travel insurance info please !!

laudami

Hi there

Can anyone please tell me if my worldwide family multi trip insurance will cover internal flights and small cruise whilst i am in australia for 2 months.

This trip will have lots of transfers and we could miss our cruise if one of our flights are delayed or cancelled.

We usually book online with moneysupermarket.

Also we have been advised to open an aussie bank account and transfer our spending money there rather than taken lots of cash and travellers cheques or using our uk cashpoint cards there.

If anyone can help that would be great.

Kind Regards

Laudami

richardw

Most cheaper policies have a trip limit of 30 days.

Just stick a Nationwide ATM card in a cash machine for cheap safe cash withdrawals

alanrowell

laudami wrote: »

Also we have been advised to open an aussie bank account and transfer our spending money there rather than taken lots of cash and travellers cheques or using our uk cashpoint cards there.

For 2 months - whoever told you that is WRONG. Rather than open an Ozzie account (even if you can as a non-resident) open a Nationwide Flex account in the UK. No fees for CC or debit card use when abroad (ie just like in the UK) and you get the Visa rate for money exchange

As for Travel Insurance need more information

laudami

hi alan
thanks for your reply,

i was told about an aussie bank account by a company called world first which i guess is an money exchange company, the lady there said if we open an aussie acc she can exchange our money into an OZ acc for £15.00 and we would get a commercial rate (i checked it and it did seem better).

Also we are planning to emigrate to OZ in the new year so it made sense to open an acc and start some credit history going .

We do have a nationwide flex account anyway.

What insurance shall i go for? We want to be fully covered for everything.

I am little confused now?

Many thanks for your help!!
These forums only survive because of people like you!!

Regards
Laudami

RibAd

hmm... well check whatever insurance you have the trip limit if there is one and whether missed connections are covered. some insurance companies cover connecting flights, but not a trip within a trip, so do check that out...

about the bank account... well, even if you're only intending on moving there altogether, wouldn't you need some sort of proof you have residency to open a bank account? ie a permanent residence, bills, mortgage, etc Or is Australia wayy more relaxed than the USA and anywhere else??

laudami

Hi Ribad

Ive been speaking to a girl at a company called HIFX (Foriegn exchange) and was told it is poss to open an acc. I dont understand how if i have no proof of residency.

Im waiting for a callback from a rep from WESTPAC (aussie Bank).

Nothing ventured hey !

I will keep you posted regarding this.

Many thanks

Laudami

laudami

Ribad

spoke to WestPac and i can open account while in uk to deposit funds then when we arrive can activate the account by popping into local branch.
Was told daont need any proof of residency in fact dont need any proof of anything to open acc and deposit money , only passport when we activate it in OZ.

Regards Laudami

alanrowell

BUT WHY open an account in Oz at all - you aren't going to getb a better rate than for the Nationwide account.

Have you checked what the charges will be for putting money into the account - the Oz company may not charge but what about your bank. And what do you do at the end of the trip. Are you going to leave money in that account or are you going to transfer it back to your UK account - and how much will that cost

The only reason to have an Oz acoount is if you are working in Oz and need somewhere to deposit your pay

RibAd

Hmmm well, I thought it was odd that you didnt need to prove residency or anything, so I checked out the site myself, and checked offical oz sites like the immigration oz site that states regarding opening a bank account:

"You should open a bank account within six weeks of your arrival, as you usually need only your passport as identification. After six weeks you will need extra identification to open an account. "

http://www.immi.gov.au/living-in-australia/settle-in-australia/to-do-first/open-bank-account.htm

I was just a bit weirded out that it seemed a little too easy just giving you an account, butu well , seems like you're getting sound advice!

laudami

Thanks Mate

I think we are going just to stick the money in our nationwide acc and take the money out when we are out there. with everything else we havent got the time or energy to sort this all out , thankyou very much for all your advice.
We are very gratefull

Regards

Laudami