New Zealand

[27-359]

Hi all, I would like some advice. I have been NED for two years now, but being stage 3b an always waiting for it to return. My son and his family live in New Zealand and have a daughter I have never met. I am 71 now, and don't feel confident to go on my own, so my sister and her husband, who are going there on holiday next January have asked me if I would like to travel with them.

Of course, I would love to see my son, but the fare and the travelling around NZ pre staying with my son would take a sizeable amount out of my savings, which are already diminishing every year. My next check up is just before Christmas, and I am concerned that if the C is back, I will have wasted a load of money. They are booking in the next couple of weeks so I have to make a decision. Can I get insurance months before I go do you think, so that there is the chance of recouping some of the costs, or will the company want to leave it til nearer the time of going?

Many thanks for your thoughts.

Jenny

[Lindaura]

Hi Jenny,

My opinion is that you should travel to New Zealand with your family, but skip all the extras and head straight to your son’s.

You should also speak to your son and his wife now.

Don’t underestimate them. Perhaps they can come and pick you up at the airport.

If you cannot stay with them, it is worth it to find cheap lodging nearby with Booking.com. They have a free cancellation policy.

As far as Insurance, there are posts on this site about travel insurance, but my experience was that I could NOT afford it!

I found it more important to visit family back in the USA, while I felt well enough, and just risked losing out if I had to cancel at the last minute.

Booking.com hotels do not take your balance until you stay, so if you have to cancel, you can do so without charge.

Take this opportunity! Travel with your sister, talk to your son,

Pay for the airline, but don’t worry so much about the travel insurance.

It is worth it to go when you are offered the chance.

Best wishes,

Laura

[27-359 in reply to Lindaura]

My son can't pick me up, as the plane flies into Auckland, and he is in Wellington. I am thinking that perhaps I could get an internal flight on my own, then meet up with my sister and her husband later. Thank you for replying.

Jenny

[BeeWild in reply to 27-359]

You can definitely fly from Auk to Wellington takes about and hour or depending on your route you can fly via Melbourne direct to Wellington xx

Go and enjoy xx

[Petrolhead]

Hi

Lindaura has said it all and totally agree with her suggestions.

No more to say other than go

Best wishes

Fay

[Crohny]

Hi Jenny,

I am three and a half years Ned (diagnosis was at stage 3C, high-grade, serious), and still worry every day but I do try to travel (Europe only) as much as I can despite having other chronic medical conditions.

I got an annual policy from eurotunnel insurance for just under

£100 with the only conditions being that i was not terminal or travelling against doctors advice.

Hope this helps in your decision.

Jeanxx

[Solange in reply to Crohny]

Hi Jenny, I was pleased for you to see that Eurotunnel give you cover for a year at such a good price. Hope you don't mind me asking - do they cover you if you have just finished Chemo, if your Onco agrees with you going away, do you know? Happy travelling, Solange 😊X

[Crohny in reply to Solange]

Hi Solange,

Although I applied online, I did phone them in the first instance just for reassurance and they were only concerned that I was neither terminal nor was I travelling against doctor's advice.

Prior to travelling, I now quickly check with my GP that he's ok with me going away.

Hope I've answered your question but would recommend giving them a call just for your own peace of mind.

Jean xx

[Solange in reply to Crohny]

Thanks for your reply, Jean. Gives me a bit of hope that I may get away sometime 😊 Solange xx

[March2017 in reply to Crohny]

I used them too! Same thing are you terminal ( no ) has doctor said you can travel ( yes ) well recommended by someone else on here can’t remember who 👍

[27-359]

Hi

yes I have heard that Eurotunnel are good, but unfortunately they only cover Europe.

Jenny

[January-2016-UK]

Consider the Women’s institute annual worldwide travel insurance. £235 a year, no medical questions. You have to become a member £40. Drawback is it runs from November to November so you’d have to pay £235 for these couple of months to get cancellation cover and then £235 from November or run the risk yourself for a couple of months. You mustn’t have a terminal diagnosis and have no reason why travel might need to be cancelled, etc. Give them a call, here’s the details, opentravelinsurance.org.uk

You might find your son and his family might fancy a trip to Auckland to meet you or maybe your sister and husband like to start their holiday in Wellington.

Sounds a brilliant opportunity

[Flamingobeef18 in reply to January-2016-UK]

Just what January said.

I have been with WI insurance two years now and they are brilliant. As long as you do not cancel your annual direct debit payment the cover will just continue rolling on every year so whenever an opportunity comes up you are ready to go.

Oh yes and my advice is to go!go!go!!! You will not regret going but you may regret not going.

Lots of love Juliax

[Hidden]

As ever, good advice from the others, especially re one member of your son's family meeting you in Auckland.

But.... 2 yrs clear is fab. If you're not symptomatic, I would go. We can so easily stop doing anything because of this rotten disease. Family and fun are much more important.

71 is not old! I can understand the prospect of a long haul flight on your own can be bit daunting, but an internal flight in a country where they speak English, possibly not. I am sure you could manage it on your own if needed.

I'd try MIA and Insurancewith. I got reasonable quotes from them both. And if you're flying direct to NZ with no stopovers, should be good for you too. But the really big thing is NZ has reciprocal agreement with the UK re health, which makes it so much more reassuring a trip.

health.govt.nz/new-zealand-....

My final suggestion is to either bring forward your check up and/or ring the team and discuss with them what you should do.

Go for it!

[lorraine71-Australia]

Hi, Good advice from the ladies as usual ,I would just like to say go enjoy your family..take care Lorraine xx

[Hidden]

I agree with the others - go on the trip - if you live to 95 (which I'm sure you will!) you will regret not taking this opportunity to visit your son. The reciprocal health agreements between UK, NZ & Australia make travel relatively risk free and you can get some insurance which excludes cancer-related cover. When I travelled to the UK recently for my Dad's 80th I got cover through my Oz credit card at no cost for everything except a cancer issue.

Happy travels, Dawn xxxx

[Howick01]

Please do not go without health insurance.

Try insure with and as long as you are not waiting for scan or other results it might be affordable.

Do go and enjoy yourself xxx

[Neona]

Have a word with Insure With and see what they recommend- they are really good. I got a good price even though I was on a phase one trial. Definately go!

[mrstadpole]

I have looked at this in detail as I would like to travel to US next March. I've had reasonable quotes from Worldfirst and Insure with.There are lots of options available depending on what kind of excess you want with the policy.If the holiday is a very expensive one then you may need to go with the gold premium.Mine is not too costly so I will take the standard policy.

My oncologist said it would be okay to travel but don't travel unless you have insurance!

[WoodyB]

Re travel insurance there's a lot of good suggestions here. I know cost is an important consideration, but so is claims experience if the worst happens. Has anyone any good or bad experiences to share if they had to make a claim? Not just cancellation or medical, but other stuff like lost or delayed baggage, theft etc.

[Debtara]

Hi just wondering have you looked into a flight direct to Wellington as this too is an international airport. If this is not possible the flight from Auckland to Wellington is about 2 hours, hope you are able to go and enjoy every minute.