I just hate the fact that some insurance companies will not pay out over the chaos caused by the Icelandic volcano. God knows they are eager enough to gouge the money out of us at every turn but when it comes time to cough up … that’s a different story.
On the other hand, I don’t suppose that you can argue that the Icelandic volcano was an Act of God (and man, is she pissed off!) as insurance companies bandy the phrase. It was and is a natural disaster which was not the cause of any human intervention and could not have been reasonably foreseen or prevented.
According to the Association of British Insurers some policies will cover volcanic ash so not every company is leaving its customers high and dry. Airlines are rebooking and refunding; it is the cost of unused hotels and accommodation or forced hotel extensions that will be the cause of contention.
Holiday insurance has been a godsend for many a hapless traveller and in cases of illness or theft or when a holiday has to be cancelled then that extra amount tacked on to the cost of your holiday seems money well spent indeed. But this time? Well, there has never been a clearer illustration of the need to read the small print and compare the policies.
The Association of British Insurers issued the following press release on the subject:
Travel disruption due to Volcanic dust cloud – advice from the ABI
“Travel insurance policies will differ in this situation; there is no standard set of conditions which applies to a situation of this kind. Therefore customers should check their travel insurance policy, and speak to their travel insurer to understand what their individual policy covers them for in this situation.”
People travelling to or from a UK airport are having their travel plans disrupted due to an ash cloud from a volcanic eruption in Iceland. The ABI advises customers who may be affected that:
• Volcanic eruptions are not always covered by travel insurance for cancellation and delay. However, some policies will cover this, so you should contact your travel insurance company to check what your policy covers.
• If your flight is cancelled, most airlines will offer you either a full refund or an alternative flight.
• If your flight is cancelled and you do not travel, most travel insurers will refund your premium if you took out a single trip policy.
• If you accept an alternative flight at a later date, most travel insurers will amend your policy to cover your new travel arrangements and dates.
• Insurance only covers events that happen after the policy is taken out so customers taking out travel insurance from today onwards will not be covered for this event.
• Deciding that you no longer wish to travel will not be covered by your travel insurance policy.Nick Starling, the ABI’s Director of General Insurance and Health, said:
“Travel insurance policies will differ in this situation; there is no standard set of conditions which applies to a situation of this kind. Therefore customers should check their travel insurance policy, and speak to their travel insurer to understand what their individual policy covers them for in this situation.”
If your insurance company does pay out, please drop me a note here to let me know. Those who stand by their customers deserve all the attention they can get.
Pic by lilinhah
Low in Funds
I received an email from Jill who wants to stay a bit longer in Tenerife but whose funds are running low. After her contract expired Jill looked around to find cheaper accommodation but the best she found was an €18 a night B & B in Los Cristianos. That’s daylight robbery!
My neighbour’s comfortable two bed/2 bath with terrace and garden has been reduced to €450 a month from it’s previous rate of €550 because of the crisis which makes it cheaper to rent for the month than one measly room in a hostel.
Of course, you can’t get long-term rates on short-term stays and neither is anyone likely to hand you the keys to their pad unless you are in gainful employment and have both a down payment and a deposit in hand. So what can you do?
Hunting for Flat Shares in Tenerife
Well, look for a flat share is the answer. You will still really be paying for one room plus use of the flat’s facilities but you’ll get a much better price and who knows you and your new flattie may just get on like a house on fire. Er… maybe that’s not such a great idea!
Anyway, where to find these fabulous flats shares in Tenerife?
A good place to look is the notice boards in any Cultural Centre or some of the supermarkets.
As it was on my mind I cast an eye over the notice board in Las Galletas Cultural Centre and found three possibilities right away.
Flats to Share
1. Rent of one room in a two bedroom apartment in Guargacho. €180 per month. Tel: xxxxxxxxx
2. Flat share in Las Galletas (sea view) €200pm Tel: 922 xxx xxx
3. El Fraile flat share – no price given but it says economico! Tel: xxx xxx xxx
(Contact details have been removed but these are real examples of rates on offer.)
Any of these would be a better bet for a budget-conscious visitor than a pay-by-the-night hostel.
There is a humongous notice board in the Los Cristianos Cultural Centre and if I were looking for a flat share that is where I’d start.
And if anyone reading is looking for a flat mate then you are welcome to say so in a comment below. You never know…
Happy hunting!
So have I been living in a bubble lately or is this an April Fool’s Day joke that is running a bit behind schedule?
Much as I would love to see Tenerife become the centre of the Google galaxy, I find the news of Google Inc decamping to Granadilla de Abona as announced in a press release by Ars-Novum in Puerto de La Cruz just a little hard to swallow (okay, a LOT hard to swallow!).
Reasons given for the major move include changes to media law by the Obama administration which will increase restrictions on the Youtube and Google video search channels and the imminent bankruptcy of the state of California.
The installation of the Network Access Point West Africa – Canary Islands is seen as one positive factor behind the move as is the possibility of harnessing green energy to run the internet giant’s service centre and the region’s low labour costs (you can say that again) and tax breaks.
While I find the story unlikely there can really only be three explanations for it, can’t there?
1. It is a badly timed April Fool’s Day joke.
2. It is a crafty PR exercise dreamt up by Ars-Novum to create some buzz about their company.
3. It is true!
Given the astronomical rise in unemployment in Tenerife since December 2009, I can’t think of better news for Tenerife than the investment in infrastructure and technology that a move like this would necessitate. It would also shift the economic reliance of the island and open it up to more sources of revenue than tourism and bananas 
Much as I would LOVE this news to be true, I am not holding my breath. Are you?
Alejandro Sanz’ Paradise Tour is said by the promoters to be the most important of his career. Certainly his Looking for Paradise release with Alicia Keys is a cracker. Here are the two of them giving it laldie (Scottish for singing their hearts out) on tour last year.
Both artists are playing in Tenerife this summer. The lovely Alicia Keys will playing Quayside in Santa Cruz in June with tickets going for €35 or €60 while Alejandro Sanz is playing Tenerife on August 28 in the Adeje Soccer Stadium. Tickets for Sanz concert are €25 for the masses while the chosen few may opt for ‘Paraiso LG’ seats for €50 which allow them to enjoy ‘toda la fuerza’ of the experience plus have their own special entrance so they can avoid rubbing shoulders with the hoi polloi.
Tickets for both events are available from generaltickets.com
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