Travel Checklist

• Take out adequate travel insurance
  Make sure your policy provides adequate cover, particularly for medical treatment and repatriation. Make sure any dangerous activities you've planned are covered (e.g. skiing, scuba diving). Remember to extend cover if you extend your stay.
• Know your destination
  Find out about local laws and customs and take a guidebook. Talk to your travel agent or tour operator about possible risks and check the FCO's country-specific travel information so that you're one step ahead of situations that may change quickly. If you are traveling to areas where there may be conflict, wars or violence, it might just save your life.
• Make sure you have enough money
  Take at least two forms of payment - ideally traveler’s cheques and a credit card - so that if you lose one you have the other as a standby. Check the expiry date and make a separate note of serial numbers on your traveler’s cheques.
• Check that your passport is valid
  Your passport should be valid for at least 6 months - some countries won't let you enter if it isn't. Make sure you have filled in all the details, including the information on your next of kin. Take another form of photo-ID and a photocopy of your passport with you.
• Check your medication
  If you take prescribed drugs, take the prescription with you in case you need replacements. Pack your medication in your hand luggage. Check your medication is legal in the country by calling the relevant Embassy in London.
• Tell friends/family where you're going
  It is important that people are able to contact you in an emergency. Make sure you leave a way of getting in touch.
• Car insurance
  If you are taking or hiring a car make sure you have proper insurance and breakdown cover. Make sure your driving license is current and valid for the country.
• Fill out an EHIC
  This is available from The Post Office and gives access to free or reduced-cost basic emergency medical treatment in the EU, Iceland and Norway. Remember that it will only cover some of the cost, and only applies to certain hospitals. The cost of an ambulance is not usually covered, not is repatriation. You still need adequate travel insurance so you are covered for all eventualities.
• Keep records
  Make copies of your credit card, traveler’s cheque numbers, passport, driving license, insurance policy, EHIC, and emergency telephone numbers of the local British Consul and your travel insurer. Leave a set at home with friends or family.

WHILE YOU'RE AWAY

• Money
  Only carry as much money as you need for the day. Leave extra money, documents and tickets in the hotel safe. While traveling keep your money and important documents in separate places.
• Know the rules of the road
  In many countries there are on-the-spot fines for traffic offences - exceptions are not made for foreigners.
• Avoid any involvement with drugs
  Never carry anything through customs for other people or leave your baggage unattended. Some countries have the death penalty.
• Respect local laws and customs
  For instance, in the UAE it is a punishable offence to drink in public; offenders may be put in prison.
• Eat and drink carefully
  Find out if the local tap water is safe to drink. If not, drink bottled water and avoid having ice in your drinks. To avoid contaminated food, only have food that has been freshly cooked.
• Keep in touch with home
  Especially for long trips. If they know you are safe they won't need to panic if there's an emergency in the country you are visiting.
• Be security conscious
  Avoid unlit streets at night and only carry the minimum amount of cash when sightseeing.
• Protect yourself from the sun
  If you are traveling to any country where the sun is hot then take care - always use sun lotions with UVA and UVB protection and avoid the sun between midday and 3pm.
• Protect yourself from mosquitoes
  To reduce the chances of being bitten while abroad use insect repellents, wear long sleeves and long trousers and sleep under a mosquito net.

IF THINGS GO WRONG ... how the British Consul can help

Consular officials can:

• Issue emergency passports
• Put you in touch with local lawyers, interpreters and doctors
• Visit you if you have been arrested or put in prison
• Contact relatives or friends if you need emergency money or tickets
• Arrange for next of kin to be told of an accident or a death and advise on procedures

Consular officials cannot:

• Pay your hotel, legal, medical or any other bills
• Give legal advice
• Intervene in court cases
• Get you out of prison
• Get you better treatment in hospital or prison that locals
• Replace lost airline tickets

Check the FCO website, which is packed with travel advice and offers a wealth of country-specific information.