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NatWest: Advantage Gold reviews

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About the Advantage Gold

The NatWest Advantage Gold is a paid-for current account available to residents of Jersey, Guernsey, Gibraltar and the Isle of Man. Account holders can benefit from free travel insurance and private motor excess insurance. There’s also a 24/7 concierge service to assist customers in booking flights, holidays and more. There are a range of advantage cards on the market, each with different features and benefits, so it pays to do your research. Find out how satisfied NatWest customers are with its offerings by reading our NatWest Advantage Gold reviews. Discover why account holders chose Advantage Gold and how long they’ve had the account. Learn more about the features and benefits and whether customers feel they’re worth the monthly fee. Read about the mobile banking app and the features it provides. Learn about genuine customer service experiences to find out how well NatWest treats its account holders. Make an informed decision about your new current account by reading our NatWest Advantage Gold reviews. If you have an Advantage Gold account, share your experience with others on Smart Money People and help others doing their research. How long have you had the account and is it your main bank account? What drew you to the Advantage Gold and have you been satisfied so far? Which benefit is your favourite? Is there anything you feel could be improved? Would you recommend the account to your family and friends? Whether good or bad, write an honest NatWest Advantage Gold review today. Together, we can help people like you make better financial decisions.

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Is the gold card standard high enough for travellers?

Can you rely on a gold credit and debit cards for travel insurance? Is it fully comprehensive and how much does it cost? This week Jobs & Money researched travel insurance on the gold cards offered by the big four banks.

Most gold cards are not free and their travel insurance cover is often worse than that offered by insurance companies.

Journeywise, for instance, charges £54 for an annual multi-trip policy for an individual. This includes cover for up to a total of 60 days spent on trips in a year and 10 days of winter sports cover, whereas gold cards generally only offer 31 days' cover.

Journeywise also gives additional "sending you home in an emergency" cover, which the cards do not offer. The gold cards differ in detail, however, so here is a guide. All costs are per person.

Barclays Premier Card

This has an annual fee of £80. The travel insurance is activated only when the card pays for the holiday.

This covers 90 days' holiday including winter sports. The policy gives £1m emergency medical treatment and £1m personal liability. And £25,000 travel accident cover will apply for the journey. If the holiday departure is delayed by four hours or more, benefit is £20 an hour up to 12 hours and cancellation benefit is up to £4,000. Delayed baggage is covered at £25 for each hour up to a maximum of 12 hours. Barclays will pay out up to £1,500 for lost or stolen baggage and will cover up to £500 cash.

HSBC Platinum Card

Travel insurance on the platinum card is an optional extra; £40 on top of the £30 yearly fee, and the card must be used to pay towards the trip. The policy covers 31 days' holiday a year, in Europe and worldwide and includes 17 days of winter sports. The insurance includes £25,000 travel accident, £10m medical emergency, £2m for personal liability and for personal baggage the limit is £2,000 and £500 for money. There is also cover for holiday cancellation at £7,500, missed departure at £500 and travel delay at £300.

LloydsTSB Gold

This is good value as both the card and some travel cover are free.

The policy is valid for up to 31 days on any single trip worldwide but does not include winter sports cover, which costs £50 extra. The medical emergency policy pays up to £5m.

Personal liability cover goes up to £2m. There is insurance of up to £1,500 for personal baggage if it is damaged or stolen. The holder needs to purchase tickets with the gold card to obtain the travel accident policy at £100,000, which covers the journey.

NatWest Advantage Gold

Worldwide travel insurance is at no extra cost, provided the card is used to book part of the holiday, such as tickets. The maximum period of any holiday within the year is 31 days. Winter sports are extra; seven days will cost £42.39.

The policy covers personal accident up to £25,000 and medical emergency expenses up to £1m, increased to £2m when in the US. Personal liability is up to £2m. Personal belongings are covered up to £1,500 and money at £500 but £250 for cash. Delayed baggage on outward journeys is up to £100 after 4 hours and an extra £400 after 48 hours' waiting. It also covers travel delay up to £250 and cancellation up to £3,000.

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What is the maximum duration of an individual trip with Gold account travel insurance?

Your Gold account includes family travel insurance which offers comprehensive cover when travelling.

You are able to claim benefits for trips or journeys that are temporary absences from your home address for at least 1 night:

• staying in pre-arranged accommodation

In either case the maximum trip length is 6 months for any one trip, with the exception of trips that include winter sports where the maximum trip length is limited to 17 days in total in any one year. The Insurer will not pay any benefit for any part of a trip that has exceeded these maximum trip durations.

For more information please read our travel insurance guide (PDF) .

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AIG Travel Guard insurance review: What you need to know

Whether you need an annual plan or a policy for a last-minute trip, travel guard can deliver..

Travel Guard is one of CNBC Select 's picks for best travel insurance , thanks to its wide range of customizable policies. But are any of them right for you? Below, we review the provider and its offers and how they compare to the competition to help you choose the right travel insurance for your next trip.

Travel Guard review

Other insurance offered, how it compares, bottom line, travel guard® travel insurance.

The best way to estimate your costs is to request a quote

Policy highlights

Travel Guard offers a variety of plans to suit travel ranging from road trips to long cruises. For air travelers, Travel Guard can help assist with tracking baggage or covering lost or delayed baggage.

24/7 assistance available

• A variety of plans are available to help cover different types of trips
• Not all products are available for purchase online

Travel Guard® is a global travel insurance provider specializing in plans for leisure and business travelers. Its online travel insurance packages include five options, from basic and last-minute trip coverage to more comprehensive plans. This allows travelers to pick a plan that best matches their situation.

For example, budget-minded travelers might go for the Essential Plan which offers basic protections, such as trip cancellation, interruption and delay insurance, coverage for lost, damaged and delayed baggage, and medical, evacuation and death coverage.

On the other hand, the Deluxe Plan — the most comprehensive option — adds such extras as missed connection coverage, security evacuation, travel inconvenience benefits and more. It also boosts high limits for essential coverages.

Last-minute travelers can opt for the Pack N' Go Plan which only includes certain post-departure coverages. Or, if you travel often, the Annual Plan can cover your trips throughout the year.

Finally, Travel Guard offers "offline" travel insurance packages, meaning you'll have to call if you're looking for a specialty plan.

Coverage types

Depending on the plan, here are the types of protection Travel Guard can include in your package:

• Trip cancellations
• Trip interruption
• Baggage coverage
• Baggage delay
• Travel medical expenses
• Travel inconvenience benefits (reimbursement for such situations as runway delays, cruise diversion and other unforeseen situations)
• Medical evacuation
• Trip Saver (reimbursement for meals, hotels and transportation if you need to begin your trip sooner due to weather or airline changes)
• Trip exchange (reimbursement in case you have to cancel your trip and book a new one due to covered unforeseen circumstances)
• Security evacuation (due to a riot or civil disorder)
• Flight guard (coverage for accidental death or dismemberment that occurs when traveling by plane)
• Pre-existing medical conditions exclusion waiver

You can also customize your plan with add-ons, such as car rental insurance and "cancel for any reason" coverage .

Travel Guard landed on our list of the best travel insurance companies thanks to its variety of coverage. With plenty of options to choose from, both online and offline, it's easy to build a policy that meets your needs.

Travel Guard also features 24-hour concierge services that you can use to book a new flight in case of an emergency or delay.

The provider's website also offers informational resources — here, you can check travel news, read safety tips and find general travel advice. Additionally, the website lets you modify your plan, file a claim and check its status, or apply for a voucher or refund.

As of writing, Travel Guard doesn't offer any discounts. That's common for travel insurance — you're more likely to find deals when shopping for other types of insurance, such as home and auto insurance .

Travel Guard is a portfolio of travel insurance and travel-related services offered by AIG Travel, a member of American International Group (AIG). AIG also offers life insurance and a variety of business insurance products.

Travel Guard makes it easy to get a travel insurance policy customized to your needs. But before you purchase coverage, it's always a good idea to shop around.

For example, if you're going on a cruise, you might want to look at Nationwide Travel Insurance . The provider advertises cruise-specific insurance with three plan options available. This type of coverage is designed with issues unique to cruises in mind — from ship-based breakdowns to missed pre-pard excursions.

If you're planning a more active trip filled with rock climbing or sky diving, Berkshire Hathaway offers the AdrenalineCare® plan which features coverage for unforeseen costs that result from participating in extreme sports on your trip, as well as reimbursement for sporting equipment delay. Pre-existing conditions are covered under this plan (if you meet qualifying conditions).

Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection

Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection has multiple plans to cover vacations from luxury travel to adventure travel. The brand's LuxuryCare offers the highest limits of travel insurance coverage offered by the company. Quotes and policies are available online.

As you can see, offerings vary by provider. It can be helpful to compare multiple companies and the plans they offer to find what works best for you. It's even better if you gather several quotes to ensure you're getting a good price for your policy.

Money matters — so make the most of it. Get expert tips, strategies, news and everything else you need to maximize your money, right to your inbox.  Sign up here .

Travel Guard offers plenty of ways to customize your policy, making it a solid choice for travel insurance. You can also access additional options by giving Travel Guard a call. However, make sure to check out other travel insurance companies too — comparison shopping is essential when picking any type of financial product.

Why trust CNBC Select?

At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every insurance review is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of insurance products . While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics.

Catch up on CNBC Select's in-depth coverage of  credit cards ,  banking  and  money , and follow us on  TikTok ,  Facebook ,  Instagram  and  Twitter  to stay up to date.

• 3 best Chase balance transfer credit cards of 2024 Jason Stauffer
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How do I make a claim on my travel insurance?

To make a travel insurance claim, please login to our Membership Services(opens in a new window) . Alternatively, you can contact us on the numbers below.

0345 609 0453 (Relay UK 18001 0345 609 0453). Lines are open 24/7. If you need emergency assistance whilst abroad call us on: 0345 609 0453 or +44 1252 763 658. Lines are open 24/7, 365 days a year. Charges may apply. Calls may be recorded.

01252 308 792 (Relay UK 18001 01252 308 792). Lines are open 24/7. If you need emergency assistance whilst abroad call us on: 0345 601 5219 or +44 125 230 8792. Lines are open 24/7, 365 days a year. Charges may apply. Calls may be recorded.

0345 601 7188 (Relay UK 18001 0345 601 7188). Lines are open 8am-6pm Mon-Fri, and closed Saturday, Sunday and bank holidays. If you need emergency assistance whilst abroad call us on: 0345 601 7188 or +44 2392 660 340. Lines are open 24/7, 365 days a year. Charges may apply. Calls may be recorded.

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Money latest: 'Dark tourism' is on the rise - but is it ethical?

Interest in a phenomenon known as "dark tourism" has been steadily rising in recent years. Find out what it is, and read all the latest consumer and personal finance news below - and leave your thoughts in the box.

Thursday 25 April 2024 13:50, UK

• Sainsbury's deliveries disrupted by tech issues again
• Renters' Reform Bill signed off - but with indefinite delay to no-fault evictions ban
• Two more major European cities could start charging visitors to enter, official suggests
• Virgin Media customers share their bad experiences of customer service

Essential reads

• The world of dark tourism - what is it, is it ethical, and where can you go?
• Money Problem : I have a mortgage offer - will it change now rates are rising?
• Savings Guide : Why locking into fixed-rate bond could be wise move
• 'More important than a will': What are lasting power of attorneys and how much do they cost?
• Cheap Eats : Michelin chef's secret lasagne tip - and expensive ingredient you shouldn't use

Ask a question or make a comment

A sweetener used in drinks, sauces, savoury and sweet foods and chewing gum can cause serious damage to people's health, according to a new study.

Neotame, a "relatively new" sweetener, could damage the intestine by causing damage to healthy bacteria in the gut, according to the study, leading it to become diseased and attack the gut wall.

The study by Anglia Ruskin University (ARU), published in the journal Frontiers in Nutrition, found the negative effect of neotame "has the potential to influence a range of gut functions resulting in poor gut health", potentially impacting metabolic and inflammatory diseases, neuropathic pain, and neurological conditions.

The illnesses this could lead to include irritable bowel disease or insulin resistance.

Read the full story here ...

As we reported yesterday, a pilot programme is coming into force in Venice today that means visitors have to pay a €5 (£4.28) charge to enter the city.

Authorities say the pilot programme is designed to discourage tourists and thin the crowds that throng the canals during peak holiday season, making the city more liveable for residents.

Pictures have been emerging this morning of people queueing to register for a QR code that will allow them to enter after they have paid the charge - and officials carrying out checks on people inside the city.

People found to be contravening the rules can be fined up to €300 (£257).

As detailed in our story , the move has been met with anger among some in the city.

Venice is the first city in the world to introduce a payment system for tourists - but comments from its most senior tourist official suggested it may become a more common practice for major tourist hotspots in Europe.

Simone Venturini revealed the pilot programme was being closely watched by other places suffering from mass tourism - including other Italian art cities and hugely popular weekend-break destinations Barcelona and Amsterdam.

More than 160,000 people switched to Nationwide from other providers at the end of 2023, when the building society was offering a huge cash switching incentive.

According to figures from the Current Account Switch Service (CASS), Nationwide had a net gain of 163,363 account switchers between October and December, after leavers were taken into account.

It was the highest quarterly gain since the same period in 2022, when 111,941 switched to Nationwide, according to the figures cited by This Is Money .

The building society launched a £200 switching bonus for new joiners in September last year - the biggest giveaway on offer at the time. It withdrew the offer just before Christmas.

The latest CASS figures, which show Nationwide had 196,260 total gains before accounting for leavers, suggesting it could have spent up to £39m on nabbing customers from other providers in the last three months of the year.

Barclays and Lloyds Bank saw more modest net gains of 12,823 and 5,800 respectively, while the rest of the UK's big banks reported net losses.

NatWest and Halifax fared worst, losing over 40,000 more switchers each than they gained.

This week saw the last remaining switching offer on the market withdrawn.

Sainsbury's is having technical issues again - with shoppers taking to social media to say their deliveries have been delayed or cancelled.

The supermarket has been replying to customers saying: "I'm really sorry about the tech issues this morning. 

"We're aware of the situation and are working to sort it as quickly as possible. In the meantime, we'd advise you place a new order for a future date."

Customer Andrew Savage wrote: "Order has not been delivered and no confirmation email this morning."

Another, John B Sheffield, said: "So angry! Just got through to your customer line after 40 min WAIT. 

"Tells me NO DELIVERIES TODAY! tech problem? I've NO FOOD IN! ANGRY!"

In a statement to Sky News, a Sainsbury's spokesperson says: "A small technical issue affected some groceries online orders this morning. 

"We have contacted these customers directly to apologise for the inconvenience." 

In another update at 10am, the supermarket said that the issue has been resolved. 

Responding to customers on X, Sainsbury's also offered those affected e-vouchers and details on how to rebook their orders.

It comes a month after the supermarket had to cancel almost all deliveries on a Saturday in mid-March due to another technical issue.

By Daniel Binns, business reporter

A potential $38.8bn (£31bn) takeover of UK-based mining company  Anglo American  has sent its shares soaring - and helped the FTSE 100 hit yet another record high this morning.

The attempted mega-merger, by larger Australian rival BHP, is currently being reviewed by Anglo American's board.

The deal, if it goes through, would create the world's biggest copper mining company - and comes as the price of the metal continues to climb amid soaring demand.

Anglo American's shares have surged as high as 13% this morning as news of the negotiations emerged.

The announcement also helped spur the FTSE 100 to a new intraday (during the day) high of 8,098 points.

The index, of the London Stock Exchange's 100 most valuable companies, has hit a string of records this week, including  an all-time closing high of 8,044 points  on Tuesday.

The score is based on a calculation of the total value of the shares on the index.

Also moving the markets are a string of company results which were published earlier on Thursday.

Among those issuing updates to investors was drugsmaker AstraZeneca. Its stock is up more than 5% after the firm reported quarterly profit and revenue above market estimates.

Unilever is also up 5% following similar better-than-expected quarterly figures.

Another good performer is  Barclays  - despite reporting a 12% fall in profits for the first three months of 2024. Its shares are up more than 4%.

That's because its quarterly figures are slightly better than expected, and the bank has said it expects its fortunes to improve later this year.

Meanwhile, as tensions in the Middle East continue, the price of a barrel of Brent crude oil continues to hover at a price of around $88 (£70).

This morning £1 buys $1.25 US or €1.16, similar to yesterday.

Every week we get experts to answer your Money Problems - usually on a Monday, but today we have a short, bonus addition in light of multiple lenders raising mortgage rates this week on fears an interest rate cut could be delayed to a little later this year (note: many economists still think it will come in summer).

A few readers have got in touch with questions similar to this one...

My remortgage is due to complete on 1 May. I already have an offer but with rates going up, is there any way at all my offer rate could increase? Saz681

We asked David Hollingworth, director at L&C Mortgages, to answer this one...

It's great news that you are already set up with a mortgage offer, Saz - ready to make a smooth switch to a new deal and/or lender, once the current one ends.  

It does take time to set up a new mortgage so shopping around the market a good few months ahead will help you put everything in place and avoid slipping onto a high variable rate.

Fixed rates have been nudging up slightly but you have already got a formal offer in place so shouldn't worry.  

Applying for a mortgage will generally secure that rate and the lender will then carry out any further checks to issue the mortgage offer.  

The offer will be valid for a specified period, often for up to six months. Rates are always shifting for new customers but you can rest easy that your rate should be safe and sound for your switch in May.

This feature is not intended as financial advice - the aim is to give an overview of the things you should think about. Submit your dilemma or consumer dispute, leaving your name and where in the country you are, by emailing [email protected] with the subject line "Money blog". Alternatively, WhatsApp us  here .

By Ollie Cooper , Money team

Interest in a phenomenon known as "dark tourism" has been steadily rising in recent years - but what is it?

To find out, we've spoken with tourism academic  Dr Hayley Stainton  and renowned dark tourist and author Dr Peter Hohenhaus, who runs a  dark tourism website .

What is it?

In general, dark tourism involves travelling to sites connected to death or disaster.

"Dark tourism has been around for as long as we have been travelling to places associated with death," Dr Stainton says. 

However, the term wasn't officially coined until 1996 by John Lennon, a professor of tourism at Glasgow Caledonian University, in Scotland.

"Not everyone is familiar with the term," says Dr Stainton, "[but] many people have been a dark tourist at some time or another, whether intentional or not."

Some examples of the most famous sites

• Auschwitz concentration camp, Poland
• 9/11 Memorial and Museum in New York, US
• Chernobyl, Ukraine 
• Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan
• Choeung Ek "killing fields" and the Tuol Sleng genocide museum at the former S-21 prison in Phnom Penh, Cambodia 

Areas with a degree of infamy, like Alcatraz, are extremely popular spots that also fall under the "dark tourism" umbrella. 

How popular is it?

Dr Hohenhaus and Dr Stainton say they have noticed a rise in its popularity. 

"Tourists are looking for more unique and unusual experiences," Dr Stainton says. 

"This has seen a move away from the more traditional 'sun, sea and sand' type holidays to a variety of different tourism forms, which includes dark tourism."

Dr Hohenhaus adds: "Maybe people want to connect to more recent and hence more personally relevant history - that is definitely the case with myself."

He goes on: "I think I've learned more about the world through dark tourism than through all of my formal education or my previous academic career."

Is it ethical?

This is the big question associated with dark tourism. 

Dr Stainton says that while problems do arise, the stigma around the practice is often misguided. 

"People don't visit sites like the killing fields in Cambodia or the site of Chernobyl for 'fun' - they visit for the educational experience, as dark tourism is often also a form of educational tourism," she says.

Problems arise when tourists are not respectful to those who may have been impacted.

"For instance, taking inappropriate photos or laughing and joking when others may be in a state of mourning."

Notorious examples include people taking selfies outside Grenfell Tower and at Auschwitz. 

"It is therefore imperative that dark tourists are considerate of those around them and respectful at all times," Dr Stainton says.

"As long as you are not just after a cheap sensationalist thrill - take dark tourism seriously and do it right, and it can be an immensely enriching thing to engage in."  Dr Hohenhaus

Where could you go? 

These are Dr Hohenhaus' recommendations:

• Ijen crater in Indonesia - where at night you can see the fabled blue flames of the sulphur mines next to the volcano crater lake;
• The Polygon, the former Semipalatinsk nuclear weapons test site of the USSR, now in Kazakhstan;
• The Goli Otok former prison island off the coast of Croatia;
• The Murambi memorial to the Rwandan genocide - which Dr Hohenhaus says is "certainly the very darkest place I have ever been";
• Majdanek concentration camp memorial near Lublin, eastern Poland.

What do you think of dark tourism? Is it misunderstood, educational or abhorrent?  Let us know in the comments section...

John Lewis will be sharing its job interview questions online in an attempt to find the "best talent".

The retail chain hopes that allowing candidates to view questions before an interview will allow prospective employees to "really demonstrate what they can do" and prepare, the Financial Times reports.

John Lewis talent acquisition lead Lorna Bullett told Sky News that interviews can feel daunting and "nerves can seriously impact performance".

She added the company want "the right people" from a variety of backgrounds and with "the best talent" to join.

"It makes absolute business sense to find ways of helping candidates to really demonstrate what they can do," she said.

Ms Bullett added that the process will be "no less rigorous".

Every Thursday we look at a different savings option, explain the pros and cons, and reveal the best deals on the market.  This week we're talking about the best fixed-rate bonds.  Savings Champion founder Anna Bowes  says...

As the name suggests, fixed-rate bonds pay a fixed rate of interest for a fixed term and this interest is taxable at your normal rate – if you exceed your personal savings allowances.

Over the last couple of years, fixed-rate bond rates have increased substantially and many of the top rates are now paying more than inflation, although this may not be the case for those who pay tax on their savings.

That said, the competition has slowed recently as it appears that inflation is more under control, and as a result the Bank of England base rate is expected to start to fall. We have seen the top rates on offer start to come down a little.

What is interesting and a little unusual is that the longer-term bond rates are lower than the short-term rates. Normally you would expect to be rewarded for tying your money up for longer, but that's not the case at the moment. This is a clear indication that the base rate is expected to fall over the next few months and years.

Locking into a longer-term bond, even at lower rates, may turn out to be a very wise move, especially if the interest you are earning is beating inflation for the duration of the bond.

MPs have voted in favour of the government's Renters' Reform Bill - despite it including an indefinite delay to the end of no-fault evictions.

A debate on the legislation ran throughout Wednesday afternoon, including around a new clause from the government which would hold off outlawing Section 21s until a review of the courts system had taken place.

But despite outrage from charities, campaigners and opposition parties around the measure, it got the backing of the majority of MPs - and the bill passed its final stage in the Commons shortly after 6.30pm.

A Section 21 notice is the legal mechanism allowing landlords to evict tenants without providing a reason, which creates uncertainty for those who rent their homes.

The government first promised to ban the notices five years ago, back when Theresa May was still in Number 10.

But it has faced numerous delays amid threats of rebellion from Tory backbenchers - some of them landlords - who said they feared ending Section 21s would see the courts overwhelmed with more complex eviction cases.

Ministers agreed to amend the bill to ensure no ban was enacted until a probe into the courts had been held.

But the clause offers no timeline - leaving no clear date for when Section 21s will actually be scrapped.

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