Worldwise - General Personal Safety Travelling Advice

Avoiding Culture Shock
Find out as much as you can about the country or countries that you are visiting
Research cultural, religious and political beliefs to avoid misunderstandings and causing offence
Find out and practice a few phrases in the language of the country you’re visiting

The Essentials
Passports:

• Passports should be valid for at least 6 months after you plan to return from your travels
• If your passport picture no longer looks like you, consider updating it
• Check your passport isn’t too battered or damaged, this could cause problems at customs

Visas
Find out if you need visas for the country or countries you intend to visit
Insurance

• Ensure that you have travel insurance for your trip
• Ensure that you read the small print on your travel insurance policy and that you are covered for all of the activities (e.g. working? extreme sports?) that you will be undertaking
• Be aware that most insurance companies will refuse to pay if you are under the influence of drugs or alcohol when an incident occurs.

Vaccinations/Medication

• Find out if you need any vaccinations to travel to your chosen destination
• If you take medication, ensure you have enough for while you’re travelling
• If you are travelling within the EU, remember that you need a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) which entitles you to reduced-cost, sometimes free, medical treatment in a European Economic Area (EEA) country or Switzerland.

Money

• Ensure that you have enough money and some in reserve just in case
• Think carefully about how you will carry your money – currency? Traveller’s cheques? Bank card?
• While traveling, ensure that you keep your money secure – use a money belt and/or a reliable safe

How? Useful sources:
Passport Office (http://www.ips.gov.uk/)
The Foreign Office (http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/)

Department of Health’s website (http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/index.htm)

Mind the Gap Year:

Disclaimer: Suzy Lamplugh Trust does not endorse any products or services relating to external links.

Planning Ahead

• Make photocopies of your passport, your travel tickets and all other important documents. Leave one set with someone you trust and take one set with you, preferably in a waterproof plastic envelope
• You could scan these documents into your computer and keep them on file or even e-mail them to yourself
• Make a note of emergency telephone numbers including:
• Phone number and address of the British Consulate or Embassy in the country or countries you are visiting
• The phone numbers to call if your credit card or travellers cheques get stolenYour insurance emergency number
• Leave a copy of these numbers with someone at home in case you lose them
• Make a note of the dialling codes and telephone numbers of the friends and family in the UK. You may think that you know them off by heart but in a difficult situation or emergency your mind might well go blank.
• Plan in advance how you are going to stay in touch with people at home
• Leave a copy of your itinerary with loved ones and keep them up to date with any changes in your plans
• You could set up a blog to keep people at home informed of your travels

 

And Finally...
Remember that planning and preparation does not stop when your plane takes off. Keep thinking ahead all the time you are travelling. Talk to travellers you meet out there and see what advice or recommendations they have to offer. Talk to local people too, they are usually far better informed than even the best guidebook especially when it comes to where is safe and where is not in their area. Try and get into the habit of thinking "What if..." and you should be ready for most things.