Looking to boost your Autumn wardrobe or doing some early Christmas shopping? Why not shop via the AerClub eStore before the 21st of October and collect 500 bonus Avios!

AerClub, the frequent flyer club of Aer Lingus, have launched a new-look AerClub eStore. You can shop over 100 brands online and collect Avios from the comfort of your own home! Shopping via the AerClub eStore couldn’t be easier, simply log in using your AerClub log in details, and see all your favourite brands in one place! You won’t pay any more for shopping this way. Prices are exactly the same, but you will accumulate Avios while you shop. And now if you shop via the eStore before the 21st of October you will also collect 500 bonus Avios, so you have the perfect excuse to try it out!

Note this bonus will be issued on the first qualifying transaction only, i.e you don’t get 500 extra Avios every time your make a purchase. For those of you who are used to shopping via the Avios eStore note the promotion will not apply here – you need to shop via the AerClub eStore to collect the 500 bonus Avios.

Bonus Offers from Marks & Spencer & Eason

Some retailers are giving additional Avios during the promotion period so it’s a win-win! Marks & Spencer are offering 7 Avios for every €1 spent instead of the usual 4 Avios, and Eason are offering 8 Avios for every €1 spent instead of the usual 5 Avios. To put that into perspective if you spend €100 in Marks & Spencer you will collect 700 Avios plus a bonus of 500 Avios! So maybe it is time to stock up on some cosy knits from M&S or some light reading from Eason – just what you need for winter nights in.

How to spend Avios

You only need 8000 Avios for a return flight to Paris and 26,000 for a return flight to New York (you need to pay taxes, fees and charges). You can also use Avios to pay for hotels, car hire and travel experiences. See five ways to spend Avios here. I am a big fan of Avios and I have already collected over 60,000 Avios, most of which were accumulated by shopping. For more details on how to get flights and upgrades by shopping click here. In case you didn’t know, Avios are a reward currency that are used by many airlines including Aer Lingus, British Airways and Iberia, as well as various hotel websites and high street stores.

I have picked some of my favourite retailers that I use to shop via the AerClub eStore, but click here to shop all stores.

Lookfantastic: 7 Avios  

Stock up on your winter essentials from beauty store Lookfantastic. Whether it’s the latest skincare products, haircare remedies or maybe a new GHD in time for Christmas. Why not collect Avios while you shop? Click here to shop the AerClub eStore

Marks & Spencer: 7 Avios for every €1 spent

 From underwear to winter woolies, cute kidswear to men’s polo shirts – there is always something to be bought in M&S.  Click here to shop the AerClub eStore

Eason: 8 Avios for every €1 spent

Easons have 25% off Autumn blockbusters so not only will you save money but you can collect a whopping 8 Avios for every €1 spent! If you purchase Jamie Oliver’s new cook book, you will collect 168 Avios plus 500 bonus Avios!  Click here to shop the AerClub eStore

River Island 3 Avios for every £1; Asos & Boohoo 3 Avios for every €1; Pretty Little Thing 5 Avios for every €1 spent

Looking to get a new winter coat or something for this year’s Christmas party season? Get the latest winter looks from the UK’s biggest online fashion stores and collect Avios at the same time.  Click here to shop the AerClub eStore

Adidas: 10 Avios for every €1 spent

Superstars, the latest Stella Mc Cartney gym gear, or kids football boots, there is something in the Adidas store to suit everyone. With a whopping 10 Avios for every €1 you spend, you can collect 1000 Avios buy purchasing a new pair of Superstars and also receive 500 bonus Avios!  Click here to shop the AerClub eStore

Groupon: 7 Avios for every €1 spent

Groupon has every type of gift imaginable. From restaurant vouchers to teeth whitening deals, short breaks to mobile phones, Groupon is your one stop daily deals website. Collect 700 Avios for every €100 spent on top of their already discounted prices.  Click here to shop the AerClub eStore   

Apple: 2 Avios for every €1 spent

Fancy a new phone, iMac or apple watch? Perhaps you are thinking of treating the kids to new iPads for Christmas? Collect 2 Avios for every €1 spent.  Click here to shop the AerClub eStore

How do I join AerClub?

For those of you who haven’t yet joined AerClub, this is the perfect time to do it. Simply click here to join AerClub, it couldn’t be easier!

T&Cs

500 Bonus Avios are given when you shop via AerClub eStore between 4th – 21st October inclusive. Bonus will be issued on first qualifying transaction only. One Bonus per customer. Certain retailer exclusions apply, see individual retailer pages within the AerClub eStore for details. All hotel, travel bookings and subscription purchases are excluded from
this Bonus Avios offer; see full list of excluded retailers at AerClub eStore terms. Avios will not be awarded on items that are returned or cancelled. We accept no responsibility for fulfilment of transactions and delivery of goods; therefore please
check delivery timescales with individual retailers. Standard AerClub eStore terms and conditions apply. Bonus Avios will be credited to your account in a separate transaction to the standard Avios collected, by Friday 14 December 2018. Avios are issued and redeemed in accordance with Avios terms and conditions. Click here for further details.

Click here to shop the AerClub eStore

This post was sponsored by Avios, but all views, as always, are my own.

Sarah

I am often asked “what does travel insurance cover” so along with some of my own travel tips, I caught up with the team at Multitrip.com to find out.

Despite travel insurance cover being such a tiny part of the overall holiday cost, it amazes me that some people still travel without it. There is a misconception out there that if you are only going on a short trip, or travelling inside the EU, that you don’t need it. The reality is, if you are travelling abroad, you NEED travel insurance!

You can now purchase a two year Multitrip travel insurance policy for as little as €31.99, so it makes no sense NOT to have it!  If you are wondering what does travel insurance cover, I have compiled this list from Multitrip.com along with some top tips that I have learned on my travels.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Delighted with myself for #paragliding in #CapeTown today! Definitely #facedmyfears and SO outside my #comfortzone 🙌 I’m going to be 46 next week 😱 but today sure told me you are #asoldasyoufeel – loved every minute! More on my stories 👆 . . . . . . #faceyourfears #paragliding #paraglidinggirl #instagood #instatravel #travelblogger #travelpic #citiesoftheworld #beautifuldestinations #capetown #capetownvibes @lovecapetown #ilovecapetown #signalhill #tablemountain #adrenalinerush #paraglidingtandem @ctparaglide #travelgram #thingstodoincapetown #southafrica #views #bestview

A post shared by Sarah Slattery – Travel Expert (@the_travel_expert) on Mar 25, 2018 at 2:32pm PDT

Medical Expenses, Repatriation, Personal Accident

When you are away, accidents and medical emergencies can happen and end up being hugely expensive to treat. That’s why these are important aspects of your travel insurance to consider, especially if you are travelling with a medical condition or while pregnant. A policy should also provide cover for repatriation back to Ireland if necessary.

My Top Tips:

This is the number one reason why people take travel insurance, however the key is to make sure you are adequately insured. Medical bills in the States can be colossal and in some countries public hospitals can be in poor condition. Ideally you want a full medical travel insurance cover so that you are covered in a private hospital and for air ambulance, should you not be able to fly home on a commercial flight. Remember the European Health Insurance Card (formerly E111) only covers you in a public hospital, not private, and in European countries only.

If you or a close family member, have a pre – existing illness you MUST disclose this to the insurance company at the time you book your policy, otherwise you may not be covered. This also applies for cancellation purposes too.

Cancellation and Curtailment

They say that “life is what happens when you have other plans!”  You can get too sick to travel, a close relative may become ill or you may have been made redundant prior to your departure, meaning you may have to cancel part of, or your entire trip. Cancellation and curtailment cover will reimburse you (up to a specified limit) if these occurrences disrupt your plans.

My Top Tips: 

If booking expensive holidays, check that the cancellation cover is adequate. Some policies have a limit of €1000 per person, you may find that for an small fee you can be covered for €5000 per person. Make sure you take out cover at the time you book your holiday to ensure you are fully covered for cancellation.

Delayed or Lost/ Stolen Baggage

It’s one of our worst fears: arriving at our destination only to find the bag we spent days carefully packing hasn’t decided to join us. By having delayed or lost baggage coverage in your policy, you’ll be able to claim for the expenses you incur (up to the limit stated) until your bag catches up.

My Top Tip: 

Always pack a change of clothes for each person in your party in your hand luggage as well as small toiletries (under 100ml) and any medical requirements.

Personal Money, Documents & Passport

Pickpockets can be a common threat in many of the world’s major cities. Losing money on your travels can also happen. It’s well worth having travel insurance cover that covers you (up to a stated amount) in the event of any lost, stolen or damaged personal money and travel documents.

My Top Tip:

Note expensive items need to covered on your house policy so have these in a safe place at all times. If you are unlucky to have items stolen on you, make sure you call the police. Travel Insurance companies rarely refund expenses without an official police report.

Personal liability

When staying in Hotels, Airbnb’s, Hostels or even couchsurfing, it’s important to have Personal Liability cover in case you damage the property, and/or someone gets injured and they make a claim against you.

Missed Departure

Missed departure cover will protect you (up to the stated limit) if you miss your flight because of reasons out of your control, such as an accident, breakdown of the vehicle you are travelling in, strikes or adverse weather conditions.

Delayed or Holiday Abandonment

Nothing can be more frustrating than a delayed flight that leaves you waiting for hours at the airport. In cases where your flight is delayed for 12 hours, you could be entitled to compensation from your travel insurer. Read my post about cancelled flights and what to do when things go wrong.

Catastrophe

If an earthquake, storm, flood, tsunami or other incident force you to change your plans and your tour company is unable to assist you, good travel insurance cover can be vital. In many cases it will cover your costs of moving from your pre-booked accommodation and other irrecoverable costs necessarily incurred to continue with the trip, or even if you have to return home.

My Top Tip:

No one could have foreseen the extent of flight disruption when 10 million people were stranded and 100,000 flights were cancelled due to the Icelandic ash cloud, or more recently the amount of air traffic control strikes and pilot strikes we saw this Summer. I always recommend that you add travel disruption cover to your existing policy (extra charge applies). You will be covered for additional expenses if your flight is cancelled or delayed for more than 12 hours. You can also claim back expenses due to flooding, earthquakes or if you are advised against travel to a specific country due to unrest.

Other Considerations

Each trip you plan will bring with it its own unique considerations when it comes to travel insurance. Please keep in mind that all travel insurance cover has certain exclusions, additional cover levels and excesses that apply, so make sure you do your research and read the terms, conditions and exclusions before you buy.

For more on travel insurance, check out Multitrip.com’s Cover Handbook and the FAQ’s on their website. You can also get a great value quote on their website today by clicking here.

Like Travel Tips? See more here.

Sarah

Doing anything this weekend? I know where I’ll be – at the exclusive AerClub event at Kildare Village!

This weekend, on the 8th and 9th of September, AerClub are having an exclusive event at Kildare Village for AerClub members. Not only can you save up to 20% in participating stores, but you can also collect triple Avios, that’s 15 Avios for every €4 spent! You will also get free access to the VIP Lounge during your visit and you could win a shopping trip for two to Barcelona! This exclusive event is a great way to boost your Avios account. Fancy some Autumn / Winter wear or maybe some early Christmas shopping? Popular stores including Hobbs, Asics, Sun Fashion Lab, Watch Station and many more are participating. A full list of participating stores will be released shortly.

To put this into context, so you can see how great this promotion really is, if you spend €200 at Kildare Village this weekend, you will receive a whopping 3000 Avios, plus a bonus of 200 Avios (1 per customer for any purchase) when you claim your Avios on the day! You only need 8000 Avios for a return flight to Paris and 26,000 for a return flight to New York (you just need to pay taxes, fees and charges). You can also use Avios to pay for hotels, car hire and travel experiences. See five ways to spend Avios here. I am a big fan of Avios and I have already collected 60,000 Avios, most of which were accumulated by shopping. For more details on how to get flights and upgrades by shopping click here. In case you didn’t know, Avios are a reward currency that are used by many airlines including Aer Lingus, British Airways and Iberia, as well as various hotel websites and high street stores.

How do I receive my exclusive invitation?

Only AerClub members will receive the above benefits. If you are an AerClub member you can click here to register for the event. You will receive a confirmation email. Simply present this at the Welcome Desks in Kildare Village, to receive your exclusive shopping pass for additional discounts at participating boutiques. If you are not a member of AerClub you can join now for free and then register for the event afterwards.

How do I join AerClub?

For those of you who haven’t yet joined AerClub, this is the perfect time to do it. Simply click here to join AerClub, it couldn’t be easier! Once you have joined, click here to register for the event and you will receive a confirmation email.

How do I collect triple Avios?

Once you have registered for the event and received your confirmation email, you should present this to the Welcome Lounge in Kildare Village to receive a store directory. This contains a unique barcode which must be scanned at participating boutiques to avail of the exclusive discounts. At the end of your shopping day simply present your purchase receipts at the Tourist Information and the staff will register your purchases. Note, this has to be done on the day to collect the bonus Avios and to collect triple Avios on your shopping. Avios will be credited to your account within 40 days. Note exclusions can apply and discounts may not be available in conjunction with other promotions.

And thats not all – Win a VIP trip for 2 to Barcelona!

If you are an AerClub member, simply present your receipts at the Tourist Information during the event and you will be entered into a prize draw to win 160,000 Avios and a VIP shopping trip for 2 to La Roca Village, Barcelona! 160,000
Avios is enough for return flights for two from Dublin to Barcelona (taxes, fees and charges excluded), plus a 2-night stay in a 4* hotel. This VIP trip also includes transfers from your hotel, a gift card for €250 and lunch for two people! Competition terms and conditions apply  – see here.

And enjoy access to the VIP lounge

You are also invited to access the VIP lounge at Kildare Village from 12pm – 6pm on both days, 8th and 9th of September. So chill out and enjoy something sweet with a coffee or a glass of bubbly before, or after, your shopping! Silver, Platinum and Concierge AerClub members can access the lounge between 10am-12pm each day. So shop like a VIP and treat yourself to some Autumn wear or some do some early Christmas shopping. I hope to see you there!

This post was sponsored by Avios but all views, as always, are my own.

Sarah

Collect 50% extra Avios with SuperValu when you convert your money back vouchers or Real Rewards points to Avios, before the 13th of September!

SuperValu have just sent out their money back vouchers so the timing couldn’t be better for their latest Avios promotion! I am delighted to tell you that you can collect 50% extra Avios with SuperValu when you convert your money back vouchers or Real Rewards points to Avios, before the 13th of September. Instead of collecting the usual 100 Avios for every 100 Real Rewards points converted with SuperValu, you can now collect 150 Avios. This means that if you have accumulated 1000 Real Rewards points or have received €10 in money back vouchers, you can get a whopping 1500 Avios!  You need to convert your money back vouchers online and you can use the SuperValu app to convert any new Real Rewards points accumulated before the 13th of September. You will collect 50% extra Avios either way! See here for more details or check out this short video.

How to spend Avios?

There are many ways to spend Avios. You can spend them on flights with Aer Lingus and partner airlines, and there are thousands of destinations to choose from. When you have accumulated 8,000 Avios you can book a return flight to Paris, while 26,000 will give you a return flight to New York. Note these exclude taxes, fees and charges and are based on off-peak travel. If you don’t have quite enough Avios for a flight, you can pay the rest in cash. For a full list of destinations and how to spend your points, click here.

You can also use Avios to upgrade economy tickets to business class or book hotels, car hire or travel experiences. Read this post for five ways to spend Avios. For those of you who have been following me on my journey, I am delighted to say that I have accumulated 55,000 Avios now and I plan on spending some of them on car-hire later in the year. Most of my Avios were collected by shopping cleverly and taking advantage of the many promotions that Avios run during the year – such as this one! For anyone who is not familiar with Avios, read my first post about how to get flights and upgrades with Avios points and start your journey now.

Looking to sign up?

If you are already an AerClub member, your existing log in and password will suffice. For those who have not yet joined, join Aer Lingus’ frequent flyer club – AerClub. Why not download the free Avios app too, it will allow you book flights on the go, check your Avios balance and find out where to collect.

This post was sponsored by Avios, but all views, as always are my own.

Sarah

Check out my review of the Canon Selphy photo printer and find out why every home should have one!

I bought a new phone about a year ago, and I already have 18,488 photos on it 🙈. Ok I know I probably take more photos than the average person, but I’m guessing if you look at your phone now, you will be amazed at how many photos you have stored. I think when most of us get a new phone, we download our old photos on to a laptop or desktop somewhere and tell ourselves we will go through them some day. And then the inevitable happens, we never look at them again….

I know ‘time’ is the new poverty but why is it that I can’t find five minutes to print my photos?  There are apps where we can create photo books and they will be delivered to us. Harvey Norman is constantly bombarding the airwaves with yet another special offer for photo printing in store. Yet I do neither. I leave them all on my phone, which is killing my storage, glance at the most recent ones and forget the rest. Even when I see my Facebook memories pop up a year later, I tell myself I must print those photos, but alas, it never happens. In fact, until a week ago I am ashamed to say that there were no framed pictures from the last two years, anywhere in my house! I have been fortunate to visit some amazing places in the last two years, Malaysia, South Africa, Sri Lanka and California, yet I had not one picture showing any of these!

I happened to mention on one of my Instagram posts how I need to start printing photos again. Lo and behold a courier arrived at my door with a Canon Selphy photo printer! I couldn’t believe it, what an amazing gift to receive! I was thrilled but also amazed how compact it was.

It is SO easy to use, honestly I had printed my first picture in minutes. You just need to download the Canon Print / Selphy App from the App store and connect to the WiFi. Once you open the app you select ‘Photo Print’, ‘CameraRoll’, select a picture and press print. It is that easy! It only takes about one minute to print a picture, just watch my short video below. You can also print from cameras or other smart devices and it is portable. You can even bring it with you to parties and print up to 54 photos from its high capacity battery!

Luckily I had most of my favourite pics saved as favourites in my phone, so it actually didn’t take as long as I thought to find some nice ones to print. I asked the kids to tell me some of their favourite memories from the past few years and I also printed out some photos for them. Luke was thrilled to replace the photos from when he was in Thomas Land (7 years ago!) and Alex from her days playing dress up in the creche! In no time at all I had loads of my favourite photos printed, framed and hanging on the wall for us all to admire! I also bought a photo box for Luke and Alex and will continue to print photos from all our trips and life experiences. Now when they are older they will have their own box of photos to look back on, and hopefully share with their own kids. This is something I said I would do when they were born. Sadly I never did, but better late than never right?

I can’t recommend this Canon Selphy photo printer enough, it is so easy to use, takes up very little space and only costs £109.99! Thank You Canon, from now on we really will have memories that will last a life time…

See more details on canon.ie or shop here.

Sarah

Disclosure:

I was given this camera as a gift from Canon but was not asked to write any review or post. All views, as always, are my own.

The shop here link contains an affiliate link which will cost you no more, but I will receive a small commission if you make a purchase.

I discussed my favourite Travel Hacks on Newstalk FM. Check out my top tips and tricks to save you time, money and make your next trip away a little easier. 

Compare Like with Like

Tour Operators / Travel Agents v Booking direct.

Many travel agents and tour operators packages include checked baggage and transfers. If you need to pay for a checked bag with Aer Lingus, it will cost you €110 to Lanzarote for 20kg in July. Likewise if you are staying in the North of Majorca or the west coast of the Algarve, it could cost €200 for return airport transfers. The cheap deal you thought you had managed to get direct, may not be so cheap afterall.

USA & Long haul flights:

It is important to compare like with like on long haul flights as checked baggage and meals is no longer standard. With low cost carriers like WOWair and Norwegian now offering regular flights from Ireland to the USA, you need to compare what you are getting versus flying direct with other carriers who include meals, seats and checked baggage. Norwegian are charging an additional €130 on a return flight to New York for a 20kg checked bag, seat reservation and a meal on board. They also fly into Stewart Airport which is 90 minutes from New York city, and have no inflight entertainment on board… WOW air fly into JFK but they only allow you bring a hand bag with their cheaper air fares. You need to add on a carry on bag and a checked bag if required. The cost for a carry on, checked bag and a standard seat is €150 return. Inflight meals are extra! Airlines like Ethiopian airlines who fly direct to Los Angeles include 2 checked bags as standard as well as free inflight meals and drinks.

European flights

There are so many new carriers flying from Ireland but we tend to only look at Aer Lingus and Ryanair, when booking flights to Europe. Icelandair are now flying direct to Iceland as well as WOW air, Scandinavian Airlines and Norwegian are flying direct to Copenhagen, Cobalt air to Cyprus, Aegean airlines to Athens and Vueling and Iberia Express fly to Barcelona and Madrid respectively. Don’t limit yourself to one airline. It may be cheaper to fly out with one and back with another. Also the flight times might suit better if you use two carriers. Websites like Skyscanner will show you all available flights to a destination in price order. You can also sign up for price alerts so if you are looking at a particular route, you will receive an email to tell you if the price has gone down. Alternatively talk to your local travel agent, they will know instantly who flies where and the best prices.

** Sign up to newsletters so you are notified of sales and special offers **

Weather 

Before you book any holiday it is important to gauge what the weather will be like. Wunderground.com is an excellent resource for checking historical weather. It will show you the temperature and rainfall for the same period you are looking to travel, over the past number of years.

Passports

Use the passport reminder service, enter your details on line now and you will get a reminder 3 months before your passport is due to expire. Once you get this reminder, renew your passport online. It is so easy, check out my definitive guide to renewing your passport online. You can even upload your own photo from your smart phone now. Note this is only for existing passport holders. New passports have to go through the normal channels. Check the turnaround times on the Passport website and never assume that Passport Express is 2 weeks – it rarely is.

Take Out Car Hire Excess Insurance 

This is a personal bug bear of mine. When you arrive at an airport, particularly with kids in tow, the car hire companies always insist you have insurance excess policies, and they are usually charging exorbitant rates. You can avoid paying these by taking out a car hire excess insurance policy with CarHireExcess.com before you travel. With prices from €2.99 per day instead of €15 per day (approx cost), this is something that everyone should have, if hiring a car abroad.

Online Tools

Check in on-line

Checking in online will not only save long airport queues but it may ensure you get the best seats available. For airlines like Ryanair, you HAVE to print your boarding passes before hand, most other airlines this isn’t necessary. Although I would recommend doing it anyway, to save time checking in.

Pre-book seats.

Pre book seats where possible, www.seatguru.com is the ‘tripadvisor’ for seats! Use this website to find out where the best seats are on an aircraft, read honest reviews from travellers who have flown on the same aircraft. If travelling long haul, pre book specific meals so you will be served first, particularly if it’s a night flight and you want to sleep. I find the vegetarian options are usually the best!

Pre book attraction tickets:

It is almost always cheaper to pre book attractions on line. Not only will it save you money but it will also save you time queuing. Check the local tourist boards for free activities and for discovery passes. Usually you will find a bulk attraction / city pass is cheaper than paying for each attraction separately. Websites such as Attraction Tickets Direct also offer discounts for booking in advance and offer real tickets so you can avoid queuing for tickets at your destination.

Join Frequent Flyer Clubs 

You will be amazed at how quickly you can accumulate points, even if you are not a frequent traveller. Most clubs are now affiliated with Hotel chains or retailers so you can collect points in various different ways. This may enable you to get a free flight, an upgrade or a hotel stay.

Useful Travel Apps

If travelling outside Euro, know the exchange rates. This is a common mistake. You arrive tired and although you may have known the currency conversion before you left home, the likelihood is you have forgotten once you arrive. Don’t end up paying huge money for taxis or tipping hotel staff the wrong amount because you don’t know the proper exchange rate. Download the XE currency app – it also works offline ( you dont need to be connected to wifi or use roaming).

The Tripadvisor app is invaluable when checking restaurant or attraction reviews. It will also send you push notifications about highly rated restaurants or attractions close by.

If you haven’t already downloaded the UBER cab app, do it before you go on holidays. Arriving into a strange country and being unsure of taxi fares can be daunting. Just use the app to book an uber, it is much safer and will probably save you money too!

Many people don’t realise but Google Maps can also be used off line. Download your route plans before you leave home and use them when on holidays. Google translate is another excellent tool, you can use your phone’s camera to photograph menus, sign posts etc, and it will translate them to English for you.

Travelling with kids

Ditch the trunkis

I have many travel tips for travelling with kids but one of my favourites is to invest in light weight hand luggage. Get rid of the trunkis as soon as they are able to wheel heavier cases. Kids like wheeling their own cases anyway and if you invest in the best lightweight case available you can save a fortune on checked baggage charges. I tell my kids they can bring whatever fits in their case, this usually works out well when packing! Buy a portable luggage scales and bring with you to avoid stress of thinking you may be over weight. You can buy them for less than €10.

City Breaks

If travelling on a city break, choose an early flight home. Once you have checked out of the hotel, the kids will just want to go home and you will spend a fortune trying to amuse them on the last day. The €30 saving you thought you had by coming back on the later flight, believe me you will spend it twice over. For city breaks where there is a lot of walking involved, buy a cheap fold up scooter from Smyths for €15 and depending on your weight allowance, leave it behind you if necessary.

Buy a media share

Although I would like to say that my kids don’t need electronic devices to on holidays, they can be a Godsend. Invest in a Media share, it’s a small portable device that creates it’s own wifi network so kids can watch movies on their tablets or phones anywhere, even on a plane. It is also really compact so much easier to carry than a portable DVD player and lots of DVDs.

Email the hotel

Avoid bringing the kitchen sink. Most hotels have baby equipment so you wont have to bring your own. These are not always advertised in brochures incase 20 families ask for buggies, sterilisers or bottle warmers at the same time. Call or email the hotel before hand and ask them what equipment they have and pre book if possible.

Like Travel Tips ? See more here.

Sarah

Are you one of the 42% of holiday makers that experienced flight delays or cancellations recently?

Ireland’s leading travel insurance brand Multitrip.com have revealed some startling statistics in their latest travel survey. A staggering 42% of people have recently experienced flight delays or cancellations, while 34% confirmed that they are worried about air strikes. With 88% of people planning to go on two or more holidays this year, it is not only vital that we all have travel insurance, but travel disruption cover is becoming a necessity.

Insurance is one of those purchases that unfortunately we only really value when something goes wrong.  I always take my insurance with Multitrip.com and just renew it each year without asking any questions. However I like many of you, found myself asking what exactly am I covered for?

Most insurance policies will not cover you for ‘acts of God’ like hurricanes or volcano eruptions or for airline strikes or closures. Remember the Icelandic ash cloud? 100,000 flights were cancelled and many people were left stranded for weeks. More recently Ryanair cancelled hundreds of flights and left people who had booked accommodation separately, out of pocket. Hurricane Irma and the Beast from the East also grounded air travel for days.

 

It is important to know that Multitrip.com  have a Travel Disruption Cover which can be added to your insurance policy from as little as €10 (single trip policy) and €17 (annual policy) and will provide you with additional cover in the event of adverse weather conditions, airline cancellations and even strikes.

Like all insurance policies however, you can’t purchase Travel Disruption Cover after something goes wrong… Once you have added it to your policy it will be effective seven days later, so don’t wait until you hear about the next hurricane, or rumours of air traffic control strikes – add it to your policy now!  Travel Disruption Cover offers extended cover under delayed departure, missed departure and accommodation sections, should your flight be cancelled or delayed as a result of strike or adverse weather conditions.

• If your flight is cancelled or delayed for more than 12 hours it covers additional accommodation and travel costs up to €1,000.
• If your flight is cancelled or delayed for more than 12 hours then you can claim back up to €1,000 for irrecoverable unused travel and accommodation costs should you cancel.
• Claim back up to €1,000 for accommodation if you have to be moved from your current location or cut your trip short because of flood, earthquake, volcanic eruption etc
• Covers cancellation or curtailment charges should the Foreign & Commonwealth Office or World Health Organisation advise against travel to the country or specific area you are travelling to.
• Gives you control of the situation and the added security that you have sufficient cover should an airline cancel, delay or redirect your flight after take-off.

Multitrip.com is offering two year travel insurance from €31.99. For prices, bookings and more details on Travel Disruption Cover, visit Multitrip.com or speak to your travel agent.

 

Related articles on the blog:

Cancelled Flight? – What to do when things go wrong.

Top tips for booking travel insurance.

Sarah

Check out my top tips for visiting South Africa, I hope they help you with your travel plans.

We visited South Africa on our honeymoon ( many years ago!) and loved it. We decided to go back and bring the kids this time. We spent sixteen days travelling around South Africa, from Cape Town to the Winelands, along the Garden Route and enjoyed a safari on the Eastern Cape at the end. We had an amazing trip, filled with life long memories. Many people assumed we would have safety concerns, but the truth is we didn’t.  Here are my top tips for visiting South Africa!

 

A post shared by Sarah Slattery (@the_travel_expert) on Mar 24, 2018 at 11:39am PDT

Cape Town

Allow yourself at least four or five nights here. There is so much to do in Cape Town and it is a great city to start off your holiday in South Africa. The Waterfront is very commercialised, but it is a good place to stay. You will feel extremely safe walking around and there are lots of shops, bars and restaurants to choose from.

We stayed in the Waterfront Village apartments  and found them great, they offer the comforts of an apartment, with the service of a hotel. 

Top attractions include Table Mountain, Robben Island and the Two Oceans Aquarium. Visit the colourful houses of Bo-kaap and allow yourself a full day to drive the Cape Peninsula. Read my guide to Cape Town, where to stay, where to eat and safety, here.

 

A post shared by Sarah Slattery (@the_travel_expert) on Mar 27, 2018 at 12:31pm PDT

Attractions:

Unlike most things in South Africa, the tourist attractions can be quite expensive. Make sure you book as much as possible online before hand. Not only will this save you money, but you will skip the queues when you arrive. Trips to Robben Island need to be booked as far in advance as possible, as visitor numbers are restricted each day.

A visit to the Two Oceans Aquarium is a must if travelling with kids. Located on the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town, you only need to spend a few hours there but the kids will thank you for it! While you are at the Waterfront, don’t bother with the Cape Wheel, it is over priced and the views are much better from Table Mountain!

 

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Water shortage

Cape Town has a severe water problem and there are water shortages in many parts of South Africa. Although this varies depending on where you are, some establishments have little or no water in bathrooms. Locals use water very sparingly and you should too. I recommend bringing a small hand sanitiser with you at all times.

Table Mountain

If travelling to Table Mountain (or any of the high peaks, Signal Hill or Lions Head), bear in mind that temperatures are about 10 degrees cooler than in the centre of Cape Town. Wear warm clothes or at least bring a jumper with you. Queues for the cable car to Table Mountain can be two hours in peak season.

Book online, you still may have to queue, but it will be shorter. It only takes about two hours to hike it, so if you don’t fancy queuing, this is a great alternative, weather permitting. It is a strenuous climb though so a certain degree of fitness would be required.

Taxis

Try to use only metered taxis or alternatively download the uber app before you go. Taxis are very cheap so if you are in a restaurant or hotel, ask them to order one for you and you shoudn’t have any price issues then. If you get into a taxi without a meter, make sure to agree a set price before you go. Haggling is expected and don’t be afraid to walk away!

Winelands

Skip Stellenbosch. It is a big busy city and not exactly the quiet countryside town you might be expecting. Franschhoek is much nicer, although has a Disney type feel to it. We stayed in Val du Charron, just outside Wellington and loved it. Read why I think Val Du Charron is the best place to stay in the Winelands here.

 

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Garden Route

Give yourself plenty of time. Drive times from the Winelands to the Garden route are 4 – 5 hours so it is unlikely you will fancy doing anything on your first day. Take that into account and book a minimum of two nights in particular towns if there are activities you are interested in.

Towns like Hermanus are popular for whale watching, but remember the whales are usually only there from June to December. Although it is a nice drive and roads are good, at times it can look very similar to a drive in many parts of Ireland.

If you are short of time, consider flying from Cape Town to George or Port Elizabeth and skipping the 1200km drive. Seaside Resorts such as Cape St Francis Resort where we stayed, is only ninety minutes from Port Elizabeth, and it is a great alternative to Plettenberg Bay. Read all about our family stay in Cape St Francis Resort here.

 

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Safaris

There is such a wide choice of safari options to choose from. If you wish to visit Kruger National Park, bear in mind you will need to take malaria tablets before you arrive. Game Reserves along the Eastern Cape, near Port Elizabeth, are usually malaria free.

We stayed in Amakhala Game Reserve and loved it. Most game drives are early morning (ours was 6am) and afternoon so if you want to make the most of your stay, be sure to arrive in time for your afternoon game drive. Many people leave this part of the holiday untill last, if so, book an afternoon flight so you can avail of a morning game drive before you leave.

Despite temperatures of 28 degrees, we found it cold in the open jeep. Bring plenty of warm clothes, particularly for the morning drives. You can read all about our luxury safari in Amakhala Game Reserve here.

Car Minders

When you park your car at the side of the road, ‘car minders’ will undoubtedly approach you. Locals will offer to mind your car while you go into a shop, restaurant or attraction. This might sound bizarre and is a bit disconcerting, but bear in mind the unemployment rates in South Africa are staggering.

Do your bit to help the local economy and accept graciously. When you return give them a 5 rand coin. It is only about 30 cent, and it’s better to be safe than sorry!

Keep valuables in your hand luggage.

Unfortunately there are stories reported of suitcases being tampered with in some airports, particularly Johannesburg. We didn’t have any issues, but we were asked in Port Elizabeth if we had locks for our cases at check-in.

When we said we had no locks, we were then asked if we wanted to remove any valuables, before they were checked in! Our luggage arrived safe and sound but it was a nervous wait.

Money:

Take out cash in the airport when you arrive, the exchange rate is usually better than at home. There are plenty of ATM’s around so just take out as much as you think you may need for a few days, rather than carrying large amounts of cash.

There is a small fee (about €2.50 per €200) in some machines. Some petrol stations and small local shops / restaurants don’t take credit cards so make sure you have cash available.

Do something you have never done before!

South Africa is full of extraordinary sights and has adventure on every corner. From shark-cage diving to bungy jumping, river rafting to paragliding, face your fears in South Africa and try something new! I paraglided off Signal Hill in Cape Town and it was amazing!

 

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Before you go – travelling with children:

If travelling with children make sure you bring their original birth certificates with you. You will not be allowed enter the South Africa without them. Photocopies will not suffice. If a single parent is travelling alone with one of their children or if you are travelling with a child that is not your own, there are further legal requirements – see more here.

 

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Book with a specialist

There are so many things to do in South Africa, it is impossible to see it all! Talk to a specialist and let them know what you want from your holiday. Whether you want quiet romantic hotels or family friendly options, they will recommend the right one for you. The meet and greet service at the airport was superb. We received a travel digest with detailed maps, travel distances and a list of things to do in each resort. You also have the advantage of having someone at the end of the phone if you need any assistance.

Planning a trip to South Africa? Check out all my posts from our South Africa adventures here.

Cape Town – What to Do, Where to Stay, Where to Eat & Safety

Val du Charron Wine Estate – The Best Place to Stay in South Africa’s Winelands

Our Family Stay at Cape St Francis Resort, South Africa

A Luxury Safari at Amakhala Game Reserve, South Africa – The Ultimate Travel Experience

How To Plan The Perfect South African Road Trip

Sarah

From the world’s tallest twin towers, to the world’s best Irish bar – here are 7 things you must do in Kuala Lumpur!

My second stop in Malaysia brought me to Kuala Lumpur, a modern bustling city where skyscrapers stand along side colonial buildings, mosques beside Chinese temples and street markets beside designer shopping malls. Find out what you must do in Kuala Lumpur below.

Most people fly into Kuala Lumpur, but we drove from Penang, (read my Penang travel guide here). We crossed the Penang bridge, a 13.5km bridge that crosses the Penang Strait, and the drive in total was a leisurely four hours.
 

 
We only spent two nights in Kuala Lumpur, but I saw enough to know that it is a city I would like to come back to. Many choose KL as a short stopover on route to Asia or Australasia, but I recommend spending at least three nights there to enjoy all the highlights. Kuala Lumpur is very easy to navigate, as most of the sights are all within walking distance of each other, so my list of top things you must do in Kuala Lumpur are easily seen over a short stay.
 

1. Visit the Petronas Towers

No visit to KL would be complete without seeing the Petronas Towers. These iconic towers are not only synonymous with Kuala Lumpur, but they are the tallest twin towers in the world. 
 

 
Night-time is the best time for photos as the lights shine so brightly. It is impossible not to get a good photo, even on your phone! Purchase a wide angle lens from the street vendors outside. They will try to charge you about €20 but after haggling you should settle on about €5, or 25 Malaysian ringgits. This lens will allow you to fit both towers into the frame.

 

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Make sure you visit the Petronas Towers during the day too. As well as having an enormous shopping mall inside, you have the opportunity to cross the Sky Walk bridge on the 41^st floor.
 

 
This is 179 meters above street level and you can walk between the towers, which is a great way to see the city. Be sure to book in advance online, as they only allow 1000 people to access the bridge each day. Don’t miss the observation deck on the 86^th floor, at 370 meters above street level, you can see the second tower up close.

 

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2. Go to Independence Square

The colonial quarters of Kuala Lumpur, this area is very different to the modern skyscrapers of downtown. The pretty Moorish buildings as well as the grass lawns of Independence Square, are definitely a ‘must see’.
 

 
This is where the Union Flag was lowered and the Malayan flag hoisted for the first time in 1957. It happens to be home to the world’s tallest flag pole too!

The Kuala Lumpur City Gallery is also located here. You will see miniature replicas of the cities most popular attractions and get free tourist information, as well as getting some great photos!
 

 
The featured image for this post, where I have skyscrapers as wings, was taken there. The ‘I love KL’ sign is right outside too, which is another great spot for selfies.

 

A post shared by Sarah Slattery (@the_travel_expert) on Mar 12, 2018 at 3:46pm PDT

3. Visit the KL Tower

Adrenaline junkies will love the Sky Box at the KL Tower, a ledge that extends out with a glass floor, 300 meters above street level. Face your fears and get incredible photos at the same time!
 

There is also revolving restaurant here, where you can get great views of the skyline. I would suggest trying it at night to catch the bright lights. We went for lunch and it was not as dramatic, although if you want to walk the Skybox, daytime is probably best!
 

4. Step inside the National Mosque of Malaysia

What I love about this Mosque is that all races and religions are allowed enter. It has what looks like a half open umbrella at the top, not a traditional dome. This symbolises that, rain or shine, you can get many people under an umbrella, from all walks of life.

 

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The Masjid Negara mosque holds 15,000 people and has beautiful reflection pools as well as amazing architecture throughout. Women need to be covered when entering but robes are available at the entrance.
 

5. Stay at the Majestic Hotel

I can’t say enough good things about the Majestic Hotel. This landmark which dates back to 1932 was one of the first hotels in Kuala Lumpur, the original building is a national heritage site.

Prince Charles stayed here last winter and it is the venue for many glamorous social events and receptions. The rooms, service and food are terrific.
 

 
What amazed me the most was how reasonably priced it was. Standard rooms in the new wing cost from €100 per night including breakfast and junior suites from €140 per night. The junior suites are huge with a free standing bath, two TV’s (one over the bath) and even a small office desk.

The buffet is superb with a wide selection of local and international dishes. From prawns to pizza, steaks to sushi, you name it, they have it, and all exceptional quality.

They also offer a great ‘unlimited wine’ deal for 70 ringgit, about €15. Wine is expensive in KL, in fact all alcohol is heavily taxed, so this is excellent value. If you have time, treat yourself to a Malaya massage, trust me you won’t regret it.

 

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6. Shop till you drop.

Shopping is great in Kuala Lumpur.  Although renowned for its cheap electronics (many international brands are actually made here), Malaysia also has excellent designer and high street clothes shops.

The shopping mall in the Petronas Towers is a must visit with many brands about 20% cheaper than you will find at home.

The Central Market is one of KL’s most famous shopping areas, with indoor and outdoor shops selling everything from local souvenirs to antiques! Just around the corner is Chinatown where you can find designer bags, sunglasses and copies of the latest trends. Petaling Street has the best selection but make sure you haggle!

7. Pay a visit to  Healy Mac’s Irish Pub

This bar was voted the best Irish pub in the world by the Irish Times and Diageo, so they must be doing something right! We watched one of 6 Nations rugby matches here and the atmosphere was electric.
 

 
You can also go to listen to some music, enjoy some pub grub and some famous Irish hospitality. It is located just minutes from the Petronas Towers, so you can grab a night time photo before, or after your visit. Visit their website here.

How to get there:

Qatar Airways fly daily from Dublin Airport to Doha with onward connections to Kuala Lumpur four times weekly and Penang three times weekly. They will also be starting a new service to Langkawi later this year.
 

 
You can choose to avail of a free overnight stay in a four star hotel in Doha, or connect straight to Malaysia with a short layover. At the time of issue, return economy tickets to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, are available from €602, with return business class saver tickets from €3098, both including taxes and charges. For more details visit Qatar Airways or see your local travel agent.

 
Like Long haul holidays? See more destination advice, travel guides and the best travel deals here.

 
Sarah

Combining my two favourite pastimes, travel and shopping – to say I am excited is an understatement! I have teamed up with Avios to tell you how to get flights and upgrades with Avios points!

For years I have been hearing from friends and family in the US and the UK about how they have so many air-miles, yet they only take one holiday a year. Getting flights and upgrades with Avios is now something we can all do, even those who don’t travel often. Avios are a reward currency that are used by many airlines including Aer Lingus, British Airways and United, as well as various hotel websites and high street stores.
 

 
When you collect Avios points you can use them to get flights and upgrades, with any of their partner airlines. Some of you may have already joined Aer Club, the Aer Lingus frequent flyer program, and may have collected Avios points already, but did you know you could collect them in other outlets too?
 

 
It costs from 37,000 Avios to upgrade to business class to New York with Aer Lingus For most of us flying business class to the USA was a pipe dream, but with Avios it is now attainable.

Kildare Village, Decathlon and Appleby are just some of the Irish suppliers that have all joined the Avios reward programme. Fancy a trip to Kildare Village? Now is your excuse to go, you can collect Avios points with every purchase!
 

 
Have you a special occasion coming up? Make sure you pay a visit to Appleby Jewellers. It really is that simple. Kildare Village will give you 5 Avios for every €4 spent and Appleby will give 1 Avios for every €1 spent.

Read my post on the ways to collect Avios for more partner details.

It doesn’t end there…  AerClub have an eStore!

When I say this is going to change the way we shop, I really mean it! You can also get rewards for on-line purchases in hundreds of high street stores, hotel websites and Apple!  Right now Marks and Spencer are giving 4 Avios points for every €1 spent, Debenhams are giving 4 Avios per €1, ASOS 7 Avios, and travel website Expedia are giving a whopping 10 Avios per €1.
 

 
Once you are an AerClub member you can access the AerClub eStore with the same log in and password. Simply click on your favourite stores and shop online in the usual way. It won’t cost you any more to shop this way but your purchases will be tracked, and your Avios account will be topped up with points!

So how many points do I need for a flight, I hear you say….

There are so many variations, depending on when and where you travel, but currently 8,000 Avios points will get you a return flight to Paris. For 17,000 Avios you can have a return flight to the Canary Islands and if you can save 26,000 you can have a return flight to New York. Note these are based on off peak travel and exclude taxes and charges. For full list of date bands click here.
 

 
This may sound a lot but I accumulated 40,ooo points  in just one year! With the exception of three flights to Spain, all of my points were accumulated by shopping in SuperValu (unfortunately no longer a partner), Kildare Village and via the eStore.
 

 
Avios regularly have promotions on to make it even easier to collect points. Suddenly a business class upgrade on my flight to New York is possible…

How to sign up.

If you are already an AerClub  member, your existing log in and password will suffice. Collect Avios by logging in with your AerClub details and clicking through to the eStore. For those who have not yet joined, you can join AerClub here. Why not download the free Avios app too, it will allow you book flights on the go, check your Avios balance and find out where to collect.
 

 
If you have any questions please comment below and I will get back to you. It really is that easy to get flights and upgrades with Avios points! 

Like Travel Tips? See more here.

This post was sponsored by Avios but all views, as always, are my own.

Sarah

Shopping online this Christmas?  Make sure you shop via the AerClub eStore and collect Avios while you shop!

Christmas shopping from the comfort of your own home, there is nothing like it! No trouble getting parking, no battling through crowds and no queuing to pay! I am already a big fan of shopping via the AerClub eStore so when I see bonus Avios promotions, I’m in heaven! My kids are lego fanatics so I was thrilled to hear that the online Lego Store are giving 10 Avios for every €1 spent! Not only were the prices cheaper than what I was paying in Smyths, but I got over 1000 Avios when I spent €100 online! I also picked up some books from Eason, they are giving 7 Avios for every €1 spent and to get 4 Avios for every euro spent at Apple – well it doesn’t get much better than that!  The AerClub eStore offers are not limited to Irish online stores, you can also collect bonus Avios with popular fashion stores like Pretty Little Thing and Topshop and beauty store Lookfantastic.

Once you are logged into the AerClub eStore you can click through to your favourite retailers and shop online in the usual way at no extra cost, but your purchases will be tracked, and your Avios account will be topped up with points! It really is that simple – you shop in exactly the same way as you would normally shop online but the online shops will see that you came to their website via the AerClub estore. You can also see the stores you have clicked on in  your history so you know your transaction is being tracked. Click here for the full list of all participating stores.

For those of you who have been following me on my journey, I am delighted to say that I have already accumulated over 60,000 Avios, and most of these were collected by shopping. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not spending a fortune shopping, I’m just clever with my purchases. To give you an example I have highlighted some special offers below, to show you just how easy it is to accumulate points by shopping at the AerClub eStore. For anyone who is not familiar with Avios, read my first post about how to get flights and upgrades with Avios points.

Marks & Spencer: 4 Avios for every €1 spent.

With 3 for 2 on Christmas gifts and decorations as well great value in clothing, there is always something to be bought in M&S. If you spend €100 that gives you 600 Avios points. Shop here.

Eason: 7 Avios for every €1 spent.

The latest blockbusters, toys, games, or stationary, everyone makes a trip to Eason before Christmas. Do it online instead and collect 7 Avios for every €1 spent until the 19th of December.  Shop here:

Lookfantastic: 14 Avios for every €1 spent.

Lookfantastic are offeri . Shop here.

Expedia: 7 Avios for every €1 spent.

Planning a post Christmas break or a Summer holiday? You can massively increase your Avios balance with accommodation or holiday purchases. A hotel break for €500 will give you 3,500 Avios or a €2000 family holiday will give you 14,000 Avios. Shop here.

Adidas: 10 Avios for every €1 spent, Nike 7 Avios for every €1 spent.

Kids football boots, Superstar runners or the latest gym gear, there is something in the Adidas and Nike stores to suit everyone. With 10 Avios for every €1 you spend, a new pair of Superstar runners will give you 1000 Avios points. Shop here.

Groupon: 7 Avios for every €1 spent

Groupon has every time of Christmas gift imaginable. From restaurant vouchers to teeth whitening deals, short breaks to mobile phones, Groupon is your one stop daily deals website. Collect 700 Avios for every €100 spent on top of their already discounted prices.  Shop here

Lego: 10 Avios for every £1 spent.

I know too well how expensive Lego can be as I have a 10 year old who is obsessed with it! Thankfully I can accumulate Avios points while making my purchases, and the offical Lego store has the widest range of lego available. Collect 1000 Avios for every €100 spent until the 23rd of December. Shop here.

  Pretty Little Thing: 5 Avios, for every €1 spent.

Looking to get something new for Christmas? Get the latest winter looks from the UK’s biggest online fashion stores and collect Avios points at the same time. Shop here.

Apple: 4 Avios for every €1 spent.

Fancy a new phone, iMac or apple watch for Christmas? Perhaps you are thinking of treating the kids to new iPads? Apple are giving a staggering 4 Avios for every €1 spent, so if you splash out on a new iPad Pro before the 16th of December and you will accumulate over  2500 Avios! Shop here.

Looking to sign up?

If you are already an AerClub  member, your existing log in and password will suffice. Collect Avios points by logging on to the AerClub estore and shop in the usual way. For those who have not yet joined, you can join here. Why not download the free Avios app too, it will allow you book flights on the go, check your Avios balance and find out where to collect.

Note: certain exclusions apply to each stores, see individual retail pages within the Avios eStore for details. This post was sponsored by Avios, but all views, as always, are my own.

Click here to shop the eStore

Sarah

Last year massive travel companies like Thomas Cook and WOW Air ceased trading, thousands of flights were cancelled over strikes, and currently the Coronavirus is causing havoc for travellers in 2020. If you don’t already have Travel Disruption Cover – get it now!

Insurance is one of those purchases that unfortunately you only really value when something goes wrong.  I always book my travel insurance with Multitrip.com and just renew it each year without asking any questions. However in light of recent events, I like many of you, found myself asking what exactly am I covered for?
 

 
Read: What to do if you have booked a holiday and are worried about Coronavirus
 
Most insurance policies will not cover you for ‘acts of God’ like hurricanes or volcano eruptions, or for airline strikes or closures. Remember the Icelandic ash cloud? 100,000 flights were cancelled and many people were left stranded for weeks.
 

 
Multitrip.com however, have a Travel Disruption Cover which can be added to all policies from as little as €10 (single trip policy) and €17 (annual policy) and will provide you with additional cover in the event of adverse weather conditions, airline cancellations and even strikes.
 
Book here
 

 
Like all insurance policies however, you can’t purchase Travel Disruption Cover after something goes wrong… Once you have added it to your policy it will be effective seven days later. So don’t wait until you hear that a case of Coronavirus has been reported in the country you are going too – add it to your policy now. 

Note: new bookings will not be covered against Covid-19 if there is a travel advisory in place advising ‘all but non essential travel’ to a particular country.
 

 
Travel Disruption Cover offers extended cover under delayed departure, missed departure and accommodation sections, should your flight be cancelled or delayed as a result of strike or adverse weather conditions.
 

• • If your flight is cancelled or delayed for more than 12 hours it covers additional accommodation and travel costs up to €1,000.
  • If your flight is cancelled or delayed for more than 12 hours then you can claim back up to €1,000 for irrecoverable unused travel and accommodation costs should you cancel.
  • Claim back up to €1,000 for accommodation if you have to be moved from your current location or cut your trip short because of flood, earthquake, volcanic eruption etc
  • Covers cancellation or curtailment charges should the Foreign & Commonwealth Office or World Health Organisation advise against travel to the country or specific area you are travelling to.
  • Gives you control of the situation and the added security that you have sufficient cover should an airline cancel, delay or redirect your flight after take-off.

 
Book Travel Insurance Here
 

 
Note some of the links in this post contain affiliate links, where I receive a small commission if a booking is made, but at no additional cost to you.

Related articles on the blog:

Cancelled Flight? – What to do when things go wrong.

Top tips for booking travel insurance.
 

 
Sarah

I get very excited when I hear about Avios promotions! Yes, I will no doubt be doing some serious online shopping this weekend, to take advantage of the Avios eStore Double Avios Weekend!

For those of you who have been following me on my journey, I am delighted that have already accumulated almost 30,000 Avios points this year. I just need another 7,000 for a business class upgrade to New York with Aer Lingus – how cool is that! Most of my Avios points were collected by shopping, I have only collected 2469 points by flying. I shop in Supervalu regularly and convert my Real Rewards to Avios. Occasionally I shop in Kildare Village, but the majority of my points were accumulated by shopping through the Avios eStore. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not spending a fortune online, I’m just clever with my purchases. Recently I bought the kids school supplies from Easons, their uniforms from Marks & Spencer and new runners from Adidas. Those three purchases accumulated 6000 Avios! For anyone who is not familiar with Avios, read my first post about how to get flights and upgrades with Avios points.

Here are some of my top store picks from the eStore Double Avios Weekend. I have highlighted a few offers that I think you should watch out for but click here for the full list of all participating stores.

Marks & Spencer: 8 Avios for every €1 spent.

Choose their best selling jeggings, some mens polo shirts, cute kidswear or Rosie’s latest underwear, there is always something to be bought in M&S. If you spend €100 that gives you 800 Avios points. Shop here.

Expedia: 14 Avios for every €1 spent.

Planning a Christmas market break or a sun holiday in the near future? You can massively increase your Avios points with accommodation or holiday purchases. A hotel break for €500 will give you 7,000 Avios or a €2000 family holiday will give you 28,000 Avios. You could almost have your business class upgrade in one purchase! Shop here.

Adidas: 20 Avios for every €1 spent.

Kids football boots, the fashion must haves – Superstars, or the latest Stella Mc Cartney gym gear, there is something in the Adidas store to suit everyone. With 20 Avios for every €1 you spend, a new pair of Superstar runners will give you 2000 Avios points. Shop here.

Groupon: 14 Avios for every €1 spent

From short breaks to Christmas gifts, restaurant offers to teeth whitening deals, Groupon is your one stop daily deals website. Collect 1400 Avios for every €100 spent on top of their already discounted prices. Shop here

Lego: 10 Avios for every €1 spent.

Shopping for Christmas already? Parents know too well how expensive Lego can be but if you can accumulate Avios points while buying toys for the kids, it will soften the blow. Collect 1000 Avios for every €100 spent. Shop here.

ASOS: 14 Avios;  Boohoo.com: 6 Avios; Pretty Little Thing: 10 Avios, for every €1 spent.

Shopping for yourself or your daughter perhaps? Get the latest autumn winter looks from the UK’s biggest online fashion stores and collect Avios points at the same time. Shop here.

Apple: 4 Avios

Planning on a getting a new phone, iMac or apple watch for Christmas? Perhaps you are thinking of treating the kids to new iPads? Buy them now and collect Avios points too.  Collect 1500 points if you buy the new apple watch or 2000 points if you buy a mini iPad. Shop here.

How to sign up.

If you are already an AerClub  member, your existing log in and password will suffice. Collect Avios points by logging in to avios.com/ie with your AerClub details and clicking through to the Avios eStore. For those who have not yet joined, you can join any of the airline programmes here. Why not download the free Avios app too, it will allow you book flights on the go, check your Avios balance and find out where to collect.

Where else can I collect Avios points?  There are many ways to collect Avios points but here are some of my favourites:

• Fly with Aer Lingus, British Airways and Iberia and book car hire with Avis.
• Shop at SuperValu, Kildare Village and Appleby.
• Make your restaurant reservation by using Restaurant Circle. Normally you receive 250 Avios for each restaurant reservation but from now until the end of December you receive 500 Avios.  Christmas party bookings perhaps?
• Irish Independent are giving customers a staggering 30,000 Avios points if you subscribe to the Irish and Sunday Independent for six months.

Ts&Cs

The Double Avios points offer is valid from 00.01 Thursday 5 October till 23:59 Sunday 8 October on the Avios eStore. Selected retailers are excluded from the Double Avios points offer and certain exclusions apply to each stores, see individual retail pages within the Avios eStore for details.

Click here to shop the eStore

This post was sponsored by Avios but all views, as always, are my own.Sarah

Check out my top tips for travelling with babies and toddlers, hopefully it help you with your travel plans.

When planning on travelling with babies or toddlers, its important to do your research, and discuss what type of holiday you want with your partner. If you are travelling before babies start to crawl, you will be surprised at how much easier it is. Plane journeys are a lot easier, you don’t need to think about solid foods, or worry about them crawling into the nearest swimming pool! When your baby starts to crawl things will get more complicated.
 

1. You don’t need the best family resorts

Many parents book the top family hotels because they think it is necessary, however, a kids pool may be all you need. Kids clubs can be handy, but many kids clubs only start from age three, you will need a specific club or creche that caters for babies and toddlers. If travelling with an infant, ask yourself are you going to leave your baby in a crèche? So many parents don’t even use the facilities on offer. 
 

 
Trust me there will be a time when you need to book the best family properties, where slides in the pool and mini discos will be the best part of your child’s holiday. But for now, why not take advantage while you can and book a holiday that suits you too?
 

 
If you want to book a top family complex that caters for babies and toddlers, look at TUI Holidays Family Life resorts. These are all inclusive resorts where all meals and drinks are included in the price of your stay. They will also have evening crèche facilities so you can have a ‘date night’.

Luxury family resorts such as Martinhal Resorts and Club Med are also great options, with a baby concierge on hand to ensure everything is catered for.

Read: My review of Martinhal Sagres
 

 
You don’t have to worry about bringing the kitchen sink, because luxury family resorts will have baby packs with highchairs and blenders that you use. Many even have their own baby corner at meal times, where you can choose what you want from the buffet and blend it yourself.
 
Whatever hotel or apartment you choose, check beforehand what baby equipment they have available, it may be a lot easier and cheaper than bringing them in your luggage allowance.
 

2. Don’t travel during school holidays

One of the best things about travelling with babies and toddlers, is that you can travel at any time! Take advantage of the fact that your child hasn’t started school yet and travel off peak.  Not only will you save yourself a lot of money but you should be able to get availability in the best hotels or apartments and should also avoid the crowds.
 

3. Stay near a beach

If you want time to sunbathe, book an apartment or hotel close to the beach. Babies and toddlers can entertain themselves for hours with a bucket and spade. If you base yourself a distance from the sea shore, you won’t have to worry about them going into the water.

Sitting by the pool with a crawling baby can not only be quite stressful, but you will spend your day jumping up and down from your sun lounger for fear that they will fall into the pool.
 

4. Don’t be put off by long flights

With the exception of the crawling age (usually 7 – 12 months), travelling with babies and toddlers on airplanes should not be a big ordeal. In most cases they will have a nap, and once you bring plenty of snacks and toys to keep them entertained, it is usually fairly straightforward.
 

 
When planning European holidays, make sure you research airport transfer times. Many people choose to book short flights to top family destinations such as Majorca or the Algarve (two and a half hours), but then spend two hours on a coach to get to their resort. In most cases it is easier on children to spend four hours on a plane to destinations like the Canary Islands, where you may only have a short 10 minute transfer time to your accommodation.  

 
Flight times are important too. Ideally choose times when your children are likely to sleep, or alternatively be wide awake to enjoy the flight comfortably. If travelling on a long haul flight, the inflight movies will be a novelty, and it may surprise you how easily children adapt. Make sure to prebook a bassinet for infants under 6 months.
 

 
If you are flying to the USA, try to fly direct if you can afford it. Alternatively check prices with a stop in the USA en route to your destination. For example if flying to Orlando, check prices with a stop in New York, rather than travelling via the UK. Flying directly to the USA from Dublin or Shannon airports will allow you to clear customs before you depart. This means when you land in the US you are treated like a domestic passenger, so you wont have to queue to clear customs when you arrive.

Read: Top travel tips for long flights
 

5. Make use of your child’s luggage allowance

Considering you pay as little as €20 for flights for babies under 2, some airlines give a very generous baggage allowance. Ryanair allow a 5KG baby bag plus two pieces of baby equipment, a buggy and either a booster seat, a car seat or travel cot. Aer Lingus offer the same, although they state the baby bag must be part of the adults allowance.
 

 
Airlines policies vary but check the luggage allowance before you go. Once your children turn two, you have to pay for a seat and so they may be entitled to a 5-10kg hand luggage allowance, as well as a buggy, so make use of this too and save on checked luggage charges.
 

 
This might sound obvious but always count every single piece of luggage you have (there can be a lot with babies) and keep that number in your head when collecting from the carousel. I left a bag on the carousel once. Whether it was baby brain or just having too many bags, I forgot one and there is no re-entry back into the baggage hall…
 

6. Make lists!

Make a list of all things to do/bring and do this in the run up to the holiday and at your leisure. The night before the trip can be fairly hectic and something can be easily overlooked. That way you won’t arrive at your destination, having forgotten something. Make a checklist of the most important items that must come home too, so you know you won’t leave anything behind.
 

Airport and plane tips for travelling with babies:

7. Pre packed formula is your best bet

Babies’ bottles technically don’t fall under the 100ml liquids rule, but not all airports, or airport staff for that matter, tend to acknowledge that. You should be ok to bring large bottles through security in Irish airports. They might just ask you to taste it to prove it is formula.
 

 
However, I would always bring empty sterilised bottles and powder dispensers just incase the baby’s bottle is taken from you, particularly for your return journey. You can also bring pre packed formula cartons that are 100ml size. Calpol sachets are much handier for the plane than bottles.
 

8. Bring plenty of supplies for the journey

Change nappies right before you board the plane, as the changing facilities on planes are tiny. Bring a change of clothes too, in case of accidents and a blanket to help your baby sleep. When travelling with babies and toddlers, snacks can be a life saver, especially if delayed. Bring more than you think you need, babies always seem to eat more when travelling.
 

 
Depending on the age of your child, I found the Aquadoodle great, you don’t have to worry about markers destroying your clothes, or the airplane, and they are suitable from 18 months. A new toy is always a good idea too, something to keep them occupied for a while.

If they have a favourite toy that they can not live without (there is usually one!), bring a second one. If you loose it when abroad it can ruin your trip, having a second one in the bag can be a life saver.
 

 
There are phone Apps that cater for young kids too and if they are watching TV at that stage you could always download a movie or TV programme that they could watch on a tablet or phone.
 

I have a media share which is a portable device that creates it’s own WiFi network so you can watch movies at any time, on the plane, in restaurants, the car etc and you don’t need WiFi to use it. With WiFi more accessible now, this is not as valuable as it used to be, but I still don’t travel anywhere without it.
 

While you are away:

9. Keeping safe in the sun

I think it goes without saying to apply sunscreen regularly, but you should also test it on your baby’s skin before you go, to ensure they don’t break out in a rash. 
 

 
Body suits can be a God send – you don’t have to worry if you missed a spot! Sun Tents are also a good buy, if you plan on spending a lot of time at the beach.

Buy light coloured clothing as dark colours hold the heat more. Bring a few hats and sunglasses – you will lose one or two! Download the Wolfram Sun Exposure Reference App. It will tell you UV forecasts so you can see what time of the day the UV rays will be at their highest, it is not always midday!
 

10. Keep your baby cool

Give your children plenty of water to avoid dehydration. If travelling with babies and toddlers during very hot temperatures, always book a hotel or an apartment with air conditioning. Check that there is air conditioning  is in the bedrooms too, and not just the living room.
 

 
If hiring a car, choose a white or light coloured one, as dark cars hold the heat. This might be a hard task to guarantee, so if you can’t get one, buy a cheap windscreen reflector from a local supermarket.
 

Like Travel Tips? See more here!

Sarah