Clueless newbie wanting to go abroad

Indie_Kid

Hopefully next year I'll be going abroad. But I'm rather clueless over everything. I've been abroad once; but that was with school who sorted everything out.

First trip is to France and hopefully the second is to Dublin. Hoping to fly both times.

Watching Countdown yesterday and Martin was on there. He was talking about EHIC and insurance.

Can someone please explain, in simple terms what EHIC does and doesn't cover?

Any other advice regarding flying in general, insurance, etc is gratefully welcome.

Thank you

Voyager2002

I think you will have to do your own reading, and post some specific questions.

A good place to start is the web page for The Man in Seat 61. That should make you reconsider your idea of flying...

InsideInsurance

EHIC enables you to the same medical treatment as the locals get (in EU/EEA) as long as your sole purpose of travel isnt for medical treatment. What the state pays for and the process does vary alot between european countries and you are best googling EHIC NHS + Country to get the information as in some places you may have to pay first and claim it back before leaving the country etc.

So to help you on the first one: http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthcareabroad/countryguide/Pages/healthcareinFrance.aspx

maman

You'll need to apply for a free card and carry it with you when you travel.


http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthcareabroad/EHIC/Pages/about-the-ehic.aspx


Are you planning to go to France and Dublin as a tourist or for work? Alone or with a group?


It might be easier if you started with Dublin as there won't be any language issues although most French in the tourist trades speak English too.


What about a package holiday where you just turn up with the appropriate passport, insurance etc and you have a rep to help you if you have any questions. Most travellers started off that way.

Voyager2002

maman wrote: »

Y
What about a package holiday where you just turn up with the appropriate passport, insurance etc and you have a rep to help you if you have any questions. Most travellers started off that way.

Disagree: you learn by experiencing a country, and there are plenty of people who often go on package holidays but are still clueless.

hollydays

If it's a monesaving trip , see where Ryanair fly too from your nearest airport. ( get advice on using Ryanair website as it's rather tricky for newbies) .Keep the price down further with Ryanair by only taking 10kg handluggage( free) and not paying for hold luggage. For cheapness look at hotel formule une.
http://www.hotelf1.com/gb/booking/refine-search-map.shtml

Use the site skyscanner to see who flies where
https://www.skyscanner.com

Ideally fly somewhere where the airport is near to the city centre/ and your hotel is near to the centre too. use tripadviser to check hotel reviews (4.5 rating is a very good hotel but could be 2 3 or 4 star rating ) you need to check this BEFORE you book the flight, as transfers could be expensive.

maman

Voyager2002 wrote: »

Disagree: you learn by experiencing a country, and there are plenty of people who often go on package holidays but are still clueless.

And plenty that don't. Many people start off with a package and realise that they could do it themselves next time. It's an option even if it's not for you.

duchy

Voyager2002 wrote: »

Disagree: you learn by experiencing a country, and there are plenty of people who often go on package holidays but are still clueless.

A package holiday is simply transportation and a hotel combined together.

They can be vastly commercial and popular fish and chip resorts or cities or isolated resorts. It's just a general term but some people get a bit snooty over them. The wise MSEer checks both DIY and packages as packages can be cheaper sometimes depending on a variety of reasons.

Dublin is a great city, no language issues and short and easy trip to the city centre.

Amsterdam is another good choice as almost everyone speaks excellent English and it's a fun and pretty city to visit.

Paris......meh not my favourite city but lots to see and do.

GlasweJen

When you're on holiday EHIC basically covered things you'd phone NHS direct for - something that you need to see a doctor for but don't have one to go and see. It entitles you to medical treatment on the same terms as someone who is from the local area (so in Ireland expect to be charged to see a GP).

I've used my EHIC card once in Switzerland when I got hit in the head and part of my hearing aid snapped off inside my ear, the ear got all swollen and infected and I needed antibiotics to fly home. I went to A&E and the receptionist took my details, my insurance documents and EHIC card and worked out which one would work best. I paid a fee (can't remember how much but it wasn't extortionate) and was treated by a nice Swiss doctor who gave me pain killers and antibiotics.

Travel insurance in Europe is more for the big things (or to cover the difference in cost between UK and where you are), being a foreign national on your holiday doesn't get you skipped through waiting lists and if you need treatment before going home you might need the insurance to cover the treatment being done in a timely manner (like an operation to set a broken bone). You'll also be thankful for insurance if anything goes wrong and you need flown home or someone flown out to get you.

Travel insurance will also cover things like the cost of getting an emergency passport issued if anything happens to yours, the cost of replacing your luggage if the airline loses it, hotels if you need to stay longer and of course cancellation if something happens and you can't go on holiday after all.

It is essential to declare all medical conditions to your insurer as if something goes wrong your insurer can say your claim isn't valid due to not disclosing. My travel insurance is extortionate but I was grateful to have it as I had an accident in America once and the bill was over $3,000 just for getting a sore head checked at A&E (and the ambulance was a separate charge on top of that).