Don’t take your gadgets travelling if you ‘can’t bear’ to lose them

Backpackers heading off for their summer holidays have been warned by Lonely Planet that they should not take expensive technological gadgets with them if they “can’t bear to lose [them]“.

Tom Hall, travel editor at Lonely Planet, commented that although holidaymakers are increasingly packing their iPods, cameras and mobile phones when going abroad, they should not do so if they are afraid of losing them.

Mr Hall noted that the trend towards taking expensive devices on holiday highlights the importance of having the right travel insurance policy.

“There are very good reasons why people might want to take all of those items with them but I think that it once again underlines the need for people to have travel insurance,” he commented.

In related news, esure has advised travellers to check the small print on their insurance documents if they are planning an adventurous holiday to make sure they provide proper cover in the event of an accident.

Tags: MerchantCircle, editor, summer, summer holidays, Esure, print, Planet, Insurance

Carbon trading mortgages becoming more competitive

According to received wisdom, so-called “ethical mortgages” involving schemes such as carbon trading are generally expensive, with holders paying a premium for their guilty consciences.

However, with the introduction of more competitive rates as the sector gains in maturity, lenders are proving that this is simply not the case.

The Carbon Offset mortgage range from lenders Giraffe is the latest to hit the markets, which features both self-certification and buy to let deals, as well as a three-year discount rate at 5.69 per cent.

Emissions are offset by Giraffe through the Bank of Ireland’s carbon trading scheme at a rate of 5.5 tonnes of credits retired for every year of the promotional period.

The company terms the mortgages, which won an Editor’s Special Award at the most recent Your Money industry awards, “a great deal for yourself and the planet”.

Giraffe also announced today a £1,000 prize to be won by an applicant for either its standard five-year fixed rate 5.88 per cent mortgage or its Carbon Offset deal for this month.

Tags: lenders giraffe, carbon, offset, Editor's Special Award, Planet, giraffe, Business Finance, guilty consciences