Dear Columbus Direct, My parents live in Spain, and have invited my two grown-up children (18 and 19) and I out to join them in the middle of April, returning at the end of April. My children's passports expire in early May. I think I may have left it a bit late to renew them on their behalf, but do... Read more
No more is adventurous travel the sole preserve of the young; the grey gappers are here with their passports in hand, ready to see the world. While arguably a derogatory moniker, it characterises the recent increase of people aged over 50/55 that have decided to tick a few items off their bucket li... Read more
Just how powerful is your passport? Passport Index has listed every single passport in the world and ranked them according to how powerful each passport is - so, essentially, how many countries you can visit visa-free. The top three countries aren't too surprising - the US, the UK and South Korea ta... Read more
Almost half of UK households own a pet and, with the summer holiday season approaching, many will be considering taking their dog or cat away with them. According to recent research by a pet retailer*, one quarter of UK adult pet owners are prepared to pay the same amount as an extra adult on holida... Read more
Going on holiday is an exciting event, but it necessitates a lot of advance planning. First there's booking the time off work, then you'll need to locate the passports. Next, there's arranging airport transfers, getting medical travel insurance and buying your holiday essentials. That's not to menti... Read more
The summer holidays are in full swing and as we approach the tail-end of July and August, you and the kids may well be flocking to your nearest airport to head abroad for a week or two.ABTA (Association of British Travel Agents) estimates that 2 million UK travellers will head overseas on the last w... Read more
We all like to believe that we’re talented at packing for our holidays – and that, as adults, we know what we need to take away with us. If we want to stuff some packets of Cheddars into our shoes or bring along twelve paperbacks, so help us, we will. However, is your terrible packing sending your o... Read more
So, you've just arrived at the hotel, and the pool is beckoning. It's time to relax and get stuck into that book you've been attempting to read for the past six months.However, before you charge out to top up your tan, read these hints and tips on keeping your room secure and your belongings safe.• ... Read more
Comparing over 20,000 customers’ dates of birth and the claims they made, data analysts at Columbus Direct found that Taurus, Aries and Gemini are the three signs most likely to make a claim on their travel insurance – and that usually-adventurous Sagittarians are the least likely to make a claim.Wh... Read more
As far as rows go, a holiday seems like the least-usual time to have one. Right? Wrong, we're afraid. Despite the lack of work, copious amounts of sunshine and the absence of day-to-day stress, rows can still happen, we're afraid - and here are the top ten behaviours that trigger them while you're a... Read more