Recommendations for Holiday Travel and Travel Insurance

[Sin123]

Hi All,

I'm currently on a course of steroids to bring my flare down. Only taken for two days and so far I'm feeling the benefit.

We have a pre-booked holiday to Tenerife at the end of March and very concerned ref the sun. Any advice for keeping well.

Also, can anyone recommend any of the travel insurance companies from this site that they have used recently? It takes so long to go through all the health implications that I don't want to have to ring around a large number.

Many thanks for any advice.

[SjogiBear]

I would be interested to hear which companies people have used too as I did a couple of searches for quotes yesterday and came back with a minimum price of £140 for two weeks for a family of three including my lupus/sjogrens. That strikes me as being a lot more than I paid last time we went abroad.

I am also worried about going on holiday when the sun is at its hottest in August as this is something that I avoid but my husband was desperate for a sunny holiday for once and I gave in as I feel mean. We are going to be based on a ship (cruise) so I'm hoping that might help and I am also going to buy myself a parasol with UV fabric as well as sun hats and creams etc. I've not used one before but I thought it might be a good idea as then I can carry around my own small portion of shade!

[Scout68 in reply to SjogiBear]

I have just booked a holiday to Skiathos in July for myself and my daughter who is 17 and has MCTD/SLE /RA diagnosis. It is just for a week and I used a comparison site ...best quote is with the Post Office..as it was last year too..less than £16 for the two of us...so might be worth a look! i used Compare the Market and the process was not too laborious...an online search I found really helpful as they are easy to navigate these days, are quick and offer the best prices too. It helps to cut down hugely on the number of calls you choose to make.

...although she copes oddly well with the sun, she does struggle with the contrasting heat and cold bought on by air conditioning so I have requested an upstairs room where previous guests have said there is chance of a natural breeze!...also, make sure you have an up to date EHIC card ..as well as high factor sun cream and aftersun too.

Enjoy your holidays!

[SjogiBear in reply to Scout68]

Just got a quote from the Post Office and that came to £134 so I am guessing insurance for foreign travel must have gone up quite a lot from when we last went abroad two years ago as my medical declarations haven't changed and there is one person less travelling this time (my son is staying at home by himself for the very first time - yikes!).

I have just got a quote from Insure & Go which came in quite a lot less for the same levels of cover - this came in at £73. We've used them before, however, it's always a different story if anyone has to make a claim. I've never claimed on travel insurance myself but had experience of this last summer when my son was mugged at a festival and had to put in a claim. He took out insurance with Boots and it was horrendous trying to get any money out of them - they even objected to taking the word of the police and a crime number! I have a feeling that a lot of the reviews you see online are for people's experience of being sold the insurance rather than what happens in the unfortunate case of having to make a claim.

We went to Skiathos about 17 years ago now - beautiful place - it was where my son took his first steps so it holds good memories. Hope you and your daughter have a lovely time

[AgedCrone in reply to SjogiBear]

Have you tried getting a quote just for you, then a separate quote for the other two ( presuming they have no health issues to declare.)

That could be cheaper !

[AgedCrone]

Try insurancefactory.co.uk - they will take your details & ring around to get the best deal.

I ( well over 65 with a telephone directory list of health issues) just got an annual Europe policy - up to 31 days per trip for under£200....I don't know about single trip insurance, but if you go away more than twice a year an annual policy is usually the best value.

Also if you stay with the same company (I have used the same company for 10+ years) & don't make claims you seem to get a better price than if you switch every year.

I'm in South Tenerife right now, & although yesterday was glorious, today is cold & windy...I have sat in my balcony watching the Ocean waves crashing into the beach......I'm sure it will be OK tomorrow though.

Bon Voyage!

[Chanpreet_Walia LUPUS UK]

Hi Sin123,

We have a list of travel insurance companies who offer travel insurance for those with pre-existing medical conditions here: lupusuk.org.uk/travel-insur...

You may wish to read our blog article on ‘going on holiday with lupus’ : lupusuk.org.uk/going-on-hol...

Hope you have a lovely time on holiday!

[Sin123 in reply to Chanpreet_Walia]

Very useful. Thank you.