Travel news in brief

Remember the Ash Cloud?
Now the dust has settled, Airport Parking and Hotels (APH) has put together a table highlighting which travel insurance companies covered policy holders as a result of claims linked to the recent volcanic ash cloud. Available in the ‘Know Before You Go’ section of the website, www.aph.com/volcanicash, travellers can compare 29 of the most popular UK travel insurance providers, to see if they would have been covered and what they would be entitled to. 
Findings from the research show that many of the bigger names such as AA Travel Insurance, Churchill and Virgin only provided policy holders claiming expenses from the ash cloud, with an extension on their policy dates, even though policies were bought prior to the ash cloud erupting. However, other insurance companies, such as Halifax, Saga and Santander, were happy to help customers affected by the ash as a ‘good will gesture’ including payment for accommodation, food and travel arrangements.

If travellers are looking to renew their insurance policy, they should be aware of what the insurance company will cover. The research has found that some policies, such as All Clear, Aviva, Directline and Tesco, only offered £20 for the first full 12 hours after the delay and £10 for each following day. Columbus, on the other hand, refunded any unused accommodation or travel expenses between £1,000 and £7,500. A number of the banks also helped their travel insurance policyholders as well as their bank account customers, by providing overdraft extensions.

Nick Caunter, Managing Director of APH said: “Many travellers affected by the ash cloud discovered that their insurance companies did not cover many of their unexpected costs. Some were shocked by this, others resigned to the fact. This latest addition to our Know Before You Go series exposes the wide variation of levels of cover and we hope it is useful for travellers when they are next selecting a travel insurance provider.” 

 

Still Time to Enter Holiday Velvet Travel Writing Competition.
Holiday Velvet’s travel writing competition, which as been running since 2010, comes to a close on September 9th. The apartment rental agency would like to encourage more entries between now and then.

"Summer is the perfect time to enter writing competitions,” says Suzanne Wales, Holiday Velvet’s content editor. “In a relaxed state you are generally more creative, and hopefully your holiday location should inspire you!”

Holiday Velvet started their travel writing competition after the success of their travel photography competition in 2009. Both have been promoted through social media such as Twitter and Facebook as well as their own website. (The best stories so far have been published on Holiday Velvet’s extensive ‘travel guide’ pages.) “When people see their entries published with us, I think it encourages more to enter,” adds Suzanne.

Participants in the Travel Writing Competition are asked to submit a 600 word essay on Holiday Velvet’s key locations: Rome, Paris, New York, London, Berlin, Venice, Florence, Brussels, Provence, Italy’s Amalfi Coast, Barcelona, Miami, Amsterdam, San Francisco, Phuket, Ko Samui, Prague and Cape Town.

The first prize is a weekend’s accommodation for two in Barcelona, plus a dinner at one of the city’s top restaurants and a tour, both supplied by Holiday Velvet’s local affiliates.


National Trust Opens Wild Child Competition.
The National Trust has opened a competition that will see the winner go on a money-can't-buy experience with a National Trust Ranger. To enter the competition, contestants simply need to send in details of their experiences of going wild outdoors at one of the National Trust's summer events.

Competition judges are looking for great photos taken in nature, poetical musings on bugs and beasties, stories about wildlife adventures, doodles inspired by the great outdoors. In short, anything that shows the entrant is a wild child. Entries received will be put into an online gallery which will allow visitors to vote on popular entries.

Entries can be e-mailed or sent in the post to the National Trust. Anything mailed will be scanned and, like e-mail entries, uploaded to the gallery after moderation.

Winners will go on a fantastic day out with one of the National Trust nature conservation experts, getting up close and personal with creepy crawlies, shy creatures and wild landscapes. Winners can bring a friend or parent/guardian with them to join in the behind-the-scenes adventure. The competition winner will have a choice of National Trust sites to explore, including sandy beaches, open moorland and garden visits.

These days they also trust other travellers’ opinions more than anything else. We’ve provided the platform which meets both these wants.”

The competition closes 1 November 2010 at midnight and winners will be notified by post within 28 days of this date. Entrants under 16 years of age should ask a parent or guardian before giving contact details.


Enjoy Watersports Near Langkawi with Sedim Eco Challenge.
This year's Sedim Eco Challenge could provide the perfect setting for lovers of the great outdoors to try their hands at a spot of adrenaline-inducing watersports.

The event takes place on the Sedim River on August 23rd 2010, a location which is chosen because it is perfect for a range of water-based white-knuckle challenges, according to the experts at LangkawiResorts.com.

Measuring 15km in length and featuring a series of rapids and fast-flowing sections, the river – which is known to locals as Sungai Sedim – is thought to be one of the best places in the world for people to zip up their life-jackets, strap on their helmets and take on the water from the safety of rafts, canoes and other vessels.

Although travellers will have to make the journey to the mainland from their Langkawi hotels if they are to watch - or even take part in - the Sedim Eco Challenge, it is sure to be worth the effort.

The river is located in the south of Kedah, while the paradise island of Langkawi lies off the coast in the north.

People can access the rest of Malaysia from Langkawi via ferry, with trips taking place everyday and at regular occasions. Return tickets to the mainland town of Kuala Perlis typically cost around 36 Malaysian ringgits (£7.40).