Northern Ireland travel out to Maribor to play Slovenia in a Euro 2010 Qualifying football match on 3 September 2010.
This will be Northern Ireland’s first away game of the campaign. The venue is the Ljudski vrt stadium in Maribor, which is Slovenia’s second largest city, located in the northeast of the country. Kick-off is 8:45 pm local time.
Northern Ireland fans travelling out to Slovenia to support their team can access important advice published for them by the Foreign Office – click here.
The FCO advice includes important information about passports and visas, getting to the stadium in Maribor - and back to Ljubljana again (as the match ends after the last public transportation stops running). Fans are advised to arrive at the stadium early as gates open at 6:45 pm. Entry to the stadium is by ticket only. Carry photo ID with you during your stay in Slovenia.
Slovenia is located in Central Europe, close to the Alps and the Mediterranean. It is bordered by Austria to the north, Hungary to the northeast, Croatia to the south and east, the Adriatic Sea to the southwest, and Italy to the west. The capital city is Ljubljana. Languages spoken are Slovene, Italian and Hungarian.
There is much to see and do during a visit to Slovenia. It is famous for its caves, one of which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as well as castles, national parks, spas, lakes, and a beautiful coastline. The Maribor area is also known for wine-making.
Take along your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) but remember that this should not be used as a substitute for travel insurance. Visit our Travel Guide to Slovenia and follow the link for the FCO for their important and updated Country Advice.
There are times when it can be a useful defense mechanism to roll over and play dead. These ’fainting goats’ are funny to watch…
However, when it comes to real-life danger playing dead may be the worst thing to do. The goats are not in serious danger here. Apparently, this particular breed has a genetic disorder that causes their muscles to freeze when startled.
Now that we have your attention… Let’s switch to a more serious topic - because this post is not actually about goats…
Some emails that circulate on the internet are worth reading and passing along, others are not. Whether or not the following has actually happened we don’t know, but we just received this one and the advice seems worth spreading. We live in strange times, with potential dangers everywhere, and criminals will stop at nothing when looking for new ways to prey on the unwary.
Child Car Seat on side of road - Women are the main targets here – as this ploy appeals to maternal and protective instincts. If you notice what appears to be a child or baby car seat on the side of the road, with a blanket over it and possibly a doll or fake baby inside - don’t stop! The location will usually be a rural road, close to woodland, where criminal gangs lie in wait…
Obviously, you should NEVER stop despite your natural instincts – and this advice probably applies to many other scenarios. Instead of stopping, call the closest Police station and report what you have seen. Thieves and criminal gangs use all sorts of tactics to get you to leave your vehicle. An unsuspecting woman who stops to check on the ‘baby’ may be dragged into the woods and robbed, and possibly raped, beaten, and left to die.
Do Not Stop for Any reason. Do not even slow down!! Dial 999 in the UK, or the emergency number in your country (112 is the new Europe-wide number).
Raw Eggs Thrown at Windshield - Another tactic used by criminals involves throwing raw eggs at your windshield. It would be worse at night, but could happen any time of the day. This is very important to know: Do not operate the wipers or spray your screen with screen washer as this will only make it worse. Once the eggs mix with water and you turn on the wipers it will smear your screen with a milky goo, making vision almost impossible and forcing you to stop and get out to clean it. This is what the criminals hope for, of course, and once you are out of the car they make their move…
Crimes of this type could happen anywhere in the world. The best we can do is to be cautious, aware of potential dangers, and especially vigilant out there on the roads. Once you are out of your car fainting or playing dead is not going to help!
While on the subject of diving, check the expiration of your Vehicle Breakdown cover. If renewal is comig up why not check our great rates for UK and European breakdown cover (including free caravan and trailer recovery), and Motorcycle breakdown cover. For full terms and conditions and a quote click here. For Motorcycle Travel Insurance click here
Scotland travel out to Lithuania Friday, 3 September 2010 for their first away game in the Euro 2010 Qualifying football matches. Venue is the S. Dariaus and S. Gireno stadium in Kaunas, Lithuania. Kick off is 9:15 pm (local time).
Lithuania is located in Northern Europe with the shores of the Baltic Sea to the southwest. It shares borders with Latvia to the north, Belarus to the southeast, and Poland and Russia to the southwest.
There is much more to Lithuania than we have room to cover here. It is an interesting and beautiful country to visit, with its many forests, rivers, lakes, national parks, and the beach-lovers paradise, the Curonian Spit - which is on the UNESCO World Heritage list, located between the Russian and the Baltic Sea.
The Foreign Office (FCO) has provided information for fans travelling out for the match. Advice includes how to get to the stadium and what to expect when you get there. Also important information to avoid inadvertently getting into trouble with the authorities – i.e. find public toilets in an emergency! Click here.
The capital of Lithuania is Vilnius and Kaunas is located approx. 100 km away. Due to the late kick-off fans needing to return to Vilnius should arrange to return by means other than public transport.
Note that you will not be able to exchange Scottish bank notes in Lithuania, so carry cash in the form of Bank of England notes or use travellers’ cheques. ATM machines are accessible in most hotels and banks and major credit cards are accepted in most places. The currency of Lithuania is Litas (Lt.). Carry a photo ID with you at all times.
Remember to pack your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) but this should not be used as a substitute for comprehensive travel insurance.
Scotland fans should expect to be held back after the match to allow home supporters to exit. The stadium doors will open at 7:15 pm, so fans are urged to arrive early. Tickets will not be on sale at the stadium, so fans should not travel out if they are not already in possession of an official ticket.
Visit the FCO country page for Lithuania for important and updated travel information and advice.
Wales travel out to meet Montenegro this Friday, 3 September 2010 in a UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying football match.
The venue is the City Stadium in the centre of Podgorica. Kick-off is 7:30 pm local time (6:30 pm UK time).
Montenegro is located in southeastern Europe and the name translated means ‘Black Mountain’. It is bordered by Serbia to the northeast, Kosovo to the east, Albania to the southeast, the Adriatic Sea to the southwest, Croatia to the west and Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest. Podgorica is the capital and largest city. Montenegro is an independent and sovereign republic. Languages spoken are mainly Montenegrin and Serbian. Currency is the euro.
Montenegro has in the last decade become a very popular tourist destination. For such a small country, Montenegro is jam-packed with beauty, from its coastline, lakes, mountains, rivers, canyons, forests, monasteries and national parks. The Adriatic coastline of Montenegro has stunning beaches and scenery, among which are Budva, the Bay of Kotor, Ulcinj in the south coastal area, and the picturesque peninsula of Sveti Stefa.
The Foreign Office (FCO) has put together travel information for fans going out to support their team. Note that the stadium will open two hours before kick-off, alcohol is not permitted at the match, and drinking on the streets is not allowed. Carry photo ID with you at all times. Wales fans should expect to be held back after the match to allow home supporters to exit first. Click here for more FCO info.
It is mandatory to register with the local police in the town where you are staying within twenty-four hours of arrival. However, visitors staying in official tourist lodging or hotels should be registered automatically upon check-in. Double check that this is done for you, as penalties for failing to register may result in a fine, detention or having to appear in court.
If you plan to drive in Montenegro note that you are required to hold a valid International Driver’s license. Read up on the FCO advice before considering driving there.
Montenegro is not part of the EU, but has a reciprocal healthcare agreement for British nationals for free emergency medical care. However, there could be difficulties with communication, as staff may not speak English. Be prepared because for non-emergency treatment payment in cash may be required. It would be wise to take out comprehensive travel insurance before you go, and check that it covers medical repatriation.
Visit our Travel Guide to Montenegro and follow the link for the FCO for their excellent and updated travel advice.
Flickr cc Image: nathan17 (sveti-stefan, Montenegro)
Travellers and visitors to the UK may wish to make a note of the itinerary of the first Papal visit to the UK.
Pope Benedict XVI will be in the UK from 16-19 September 2010.
The visit includes appearances in Scotland (Edinburgh and Glasgow), London (Wimbledon, Hyde Park and Westminster), and Birmingham (Cofton Park).
Whether you wish to ensure you don’t miss out on the events, or avoid the associated crowds, here is the itinerary as published (at the time of writing) by the Foreign Office:
Thursday, 16 September – Scotland:
State welcome ceremony at Palace of Holyrood House, Edinburgh, and audience with the Queen. Then on to Glasgow to celebrate Mass in Bellahouston Park.
Friday, 17 September – London:
Private Mass in Chapel of the Apostolic Nunciature, Wimbledon, then on to address civil society in Palace of Westminster and evening prayer in Westminster Abbey.
Saturday, 18 September - London
Prayer Vigil in Hyde Park.
Sunday, 19 September - Birmingham
Mass in Cofton Park, Rednal
Check the Foreign Office website nearer the time, or monitor the news for any changes or updates to the itinerary.
With Air Passenger Duty (APD) scheduled to rise yet again in November 2010, the tax paid on an unused airline ticket may be well worth any time spent claiming a refund.
It appears that many travellers are either unaware that they can claim back the tax paid on an unused flight, or simply forget to do so.
Airlines are required to pass on the tax to the tax authorities, but only after you actually fly. If your ticket goes unused you are entitled to claim back the tax, otherwise the airline pockets it!
Unfortunately, in the case of many budget airlines it is simply not worth bothering to claim back the tax because of their high administrative charges that often amount to more than the tax paid on a flight. At the time of writing, there is no law to stop the airlines doing this.
The administration fee charged by airlines is normally per ticket, rather than per booking, and is in the range of £16-30 per ticket, per flight, but may depend on the type of ticket.
If you have to cancel a flight and have been told that the fare is non-refundable, try contacting the airline’s customer service department and request a refund of the tax paid.
(Note: A non-refundable ticket must be cancelled before the travel date, otherwise you will be deemed a ‘no show’. As your seat will not be resold you will not be entitled to claim back the tax).
Airline tickets include taxes, fees and charges (known in the industry as TFCs). These charges include APD, ticket tax, airport tax, fuel tax, etc. The amount of taxes charged can vary from airline to airline.
There is no UK law at present requiring an airline to voluntary refund the tax on an unused ticket. There is also nothing to stop an airline charging an administration fee to process any refund. They are not going to voluntarily offer this - so it is up to you to go after it!
There are companies out there that specialise in reclaiming taxes and surcharges paid on unused flights, for a modest fee. After a quick check online we found two companies offering this service: Re-ticket.com and missrefund.com. We cannot personally endorse either company, as we have not had reason to use them, but would be interested to receive feedback from anyone who has.
Budget airline Ryanair does not issue refunds at all. However, rather than lose out altogether, consider changing your flight and paying their admin charge plus the difference in fares.
Common sense dictates that it should not be difficult for airlines to credit tax back to a customer’s credit card. However, unless the Office of Fair Trading cracks down on them the policy does not appear likely to change any time soon.
The Air Transport Users Council (AUC) website is a good resource regarding passenger rights and travel issues. Refer to the ‘Tickets and Fares’ section on their site for information about taxes. Click here.
Visit our Travel News/Blog post from yesterday for more information about APD.
Those with plans to travel to the Caribbean and areas surrounding the U.S. or British Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico this week should be aware of a hurricane warning currently in effect. There are reports that some flights have been cancelled and cruise ships are changing course to avoid the storm.
Hurricane Earl could also cause problems on the east coast of the U.S. in the next few days. Storm surges of up to three feet are predicted along affected coastlines, with dangerous surf conditions.
According to reports from earlier today, Hurricane Danielle continues to weaken as she makes her exit, but Hurricane Earl is quickly stepping in to take her place.
Earl is currently out in the Atlantic Ocean, east of Antigua and St. Martin, and expected to pass the northern part of the Leeward Islands tonight (Sunday night) and Monday, 30 August 2010. Earl is currently a category 1 storm but expected to increase in strength over the next few days, possibly to a category 3.
If you have plans to travel to these areas keep an eye on the weather forecast and check the U.S. National Hurricane Centre website for updates – click here.
If in doubt about your flights or travel plans check with your airline or tour operator before going to the airport.
The hurricane season in this part of the world runs from June through November.
From November 1, 2010 a family of four flying economy class to New Zealand will pay an increased total Air Passenger Duty (APD) of £340 (currently £220). The same flights in other classes will pay a whopping £680 in tax (currently £440).
A family of four taking a holiday in Florida this winter will incur APD on their flights of £240 (currently £180) for Reduced rate (economy) class, and £480 (currently £360) for other classes.
The following figures are taken from the HM Revenue & Customs website:
(Note: Standard rate refers to classes other than the lowest Reduced rate. Where there is only one class of travel the Standard rate normally applies)
Band D Increases by £30/Reduced rate (from £55-£85) and by £60/Standard rate (from £110 to £170). Includes Argentina, Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand
Band C Increases by £25/Reduced rate (from £50 to £75) and by £50/Standard (from £100 to £150. Includes: Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Brazil, China, Costa Rica, Cuba, India, Japan, Kenya, Maldives, Mexico, Nepal, S. Africa, Thailand, Virgin Islands
Band B Increases by £15/Reduced rate (from £45 to £60) and by £30/Standard (from £90 to £120). Includes: U.S., Canada, Bermuda, Egypt, Saudi Arabia
Band A Increases by £1/Reduced rate (from £11 to £12) and by £2/Standard (from £22 to £24). Includes: Cyprus, Greece, Gibraltar, Italy, Madeira, Malta, Portugal, Spain, Balearic Isles, Canary Isles, Tunisia, Turkey
The UK coalition government plans to look at APD again this autumn with a view to possibly changing the policy from per-passenger tax to a per-plane tax.
In the meantime, be aware that the APD is set to rise significantly on November 1. Many in the travel industry are fearful that the rise will price a lot of travellers out of the market.
For a great deal on your travel insurance click here.
The Foreign Office (FCO) has published advice for British citizens travelling to the U.S. and/or Canada under the Visa Waiver Programme (VWP).
In particular, the British Consulate in Toronto has reported problems with some British nationals who travelled to the United States, took a short trip to Canada, and then experienced problems when trying to re-enter the U.S.
Under normal circumstances travellers to the U.S. who make a short visit to Canada are permitted to re-enter the U.S. with no problem under the VWP, as long as they meet all requirements. If you plan to travel between the U.S. and Canada and foresee any potential problems it would be wise to check before you go
Note that from 8 September 2010 the U.S. authorities begin charging $14 (£10 approx) for an ESTA application, so if you are thinking of paying a visit save some money by applying now. Travellers to the U.S. must register online under ESTA a minimum of 72 hours prior to their travel date. The ESTA is valid for two years or the duration of validity of the passport (whichever is shortest). If you are not eligible for an electronic passport (e-Passport) you must apply for a visa.
Those planning travel to Canada should also read up on import requirements, especially for taking certain foods, fruits, plants, birds, animals/animal hides or related items into the country. The list includes items such as sausages or similar meat products, dairy products (including cheese), potatoes, items made from wood, feathers or similar, and plants or plant cuttings.
Canada has very strict laws and failure to declare any prohibited or restricted items could result in confiscation, prosecution, or a fine of up to $400 (£260 approx). The Canadian Border control uses tools to detect banned items, as well as dogs that are trained to sniff out certain products. If banned items are detected in your checked luggage or carry-on luggage the penalties are serious.
Visit our Travel Guides to the United States and Canada and follow the links for the Foreign office (FCO) for updated country advice, as well as important links and visa information – especially the new rules for entering the U.S. under ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorisation).
Travellers to the United States should be well aware of the high cost of medical treatment, and the same is true for Canada. There are no special arrangements in Canada for visitors from Britain. Don’t risk financial ruin by neglecting to take out comprehensive travel insurance - and check to make sure that the policy covers emergency medical repatriation.
Flickr cc Image: Alaskan Dude (Banff Nat. Park, Alberta, Canada)
There are probably more magical things to do in Florida than Harry Potter can shake a wand at…
Holiday-bound Muggles boarding the Hogwarts Express on Platform 9 3/4 now have the option to bypass Hogwarts and head for sunny Florida. The new Harry Potter theme park attraction at Universal Orlando Resort ‘The Wizarding World of Harry Potter’ opened in June (2010) and is, no surprise, creating a huge stir.
Why not put on your invisibility cloak and disappear for a day into Harry’s world of wizardry and indulge in the Flight of the Hippogriff and the Dragon Challenge roller-coasters. When your energy levels start ti flag you can always fly over to the Three Broomsticks restaurant or Hog’s Head tavern and wet your whistle with some of Hagrid’s favourite Butterbeer.
It’s probably so much fun that young wannabe wizards and witches will have to be dragged away kicking and screaming at the end of the day. They may have to take home their very own magic wand to transport themselves back to Hogsmeade and the mysterious dragons and spells world of Harry Potter any time they feel like it! (The wand might also come in handy for Muggles struggling to foot the bill and trying to forget how much it all cost).
If the world of spells and sorcery gets too much you could always hop on a broomstick and fly over to another nearby Florida attraction. There are more than we can list here, but the obvious ones are Walt Disney World and Epcot, SeaWorld, and Busch Gardens. If that doesn’t finish you off, try Gatorland, Wet ‘n Wild water park, Florida Aquarium, or swim with the dolphins at Discovery Cove!
The kidults will probably be more than happy to tag along with the kids at any of the above. However, Florida also caters to more mature tastes, with attractions such as the Kennedy Space Centre, World Golf Hall of Fame, Sunken Gardens, Arabian Nights dinner show, Fantasy of Flight (vintage aircraft), and Ripley’s Believe it or Not – to name just a few.
We will be writing more on the topic soon, but a quick word of caution to Muggles about renting a car in the U.S. Do some research before you go and find out exactly what the car insurance covers. From stories we have heard it does not provide the same levels of cover we expect in the UK and Europe. it is probably smart to take out any and all additional top-up insurance they offer, as well as check the cover offered by your own insurance. Also, find out whether the levels of cover are affected if you plan to drive to other states, as laws in the U.S. vary from state to state.
Visit our Travel Guide to the United States and follow the link for the Foreign Office (FCO) website for their very important and updated country advice (including information about visas and changes under ESTA).
Harry Potter and his wizardly pals don’t need to worry about things like travel insurance for their broomsticks, but unfortunately the rest of us do!
Don’t leave your holiday plans in the hands of fate. The cost of medical care in the United States is truly frightening - unless you master some advanced spells to fix it. The Hogwarts Express may not be able to bring you back if you need medical repatriation by air ambulance. Family holiday budgets are tight these days, so we stirred up our own bit of magic and are pleased to remind you that *Children are included on policies for free! For a no jiggery pokery quote click here.
*Children must be under 18, (be a dependent child on the annual policy) and have an adult premium-paying person on the same insurance. See terms and conditions.
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Northern Ireland travel out to Maribor to play Slovenia in a Euro 2010 Qualifying football match on 3 September 2010.
