HOLIDAY GURU
All the answers you need
Q THIS may sound like a pipedream, but we’d like to go backpacking in South-East Asia when travel is possible. Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand are likely candidates, but I expect they could be off the Government ‘travel corridor’ list. Is insurance offered for such an adventure? Steve and Clare Goodwin, York.
A YES. Battleface covers all destinations, including those the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office advises against non-essential travel to ( battleface. com). You must comply with quarantine/Covid test requirements on return, and check entry requirements for those countries. If you travel against FCDO advice you risk invalidating cover with most other insurers. See ‘ Travel Insurance’ at abi.org.uk for tips.
Q THIS summer, assuming we can travel, we would like to go on an Alpine walking holiday. Can you recommend a company?
Jackie Smith, Truro, Cornwall.
A TRY Inntravel ( inntravel. co.uk), HF Holidays ( hfholidays. co.uk), Headwater ( headwater. com), Explore ( explore.co.uk) and Ramblers Walking Holidays ( ramblersholidays.co.uk). Inntravel has seven-night breaks in the Bernese Oberland in the Swiss Alps from £1,020 pp without flights.
Q MY WIFE and I have holidayed in Tenerife over Christmas for 12 years. We have booked four months from November, but I understand there is a 90-day postBrexit rule. Is there a way to extend this or get a refund? Keith Morgan, via email.
A THE strict new rule allows 90 days of travel in total across a 180-day period in the Schengen area. You may apply for a ‘Schengen tourism visa’ for stays of more than 90 days in Spain — however, this is complicated. Visit exteriores. gob.es/Consulados/LONDRES/en/ Consulado/Pages/Visas.aspx, then scroll to ‘How can I apply for a Schengen tourism visa?’ and click on that for instructions. It may be better to limit your stay to less than 90 days and request a refund for unused days, which is down to the accommodation provider.
Q I BOOKED a Jet2 holiday to Lanzarote due to leave on December 20, but then the lockdown came in. Jet2 refunded me but Staysure, which I paid £326 for travel insurance, offered a voucher or to postpone. I was told I had to book by January 8, which was impossible, so I accepted a voucher. This was worth just £96. I am 87 and to lose £230 is very unfair. Can you help? P. D. Thorpe, via email.
A TRAVEL insurance begins the moment it is purchased, as you are covered against cancellation from that point on, so usually a ‘pro rata’ refund is offered. As a ‘gesture of goodwill’ Staysure is offering you a voucher for the full cost.
WE’RE HERE TO HELP
IF YOU need advice, the Holiday Guru is here to answer your questions. Email them to: holidayplanner@dailymail.co.uk.