Travel Insurance - To Do Before You Travel
For your own protection try to make sure the company you book your trip through belongs to a trade organisation such as ABTA or IATA.
Get Adequate Travel Insurance
- Make sure it includes comprehensive medical and repatriation cover
- Make sure it provides cover for your whole trip (whether one day or over a year)
- Make sure it covers you for all activities, including hazardous sports
- Disclose pre-existing medical conditions
- Take your policy number and 24 hour medical emergency number with you
- If you have any doubts about your cover, check with us or your insurer
Take Enough Money For Your Trip
- Where possible use travellers' cheques rather than cash and note the numbers separately
- Check your credit card is valid and check the expiry date
- Make sure you have a source of back-up cash
- Have a return ticket, or enough money to buy one
Ensure You Have A Valid Passport And The Necessary Visas
- Make sure your passport is valid for a minimum of six months at return date
- Take a photocopy with you and leave a copy at home
- Write the full details of your next of kin in your passport
- Make sure you have valid visas
- Take another form of ID with you (preferable with a photograph)
Plan To Stay Healthy
- Check what vaccinations you need with your GP in good time before you travel
- Check your medication is legal in the country you are visiting
- Pack your medication in your hand luggage
- If taking medication with you, also take the prescription and a GP's letter
- If travelling within the EEA (European Economic Area) get a European Health Insurance Card from the Department of Health www.ehic.org.uk
- Check to see if extra health precautions are needed for the country you are visiting (e.g. malaria zones)
Know About Where You Are Going
- Make sure you know about local laws especially relating to alcohol and drugs
- Make sure you know about local culture especially relating to dress codes
- Check relevant guides and the FCO country fact sheets
- Take a phrase book that you can use in emergencies
- For more information please go to: www.fco.gov.uk/knowbeforeyougo
Plan To Avoid Trouble
- Check the FCO up-to-date advice and travellers' tips
- Tell friends and family where you are going
Leave Copies Of Important Information
Leave copies of important information with friends or family:-
- A copy of your passport and details of your next of kin
- A copy of your insurance document plus the 24 hour medical emergency number
- A copy of your ticket details
- A copy of your itinerary and a way of contacting you such as e-mail