Spring 2008 Newsletter from Preferential Travel Insurance
NEW ‘PREMIER’ LUXURY TRAVEL INSURANCE FROM PREFERENTIAL
Highest Ever Cover, Ideal for luxury holidays, cruises and honeymoons
If you are planning a super deluxe holiday of a lifetime, or a round-the-world cruise on the Queen Mary 2 – then you are probably looking for some of the highest levels of cover in the market.
Our new luxury travel insurance, ‘Premier’ has high levels of cover including medical cover up to £15million per person – one of the highest around in the UK market. Cancellation and curtailment cover is up to £15,000 per person, making it the highest level of cancellation cover in the market today – bar none. Preferential’s Premier also offers personal accident cover of up to £100,000 per person, which again, is one of the highest on the market.
Preferential’s Steve Nickerson says “High-end holidays including cruises are on the increase, so we have put together ‘Premier’ travel insurance to match. We think Premier offers amongst the highest levels of cover currently available in the UK to give holiday makers to the more exotic destinations the peace of mind they need”.
A week-long Worldwide policy (including USA & Canada) is priced from £48.88, and a Worldwide Annual Multi-trip policy (including USA & Canada) is priced from £148.17.
For full details, Premier travel insurance cover is available instantly on www.preferential.co.uk
News in brief…
TRAVEL INSURANCE THAT GOES FURTHER…PREFERENTIAL SPONSORS SITTINGBOURNE STRIDERS RACE
Preferential was once again delighted to be headline sponsor of Kent based Sittingbourne Striders (www.sittingbournestriders.co.uk) annual ten mile race which took place on October 7th 2007. The race raised money for a number of charities and a record 304 people entered in total.
The first male winner was Peter Hasler who completed in a time of 56:08mins and the first female winner was Tina Oldershaw whose time was 1:01:32mins
Your Passport to Carefree Travel. . . introducing Preferential’s New Look Advertising Campaign Look out for the new-look Preferential advertising campaign which will be hitting newspapers and magazines in the autumn. The new strapline used throughout the refreshed design is ‘Your Passport To Carefree Travel’ – which is what we aim to offer you as a member of Preferential Direct travel insurance. your passport to care free travel travel insurance Being the specialists we are, at Preferential we focus exclusively on travel insurance.
We offer highly competitive rates and policies with a support service that genuinely delivers the peace of mind the seasoned traveller demands. From basic to fully comprehensive cover, Preferential have the right policy for you. Check out our on line prices... Annual Multi-Trip from under £30 Europe an short break from under £5 Visit www.preferential.co .uk or for a pers onal quote call now on 0870 600 77 66 Go online for our best prices Subject to terms & conditions.
YOUR LETTERS…
Here at Preferential World, we always love to hear from our readers.
Mrs Jean Lightwood of Birmingham writes to praise one of our contact centre team, Susan Lowey: “I have recently taken out an annual multitrip policy with Preferential…I telephoned your office twice and spoke to the same lady…and I found the lady concerned very helpful, nothing was too much trouble...It was not until the next day that I telephoned again and found myself speaking to the same lady. Once again she was very helpful and an absolute pleasure to deal with. It was because of this lady’s attitude…that made me pick up the telephone a second time to your company. This lady is a very good ambassador for your company and its products and I hope that when I come to renew my policy next year, I shall have the pleasure of speaking to her again. In this day and age she is one-in-a-million!”
A big thank-you to Jean for taking the time to write to us. If you would like to let us know about your positive Preferential experiences, please send to Sarah Lloyd-Morrison, Preferential World, c/o Magnetic PR, 12-50 Kingsgate Rd, Kingston, Surrey KT2 5AA or email sarah@magneticpr.co.uk Each letter published will receive a £50 M&S voucher.
Recommend a Friend Scheme
Here at Preferential, personal recommendations are very important to us and so our ‘Member-Get-Member’ Scheme rewards you if you renew your membership and recommend us to your friends and family.
So….if the friend you recommend takes out a Worldwide (inc USA) Annual Multi-trip policy with us then we will give you BOTH a bottle of Champagne!
Full terms and conditions will be sent to you with your renewal letter, but you can recommend as many people as you like ………so you can recommend us to friends, relatives and colleagues with confidence – knowing your friends will be getting great value travel insurance and you will both be able to enjoy a bottle of bubbly on us!
We were delighted to hear from John and Shirley Turner from Hull who thanked us for the bottle of bubbly they received after recommending Preferential to friends of theirs….
OUR PICK OF THE MOST LUXURIOUS HOLIDAY IDEAS FOR 2008
We hope you’ll be as inspired as we are by the following super-luxe holiday ideas for 2008…from one of the world’s most luxurious cruises to a superb Rhone wine tour…
Balinese Escape…
Anantara Resorts has opened a luxurious boutique property on a prime beachfront location in the chic resort area of Seminyak, Bali. Designed to complement the breathtaking panorama of the Indian Ocean, Anantara Resort Seminyak reflects the lifestyle and culture of the stylish surrounds of Seminyak. The design of the 59 all-suite resort is contemporary, using extensive glass panelling to bring the vast waterscape of Seminyak Beach into the interiors and emphasise a natural ambience and fluidity with nature.
The resort offers a stylish rooftop bar with languorous settees and oversized cushions available for guests to chill out and soak up the famous Balinese sunsets. Serving up new world and Asian dishes, and overlooking the wide expanses of beach below, the rooftop is set to be one of Bali’s premier entertainment and dining venues. The Thai restaurant in the lobby level of the hotel offers an impressive mix of traditional Thai and contemporary fusion-styled dishes, inspired by the four main provinces of Thailand. Transforming from a daily breakfast venue into an ambient-lit dinner venue, the restaurant is punctuated with exquisite local and Thai object d’art. Further features include an infinity-edge pool overlooking the ocean vista, a first-class fitness facility and Bali’s first Anantara Spa.
Hayes & Jarvis offer seven nights at Anantara Seminyak from £1,015 per person including B&B accommodation, return flights and transfers. Contact Hayes & Jarvis on 0871 664 0246 or visit www.hayesandjarvis.co.uk
For further information on Anantara Seminyak visit www.anantara.com
Water residences in the Maldives…
October 2007 saw 24 Escape Water Residences open at Coco Palm Bodu Hithi in the Maldives. The highest category of villa available on this private island retreat, utterly secluded and exclusive, the Escape Water Residences are set far out from the mainland in their own cluster. Each is a contemporary-style thatched roof villa boasting a designer style that incorporates fabulous modernity with hints of the traditional Maldivian way of life. At 184 square metres, they are beautifully furnished in natural, earthy tones with splashes of vivid greens and oranges injecting a tropical feel. All come complete with private pool, huge private deck and pavilion, spacious indoor and outdoor lounge areas, indulgent and unique designer bathroom, indoor and outdoor showers, four-poster bed, uninterrupted views of the ocean at every turn as well as flat-screen TV and DVD player for in-villa entertainment. Residences come complete with their own private butler and over-the-water restaurant and bar – The Stars; vibrantly styled with bright reds and oranges, Asian fusion cuisine is the order of the day here.
A member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, the captivating Coco Palm Bodu Hithi is located just 40 minutes by speedboat from the capital Malé. The resort is situated on a stunning, lush private island where sandy paths snake between the mangroves and coconut palms along with over-water wooden walkways to connect all the resort’s fabulous offerings. There are just 100 ultra-hip villas, a diverse selection of contemporary restaurants and bars, a totally indulgent Coco Spa, first-class land and water-sport facilities as well as a portfolio of memorable ‘Uniquely Coco’ experiences.
AZURE Collection offers seven nights at Coco Palm Bodu Hithi in an Escape Water Residence with prices starting from £2385 per person. This includes accommodation on a bed and breakfast basis, return economy Emirates flights via Dubai from London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow or Newcastle and return speedboat transfers. For more information or to make a booking call Azure Collection on 01244 322 770 or visit www.azurecollection.com
For more information on Coco Palm Bodu Hithi visit www.cococollection.com.mv
On 07 December 2008, the ultra-luxurious Crystal Symphony will embark on one of the world’s most exhilarating voyages as she steams south from Los Angeles to completely circumnavigate South America.
This 49-night epic voyage departs Los Angeles on 07 December 2008 and takes in the stunning sights and sounds of Pacific Mexico, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Peru and Chile before journeying onto the very tip of South America. Once round the infamous Cape Horn, Crystal Symphony will arrive at the earth’s last pristine sanctuary – Antarctica – where guests will celebrate New Year. This momentous journey then heads north up to Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil before taking in the beautiful Caribbean islands of Barbados and Turks & Caicos and finishing in Miami on 25 January 2009.
Fly/cruise prices for Crystal Cruises’ Circle South America voyage start from £10,038 per person. Price includes return flights from the UK, transfers, one night’s pre-cruise accommodation in Los Angeles, a day room in Miami post cruise, 49 nights in a Deluxe Stateroom with Large Picture Window with all meals and entertainment, port taxes and basic gratuities. Alternatively, book the ultimate luxury accommodation – the Crystal Penthouse – from £49,222 per person.
Contact Crystal Cruises on 020 7287 9040 or visit www.crystalcruises.co.uk
Exclusive Wine Tour…
Visit some of the finest French estates and chateaux, taste the fine wines of Burgundy and Beaujolais, walk the cobbled streets of the old-walled town of Beaune, savour the scents and sights of the lavender growing on the hills of Provence and relax on board the deluxe river vessel Princesse de Provence while it cruises the Rhone/Soâne Valley. These are some of the pleasures organised by excedo as part of its Platinum Collection Luxury Rhone Wine Tour.
Latin for “go beyond”, excedo is offering this exclusive wine cruise in the company of Master of Wine James John as an opportunity to develop a knowledge of wine in a fun and relaxed environment. It is a seven-day exploration of the best that one of the world’s most celebrated wine regions has to offer.
The tour starts at Tournus where guests board the MV Princesse de Provence. The vessel was built in 1992 and is refurbished annually, with original works of art throughout the vessel. With 70 cabins, all of which are outside, this small ship features six meals daily – breakfast, morning bouillon, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner and a midnight snack. Additionally on board, there is a lounge, two bars, a beauty salon, boutique, laundry and a qualified doctor.
The wine adventure begins with a champagne reception, while John James explains the programme for the week, and continues through Burgundy and Beaujolais country, stopping at the historic towns of Beaune and Trevoux. On day four, it visits the caves of Chapoutier Pere et Fils in Tournon before setting sail for Arles, rich in Gallo-Roman ruins, for a tasting at Domaine Val Joanis with its famous gardens. In Avignon on day six, the outing is to Chateauneuf-du-Pape with an opportunity to explore the historic city and enjoy a tasting in one of their famous cellars. The trip ends with a blind-tasting competition to round off the week.
Excedo’s unique ‘Luxury Rhone Wine’ tour is available on 28th June, 2nd August and 25th October 2008 and costs from £1,553 per person based on two adults sharing. The price includes return flights, seven nights accommodation on the MV Princesse de Provence, six meals per day as detailed, all transfers, services of Master of Wine throughout the voyage and dinks at tastings as detailed.
For further information, visit www.excedotravel.com or call 0845 246 2666 to speak to a specialist.
Destination Feature…Monaco
Located on the French Riviera and enjoying more than 300 days of sunshine a year, it comes with a warm welcome. Monaco boasts some of the finest hotels in the world encompassing the traditional and grand such as the Hotel de Paris and the strikingly contemporary in the form of the Port Palace.
The Principality has a total of eight Michelin stars among its restaurants and the cuisine served up in the Principality is enhanced further when enjoying a meal on a terrace overlooking harbourside yachts, with the Mediterranean stretching out before you.
Monaco is also an international cultural centre with a busy calendar of events including seasonal performances by the Monte Carlo Opera, Monte Carlo Ballet and Philharmonic Orchestra plus the staging of the events like the Monaco Yacht Show and concerts at the Prince's Palace.
The Metropole in Monte Carlo is one of the finest hotels in Europe and was recently voted the Best Hotel in Europe by the Leading Hotels of the World with the spa itself recently honoured as a Leading Spa of the World. The spa is described as a beautiful and meditative retreat exuding stylish opulence in Monaco's most glamorous address. ESPA treatments are carried out in one of 10 treatment rooms, all beautifully designed utilising tactile, natural materials such as exquisite finishes of Pallasandra wood, slate and shimmering leather that combine to create a luxurious, peaceful environment. Specifically for couples, they can relax in the Couple's Private Spa Suite. This enticing retreat for two includes a luxurious steam shower, deep soak bath surrounded by soothing coloured light and a private changing area.
The Harmony Ritual for couples is a full day of treatments including Padbhyanga Foot Cleansing Ritual, ESPA Ultimate Wrap, ESPA, Essential Massage and ESPA Intensive Facial. This is in addition to the normal experiences such as juices, healthy menus, heat experiences, pool access, fitness work and relaxing in the lounge. The price for two people is €715 (that's per couple, NOT per person) For further details visit www.visitmonaco.com or www.metropole.com
Monaco has some very good options for families. Recently opened is a Novotel which has rooms for £88 per night and is very swish and contemporary with a lovely pool. There is also the Le Meridien Hotel which has a private beach in addition to a pool and lots of children's facilities. Both are well located and within walking distance of the city centre, whilst the Novotel is downtown. For kids there is the circus, the Oceanographic Museum and Aquarium, the Prince of Monaco's Private Collection of Classic Cars, the Prince's Palace, the Princess Grace Rose Garden, National Museum Automatons and Dolls of Yesteryear, Japanese Garden, the AS Monaco football stadium and of course walking around the port taking in the huge yachts and fancy cars.
Visit www.visitmonaco.com for further information.
My Top Five Holidays and Short Breaks…by Preferential’s Caroline Snedker
Caroline Snedker is a member of Preferential’s team based at its head office in Dorking. She is Preferential’s Online Marketing Manager and tells us here all about her holiday and short break memories, plans and dreams…
On my last holiday I went to….
Italy, with the girls. We rented a huge five bedroom villa in the Tuscan hills and had our own private pool with views across the valley to Florence. During our stay, we hired a car and toured around a bit. Highlights were San Gimignano, Siena and Pisa.
My all time favourite holiday destination is…
South Africa. What an incredible place. They say once you go, you get bitten by the bug, and they’re not wrong – I can’t wait to get back there.
My short breaks are spent….
Exploring any short haul city that I haven’t visited before, I’m usually biased towards France, Spain and Italy, but I also love the UK. I’m a huge advocate of holidaying on our beautiful island come rain or shine!
My dream holiday destination anywhere in the world is…..
I’d love to go to Latin America. Bolivia is meant to be a fascinating country and has been recommended to me on several occasions.
On my next holiday I am planning to go to……
South Africa for a safari, a wedding (not my own!) and then on to Cape Town.
