Category : Product Updates

With more and more of you choosing to take time out and see a little of the world before starting University or work – gap years are a handy opportunity to both gain some real ‘life experience’ and learn more about yourself.

Now summer (for what it was worth) has well and truly passed and the long winter months are approaching – we know many of you are either starting to think about or finalising plans for your globetrotting adventures. Let’s face it – who wouldn’t jump at the chance to dodge a dreary, cold British winter? With this in mind, we thought we’d shed a little light on one of the world’s most diverse and stunning landscapes – New Zealand.

Those cheery folk over at the New Zealand tourism authority have recently launched a promotion highlighting the benefits of visiting the land of Kiwi – snappily titled ‘Go All The Way’. The campaign was launched towards the end of September at New Zealand’s first-ever Backpacker Industry Conference held at the Auckland University of Technology (AUT) – in conjunction with a horizontal bungy trial involving  some lucky backpackers, highlighting New Zealand’s appeal as an ‘extreme sports’ destination.

George Hickton, Chief Executive for tourism, said: “Many backpackers from the UK and Europe go as far as Australia in their gap year, but we want to challenge them to complete the journey and `Go All The Way’ by coming down to New Zealand”.

For those of you planning to visit New Zealand (or for that matter Australia) on your travels – our Backpacker travel insurance package is just the ticket. With up to one year’s cover, including optional sports and activities – our travel insurance is as flexible as your travel plans. Oh, and we also offer New Zealand and Australia only cover for cheaper backpacker insurance premiums – how’s that for flexible?

We here at gosimply.com think you could do a lot worse than taking time out to visit one of the most breathtaking set of islands the world has to offer. After all, it’s worth remembering that Director Peter Jackson chose New Zealand as the ideal place to realise the epic, sweeping landscapes of Middle Earth in ‘The Lord of the Rings’ trilogy.

Visit those helpful peeps over at www.newzealand.com for help on planning your trip.

With many of us now looking ahead to the festive season, it’s likely that some of you are looking at heading a little further afield than the local boozer to see in the New Year.

If you are planning to spend some time on piste this season, we advise taking a little time out to prepare adequately. We like to think of it this way – just as you wouldn’t dream of hitting the slopes without the correct (or with faulty) equipment, neither should you consider going without comprehensive winter sports travel insurance.

Yet it seems that a large number of folks do travel abroad each season without adequate ski insurance – not necessarily because they’re being foolhardy, but because they don’t realise many standard travel insurance packages don’t include winter sports insurance. This could prove a painfully expensive oversight. Thisismoney.co.uk report that a broken leg (one of the most common injuries on the slopes) could cost you as much as £12,000 for treatment in Europe – we’re pretty sure you’ll agree that’s a painful outcome, in more ways than one!

As usual here at gosimply.com, we’re all about keeping it simple. Instead of just adding cover to a standard travel insurance package – we offer tailor-made winter sports packages covering a multitude of snowbound activities. Better still, for the more adventurous among you, there are additional ‘bolt-on’ options available over and above the standard winter sports package, enabling you to find the right coverage at the right price. Oh, and did we mention you won’t find cheaper travel insurance anywhere else?

For a little more information on the pitfalls of travelling without the correct cover, click on the link below:

http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/insurance/travel/article.html?in_article_id=426308&in_page_id=37

Stay safe on the piste. Because smart people gosimply.com.

There are few things more invigorating and life-affirming than stepping out from the relative safety of your daily routine and immersing yourself in a full-on, pulse pounding adventure experience.  From riding wild rapids in Sweden through to cattle herding in the wild west – it’s all about the thrills and spills.

Of course, there’s a little more involved with an adventure holiday than your average trip to the beach, so looking ahead is pretty vital.  As ever, we’re here to help with some handy hints and tips during the planning stages of your big trip:

Who’s in charge?
Thankfully, with a wealth of information available via the internet nowadays, research is a whole lot easier than just taking the brochure’s word for it.  The flip side of course is that anyone can now create a website posing as a reputable tour operator.  Check out who you’re travelling with – look for independent reviews where possible.  Who are they affiliated with?  Do they employ certified professionals?  Is all equipment regularly tested?

Don’t be afraid to ask – your life may depend on it.

Am I covered?
Our cracking Adventure Travel Insurance package offers great coverage to both independent travellers and groups.  Better still, additional packages and options are available, meaning you can tailor your insurance to suit your own individual experience.  Whatever travel insurance package you choose, don’t be tempted to leave home without it.

I’m sure it’s here somewhere…
No matter where on Earth you’re travelling, it’s always best to double-check documentation and inoculation requirements with the Foreign Office before you leave.  Also, ask whether the country is safe – it may sound silly, but the last thing you need is to get caught up in a military coup whilst on holiday.  We’re pretty sure this would ruin your well-earned break, aside from being a potentially life-threatening situation.  Remember – ignoring Foreign Office advice could render your travel insurance invalid.

How much further…?
No matter how fit you consider yourself to be, your body may not be prepared for the type of activity you’re planning whilst away.  If it’s your first time at your chosen sport, ease yourself in with a few training sessions at the local gym.

So, if you’re considering trying something a little more daring than deciding which flavour doughnut to have during your tea break, take time to check out our new all-singing, all-dancing adventure travel insurance package.   Because smart people gosimply.

gosimply.com now offers you even more choice in Airport Lounges after adding 5 new lounges, all available for pre-booking.

• Mumbai International – Celebrations Lounge- NEW!
• Birmingham International – 4Deck Lounge – NEW!
• Barcelona El Prat T1 – Sala VIP Miro & also the Sala VIP Pau Casals – NEW!
• Plymouth City – Air Southwest Business Plus Lounge – NEW!
• London Heathrow T2 – Cobalt Lounge – NEW!

We also have further reductions on some existing airport lounges:

• Gatwick Wentworth Lounge was £18.50 now £15.00 – saving £3.50!
• Gatwick Aviance Lounge was £18.50 now £15.00 –  saving £3.50!
• Manchester Escape Lounge was £20.00 now £18.50 – saving £3.50!

So what are you waiting for? It’s simple. Smart people gosimply.com

There’s now another excellent reason for smart people to gosimply when they have an early morning flight from Birmingham Airport.

The Ramada Encore NEC Hotel offers stylish-but-simple, contemporary accommodation for both business trippers and holiday makers, and the amenities are hard to beat.  Along with the standard features like tea and coffee making facilities, each room offers:  an LCD television with 16 channels, a power shower, free high-speed Internet access, radio, work station, direct-dial telephone, blackout blinds and a hairdryer.  If guests get hungry, the hotel’s Hub Restaurant serves up breakfast, lunch and dinner from their Bistro-style menu.  The Ramada Encore also prides itself on being “female-friendly”, and can make special arrangements for female guests who might be travelling on their own.   All that, plus the hotel is just a short walk away from the airport!

If this one doesn’t strike your fancy we’ve got 12 other Birmingham Airport hotels to choose from, each with their own reasons to recommend them.

Jetsetters from the Midlands can now enjoy jumbo jet flights from Birmingham to Athens courtesy of Hellenic Imperial Airways and Birmingham International Airport.

The Greek airline will operate a Boeing 747-200 aircraft with 450 seats, and the flights will have onward connections to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia.

Talal Abureyal, Chariman of Hellenic Imperial Airways, said:  “Birmingham is our first UK airport and we are very excited about launching services in the Midlands. Athens, which is our HQ, is not currently served from Birmingham so we expect that our flights will be welcomed by those travelling for business and leisure, in particular those visiting friends and relatives.”

The new flights are sure to be popular with not only Athens-bound travellers, but also those heading for Saudi Arabia, and with Birmingham Airport parking priced as low as around £30* for a week when you pre-book there’s no need to rely on a taxi or a friend to get you to the airport.

* 1 week’s Birmingham Airport parking commencing 08/26/09.

Gatwick’s Inter-Terminal Transit System (monorail) will be closing in September due to necessary work being performed on the tracks.

A new track will reopen on the 28th of April 2010, with a second track to open in July 2010.  In the meantime, a replacement bus service will run from the North Terminal forecourt to the South Terminal forecourt for passengers who need to travel between the two terminals.

While these works are being carried out, travellers requiring Gatwick Airport parking will be able to save time by choosing a car park that provides transfers directly to their departure terminal.  This information is clearly shown on gosimply.com, so you can be sure to choose the most appropriate location to suit your plans.

The latest addition to our family of great airport hotels is none other than the easyHotel Heathrow, located less than 3 miles from the airport.

easyHotel is brought to you by Stelios, a name synonymous with offering budget services with no sacrifice in quality or customer care.  This hotel is an ideal choice if you’re simply looking for a comfortable night’s rest at a low price.  Room-only packages are available, as well as packages including up to 21 days’ parking on-site at the hotel.  easyHotel is our lowest-priced option for Heathrow Airport, so be sure and book early, as it’s destined to become a very popular option.

And remember, there are 25 other great Heathrow Airport hotels to choose from, so you’re sure to find the one that best suits your needs, at the best price around.

Our customers who jet off to far-flung places from Dublin International Airport now have more choice when they want to stay close to the terminal before an early flight.

gosimply.com is happy to announce the addition of the Premier Inn Dublin to our list of airport hotels.  The Premier Inn is a purpose-built, modern and stylish hotel that’s perfect for anyone who wants a good night’s rest and a fresh start in the morning.   Since they’re located just 1 mile from the airport you can count on a quick transfer, and room-only prices start from just £59!  So why not start your holiday a day early and book the Dublin Airport Premier Inn today?

GoSimply.com is pleased to announce the addition of two new airport lounges, which are now available for pre-booking.

Passengers 12 years of age and older who are flying out of Durham Tees Valley Airport can now enjoy a pre-flight stay in the Servisair Lounge, located next to Gate 4 and offering a little respite from the hustle and bustle of the terminal.

If you’re departing from Hong Kong International Airport, why not book a stay in The Travelers’ Lounge?  As with virtually all of the lounges we offer you’ll enjoy free refreshments (including alcoholic beverages), plus you can take advantage of the shower facilities and WiFi Internet access.