brits advised to stay away from the islands

[jimcarie]

read in this mornings paper the brit gov advising us brits to stay away from the philippines after the latest typhoon

what are your thoughts?

[grahamw48]

What rubbish.

The Philippines are a 1,000 miles long.

It's like saying stay away from the UK because there's 3 feet of snow in the Scottish Highlands. :rolleyes:

[Dedworth]

read in this mornings paper the brit gov advising us brits to stay away from the philippines after the latest typhoon

wat are your thoughts

What paper printed this ? - Foreign Office advice is sensibly to not to travel to specific areas of Mindanao and avoid travelling to the rest unless essential http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/travel-advice-by-country/asia-oceania/philippines

[andy222]

Its just a thing they have to say.

[Tawi2]

If the brit government advises against travel to certain countries does it automatically negate your travel insurance to said country?

[Dedworth]

If the brit government advises against travel to certain countries does it automatically negate your travel insurance to said country?

Looks like our policy wouldn't cover if travelling to that specific area :-

We will not pay for claims arising directly or indirectly from:

Your travel to a country or specific area or event to which the Travel Advice Unit
of the Foreign & Commonwealth Office or the World Health Organisation (WHO) or
similar body has advised against all or all but essential travel.

[stevewool]

well, my heart goes out to them , but i am still going

[Englishman2010]

well, my heart goes out to them , but i am still going

:xxgrinning--00xx3: That's the spirit Steve, and have a great time too

[Dedworth]

Each to his own but I won't travel anywhere overseas without insurance cover - heard too many horror stories to rely on it won't happen to me

[tone]

Nor me to be honest - I need that piece of mind of the cover!

[RickyR]

Oh, they have to justify why they charge so much for consular services and visas (considerably more then any other country i know) for a very poor standard of service.
Very poor advice from the FCO, probably written by a lawyer.

[Dedworth]

Oh, they have to justify why they charge so much for consular services and visas (considerably more then any other country i know) for a very poor standard of service.
Very poor advice from the FCO, probably written by a lawyer.

Ricky - I don't really think it's poor advice suggesting Brits to avoid areas where there's been a natural disaster, diseases or problems. - take for example these idiots sailing yachts in pirate infested areas, how much does it cost the rest of us taxpayers to help them out. I'd accept that the Consular/Embassy service leaves a lot to be desired but remember sometimes they are dealing with muppets who think the nanny state exists worldwide.

[stevewool]

i understand but as graham says the phils is over 1000 miles and we are not going that far down , its all payed and thats it, i am going

[RickyR]

I do agree with what your saying Dedworth, but a 'blanket' don't go is OTT.
As for the piracy attacks, I agree a certain amount of the attacks are brought about by the unprepared and stupid.

[Dedworth]

I do agree with what your saying Dedworth, but a 'blanket' don't go is OTT.
As for the piracy attacks, I agree a certain amount of the attacks are brought about by the unprepared and stupid.

Quite agree Ricky - but the OP is quoting an unnamed paper as saying "the brit gov advising us brits to stay away from the philippines after the latest typhoon" which is untrue the FCO advice only applies to Mindanao http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-...ia/philippines

[stevewool]

Quite agree Ricky - but the OP is quoting an unnamed paper as saying "the brit gov advising us brits to stay away from the philippines after the latest typhoon" which is untrue the FCO advice only applies to Mindanao http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-...ia/philippines

all sorted then, back to packing:xxgrinning--00xx3:

[grahamw48]

Good man Steve.:xxgrinning--00xx3:

Wouldn't even enter my head not to go.

Only wish I was on my way there too. :)

[Arthur Little]

but i am still going

Quite RIGHT, Steve ... you tell 'em ! :xxgrinning--00xx3:

[Dedworth]

Just make sure you've got the insurance Steve - I'd still like to know what irresponsible newspaper post was quoted in jamcarie's original post.

[stevewool]

got my insurance last week , everything done, just 9 more days , i cannot wait:)

[Doc Alan]

Just make sure you've got the insurance Steve - I'd still like to know what irresponsible newspaper post was quoted in jamcarie's original post.
Of course you and Emma will be going Steve, and good luck on your travels :xxgrinning--00xx3:
Ded is correct, however, about travel insurance. It's been discussed before on the forum, some members actually claiming not to bother with insurance :omg:.
Read the small print in the insurance document: - 1. A policy may not cover cancellation or abandonment claims due to the FCO advising against travel, and it may specify that you must comply with the most up to date travel advice shown on the FCO website. Their advice does not, of course, apply to where you will be going :xxgrinning--00xx3:.
2. A policy may not cover any claim resulting from a tropical disease where you have not had the recommended inoculations and/or taken the recommended medication. The FCO does have a short health section recommending seeking medical advice before travel. There is also up to date advice on this forum :).

[Tawi2]

Always get insurance for pinas,there was a televised case several years ago,english guy was hospitalised and ended up being held-hostage in the building till his bill was settled,there is insurance policies for mindanao through specialist companies,my kid always jokes about how rich he is going to be if one of mine pays-out :icon_lol:

[Englishman2010]

Each to his own but I won't travel anywhere overseas without insurance cover - heard too many horror stories to rely on it won't happen to me

Me too, for the sake of around £40 a year you can get a worldwide annual multi trip policy, although it is sensible to read the policy wording and see what you are actually covered for.

When my KLM flight was delayed by 8 days in April 2010 due to the Icelandic Volcano, I got £150 back. OK, I lost about £250 in cancelled internal flights and deposits on hotels, but at least I got something back, so I felt it was worth paying the £38 that year.

I'd hate to end up with a hospital bill of £30K for the sake of saving £40 odd a year:omg:

[stevewool]

just like you , i pay for the whole year and get world cover too, it works out cheaper

[Tawi2]

From last week,new-born pinoy child held hostage over hospital bill,insurance is a must for your families peace of mind.
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/104923/hostage-baby-is-finally-home

[sim&lil]

Just make sure you've got the insurance Steve - I'd still like to know what irresponsible newspaper post was quoted in jamcarie's original post.

Pretty sure it was the headline in the daily mail report.

[Dedworth]

Pretty sure it was the headline in the daily mail report.

:)

Mail not guilty

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/article-2076084/Typhoon-Washi-FCO-warns-Britons-stay-away-southern-Philippines-floods-kill-652-leave-hundreds-missing.html

[jimcarie]

it was in one or 2 of tabloids that i seen the headline

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2075439/Britons-told-stay-away-Philippines-Typhoon-Washi-kills-652-leaves-hundreds-missing.html

[sim&lil]

It was Mondays headline in the mail.

[Doc Alan]

No offence, but surely nobody ( especially forum members ) relies on Daily Mail headlines ! Without being patronising, many Mail readers could not ( until now ) name a single island in the Philippines. What the FCO said in their update was "This advice has been reviewed and reissued with an amendment to the Travel Summary (Flash floods on Mindanao Island). The overall level of the advice has not changed; we advise against all travel to specific areas ( sic ) of the Philippines and against all but essential travel to other specific areas of the Philippines".
Anyone travelling to the Philippines - and insurers - have probably read the FCO advice. It's also a sensible precaution to register basic travelling / living and emergency contact information with the FCO.
http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/staying-safe/Locate/

[sim&lil]

Sadly many people take daily mail headlines as gospel.

PS. If any of you good ladies and gents are coming to Luzon this holiday period, I can assure you the weather is fine, slightly overcast and a wee bit windy. Other than that just good ole Filipino weather.

[Iani]

Not wanting to drag in the "Mail reader" insult which can infest certain forums, but really, that has to surely be one of the last papers anyone should rely on for an objective report on safety anywhere.

I'm afraid one of the selling points the Mail uses, is sensationalising a "threat".
Be it super volcanos, global warming, superbugs, asteroids, 2012, teenage mutant ninja turtles or whatever their flavour of the day may be for what might cause the end of civilisation - the Mail excels.

Even though the FCO sometimes seems random in which areas it recommends to avoid.
Just over a year ago, there were political protests in Bangkok. The FCO and a few other countries advised their citizens against travel to Thailand. This even covered untouched areas like Phuket.

Anything is a risk, even a visit to Tesco

[grahamw48]

This is true, I nearly got run down by a Tesco trolley only this afternoon.

I think the last time I read a newspaper in this country it was wrapped around some fish and chips. :Erm:

[Englishman2010]

Not wanting to drag in the "Mail reader" insult which can infest certain forums, but really, that has to surely be one of the last papers anyone should rely on for an objective report on safety anywhere.

I'm afraid one of the selling points the Mail uses, is sensationalising a "threat".
Be it super volcanos, global warming, superbugs, asteroids, 2012, teenage mutant ninja turtles or whatever their flavour of the day may be for what might cause the end of civilisation - the Mail excels.

Even though the FCO sometimes seems random in which areas it recommends to avoid.
Just over a year ago, there were political protests in Bangkok. The FCO and a few other countries advised their citizens against travel to Thailand. This even covered untouched areas like Phuket.

Anything is a risk, even a visit to Tesco

The Mail is the last paper I would read for anything, it isn't even fit for loo roll - I prefer something a bit softer:icon_lol: All of the tabloids sensationalize every news item and terrify middle England into thinking there is an imminent threat of death and destruction for suburban Britain. My first experience of Tabloids was back in '77 when Punk came out of the underground and hit the front pages. It was the end of the world, these snarling, gobbing spiky haired yobs were going to tear Britain apart and bring down the Government and Monarchy:rolleyes: What a load of bo11ox...it was just the same when Eminem broke...and it will be just the same when the next real global anti establishment icon makes it. Whoever it is, my kids will be encouraged to listen to them, dress like them ...etc, it's all part of growing up and doesn't mean they are going to turn into hooligans who spend most of their lives in prison:Cuckoo: