Government Advice

Stay safe overseas – know before you go

Whatever your reason for travelling abroad, you’re sure to want a trouble free trip. Many of the things that often go wrong for travellers can be prevented or made less stressful by taking a few simple precautions. So it makes sense to spend a little time getting prepared before you travel – you could save yourself a lot of problems later on.

With this in mind, we are working with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCDO) to help British nationals stay safe abroad. The FCDO website offers straightforward travel advice, top tips and up to date country information to help you plan your holiday.

Travel Tips from the FCDO
  • Make sure you have valid travel insurance, even if you’re only planning a short trip. And make sure it will cover you for wherever you’re going and whatever activities you plan to take part in while you’re there.
  • Visit your GP as soon as possible before you travel. They will check that your vaccinations are up to date and give you helpful health advice for your trip.
  • Read up on your destination, including local laws and customs. A good travel guide should give you this information, and it’s also worth talking to your travel agent or tour operator about possible risks.
  • Make photocopies of your passport, visas, insurance details and any other important travel documents. Take one copy with you (packed separately from your real documents) and leave another copy with a relative or friend at home. Alternatively store them online using a secure data storage site.

You can also find handy checklists to use before you set off and whilst you’re away. Plus it’s worth reading up on what the local British Consulate can do to help you if you run into problems abroad – and what they can’t do.

Country by Country Advice

You can also find travel advice for specific countries on the FCDO Travel Advice by Country. This includes areas of the country that may be risky to visit, the likelihood of terrorist activities and any health issues that you should watch out for.

The information is updated regularly, so by selecting the countries you plan to travel to, you can make sure you’re properly informed.