Latest news with #travel insurance
The Verge
5 days ago
- Business
- The Verge
Airbnb now lets you ‘pay later' on vacation rentals
Airbnb has introduced a new 'reserve now, pay later' option that lets users in the US book a reservation without paying right away. Instead, users can put off their payment to a later date before check-in. Airbnb says it will require payment before the end of a stay's free cancellation period, ensuring 'hosts have time to secure another booking even if a guest cancels.' The option is only available for stays in the US with a moderate or flexible cancellation policy. Airbnb also notes that it will still charge upfront for travel insurance, climate contribution, or other optional add-ons. While Airbnb already offers a 'pay part now, pay later' option, which allows users to pay part of their bill at checkout and the rest before check-in, this new method means users don't have to make a payment at the time of booking at all. Airbnb offers payments with the buy now pay later service, Klarna, as well. Posts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All by Emma Roth Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Apps Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All News Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Tech
Telegraph
5 days ago
- Health
- Telegraph
I want to go on holiday before I start chemotherapy – but no company will insure me
Dear Gill, I have recently undergone bowel surgery and a hysterectomy to remove jelly-like lumps associated with pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP) cancer, which starts in the appendix. It's likely I'll need chemotherapy this autumn so I am desperate to go on holiday, either a last-minute Caribbean cruise or a beach holiday in the Algarve. However, I am struggling to find travel insurance because PMP is a rare cancer and doesn't screen. I'm happy for the insurer to exclude cancer, but I would like to have cover for an accident and the associated repatriation. Can you help me find cover? – Sophie Jones Dear Sophie, It has become easier to find specialist travel insurers willing to cover someone with a cancer diagnosis, though it does depend on the treatment stage and the severity of the disease. A 'fitness to travel' letter from an oncologist is a pre-requisite for cover. A Caribbean cruise is the most expensive holiday for which to obtain cover if you have health conditions. This is due to the high cost of being flown to Florida for treatment. Cover for a two-week trip for Sophie would cost around £3,000 so I suggested she stick to Europe, taking either a land-based or a cruise holiday. Most insurers now require customers to start by filling out an online health screening which is a tick-box exercise. If the medical score is low enough a quotation is generated; if the score is high you will need to speak to a call centre agent trained to conduct enhanced screening before a decision is made. Sophie decided to spend a week in Portugal before her chemo started and, at my request, contacted several insurers which specialise in this area. Freedom Travel Insurance (01223 446914) offered her a single-trip policy to Portugal for £73.34 after speaking to an agent. The policy would cover her Type 1 diabetes and her current cancer diagnosis with a £2,500 cancellation limit. At Free Spirit (02392 419 080), part of the highly regarded P J Hayman insurance group, Sophie was able to purchase a similar policy online without referral to an agent as her particular cancer, PMP, was on the drop-down list. The policy cost £74.26, with a £3,000 cancellation limit. A spokesman for Free Spirit told me that taking a holiday between diagnosis and the start of chemotherapy or radiotherapy is seen as lower risk by insurers, compared to taking a break during chemo when your immune system is less robust. Other insurers specialising in policies for those with health conditions – and also with no upper age limit – include Just Travel Cover (0800 294 2969) and All Clear (0800 848 8608). Your travel problems solved Gill takes on a different case each week – so please send your problems to her for consideration at asktheexperts@ Please give your full name and, if your dispute is with a travel company, your address, telephone number and any booking reference. Gill can't answer every question, but she will help where she can and all emails are acknowledged.
