Whether you're off on a gap, working abroad, or just
planning a much needed break, it's a fact that you're going to have to
plan ahead. Your health abroad is of major importance. We
have the facts
Travel health
It's difficult to underestimate the value of taking certain precautions
for the sake of your health before you travel abroad. If you get ill or
have an accident, access to treatment may be difficult or too expensive
for you to afford to pay yourself. So don't neglect to get travel insurance
before you go abroad; it's probably the most important thing you can do
before you set off. You can make life a whole lot easier for yourself
if you get hold of Form E111, from the Post Office which entitles you
to free medical attention in Europe. Pick up a form for more details!
Vaccinations!
If you're travelling to, or passing through, a country that requires you
to be vaccinated against certain diseases, you may need to produce certificates
of proof before you're allowed in. Check with your doctor's surgery that
will be able to advise you.
Insurance
You really must insure your holiday/travel expenses, your luggage and
yourself. Whilst these are separate areas of insurance, many travel and
insurance companies offer a package that combines all of them.
Insuring your holiday: covers
cancellation or curtailment of your holiday, missed departure, delay,
lost tickets or failure of an ABTA travel operator.
Insuring your luggage: can
cover loss, theft, damage and delay.
Insuring yourself: can cover
any medical expenses abroad due to illness or accident, permanent disability
and death. Also personal liability if you injure someone else or damage
their property.
You will need insurance to ensure that you are compensated financially
for any loss, damage or injury that may occur. Insurance can provide short-term
income if you are unable to carry on working because of an accident or
illness, and can reimburse for the costs of being unable to travel. It's
remarkable then that nearly 50% of all travellers carry no insurance when
they go abroad, a situation that leaves some in great difficulty.
If you become ill whilst travelling, don't forget that medical treatment
abroad can be expensive, so it's vital you are insured before you go.
Financial payment cannot lessen the effects of losses or accidents, but
it contributes to financial security and can help you out of difficult
situations. Check what your policy offers - many do not cover sports or
activities that many travellers enjoy taking part in.
Official papers and money
Official travel documents and traveller's cheques may seem like a hassle,
but they're a necessary part of travel
Passports
Get an application form from your local Post Office. Have the form signed
by a professional who has known you for two years, like a teacher or doctor.
Take the signed form back with a copy of your birth or adoption certificate,
two identical passport photos and the correct fee. Instead of sending
it yourself - and to check for errors - if you pay a small extra fee to
the Post Office, they will check your form, send it off for you and get
your passport back to you within two weeks.
You can contact the Passport Agency on 08702 411902
Visas
Many countries outside Europe ask you to produce an entry visa as well
as your passport at immigration, before you're allowed in. You can stay
a limited amount of time without a visa, but it's so much easier to arrange
a visa before you go abroad. You can check the countries you are travelling
to on our countries
pages. If in doubt ask your travel agent or contact the Foreign Office
on 020-7238 4503.
You can also visit the Foreign Office website at: www.fco.gov.uk
Trouble with the law
It goes without saying that you shouldn't break the law. If anything,
this is even more true when you're abroad, as it's probable that you will
know little, or nothing, about local law, custom or convention. However,
ignorance of the law will probably not help if you do find yourself in
trouble. The best advice is to respect the country and its people and
stay well clear of anything that may seem illegal or suspicious. Above
all - use your common sense. Follow these simple principles, relax, and
enjoy your time abroad!
However, if you do end up in real trouble abroad, you can get in touch
with the national embassy that represents you. Their powers are limited
but they can help if you lose your passport, and they will help you deal
with the local authorities to some extent, if needs be, and help you get
a lawyer. Be warned however, that embassies cannot solve all your problems
abroad for you, and they won't pay for your flight home if you get really
stuck.
Travel money
The safest way to take cash abroad with you is in the form of traveller's
cheques. Cash, once gone, will never return but a traveller's cheque can
be refunded to you if it goes missing. Each traveller's cheque has a unique
serial number, and you'll be asked to sign each one when you buy them.
When you exchange them for cash you'll have to sign for them again, and
show your passport. If your traveller's cheques go missing then you can
phone the company that sold them to you (they should provide you with
an emergency phone number) and quote the serial number of the missing
cheques. Obviously you need to keep the receipts showing the serial numbers
of the cheques and quote them. Keep these numbers in a separate place
from the cheques themselves!
