So, yesterday I went on the travel insurance mission.
Having elected to pass on a free Meerkat toy on Compare the Market, I decided to visit Money Supermarket to go through travel insurance deals and quotes.
At first glance, the list
seems endless with all the providers showing the same packages - with
varying prices. However, having had previous experience of
insurance-buying, I easily went through and identified the ideal package
for me. Lay insurance hunters may think that medical cover of up to
£10,000,000 seems an awful lot of cover. Well - in my opinion (and
thankfully not from any physical ailments) it is better to be safe than
sorry, and if having £10million-worth of insurance cover means being
safe then that's the box to tick. You never know what might happen when
you're on your adventures.
Next was a rough estimate
in terms of baggage cover and "Cancellation & Curtailment" cover.
These are up to you, the only important thing to remember is that within
the overarching "baggage" title comes all manner of sub-sections
involved personal item value limits and total belongings value issues.
Check the small print before doing anything.
And finally, after a good
few hours of browsing and reading tedious policy wordings, I decided to
go with Columbus Direct. Mostly because I had heard of the company
before, and they were offering large amounts of cover with relatively
small amounts of excess. I checked through the policy details and small
print, and decided this was the one for me. Insure me please.
Crucial tips:
- Always know exactly what you're insured for and against
- Know the phone numbers of the insurance companies and ALWAYS print off all documentation to carry with you
Thursday, 25 April 2013
Tuesday, 16 April 2013
Injection terror...
Having decided that I have NOT forgotten to do anything important, I am feeling better about the whole trip.
I had a good catch-up chat with Shila (she used to work with VCD) last night, having not seen her since my visit to Nepal in 2011. I am getting very excited to go back!
Tomorrow is the day I have set aside for any injections I may need. I tried desperately to avoid this fate by going into the Health Centre and asking the receptionist if she could find out for me. She tried, but failed miserably - advising me to speak to a nurse. Great.
The image of "Nurse Jo Brand" (seriously, she is like the comedienne's long lost twin) bursting through the door with an armful of shiny syringes is not one that I wish to see again, even though the first time she reassured me that they were not all for me after spotting the look of sheer terror on my face.
Frankly, I hope I don't need to have an armful of metal (or a mouthful of Cholera, from what I have read on the NHS website) as the rest of the day is designated to my usual Essay-in-a-Day routine after leaving everything to the last minute. I can't write essays with useless arms.
On a brighter note, the lovely Nepali poet Yuyutsu R D Sharma has kindly answered my interview questions to help with my journalism project. I can't believe how kind he has been! It will give me a good background before I get to Nepal and crack on with all the in-country research I need to do!
I had a good catch-up chat with Shila (she used to work with VCD) last night, having not seen her since my visit to Nepal in 2011. I am getting very excited to go back!
Tomorrow is the day I have set aside for any injections I may need. I tried desperately to avoid this fate by going into the Health Centre and asking the receptionist if she could find out for me. She tried, but failed miserably - advising me to speak to a nurse. Great.
The image of "Nurse Jo Brand" (seriously, she is like the comedienne's long lost twin) bursting through the door with an armful of shiny syringes is not one that I wish to see again, even though the first time she reassured me that they were not all for me after spotting the look of sheer terror on my face.
Frankly, I hope I don't need to have an armful of metal (or a mouthful of Cholera, from what I have read on the NHS website) as the rest of the day is designated to my usual Essay-in-a-Day routine after leaving everything to the last minute. I can't write essays with useless arms.
On a brighter note, the lovely Nepali poet Yuyutsu R D Sharma has kindly answered my interview questions to help with my journalism project. I can't believe how kind he has been! It will give me a good background before I get to Nepal and crack on with all the in-country research I need to do!
Sunday, 14 April 2013
The countdown begins...
It is officially one month to go until I leave for Nepal.
Compared with 2011's last-minute rush this new trip seems a little too organised. My flights are booked and sorted (I've even chosen my seats), my passport has been stamped and approved for the visa, and the whole internship and accommodation is secure with VCD Nepal.
The only things left to do involve buying travel insurance, and getting injected up - though thankfully not to eyeball-level this time. I have been so super organised this year that I am developing a serious paranoia complex about it. What crucial, trip-threatening thing have I forgotten!?
Until I remember what this vital element is, I have to fill my time with speedy essay-writing and making sure I have sorted everything for when I am out there. And luckily, I have this blog to record my thoughts, feelings, trials, and tribulations in the run up to boarding my UAE-bound flight out of Manchester.
By the end of my time in Nepal, this blog will be an invaluable record of my travels and will hopefully serve to entertain and, possibly, enlighten readers.
Enjoy reading and following my adventures!
Compared with 2011's last-minute rush this new trip seems a little too organised. My flights are booked and sorted (I've even chosen my seats), my passport has been stamped and approved for the visa, and the whole internship and accommodation is secure with VCD Nepal.
The only things left to do involve buying travel insurance, and getting injected up - though thankfully not to eyeball-level this time. I have been so super organised this year that I am developing a serious paranoia complex about it. What crucial, trip-threatening thing have I forgotten!?
Until I remember what this vital element is, I have to fill my time with speedy essay-writing and making sure I have sorted everything for when I am out there. And luckily, I have this blog to record my thoughts, feelings, trials, and tribulations in the run up to boarding my UAE-bound flight out of Manchester.
By the end of my time in Nepal, this blog will be an invaluable record of my travels and will hopefully serve to entertain and, possibly, enlighten readers.
Enjoy reading and following my adventures!
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