Have rights, can travel (1st July, 2010)

Anyone heading abroad this summer is being advised to pack a little travel know-how along with their luggage, in the form of two new EU guides offering advice and information for intending travellers.
The ‘Summer Survival Kit’ is a downloadable brochure compiled by the European Consumer Centre in Ireland to help travellers avoid unnecessary costs and hassle abroad. It offers nuggets of advice including how to obtain free European health insurance, how to avoid scratch card scams and who to contact if it all goes wrong. ECC Ireland Spokesperson Caroline Curneen said simply knowing one’s rights can make the difference “between coming home with happy memories or having to face a hefty bill.”
A more comprehensive guide to travel rights for air and rail passengers is available on a new website designed by the European commission, http://ec.europa.eu/passenger-rights. This worthwhile site explains what do if your trip is cancelled, if you are denied boarding and if you experience long delays or lost luggage. Travellers by rail, for example, can claim 50 per cent compensation for a two-hour delay, and up to €1,285 per piece of luggage lost or damaged. A special section outlines the entitlements of the twenty per cent of Europeans who find travelling difficult due to reduced mobility, age or disability.