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Anyone who’s ever bought insurance of any kind will be familiar with the term “standard policy”.  So what exactly does that mean?  Usually it means that the insured has the minimum coverage applicable under the law and after that the deal all goes the way of the insurer.  But buying insurance should be buying protection and it’s important for anyone buying a policy to understand very clearly to what extent they’re protected by it.

One area where insurers are particularly vulnerable is ATV insurance.  First of all, many new ATV owners don’t see insurance as a priority, but this is a very short-sighted point of view.  Driving an ATV has all the same risks posed by driving a car, and in some cases there are additional risks.  So it’s just as important to be insured in your ATV as it is to be insured in your car.

So what are the options beyond the standard policy for ATV insurance?  Here it’s the extras that become important.  Some of the extras which may be offered by insurance companies include coverage for the ATV trailer, coverage for custom options on the ATV and third party property damage for when an ATV ends up in the neighbour’s swimming pool.

There can be a lot of room for negotiation with insurers when it comes to insurance.  But it’s very important before beginning negotiations that the insurer understands exactly what’s covered in the standard policy.  Usually this is pretty similar to car insurance and will include liability insurance, comprehensive insurance and collision insurance.  It may even cover the even of collision with an uninsured off-road vehicle.  However every standard policy is different and it’s important to understand before beginning negotiations on extras.

One area where insurers are often inclined to negotiate to the advantage of the policy holder is policies for vehicles which are clearly intended for seasonal use and spend most of the year up on blocks.  In clear circumstances, insurance companies will usually be prepared to give a very substantial discount on such policies.

As with any insurance, it’s important to shop around.  The variation in premium costs between different companies can be enormous and it’s important for the ATV owner to get the best deal available.  This is where reading the standard policy becomes additionally important, because one company may have cover in the standard policy that may not apply to this particular vehicle or the use for which it’s intended, and in that case the ATV owner is better off going to another company which does not cover – and charge a premium on – that particular risk.

It’s important to check out all this options at the outset, because there’s nothing more frustrating than having a problem with an ATV and then discovering too late that it’s not covered in the policy.

One of the most popular destinations for family holidays in Britain has to be Hemsby.  This charming little village can be found in between the Norfolk broads and the city of Great Yarmouth and the great thing is that there are many places where you can stay when visiting this wonderful village.  Hemsby holiday parks provide a great place for families when it comes to choosing accommodation here.  Caravan and chalet parks offer families the chance to have a wonderful holiday at an affordable price.  Many of these holiday parks are owned by single proprietors but there are also a number of privately owned caravans and chalets that you can rent for your holiday.  The good news is that if you have a pet, you will find that many Hemsby holiday parks will allow you to take him or her with you.

Think About Your Requirements

With so many holiday parks on offer, it is no surprise that you may be feeling a little bit overwhelmed about which one to choose.  However, you need to think about what your requirements are in order to make the right decision.  If you are taking a pet with you, then this will be something you need to check first of all.  There is no point in looking at caravan parks that will not allow pets.  Find out which ones allow you to take your pet and then take your investigations a bit further.  If you are planning on doing your own cooking during your holiday, then you will need to make sure that the caravan or chalet you will be staying in has facilities that you require.  Some will come with kettle, toaster, cooker, fridge, microwave and many other appliances.  Others will be more basic.

The Hemsby holiday park that you choose will also depend on the activities on offer.  You may want one that has a swimming pool so your children will be entertained.  However, there is a beautiful beach that you can use with famous sand dunes and clean waters.  

What Can You Do in Hemsby

Outside of the holiday parks, you will find that Hemsby really has plenty to offer.  You can take part in many festivals that are organised throughout the year such as Viking battle re-enactments or various festivals.  Scandinavian markets are also quite common in Hemsby and there is plenty to keep the kids occupied such as horse riding, a nature preserve and arcades.  If you want to go out a bit further then you can head to Great Yarmouth for the day where the funfair will keep your whole family entertained.  

If you have every thought about Africa volunteering then you will be interested to know that there are many different jobs that are available.  As well as helping out the medical teams or working in wildlife conservations, you can also get a job teaching in the local communities.  There are many jobs for volunteers to teach English in schools in areas such as Zambia, Mozambique, Zanzibar and Cape Town.  Not only will you be able to teach the young children, you can also teach the adult members of the community as well.  

The great thing about volunteering in Africa is that you get to experience so much of this beautiful continent during your spare time.  While you are giving up your time to help out during the day, there is so much that you can see and do when you have some time to yourself.  Examples of the fantastic activities that are available to those working in Africa are white water rafting along the Zambezi River, bungee jumping off the Victoria Falls, safaris in Kenya or taking a trek across the jungle by horse or elephant.  If you are less adventurous then you will be pleased to know that there are also some glorious beaches that you can relax on especially in Cape Town.

The following is a typical day in the life of a volunteer in Zanzibar to give you some idea of what to expect:

Zanzibar accommodation is usually along the beach so breakfast at 8.00am looking out at the sea is particularly nice.

From 8.30am, you will have time to prepare your lessons for the day.  This could be anything from teaching English to helping with arts and crafts.  There are plenty of jobs to do for both qualified and non-qualified teachers.

Teaching takes place from 10.00am till 12.00pm and you will be working with many other volunteer staff.

You will have time to yourself to eat and relax from 12.00pm until 3.00pm and then you will either go back to the same placement as the morning or you will work on a different project.

At 5.00pm you will be finished working for the day and you can head home to get some rest or spend time on the beach.  Maybe you would prefer to spend some time socialising with the other volunteers – this is up to you.

Africa volunteering can be a wonderful experience and it is something that most people will enjoy.  Helping others while also getting to explore another culture is something that not many of us get to do in our lifetimes.  

Brittany is a beautiful region in France and many people these days are looking to buy property in Brittany.  The great thing about property in Brittany is that you will usually get a good return on your investment.  However, it is important to note that it is no longer as cheap as it used to be to buy property in France.  Gone are the days when you could pick up a villa or apartment in France for a cheap price.  If you are going to invest in property in Brittany for example, then you must be prepared for higher prices.

Properties that need renovating are a cheaper way to buy property in Brittany but you will find that there are less and less of these properties available every year as most investors are choosing this option.  Brittany is very popular with those who want to retire and with people wanting a holiday home in France.  Those who have bought a holiday home somewhere like Brittany can take heart in the fact that they should get a good return on their investment when they are not using it themselves because this is such a popular destination for holidays especially for British tourists.

Where to Look

If you are looking for property in Brittany then you may be forgiven for thinking that your first stop should be in the estate agents.  However, in France, the notaires (solicitors) will normally have plenty of properties that they are responsible for disposing of for those who have inherited them.  This means that you may find the perfect property with one of these solicitors.  The notaires will usually distribute a newspaper which advertises the properties they are looking to sell.  You should keep an eye out for these.

You may also be able to find estate agents in the UK with Brittany properties on their books.  The internet is also a good place to start searching because you may find exactly what you are looking for here.  One thing you should be aware of is that the fees for an estate agent in France are normally higher than what you would expect to pay to an estate agent in Britain so shopping around is a good idea.

Viewing the Properties

When it comes to viewing properties in Brittany or other areas in France, you will normally be accompanied by the estate agent.  The estate agents are very reluctant to give out details about the properties on their books to prevent any private sales from going ahead without them.  They want to make their commission and do not want to lose out on it at any cost.  Therefore they treat the locations of these properties as very closely guarded secrets.