Q // I have annual
travel insurance, but
it’ll expire halfway
through my upcoming
trip. I’m renewing, but
how will this impact
what I can claim?Speak to your insurer now. The
good news is you have an active
policy in place, which means if
you have to cancel your trip, you’ll
be covered.
But if you leave your policy
to automatically renew without
checking the terms, you could fi nd
the insurer won’t accept renewal
on the same terms — for example,
if your health has changed or the
insurer has a di erent underwriter.
If you speak to your insurer,
you can get concrete assurance
that your trip is covered in full,
on terms you’re satisfi ed with, or
arrange some bespoke extension,
if that’s the only way of doing
it. If you’re not happy with the
outcome, you could buy another
annual policy, which starts on the
day your old policy expires.
The alternative could be buying
a single-trip policy to cover you
for the period you’re travelling,
cancelling your annual policy.
I put your question to the
Association of British Insurers,
the body that represents travel
insurance policies, and it backed
up my advice — speak directly to
your insurer, and they’ll be able to
tell you where you stand with your
current policy. which.co.uk
GARETH SHAWGARETH SHAW
HEAD OF MONEY,
WHICH?SARAH BARRELL
ASSOCIATE EDITOR,
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC
TRAVELLER UKTOM CHESSHYRE
AUTHOR OF SLOW
TRAINS TO VENICEEMMA THOMSON
CONTRIBUTOR,
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC
TRAVELLER UKTHE EXPERTS
Q // Where do
you recommend
for a harvest-
season, foodie
weekend away?
Head to the New Forest, where,
at this time of year treetops
are transformed to burnished
gold, moorland heather to
vibrant pinks and purples, and
woodland grounds become
carpeted with beech mast
and acorns. The latter provide
fodder for the rare-breed pigs
that are let out to roam free
among farm and forest during
autumn’s pannage season — a
tradition that dates back to
the New Forest’s founding as
the royal hunting ground of
William the Conqueror. Once
fattened up, they provide the
sort of premium pork that
would turn Iberian ham-
makers green with envy. It’s a
great time for mushrooms, too,with foraging walks organised
by local groups including River
Cottage master mycologist
John Wright.
Shops across the national
park stock produce awarded
New Forest Marque designation
(denoting local provenance).
Match your pannage pork
with a medal-winning Brook
Hill Vineyard white, and a side
of Real Jam’s spiced apple
chutney. Then check into one
of a number of local foodie
hotels, such as The Pig, near
Brockenhurst. Its kitchen-
garden-led menu shines with
seasonal goodies. Double rooms
from £150. thepighotel.com
thenewforest.co.uk
SARAH BARRELLQ // I’ve seen
some news
pieces about
Interrail
recently. How
does the travel
pass work for
UK-based
travellers?Interrail travel hit the news
in August when British rail
companies pulled out of the
scheme, sparking such a
backlash that within 24 hours
— following intervention from
Britain’s transport secretary
— a U-turn was announced.
UK-based travellers have
several options. A ‘global’
Interrail pass covers 31
countries and more than
40,000 destinations, or you
can buy a less expensive
country-specifi c pass. Then
you may travel by train to
either an airport, a ferry portor to the Eurostar terminal
(covered with your pass) to
depart Britain — and on your
return home, a journey is also
covered. Eurostar trains are
included, but you must make
a reservation, which costs
€30 (£27). There’s a detailed
explanation of how to do this
on the Eurostar page of The
Man in Seat 61 website. A
month-long global pass with
unlimited travel costs from
€603 (£551) for an adult, or
€464 (£424) if you’re aged 28 or
under. interrail.eu seat61.com
TOM CHESSHYREOctober 2019 179