Author: Bev Amaechi

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Your Travel Advice

10 European Alternatives To The Worlds Most Expensive Holidays

worlds most expensive holidays
worlds most expensive holidays

When money isn't an issue, there is an entire world of possibilities when it comes to your dream holiday(s).

Perhaps you enjoy the more luxurious things in life but you're also aware that they often come with a huge price tag.

Going on a celebrity style holiday is a dream for many people due to the expense, but what if we could put an end to that?

These 10 European alternatives to the worlds most expensive holidays are perfect for those on a budget who don't want to compromise on luxury, privacy and most
importantly, sunshine!

Our list includes everything from luxury villas in the sunshine to city apartments boasting an endless skyline.

Want to see how much you could save? Visit our money table.

*prices based on findings from July 2018.

1. The Pikaia Lodge, Ecuador

pikaia lodge ecuador

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The Pikaia Lodge is based in the heart of the Galapagos in Ecuador.

The luxury accommodation boasts stunning views and was "designed for the
environmentally conscious, physically active and adventurous traveler."

Amenities

  • Outdoor Pool
  • Hot Tub
  • Spa
  • Room Service
  • Laundry Service
  • Bar & Restaurant

Highlights

  1. Central location - stunning views of the Galapagos.
  2. Dine at the lodges restaurant on the edge of a crater.
  3. Come face-to-face with giant tortoises

PRICE - from £2,000 per night.

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2. North Island, Seychelles

north island seychelles

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There is quite simply nothing like holidaying on a private island. There are just 11 villas available at North Island, ensuring total privacy.

According to the rumour mill, this is where Will and Kate enjoyed their honeymoon.

Amenities

  • 8,000 SQ FT
  • Coconut Grove
  • Private Entrance to Beach
  • Turquoise Waters
  • Luminous White Sands
  • Artisan-Made Furniture

Highlights

  1. Direct access to a private beach and the ocean.
  2. Rustic furniture and
    sophisticated designer elements.
  3. Generous space and total privacy.

PRICE - from £8,339 per night.

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3. The Post House, California

beachside villa spain

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For those lucky to enjoy the wonderful Pacific Ocean views, they choose The Post House in California.

The most expensive villa guarantees unparalleled views of the ocean through the floor-to-ceiling windows from their beds or even from the comfort of a private jacuzzi.

Amenities

  • Complimentary WiFi
  • Heated Infinity Spas
  • Swimming Pools
  • Onsite Fitness Centre
  • Gourmet Buffet Breakfast

Highlights

  1. Stunning views of the Pacific Ocean
  2. Enjoy morning yoga, guided hikes & whale watching.
  3. Rejuvinating spa treatments for the real deal.

PRICE - from £3,297 per night.

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4. Tierra Patagonia, Chile

luxury villa turkey

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Tierra Patagonia offers the most breath-taking views of the mountains in Torres del Paine National Park, just one of the many reasons why people decide to take the trip.

The “luxury adventure" hotel encourages guests to  get up close and personal on a hike followed by a bottle of Chilean wine with views that will last a lifetime.

Amenities

  • Locally Influenced Interiors
  • Cinema-Style Windows
  • Deep-Seated Bath
  • Unforgettable Views
  • No WiFi, No TV

Highlights

  1. Unreal volcano, mountain and sea views.
  2. Hiking, biking & horseback riding.
  3. Spa treatments & wellness centre.

PRICE - from £2,574 per night.

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5. The Hilltop Villa, Fiji

luxury villa turkey

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Up above Fiji’s Laucala Island sits an incredible villa where guests can experience the most secluded luxury possible.

The villa sits far away from the rest of the people on the island and it’s only
accessible via a private road on an already private island.

Whether you have the cash or not, all reservations require approval by the island’s owner.

Amenities

  • Free WiFi
  • Tennis Court
  • Swimming Pool
  • Beach Front
  • Bar, Lounge & Restaurant

Highlights

  1. Rich green mountains & breathtaking natural beauty.
  2. Sandy beaches & transparent waters.
  3. Activities include golf, water sports & beachside
    horseback riding.

PRICE - from £33,364 per night.

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6. Villa Manzu, Costa Rica

villa manzu costa rica

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These 8 private villas spread across five acres of the peninsula straight into the
Pacific Ocean.

For those who care about celebrity standards: the Kardashian's stayed at the lodge for their Costa Rican vacation.

Amenities

  • Luxury King Sized Beds
  • Onsite Gym
  • Private Chef, Server & Butler
  • Access to Four Seasons' Beach Club
  • All Inclusive

Highlights

  1. 180-degree panoramic sea views over the Papagayo Peninsula.
  2. 30,000 square feet of
    complete luxury (including outdoor swimming pool).
  3. Access to marina, golf, and tennis clubhouse located nearby.

PRICE - from £11,389 per night.

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7. Fogo Island Inn, Canada

fogo island inn canada

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Reaching the end of the world was never going to be cheap. Travellers who want to reach the remote island (in Newfoundland, Canada) can either go on a time
consuming journey or via helicopter.

On arrival, guests can join a program where they’re matched with locals to
get a feel for the area’s culture or instead, relax in one of the hotel’s rooftop hot tubs.

Amenities

  • Traditional Style Rooms
  • Bar & Lounge with Wood
    Burning Fire.
  • Luxury Dining with Sea Views
  • Onsite Library & Cinema
  • Wood Fired Saunas & Outdoor Hot Tubs.

Highlights

  1. Outdoor hot tubs overlooking the pristine water.
  2. 37-seat cinema in
    partnership with The National Film Board of Canada.
  3. Explore the fascinating wildlife with organised trecks & hikes.

PRICE - from £2,343 per night.

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8. Raj Palace Jaipur, India

raj palace jaipur india

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The Raj Palace has four-floor apartments and its own private entrance and elevator, which guests can ride all the way to the top. The top floor has a rooftop terrace, complete with a jacuzzi and unforgettable views of Jaipur.

The second floor also has a private museum displaying the Old Throne and Bolsters of the Thakur Sahib.

Amenities

  • Huge Swimming Pool
  • Traditional Onsite Restaurant
  • Luxury Bar & Lounge
  • Spa Treatments Available
  • Fully Equipped Fitness Centre

Highlights

  1. Champagne on arrival in style.
  2. Luxurious and traditional
    Indian decor and furnishings.
  3. Panoramic views of Jaipur.

PRICE - The palatial suite from £11,321 per night.

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9. Suite 5000 New York, USA

suite 5000 new york city

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Suite 5000 is part of the Mandarin Oriental and is so exclusive that you can't find much out about it online, you simply have to be in the know. Located on the 50th floor, a night in the suite has been described as "staying in a sleek, expertly-curated museum of New York culture".

The rooms are inspired by New York City-inspired art and music with the room being stocked with records dating back to the 1930's local music scene.

Amenities

  • Views of New York City
  • Luxury Furnishings
  • NY Art Style Design
  • 75" Flat Screen TV with NY
    Inspired Movies
  • Every Room is Huge!

Highlights

  1. Floor-to-ceiling windows showcase the Manhattan skyline, Central Park &
    Hudson River.
  2. New York City inspired
    interiors by established and emerging contemporary artists.
  3. Dedicated fitness area to stay on top of your exercise.

PRICE - from £21,133 per night.

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10. Two Story Sky Villa Las Vegas, USA

two story sky villa las vegas

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Sat nicely above the chaos of the Las Vegas strip, the 9,000 square foot Sky Villa are quite simply what you'd expect from a high-end Las Vegas accommodation.

Dark interiors, luxury textures, a classic round shaped bed and of course, a private bar - everything you need for the swankiest of trips to the gambling capital.

Amenities

  • One of a Kind Balcony Pool
  • Luxury Furnishings
  • Private Bar
  • Exclusive Views of Las Vegas
  • Bar, Lounge & Restaurant

Highlights

  1. Outdoor swimming pool that extends over the balcony!
  2. Have your own party with a private bar with everything you need.
  3. The most unique views of Las Vegas you can find.

PRICE - from £15,082 per night.

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PRICE COMPARISON - HOW MUCH YOU'D SAVE

Number In List

Worlds Most Expensive Holidays

EU Alternative

You'd Save (per night)

1.

The Pikaia Lodge, Ecuador

The Windmill, Greece

£1,758

2.

North Island, Seychelles

Beachside Villa, Fuengirola

£8,132

3.

The Post House, California

Aegean Hills, Turkey

£3,187

4.

Tierra Patagonia, Chile

Villa Lario, Italy

£1,968

5.

The Hilltop Villa, Fiji

Villa Agave, Croatia

£28,500

6.

Villa Manzu, Costa Rica

La Cala de Mijas, Spain

£11,275

7.

Fogo Island Inn, Canada

Monastero Santa Rosa, Italy

£1,943

8.

Raj Palace Jaipur, India

Four Seasons Palace
Budapest, Hungary

£10,853

9.

Suite 5000 New York, USA

Shangri-La Hotel Paris, France

£20,058

10.

Sky Villa Las Vegas, USA

W London Leicester Square, UK

£14,193

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Your Travel Advice

Travel Insurance: Is It Worth The Bother?

travel insurance stats uk
travel insurance stats uk

It's a question that many travellers are still asking to this day:

Is is worth purchasing travel insurance?

Unfortunately there isn't a simple answer to this question, but our informative post aims to answer all questions surrounding:

  • Travel insurance statistics and industry provider figures.

  • How much travel insurance companies actually pay out and why.

  • The top 10 travel insurance providers that are worth taking notice.

  • Those for travel insurance vs those who don't buy in to it (literally).

  • How Brits bombarded the Financial Ombudsman with complaints.

    • ​

    We recently conducted a survey to 500+ Brits (who love a holiday or two) and we had some pretty interesting answers, particularly regarding travel insurance.

    Do you use travel insurance when heading away on holiday?

    82%
    18%

    The stats revealed that 82% use travel insurance when going on a holiday, which would surely indicate that the majority of Brits would consider travel insurance to be a meanwhile and needed purchase before jetting off on your holiday.

    After all, it's better to be safe than sorry on your travels, right?

    Well, not everybody sees it that way...

    Who buys travel insurance vs those who don't bother.

    travel insurance stats uk

    In 2017 alone, holiday goers from the UK took over 70 million trips abroad.

    So as you can imagine, travel insurance companies were cashing in on huge amounts of travellers who didn't want to risk going insurance free.

    So, what about those who didn't bother to get travel insurance?

    ​

    25 %

    A quarter of all Brits who went on holiday didn't buy travel insurance in 2017 - this is a 3% increase from the previous year.

    source.

    Although that still means 75% of travelling Brits did take out travel insurance policies, it also means that 17.5 million holiday goers didn't bother with travel insurance in 2017.

    What's more surprising is the average prices of travel insurance, you'd think with that many travellers opting out of paying for a policy that the prices of a plan would be sky high.

    On average, travel insurance policies cost just £33 annually - and for those aged between 26-30 it only costs an average of £21.

    Did you know? 

    25% of Brits didn't bother with travel insurance in 2017 - although the average annual policy costs just £33!

    Click to Tweet

    Could age be a defining factor?

    As you can see, the largest majority of those that don't take out a policy are between the ages of 18-30, so clearly it's the younger generations who clearly don't feel they need any travel insurance when going away.

    Whereas the the older we get, the more we see the need and benefits of travel insurance, for reasons including:

    ​

    • Medical Care - most travel insurance companies recommend £2m of medical cover when travelling abroad, which should always include repatriation in case you need to be flown back to the UK.
    • Personal Liability - if you damage somebodies property or injure somebody, they have every right to claim against you. Therefore it is recommended adding £1m of personal liability cover.
    • Delays - if your flight time is delayed by over 12 hours, you will usually be
      compensated accordingly with food/accommodation etc.
    • Baggage - if your luggage or personal possessions are lost, damaged or stolen, the policy should pay out up to £1,500 to help you cover the costs.

    If you require detailed information regarding travel insurance covers, click here.

    Why do millennials take the risk?

    It's no secret that if medical treatment is required when you're abroad the bills you might have to pay could be astronomical (country dependant).

    So that's the burning question, why do millions of travellers choose to ignore travel
    insurance as a priority?

    36 %

    of millennials quite simply felt like they didn't need to "waste money" on travel insurance.

    22 %

    stated that going on holiday without investing in travel insurance is a risk they're willing to take.

    source.

    How much are travel insurance companies forking out?

    Unfortunately stats for 2017 on this matter are sparse, but what we do know is that travel
    insurance claims are at their highest since 2010 which was the year of Eyjafjallajökull - the volcanic eruption that cost insurers in excess of £369 million.

    The previous year gives us enough of an indication of just how important travel insurance can be.

    In 2016, £1 million was paid out by travel insurance companies per day. That's £365 million per year - that's the total net worth of the first and third richest footballers in the world - Cristiano Ronaldo and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

    So, how major were the claims exactly? What was being claimed for?
    travel insurance statistics

    494,000

    families and individuals claimed on their travel insurance in 2016.

    travel insurance stats

    £196 million

    was paid out to over 166,000 travellers due to  the need for emergency medical treatment.

    ​Did you know? 

    ​

    According to @BritishInsurers, the average travel insurance medical expense claim was £1,200 in 2016.

    Click to Tweet
    travel insurance stats 2018

    £128 million

    was the sum paid out to 160,000 people for cancellations - with the average
    cancellation claim being £800.

    travel insurance baggage stats

    £16 million

    was paid out to at least 87,000
    individuals     for losing baggage or money whilst travelling abroad.

    What are the largest known travel insurance payouts?

    As mentioned previously, the average claim for travel insurance medical expenses is £1,200. Despite this being the average figure, paying this much isn't always the case.

    For example, the healthcare system in the USA is known for being very expensive for visitors to the country, and with 3.8 million visitors from the UK alone making trips America each year, it's easy to imagine just how much brits end up forking out on medical bills whilst visiting.

    Here are the three biggest known claims from Brits in recent times - this should give you an inkling into how much of a necessity travel insurance actually is.

    travel insurance statistics

    1. £760,000

    is the biggest known claim by a tourist
    visiting the USA     who had to be flown back to the UK as he
    required treatment for a stroke - he was taken back via air ambulance.

    travel insurance stats

    2. £250,000

    is the second largest known claim by a tourist visiting the USA who required treatment for a brain haemorrhage and broken shoulder due to a nasty fall off his bicycle.

    travel insurance claim stats

    3. £136,000

    is the third largest known claim by a tourist visiting Chile who was bitten by an insect which caused severe complications - amounting his medical bills to over £100,000!

    Going off the highest known claim of £760,000, it would actually somebody earning the average UK wage 25 years to pay off such a humongous bill.

    A survey carried out by the Financial Ombudsman Service over a 7 year period also
    indicates that  the number of complaints from Brits regarding travel insurance claims had risen dramatically during 2017:

    As you can see, the number of travel insurance complaints to the FBS rose overall during the period of years shown above, even though we see a pretty consistent number of complaints during a three year period (2014 - 2016).

    2017 stands out with reaching almost 3,200 complaints regarding all aspects of travel insurance, and the smallest number of complaints were found during 2010 with over 1,000 less than last year.

    Many travellers have been unlucky in racking up thousands in medical bills when travelling abroad, the medical rate depends on the country you're visiting and their current health care policies - be aware of this before deciding to ignore travel insurance!

    Who are the best travel insurance companies?

    It can often be both difficult and daunting when it comes to choosing a travel insurance provider.

    ​

    How do I know who's the best to go with? Which providers should I trust?

    ​

    The guys over at Bought by Many put together a brilliant article that summarises the top 10 travel insurance companies (excluding travel insurance provided by banks) to take notice of in 2018, based upon a combination of:

    ​

    • Expert reviews from independent sources.
    • Score ratings taken from the consumer magazine, Which?.
    • Score ratings from Fairer Finance - they provide consumers about the quality of
      companies they can buy from.
    • Awards that the companies may have won.

    We recommend that you read the full article here or for a quick summary, see below:

    colombus direct travel insurance
    marks and spencers travel insurance
    saga travel insurance
    lv travel insurance
    staysure travel insurance
    aa travel insurance
    direct line travel insurance
    churchill travel insurance
    post office travel insurance
    age uk travel insurance

    * please note that saga and age uk are for over 50's only.

    Summary

    To conclude, we hope that our article on many aspects of travel insurance has been helpful and will help you to pursue the right decision when it comes to insuring yourself and your belongings when travelling abroad.

    ​

    In our article we have provided:

    ​

    1. Results of our consumer survey that outlines the percentage of travellers who always use travel insurance.
    2. An in depth review of industry statistics surrounding those who choose travel insurance against those who never bother taking out a policy.
    3. Figures to back up age being a defining factor as to whether people invest in travel
      insurance or not.
    4. How much travel insurance companies pay out on average and some of the most famous cases we know of.
    5. The Financial Ombudsman report regarding the amount of travel insurance complaints from UK holiday goers.
    6. The top 10 travel insurance companies based upon a combination of expert and
      consumer reviews, financial ratings and company awards received.
    Have your say in the comments below!

    ​

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    Costa del Sol Spain

    Vegan Restaurants on the Costa del Sol

    Food Torreblanca
    Share delicious meals together in Torreblanca

    More people than ever before are choosing to become vegan.  The vegan diet means avoiding meat and any animal products including dairy products, animal fats and eggs.  The plant-based diet is thought to have great health benefits.  If you are a vegan, travelling abroad can be problematic as many restaurants do not cater for a vegan diet.  However, the Costa del Sol is starting to get a good choice of restaurants that offer vegan cuisine.  Here is our pick of the best…

    Continue reading “Vegan Restaurants on the Costa del Sol”
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    Costa del Sol

    Top 6 Wine Tasting Experiences on the Costa del Sol

    Capuchina Vieja Conarte 2006, Limited edition red wine

    There are lots of wineries in Andalusia, but only a small number of those allow the public to look around them and take tours of the winery. Touring the wineries is a great day out and it is a chance to try some of the delicious local wines and sherries from the area. Below is a list of the wineries or ‘bodegas’ that are open to the public in the Malaga area. Most bodegas require pre-booking so call or email to reserve your place before you turn up!

    Continue reading “Top 6 Wine Tasting Experiences on the Costa del Sol”
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    Your Travel Advice

    Over-working: 1 in 2 millennials communicate with work even while on holiday

    Almost 50% of 18-24 year olds continue to work, even while on holiday, our survey has found.

    We recently conducted a survey of over 500 UK citizens and found that 20% of the UK population continue to stay in communication with work while holidaying. 

    What's more shocking is that the survey uncovered that almost half of 18-24 year olds remain hard-wired into work communication, even while holidaying. Match this with the worrying statistic that half a million UK workers are already suffering with work-related stress and you have a recipe for disaster with millennials not taking enough time away from work to help reduce the chances of burnout and work stress.

    Conversely, those over the age of 45 were much less inclined to communicate with work while on holiday, with 89% saying that they wouldn't communicate with work.

    The American Psychological Association say that “the recovery process requires “switching off” from work by having periods of time when you are neither engaging in work related activities, nor thinking about work”.

    We also found that only 17% of Brits are actually using all of our work holiday entitlement to take a holiday. The rest of us? Close to 40% use between five and 10 days of that entitlement to actually get away from it all and have a genuine holiday, and 16% use a measly one-five of their entitled holiday days.

    Millennials have also have been found to waste six days of their annual leave on chores. That's a quarter of their holiday entitlement wasted on chores and life-admin. 

    The affects that not taking a break from work can vary between mild Sunday dread and complete and utter burnout, health impacts of which include:

    • Anxiety
    • Depression
    • Irritable
    • Nausea
    • Headaches
    • Fatigue
    • A lack in confidence
    • Indecisiveness
    • A lack of motivation
    • Gaining/losing weight

    The prospect of holidaying with our colleagues isn’t something that thrills us either, with just under 65% of Brits saying no to jetting off with the people they work with. The most likely group to holiday with their workmates are divorced men, 53% of whom would be happy to holiday with colleagues.

    The data also discovered that the older we get, the less inclined we are to go on holiday with work colleagues, too.

    Naturally, this is having a damaging affect on workers throughout the UK. But not going on holiday isn’t just compounding work-induced stress, as found in a study a couple of years ago.

    It found that those who don’t go away on breaks have higher blood pressure and a lower quality of sleep.

    And the benefits? It found that the benefits of holidaying lasted at the very least, a fortnight longer than the trip itself.

    How you can turn off from work while holidaying

    So you know that staying hardwired into work even while holidaying is bad for you. But what can you do to help ensure that you’re switched off?

    Communicate

    Speak to work before you leave for your holidays. Set boundaries on communication and when you feel you should be contacted. You don’t want emails and phone calls dropping in for every little issue, so tell colleagues that. They should be able to take responsibility for much of your workload while you’re away.

    Speak to your boss directly, too. Tell them that you’re using your holiday to get away from work and unwind, not to send emails from the other-side of the world!

    Put your out of office on

    Don’t forget to turn your out of office on. And don’t just stick on detailing the dates you’re away. State that you won’t be checking emails or replying for the duration of your holiday and give them the contact details of someone that they can contact while you’re away.

    Remove your work email from your phone

    Many of us are as addicted to checking our emails as we are checking our social media. So remove your work emails from your phone. If you still have the option to open them while you’re sunning it up, chances are you’re going open, read, and reply. Which isn’t relaxing!

    Make plans

    For many of us, a holiday is all about lazing about in the sun. But for those of us that spend a lot of time working, sitting around doing nothing can prove hard. And so we turn to our devices to find work.

    Make plans for each day of your holiday so that you have something that’ll occupy your mind. Those plans could be anything from a long walk down the beach to full on activities like bike riding, rock climbing, or whatever else might be on in your area!

    Don't feel bad

    Many of us work our socks off and feel that our company and our clients rely on us to get stuff done. But that doesn’t mean you should feel bad for taking some time off. Everyone can suffer from burnout. So don’t be harsh on yourself when you’re spending two weeks away from the work lazing in the sun. Recharging your batteries will make you happier and more productive at work!

    As work-related stress increases we need to take ownership of our own health. Using a measly 1-5 days holiday, like 16% of the working population do, to take a genuine break from work isn’t enough. And keeping plugged into the work lifeline while you’re supposed to be relaxing doesn’t help alleviate any of the stresses we’re under, either.

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