Tag Archives: UK

Personalities in Postcards: The Duke + Duchess Of Cambridge

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I think I am on semi-hiatus from postcrossing and was not really active in swapping postcards these days. But there are just cards that come by that I simply cannot resist like this one featuring my favorite royal of all, well, next to his mum, Princess Diana. This card also features the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton. This was taken during the Royal Couple’s official visit to Canada, in time for the celebration of Canada Day.

The Royal Couple recently gave birth to their second offspring, Princess Charlotte of Cambridge. Named Charlotte Elizabeth Diana, Princess Charlotte was born on 02 May, 2015 and is the fourth-in-line to the British throne, following her grandfather Prince Charles, her father William, and her brother, Prince George. Her official title is Her Royal Highness Princess Charlotte of Cambridge.

The birth of the royal baby is always a festive occasion in the UK. The people celebrated the day with much anticipation. A number of famous UK landmarks all turned pink to announce her birth, including the London Eye, the Trafalgar Square fountains, Tower Bridge, as well as the Blackpool Tower. I bet most people also had loud and festive celebrations in the streets and in the pub, probably with loads of beer and with popular instruments and songs playing in the background.

Thank you Tibor for sending this lovely card. I love having this in my collection of the Royal Family postcards. I also love the British Science Week postmard you used! He sent me 2 other postcards featuring the British Royal Family and I will tell you all about them in my upcoming posts.

Do Brits need travel insurance when travelling in Britain?

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Big Ben + the Parliament House

So you’ve made the decision not to go abroad for your annual holiday this year. Perhaps you were thinking that the travelling was too much. Or the financial costs just weren’t worth the holiday you would get. It may be that you have a tie to home that means you might need to get back quickly. Whatever the reason, you shouldn’t cancel out purchasing travel insurance. 

Get covered

Although it might not seem necessary, travel insurance is still something you should seriously consider when going on holiday in the UK. You can buy online travel insurance at the click of a button so there’s no excuse for not taking out a policy. Although most people tend to assume that travel insurance is designed to cover any medical costs that you might incur while abroad, it also covers a lot of other things as well. The NHS facilities that are available in the UK is the main reason why people might not bother with extra insurance; if they have an accident or fall ill, they will automatically be covered anyway.

Extra cover

When you go on holiday, there are a number of other elements that are covered by your travel insurance. What if you have booked and paid for everything then at the last minute, you have to cancel due to illness or a personal emergency? The money that you spent on your holiday will be lost if you don’t have any insurance; something you might not even have considered.

On top of that, if you have any of your belongings stolen, you may also find that your luck has run out. While your belongings could be covered by your home insurance, many policies don’t account for items being taken out of the house. And if you don’t have any home insurance, you’re unlikely to be covered for any thefts or losses.

Don’t make assumptions

It can be easy to assume that if you get travel insurance with your bank account or you bought an annual policy, then you will be covered in the UK as well as when you are abroad. This is not necessarily the case and you will need to check the details of each individual policy. On top of that, some insurers will only cover you if you are a certain amount of miles away from home.

Generally, when you buy a travel insurance policy for a holiday abroad, you will be covered for everything in all the countries you travel to. When it comes to staying in the UK for your holiday, the policies can impose restrictions. Personal liability may not be included and you may find yourself with location problems if you have to be hospitalized. With the right policy, you can be transferred to a hospital closer to your home, making things easier for your family members and yourself when you can go home. Without any insurance, you could be stuck in a hospital and your family could be at home literally hundreds of miles away. With all this in mind, travel insurance should still be an essential purchase for your holiday wherever it is.

Lauren Sutton is a regular travel writer for 24/7 Travel Insurance. While Lauren loves living and working in Britain, when it comes to holidays, she is most likely to jet abroad to the nearest hot and sandy beach.

image from freedigitalphotos.net

Postcards from The UK

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postcards, UK, Wales

The United Kingdom is one of the most fascinating place in my opinion, that is why I always love it whenever I received postcards from that part of the world. Earlier this year a dear friend of mine who happens to live and work in the UK, went home for a short visit and got me a couple of lovely UK postcards as homecoming gifts.

postcards, UK, Wales

Included in this pack of postcards that Mommy Mars got me from the UK was this lovely attraction in Cornwall, as well as this beautiful postcard of the Cardiff Castle in Wales, interesting cards to add to my growing collection! ♥

Driving Holidays With Kids? Where, When, How and WHY!

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travel, travel tips, UK

Driving is a great way to see the country and is a flexible holiday option for families with children. Taking a car is a lot less stressful than catching a flight or train since it lets you move at your own pace. Not hemmed down by logistics and set timetables, you’re free to enjoy the beauty of the countryside and see the sights at your leisure.

How

To some, the thought of taking their family on the road for an extended holiday may seem daunting. The first hurdle is securing a car. If you don’t have a car, it’s simple to hire one. Major car rental companies including National Car, Avis and Hertz are located throughout the UK and most companies offer larger saloons, estate cars and people carriers that will accommodate larger families. Rental cars are well maintained and are typically no more than a few years old, so you are assured a comfortable ride.

Once the car is secured, the next major step is to make sure that your kids will stay entertained during the road trip. There are plenty of solutions to this challenge and parents can employ a mix of audio books, music, videos and games on a smartphone or tablet. With the car loaded up with petrol and happy kids in the rear seats, you’re good to go.

Where to go

The UK has a wide variety of destinations ranging from beach getaway spots to beautiful hiking trails, scenic countryside, stunning national parks and historic locations. Cornwall is always a popular driving destination thanks to its stunning coastline and beaches. On the opposite end of the spectrum, places far north like Inverness in the Scottish Highlands and the Lake District are also easily accessible by car. Other possible options include Wales, the New Forest and the Cotswolds. Whilst en route, driving will also make it possible to make detours and stops at memorable sites along the way.

When to go

For destinations a little closer to home, bank holiday weekends provide enough time for a quick family getaway. Longer road trips are a good way to break up the long summer holiday. However, other parts of the year should not be neglected. Autumn is one of the most beautiful months to travel around the UK and accommodation prices also tend to be lower during this part of the year.

Advantages of Driving Holidays

One of the main advantages of driving holidays is that they offer significant savings over comparable holidays abroad. Rental prices for vehicles are very reasonable and the easiest way to travel with smaller children. Another advantage of driving is the ability to view and appreciate the countryside and discover small towns and villages along the way. Finally, driving can get you to destinations that are hard to reach through air and rail travel. Countryside walking trails and national parks can be very difficult to get to without a vehicle and the UK is really best explored on the road.