Foreign and Commonwealth Office - Know Before You Go

Know Before You Go - Stay safe overseas

know before you go - travel advice from the FCO

As part of our commitment to helping our customers make the most of their travel, CheapTravelInsurance.com is a partner with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) to help promote their travel advice messages on their wide-reaching 'Know Before You Go' campaign.

The campaign has been created to help reduce the number of preventable problems that are faced by British travellers abroad every day. It aims to raise awareness of potential hazards and change travel behaviour and we .

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 (FCO) to help British nationals stay safe abroad. The FCO Know Before You Go website offers straightforward travel advice, top tips and up to date country information to help you plan your holiday.

Travel Checklist

Before you go away we would suggest that you go through this travel checklist which should help you stay safe and secure while you are away and help you be prepared in case things go wrong.

  • Make sure you have valid travel insurance, even if you're only planning a short trip.
  • Check that your travel insurance covers you for all the activities you want to do, including any dangerous sports
  • Get your free European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) if you are traveling within the European Economic Area or Switzerland.
  • Visit your GP at least 6 weeks before you travel to get any vaccinations you might need.
  • Read up on your destination, including local laws and customs.
  • Make photocopies of your passport, visas and insurance details and leave a copy with a relative or friend at home.
  • Take enough money with you and make sure you also take some back up funds such as a credit card or some traveller's cheques.
  • Complete the contact details at the back of your passport for your next-of-kin or someone who can be contacted in an emergency.
  • If you are planning to drive abroad make sure your UK driving licence is current and valid. Make sure you know the country's driving laws, licence requirements and driving conditions. In some countries you will need to have an international driving permit as well as your UK licence.

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.

For all this and more information, visit the FCO website. Or if you prefer, call the 24 hour FCO travel advice line on 0845-850-2829.