Autumn 2008 Newsletter - Preferential Travel Insurance
Welcome to our Autumn edition of Preferential World.
We are thrilled to include a fascinating insight from our reader Gemma Martin who tells us all about her volunteering experiences in Mexico, some top Autumn breaks to sunnier climes and a report from Louise Lockwood our Sales Manager on her all time favourite getaways. Our special destination feature this issue is a bit closer to home than usual, it's a firm favourite for UK holidaymakers..... Devon.
Best wishes and happy holidays,
Steve Nickerson, Managing Director
NEWS IN BRIEF
WIN A WEEKEND IN NEW YORK
You may have seen the Sex and the City movie and now fancy a trip to the Big Apple for a bit
of retail therapy? Enter our online competition and you could be in with the chance winning a free weekend break to New York by entering their online game.
And if that’s not enough, in true Carrie, Samantha, Miranda and Charlotte style there is also
a bottle of bubbly up for grabs each week in an instant win competition.
Click on the competition box to the left and start playing the three in a row game which follows the fruit machine format. Those who get three pictures in a row all the same will be entered in to a prize draw with the chance of winning the weekend away.
Each play counts as one entry in to the prize draw to win a weekend in New York and the prize draw takes place in December 2008. No purchase is necessary.
DESTINATION PROFILES 
We’ve added a new section to our website called DESTINATION PROFILES
and to keep it real,
we’d like to hear about your holiday experiences.
Email or post us a 50 word review of any of the destinations that appear
on our website, giving it a mark out of ten, and your review could feature
in ‘Your Holiday Recommendations’. You can send any destination stories
straight to info@preferential.co.uk or write to
Destination Profiles Writing Challenge, Preferential Travel Insurance,
Bales Court,
Barrington Road, Dorking, Surrey, RH4 3EJ.
KEEP SAFE ON YOUR GAP YEAR 
Don’t forget to remind children or grandchildren heading off on a ‘gap year’ of travel adventures
this Autumn about our Worldtrekker travel insurance. Prices start from £15.36 for an individual
travelling around Europe for 30 days.
Three months’ Standard Worldwide cover is priced at £48.70
Six months' Standard Worldwide cover is priced at £78.67.
And for those wanting higher levels of cover to include any hazardous pursuits they might
experience on their trip, then Worldtrekker ‘Sports’, ‘Extreme’ and ‘Ultra’ are also available at www.preferential.co.uk/worldtrekker.
YOUR LETTERS
Here at Preferential World, we always love to hear from our readers. Pamela from Leeds got in touch to say that:
“…thank-you to your staff for such an extremely helpful and efficient service I received from your call-centre team. It was a pleasure to deal with people who treated me as an individual, rather than a number.”
A big thank-you to Pamela 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
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.
IT’S SO COOL... IT’S HOT! ‘EXTREME CHILE’ TOUR 
Combine the dry and dramatic experience of the Atacama Desert with
spectacular skiing terrain at Valle Nevado on this unique itinerary from luxury
adventure travel company Excedo. Departing throughout winter 2008, ‘Extreme Chile’
is a thrilling tour experiencing the stunning landscapes and diversity of the
land of contrasts first hand. It is made for those who enjoy adventure but insist
on sleeping in style.
On arrival, guests check in to the exquisitely-appointed Ritz Carlton in Santiago
and are immediately indulged with a luxury ‘Bath Menu’ and a mouth-watering meal
at the restaurant which boasts a cellar of over a thousand Chilean wines. It’s then on
to the fabulous new desert hotel and spa, Alto Atacama, for four nights of luxurious living
whilst exploring the awe-inspiring Atacama Desert with its endless sands, magnificent
dunes, salt basins and volcanoes. Climb around the Valley of the Moon but stand well back from El Tatio Geysers, ride horseback across the arid landscapes whilst admiring the bright pink flamingos flying over the salt lakes. The Atacama is one of the most remote places on earth but also the most fascinating.
Leaving the hot desert and scorching temperatures behind, its time to travel from north to south, dust off the skis and hit the slopes as four nights at the beautiful Chilean resort of Valle Nevado await. The largest ski resort in the southern hemisphere, Valle Nevado offers first class runs and ideal conditions as standard.
Excedo’s 14-day ‘Extreme Chile’ tour costs £4,100 per person. Price includes accommodation on a bed and breakfast basis, return flights from Heathrow to Santiago with Iberia and all internal flights, on the ground transfers and tours as detailed in the itinerary. For reservations or a detailed itinerary, call Excedo on 0845 246 2666 or visit www.excedotravel.com
TURTLE HATCHING IN THAILAND
Imagine a place where visitors can watch baby turtles hatch on the beach,
meet sea gypsies to learn about their culture or laze on a pristine stretch of
sand that
is a world away from the everyday. Wake up to a brand new Phuket where Anantara is launching a new resort and spa later this year.
Situated in the serenity of Mai Khao Beach, just 15 minutes from Phuket International Airport and a short drive from the bustling beaches of the South, Anantara Phuket Resort & Spa will present a world of unspoilt beauty and unexpected surprises.
Anantara’s collection of 83 villas – each with their own private pool – is framed by magnificent Bill Bensley-designed gardens with enchanting paths meandering down to the sea. Reminiscent of a southern Thai village, each villa boasts a spacious living area, colourful silks, prized Thai furniture and a beautiful bathroom featuring an Anantara signature outdoor ‘made for two’ terrazzo tub that seamlessly blends with the private pool.
Stepping out on to the soft sand beach overlooking the dazzling blue waters of the Andaman Sea, guests can sit and watch the fishing boats bringing home the day’s haul. In the restaurant, diners can relish fine cuisine from Thailand and around the world or take a cookery class to learn how it is made.
The acclaimed spa at Anantara Phuket is the perfect sanctuary for a journey to inner harmony. Through age-old massage techniques, aromatic elixirs made with indigenous ingredients and in an environment of complete serenity, therapists can guide clients to a genuine sense of physical and spiritual renewal.
If guests want to leave the luxury of their own private pool, they can head to the lifestyle swimming pool which features a series of water terraces of differing depths, stylish fountain effects and in-built loungers. Nearby, guests can relax in the chill out areas featuring oversized day beds, divine cocktails created by the resident ‘Mixologist’ and the latest lounge mood music. For those who want to be more active, three tennis courts fitted with night-playing technology and a fully-equipped fitness centre and health club are also available. Winter 2008 rates from approximately £450 per villa per night. For more information visit www.anantara.com.
DESTINATION FEATURE
A FIRM FAVOURITE IN DEVON
Discover Devon's with its unique, gloriously beautiful, green and wild
surroundings and its rich history - no wonder there's so much to see
and do in England's favourite playground. 
Where to stay?
Quality hotels in Devon, friendly B&Bs and welcoming guest houses - take
your pick of stunning locations in buzzing resorts or rural retreats.
Enjoy the county’s rural life and escape everyday pressures at one of our delightful farmhouses. Go for freedom in one of Devon’s self-catering accommodation, beach-based or tucked away in the rolling countryside.
Step from your Devon cottage straight onto wild moorland, linger over a drink while watching the sun dip into the sea or spend quality time with your kids, messing about on a beach. Or check in to one of many Devon holiday parks and watch the kids go wild joining in fun activities and making new friends.
Or how about a holiday under canvas? Get really close to nature, waking at dawn with the dew on the grass and dining under the stars. Devon's camping sites range from the small and individual to splendid holiday parks offering all the fun and entertainment of a leisure park. Not sure that a tent is for you, but love the outdoors? Then rent one of the splendid, well-equipped modern caravans.
Whether your preference is for a small, secluded family-run campsite, nestling in green woodlands, or for a major holiday park offering all the pleasures of a leisure park, with amusements, entertainments, games and cafes, you will find the perfect spot in Devon.
Caravan owners are spoilt for choice on where to stay, whether on a touring holiday, or looking a for a holiday base. And if you fancy a caravan holiday, but don't own a van, you can hire one at many of the major camp sites.
Things to do in Devon
Whether you are looking for challenging sports, family fun at the seaside, strolls round picturesque villages, the excitement of spotting rare birds or exploring magnificent historic houses, you will find an unrivalled number of things to do in Devon.
Learn to sail or surf, ride a horse, take your rod fly-fishing or thwack a hole in one, try wine tasting or modelling in clay.
Devon’s green attractions are unrivalled - follow a nature trail, go watching for batching or bug-hunting. Walk the county’s stunning footpaths or cycle from sea to sea and remember, much of Devon's countryside is accessible to all.
Wander round picturesque towns and cities, such as Exeter or Dartmouth. Browse craft centres displaying local pottery, paintings, and jewellery or visit the host of historic houses and gardens just waiting to be explored.
To find out more about holidays in Devon go to: www.discoverdevon.com
Travel Insurance for the UK
REMEMBER…If you are holidaying in the UK, you can get UK travel insurance from Preferential www.preferential.co.uk from just £3.63 per person for eight days, as long as you have pre-booked at least two night’s accommodation.
My Top Five - by Louise Lockwood
Louise is a member of Preferential’s sales team based at head office in Dorking. 
Here she tells us here all about her favourite holidays, past and present.
On my last holiday I went to…. Rome, the eternal city. We only stayed for two nights but we
managed to pack everything in. We visited St. Peters Basilica and the Vatican on Sunday just
as the Pope was addressing the crowds outside the basilica, we made a wish as we threw our
coins into the Trevi Fountain and we stood in awe at the magnificent sight of the Colossium.
I would love to go back to Rome for another weekend break in the very near future.
My all time favourite holiday destination is… South Africa. I travelled here a number of years ago
and I will never stop wanting to go back. I can honestly say it is the most beautiful country in the world, traveling through the diverse landscapes of South Africa is like traveling through different countries.
The beautiful coastal regions around the Cape of Good Hope, the cosmopolitan city of Cape Town, the Stellenbosch Wine Route and the wild animals of the Kruger National Park made up what was, for
me, the holiday of a lifetime.
My short breaks are spent…. Exploring cities, normally within Europe, although I am a big fan of New York City. I have been here many times and each time I visit the same attractions. I always get the ferry over to the Statue of Liberty, go to the observatory on top of the Empire State Building, go on the open top double decker bus tour, spend time in Central Park and shop until I drop in Macy's and Bloomingdales.
My dream holiday destination anywhere in the world is…..Alaska and the Rockies. I would love to visit Alaska and the Canadian Rockies. I have spent many hours looking at holiday brochures picturing myself sitting in Gold Leaf Service on the Rocky Mountaineer, followed by a cruise up to Glacier Bay in Alaska. I imagine the sights and the wildlife would be spectacular, you can go on Polar Bear viewing trips and even explore ice fields by helicopter.
On my next holiday I am planning to go to……Moraira on the Costa Blanca, I go to Moraira every summer for two weeks as my parents have a house there. I love the Northern Costa Blanca, the landscape is so varied from the beautiful sandy beaches of Moraira to the rugged mountains of Sierra de Bernia> The food is fantastic, the people are friendly and the weather is a lot better than England!
An experience of a lifetime in México - By Gemma Martin
Preferential World reader, Gemma Martin is 24 years old and a Staff Nurse in the
Accident and Emergency Department of a
hospital. She is currently on a career breakand will be returning to her job afterwards. She has been in guiding since she
was seven years old. She tells us about her experience in Mexico…Gemma says;
“In March 2007 I found out I had been given the opportunity of a lifetime, the chance to fulfill
a lifelong ambition which was to work at Our Cabaña in Mexico, one of four World Centres owned by WAGGGS (World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts). This was a dream
come true for me.
I started work in August and immediately became part of an International team working
with staff from Mexico, Argentina and the UK along with volunteers from all over the world.
As Program Assistant my job involves working alongside the Program Manager and Assistant Program Manager in organising and delivering programs to large numbers of Guides and Girl Scouts that attend Our Cabaña from all over the world sometimes from as far away as New Zealand and Japan.
The program consists of activities to increase participant’s knowledge of WAGGGS, activities to learn more abut the traditions and culture of México, trips out to places of historical interest and at least one service project.
During my time here at Cabaña I have been lucky enough to work with many different charities. We have done service work with Vamos and Ansam, both of whom work with the street children and elderly of Cuernavaca, APAC who work with children and adults suffering from Cerebral Palsy, Juconi who work with the market children in Puebla and their families and Habitat for Humanity who work with Mexican Families providing them with the opportunity of having their own home.
Our service project with Vamos involved bringing 60-80 children aged between 2 and 16 to cabaña rotating them around different activity stations before providing them with lunch and then the opportunity to play. Some of these children don’t know how to play, can you imagine seeing a child looking at swings but yet not knowing what they are intended for? The look on that child’s face once shown what to do is indescribable, their happiness shines through. We do similar activities with both APAC and Juconi although we travel to Juconi’s site in Puebla.
The work we did with Ansam involved providing them with a hot breakfast and doing similar rotational activities to that we did with Vamos, however it differed in the fact that we were working with senior citizens. We have also been privileged enough to go into these people’s homes. I was lucky enough to go into a home that had five generations living there, the eldest being 81 and the youngest being three years old. For some of these seniors our visits are quite possibly the only social interaction they ever get. On a previous visit one of them thanked us from the bottom of her heart and said our visits are the only thing that keeps her going in life, she starts looking forward to the next visit immediately after one ends. It is such a humbling experience.
Our work with Habitat for Humanity involves providing labour work alongside Mexicans such as digging foundations to house a new family. Knowing that you are helping a family have a better life makes all the hard work worthwhile.
During my time here I have also been lucky enough to participate in the Day of the Dead celebrations. This is a tradition that happens every year. In Mexico death is not looked upon as sadness but as a time of celebration. Every year in November families build altars for relatives who have passed away and place their loved ones favourite objects and food on it. They believe that by doing this they are welcoming back the soul of their loved ones to join in the celebrations of their life. During this day we were invited into five homes of families who had lost a relative in the last year to celebrate their life with their family. One family that sticks in my mind is that of a 16 year old girl who died from a heart attack five months after giving birth to twins. It was yet another humbling experience.
The four months that I have spent here so far have been four of the best months of my life and I still have five more to go. The experiences I have had here will be memories forever and the friends that I have made from all over the world will be friends for life.
I would like to finish this with a short saying that I have learnt from being here that I believe sums up everything about my experiences.
"One hundred years from now it will not matter,
what my bank account was,
what sort of house I lived in,
or what kind of car I drove:
But the world may be different because
I was important in the life of a child."
