How to Stay safe and healthy while you are travelling
Sometimes, it’s to do with commonsense precautions – like arranging the right vaccinations and travel insurance. Sometimes, we have more specialist advice – like how to keep yourself informed about the risks of terrorism in the country you’re going to.
The essential travel checklist
Make sure you read our travel checklist before you go away – it’s got everything you need to know for staying safe and healthy abroad!
Take our number with you!
Find out why it’s a good idea to always make a note of the nearest embassy’s phone number when you’re abroad.
Travel checklist
We’ve put together this travel checklist to help you plan for your trip abroad and stay safe whilst you are there. We’ve got more advice for specific types of travellers in Your trip.
Before you go:
check our travel advice pages for the country you are visiting. Sign up for email alerts and you’ll get the latest updates for that country
register with our LOCATE service so we can get in touch with you if something goes wrong
find out where the nearest embassy will be – check their website to find out what services they offer and their opening times
don’t travel without insurance – make sure it covers you for any activities you are likely to undertake such as extreme or water sports
travelling within the EU? Then get a free European Health Insurance Card for free or reduced emergency care – you still need full travel insurance though! Also remember, you can call 112 to contact the emergency services in any EU country.
check with your doctor as soon as possible to find out if you need any vaccinations before you travel
make sure you’ve got correct visas for the country you are visiting and that your passport is valid.
All first time adult passport applicants must now attend an interview to verify their identity. It now takes up to six weeks to get a first passport. For more information please visitDirectGov
for certain countries your passport must be valid for 6 months after the date you travel – check the entry requirementsbefore you go
take photocopies of your passport and other important documents and keep these separate from the originals when you travel and/or store them online using a secure data storage site.
make sure you fill in the emergency contact details in your passport. This will make it much easier for us to contact someone if necessary
tell a friend or relative where you are going and for how long for – give them some idea of your itinerary if possible and an emergency contact number
take enough money for your trip and some back-up funds in a mix of cash and travellers cheque – make a note of the cheques’ numbers before you go
invest in a good travel guide to help you plan your trip
driving abroad? Make sure your licence is current and valid. Make sure you are aware of the driving laws in the country you are visiting
check HM Revenue & Customs Travel website for information on duty-free allowances, banned goods etc.
When you are away:
think about what you are doing at all times and trust your instincts – don’t take risks that you wouldn’t at home!
don’t openly display valuables such as mobile phones or digital cameras and consider using a padlock on suitcases or backpacks
find out about local customs and dress, behave accordingly and obey local laws -there may be serious penalties for breaking a law that might seem trivial at home
be careful when taking photographs, videos or using binoculars. Such activities may be misunderstood, especially near military installations
consider taking your mobile with you or renting one whilst you’re away. Store useful numbers such as the local police and the nearest embassy or consulate
check with your service provider to make sure your phone works abroad
check whether it’s safe to drink local tap water- if not, stick to bottled water and avoid salads, non-peeling fruit and ice in drinks
use your judgement when buying and eating food you’ve not prepared yourself
respect the environment – don’t buy wildlife souvenirs, conserve resources like water and don’t drop litter
check import regulations for food and plants before you attempt to bring them back to the UK
Travel Health
Travelling to different climates and environments abroad can expose you to disease and health risks. You should be aware of the dangers and how to stay healthy.
Diseases which aren’t present in the UK such as yellow fever, malaria, rabies and dengue fever are common in some areas of the world.
Vaccinations and immunisations
Visit your GP as soon as possible to check if you need any vaccinations or other preventive measures (such as malaria tablets).
Remember, these treatments aren’t usually available as NHS prescriptions.
General travel health tips
You should also make extra preparations if you have an existing medical condition.
take out adequate travel insurance or you could face a huge medical bill if you fall ill and need treatment
get a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) to entitle you to free or discounted healthcare in European countries
check the health section of our country travel advice before you travel
drink plenty of water in hot climates to avoid dehydration
be safe in the sun – use a high-factor sunscreen and avoid excessive sunbathing between 11am – 3pm
find out the local emergency services numbers and the number of the local hospital
practice safe sex – take condoms with you as quality varies in different countries. HIV and Aids, and other sexually transmitted diseases can be caught worldwide.
Long-distance journeys
don’t wear tight clothing on long-distance journeys
do regular stretching exercises such as flexing and extending your ankles to avoid circulation problems
walk round at regular intervals on long flights
drink plenty of water on flights and avoid drinking too much alcohol.
Consult your doctor before long-distance travel if you:
are pregnant or have given birth in the last 6 months
have a history of blood disorders, deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism
are taking hormonal medication (including the contraceptive pill)
have cancer, heart problems or have recently had surgery.
If you have a pre-existing medical condition
tell your travel insurer about your condition
ask your doctor how the trip might affect you
check local conditions such as climate and pollution levels and consider how you might be affected
carry a doctor’s letter and a copy of any prescriptions
ensure your medication is legal in the country you are visiting – the British Embassy can advise you
learn key words and phrases in the local language for your condition, medication and emergency help
take the same precautions you normally would in the UK if you weren’t going to be at home for a while
if you suffer from a mental illness you should be aware that facilities and local attitudes to mental health problems may differ from those in the UK. Do some research before you go.
HIV and AIDs
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is present worldwide. It is caused by the virus known as Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV). There is not a vaccine or cure for either, and people with HIV remain infected all their lives.
HIV/ AIDS can be contracted through:
unprotected sex with an infected person, who may not know they are infected
the use of infected syringes, medical and dental instruments or anything else that punctures the skin, such as tattooing needles
transfusions of HIV infected blood
passing from an infected mother to her baby during pregnancy, childbirth or breast-feeding.
It cannot be passed on through everyday social contact, insect bites or dirty food and crockery. Nor can it be passed on through kissing, coughing and sneezing.
Protecting yourself against HIV/AIDS
ensure you use condoms with new sexual partners. It is advisable to pack your own as standards may differ from those in the UK or they may not readily be available
don’t share needles and syringes
be aware that some countries do not have the same medical standards as the UK. Equipment may not be adequately sterilised, nor blood screened for HIV and hepatitis B or C
if you require self-administered injections, take an adequate supply of your own needles
don’t have a tattoo, acupuncture treatment or body piercing unless you can be sure the equipment is sterile.
Some countries have introduced HIV antibody testing for some visitors, or require an HIV antibody test certificate. Check with the relevant Embassy (see right
