or even a new pool. The technicians will work with the various companies that manufacture the pool equipment and even the pool builders. They can give a knowledgeable opinion of each type and help compare and contrast to find the best one for the homeowner’s situation.

Some considerations when buying a new car online

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Nowadays, there’s a new development with regard to purchasing vehicles-and that is shopping for them online. That is the fastest method of buying a car. You don’t want to go to the automotive stores yourself. Shopping for on-line solely needs slightly time surfing the Internet. Plus, you’ll not have to go away the comforts of your home.

Nevertheless, similar to another venture, buying a car on-line has its advantages and disadvantages. It is crucial that you just be aware with regard to this matter. Having the precise data with regard to this will guarantee a quality choice of shopping for a car.

Sure, online shopping for of automobiles will save you money. You do not need to go to nearby car outlets. All you want to do is to open your pc and surf the Internet. It requires much less time and less effort and means lesser cash spent. The lesser the money you spend, the better. You can instead make investments you cash on some other bills like the maintenance of your car.

On-line purchasing provides you a big selection of options to choose from. Totally different styles of vehicles are provided even simply on one site. A site accommodates almost all the brand new and unique fashions of the time. It all the time has the trendiest options. Online buying provides you with a wide range of choices with only a click of a button.

This the main disadvantage of shopping for a automobile online. You can’t hold or take a look at the automotive yourself. Testing is an important because it’ll decide if the automobile is at par with other with regards to performance. If you happen to can not take a look at it, how sure are you that it will work well? You also can’t study by the quality of the automotive components firsthand as compared to going to nearby car shops and analyzing the automobile of your choice.

This is also one of the dangers of shopping for a automotive online. It’s a must to make sure that the corporate or website isn’t into fraud. Online buying contains widespread swindling that victimizes thousands of people across the world. Verify the location for authenticity before buying anything.

Delivery fees and taxes are sometimes not included in the prices that are posted on the website. This is a risk in shopping for online. Instead of saving cash, you could end up spending more.

Prevention is the Best Cure: Fighting Freight Crime

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If you’re someone who works in the haulage industry, it’s understandable that the idea of freight crime would be frightening. Whether you’ve experienced it firsthand or have been lucky enough to have only heard the stories, the thought of your vehicle being messed with or stolen from is certainly unsettling.
Fortunately, the Bedfordshire Police are on the case and they’ve come up with a campaign to ease the troubled minds of lorry drivers all over England. Together with the National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service, they’ve implemented a program that they hope will reduce crime by increasing awareness of Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) theft and providing advice for its prevention.

The National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service

The National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service, more commonly known as the NaVCIS, is responsible for combating all organised vehicle crime. This means actively fighting against it when an offence has occurred, as well as working to diminish vehicle finance crime and the use of vehicles in illegal activities.

They believe prevention is the best cure – and that’s exactly why they’ve teamed up with the Bedfordshire Police and created a prevention program.

The Program Low Down

Bedfordshire is known for being a hot spot in the haulage industry; hauliers from all over Europe travel its roads daily. Due to the region’s extensive reach to lorry drivers, a freight crime awareness day was hosted. As the name suggests, it focused on informing drivers of the potential dangers and offering advice for how to avoid becoming a target or a victim.

To remain inclusive to both national and international audiences, many aspects of the event were held in multiple languages. For example, the NaVCIS and the police provided leaflets in English, Romanian, Bulgarian, Lithuanian and French, as well as ensuring officers who spoke more than one language were around to give clarification, instruction and advice to any patrons who required it.

During the program, lorry drivers themselves were given a voice. They had the opportunity to fill out a questionnaire about their satisfaction with HGV security and share their experiences surrounding freight theft (whether personal or second hand).

Additional Advice

Protecting yourself from organised vehicle offences is all about prevention. Luckily, there are many precautions those in the haulage industry can take to make sure they and their belongings remain safe. One of the most important steps is choosing the right haulage exchange platform. Here are some things lorry drivers should take into consideration:

• Is there a member rating system? If so, how does it work? An arrangement where members are able to publicly rate those they have personally worked with is a great feature some platforms offer. That way, if a haulier is considering working with an individual or business they’ve never encountered before, they can see what feedback has been given in the past. • How strict is the screening process? In this case, the more rigorous the better – it ensures that each applicant is entirely legitimate.

Freight crime doesn’t have to give those in the haulage industry such a fright, with the NaVCIS taking a special interest in HGV crime and the preceding advice.

Norman Dulwich is a Correspondent for Haulage Exchange, the leading online trade network for the road transport industry. Connecting logistics professionals across the UK and Europe through their website, Haulage Exchange provides services for matching haulage work with available drivers. Over 5,400 member companies are networked together through the Exchange to fill empty capacity, get new clients and form long-lasting business relationships.

Is Two-Hour Delivery in the Cards for Your Business?

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There is little doubt that the courier industry is flourishing and that this is a great time to own a logistics company. With the rapid increase in online retail and the rising demand for two-day and same-day deliveries, retailers are demanding more from delivery companies, who are in turn benefitting from the increased influx of work.
The Figures

More stores are promising to fulfil orders in a short period of time and the number of retailers offering this is set to increase, with insiders estimating that 40% of delivery companies will offer a two-hour service in the next ten years. An even higher number of companies aim to offer same-day delivery by 2023, and in order to do this 87% will use an external network of drivers to fulfil the requirements. This is where an exchange platform really comes into its own, because filling return courier loads will be key to fulfilling these aims.

Changing Retail

More shops are designing their stores and operation systems so that more online orders can be filled quickly. A large number of stores fulfil orders from the in-store inventory, which is the only way that two-hour delivery slots can be made to work. This process has to be developed if the quick delivery slots are to become the norm.

Many retailers around the country are reducing their high street sales space in favour of incorporating an online fulfilment area in store. Not only is space needed for packaging and managing outgoing products, but the massive number of returns also requires an area for processing. Returns are set to increase, as delivery charges are done away with and the transport services become more efficient. In time returns will require an even bigger area for their processing.

This move towards an alternative kind of store set up is proof of the wide acceptance that the retail industry is heading in a different direction. This is excellent news for anyone in the business of dealing with courier loads and the knock on effect for the logistics industry is only going to be positive.

What Does the Future Hold?

Well over half of retail companies who do not offer free delivery or returns are planning to alter their systems and offer these services in the future, although many are still unsure of whether their use of omnichannel strategies are doing the job.

As with most industries, technology is playing a huge part in developing the systems and achieving long-term aims. By 2021, it is thought that around 94% of retailers will use barcode scanners for omnichannel logistics. This will mean that there is a more immediate connection with the warehouse and the systems used to manage the courier loads. RFID-enabled inventory management platforms are also set to be more commonplace in the retail world. The general aim is to connect supply chains in a more intelligent way and make the transportation of goods more efficient and more able to manage demand.

It is definitely worth considering how offering the two-hour delivery service could affect your business. All the signs tell us that the retail industry is moving towards faster delivery times and we will have to manage the increase in demand. Manage it well, offer the required services and your business will thrive.

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Norman Dulwich is a correspondent for Courier Exchange, the world’s largest neutral trading hub for same day courier loads in the express freight exchange industry. Over 5,400 member companies are networked together through the Exchange to fill empty capacity, get new clients and form long-lasting business relationships.