Call for an instant quote 0345 90 80 161
Open Mon to Fri 08:30 - 19:00 | Sat 09:00 - 16:00 (GMT)
Coronavirus FAQs
Questions about Coronavirus? Click here for more information. Please note that due to exceptional circumstances our opening hours are currently 09:00 to 17:30 Monday to Friday. We apologise for any inconvenience.
10 February 2016 08:48
Holidaymakers should be splashing out on sun cream
Many holidaymakers head off abroad each year with just one thing in mind - to soak up as much sun as possible so they can come home with a tan to show off.
But a new report published by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is warning travellers that there is no healthy or safe way to get a suntan.
The report says a tan gives people scant protection against further exposure to sunlight, suggesting that many holidaymakers need to be taking extra care when they are visiting foreign destinations.
NICE says adults need to be putting on around 35ml of sun cream - the equivalent to between six and eight teaspoons - each time they apply it.
And their check-list of holiday essentials should include plenty of sun lotion with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 15 alongside their travel insurance policy, passport and foreign currency.
The advice acknowledges that holidaymakers should be exposing their legs and arms to sunlight for short periods of time in order to benefit from the vitamin D it provides.
The report says people cannot get sufficient vitamin D from sunlight in the UK between October and March or by sitting next to a shut window with sunlight pouring through it.
But the NICE report adds that the vitamin D benefits provided by the sun during the summer months and in warmer climates need to be balanced against the skin cancer risk it poses.
When it comes to holidaymakers protecting themselves from the sun, NICE says they need to avoid applying sun cream too thinly.
And it says while using a high-factor sunscreen can offer people better protection, it does not always mean they can spend longer in the sun without getting burnt.
Holidaymakers should remember to frequently reapply their sun cream, especially when they come out of the swimming pool or sea, even if their sunscreen is a water-resistant one.
And, NICE adds, if they are likely to be out in the sun long enough to risk getting burnt, holidaymakers should apply sunscreen 30 minutes before going out and then again when they actually go outside.
28 February 2020
Keep your carbon footprint in check and travel green with our eco-friendly travel tips.
[more...]
25 February 2020
For true carefree travel, decide on a destination that's kinder to the planet...
20 February 2020
Travel into the future and not just through time-zones, with destinations shaping urban living.
National Anthem Day falls on the 3rd March, so what better excuse is there to delve into into the world of music and motherland?
Discover five alternative places to get down on one knee this leap year.
Two-wheels are better than none. Check out our favourite cities best explored from a saddle.
04 February 2020
Make your phone the perfect travel companion for the new year...
Bohemian boulevards and ornate opera houses await away from the Six Nations action.
Kite Flying Day falls on 8th February. What better time is there to plan your next trip through the skies?
10 February 2020
With Ferris Wheel Day on 14th February, there's never been a better excuse to enjoy a foreign skyline.
Looking for a Valentine's getaway but want to avoid the clichés? Try one these alternative romantic destinations...
27 January 2020
With ancient architecture and marble marvels at every turn, there are plenty of reasons to get onside with our plans away from the rugby in Rome.