A couple of points worth considering that will certainly bring the price
down - l) check your household insurance and you will possibly find that
your personal possessions are already covered away from home (perhaps for
a time limit of 31 days), and 2) offer to pay a higher excess. Also, the
majority of us do not indulge in dangerous sports, so that can be removed
from the policy. It is wise to carry anything of value in your hand
luggage, particularly medicines, insurance documents, relatives' phone numbers,
camera, jewellery (if you must, although it's safer for the jewellery and
also for your own physical safety if it is left at home), and don't carry
all your currency in the same place. I always make a point of wearing several
layers of clothing when travelling. It is so easy to add or remove layers
according to the temperature of the 'plane, and I also pop into my hand
luggage - lightweight sandals, swimsuit and suntop (one that will double
as an evening top) and a large flimsy wrap that can double as a skirt or
beach dress etc. I also make a point of packing some items in my husband's
luggage and vice versa. This is now routine after experiencing the loss
of my luggage.
Some airline companies have now considerably increased the permitted weight of hand luggage and we are encouraged to take all luggage on board with us, as they are endeavouring to shorten their 'turn around' time and so save time and money. It will certainly alleviate stress and waiting/wastage time for passengers as they queue to deposit and wait for the arrival of their luggage which usually bears marks of the battering it has undergone. Also, if you are travelling with a budget airline and the refreshments are not included in the cost of the flight, it is a good idea to take your own as the price on board is anything but 'budget'.
However, I am thinking that it may be worth paying the extra to pre book your chosen seat, and from previous experiences I can tell 'what not to book'. On a long haul flight avoid the seat next door to the toilet. You will be kept awake all night with the banging of the door, shooting of the bolt, and flushing of the loo, etc, and the inevitable conversations as passengers enter and exit. Also most people do their inflight exercises as they wait in the queue for the loo. If you want extra leg room (and don't we all?) then aim for the seats next to the exit doors, but, of course, you must be deemed to be able-bodied to be allowed to sit there. I made the mistake of carrying my holiday stick/seat on board and was immediately turfed out of the coveted seat. Also the reclining position may be somewhat restricted in the back row.
My worst travelling experience so far (apart from spending a sleepless night next to a loo) has been a recent long haul flight from Singapore. We chose a 11.30 pm departure in order to get a good night's sleep which would take up a large proportion of the journey time. We should have had an inkling of problems ahead when the check-in had difficulty in finding seats for us, although we had booked and paid 9 months ahead. When we arrived at our seats, we were delighted to see that we were in a quiet screened-off compartment, and, dog tired, settled down for a peaceful night. Then our peace was shattered - it must have been the noisiest take-off on record as babies and toddlers screamed in fear and anger at being disturbed. We then realized why the compartment was sectioned off. It was reserved for parents with babies and toddlers. Grandparents, cast your mind back and remember those screams for nightly feeds, multiply them and add in a confined space and you'll get the picture. Add, also, toddlers crawling under the seats (I don't know how they found a space, but they did). Every time my eyelids drooped, my groggy vision was met by three pairs of eyes gazing forlornly over the seat in front of me willing me to play peep-a-boo (instead of playing a grumpy old …….) I thought I was looking at identical red-headed triplets, but in retrospect I'm not sure as by that time I was seeing double or treble anyway. The only other vacant seat on the plane was in the toilet - 'nuff said. So together with the additional travelling on arrival and the time difference, the holiday ended on a low note of 48 hrs without sleep.
So, on a lighter note, if you do have difficulty in obtaining travel insurance,
do not despair. Living in a country of this size and shape, means that we
are never very far from the sea, country or town, and what is more our countryside
takes some beating. Where else can you drive down a quiet country leafy
lane in the morning, enjoy a good old British lunch in the garden of an
ancient, picturesque country Pub where time seems to stand still, and in
the afternoon be shopping in a busy city (if you so wish) and then take
in a touring West End Production in the evening. And, if you rely on others
for your transportation, remember that every local authority has to provide
free local bus service for senior citizens. So take advantage of that which
is all around us and HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
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