Prepare for the unexpected: 10 tips for a safer holiday

A little preparation at home goes a long way to helping you stay safe on holiday.

‘It will never happen to me.’

That’s what most people think when considering the possibility of something going wrong on holiday. And while it’s true that the odds are stacked against your own personal holiday misfortune, increasing numbers of British holidaymakers are seeing happy holidays soured by the unexpected.

Our message is simple: there are quick and easy things you can do before and during your holiday that will give you the best chance of a hassle-free trip, while being prepared if something does go wrong. In this post, we’ll share some top travelling safety tips.

Before you leave…

Check if you need vaccinations

Depending on your destination, you may need vaccinations to make sure you don’t contract communicable diseases while you’re on holiday. The most common vaccinations are for malaria and yellow fever. You can find out if you need any vaccinations for your holiday by visiting the National Travel Health Network and Centre website. Just select the country you’re visiting from the map for accurate health advice.

Stock up on medication

If you’re taking prescription medication for a medical condition, make sure you have enough to cover your holiday. You should also take your medication’s original packaging as well as your prescription in case you encounter problems at security or customs.

Get a first aid kit

A small first aid kit will easily fit in a suitcase and could come in extremely useful abroad. It’s a fact of life that there’s never a plaster when you need one at home, let alone abroad when you don’t even know where the nearest shop is.

Make sure you know the number(s) for the local emergency services

Simple, isn’t it? But it’s something most people forget to think about. In an emergency, seconds count. So knowing the right number to call could be nothing short of lifesaving. Travelling in Europe? The number for all emergency services is 112.

Save your travel insurer’s contact numbers

Obviously, travel insurance is an essential item for a safer holiday. Your policy documents will contain the contact numbers you need for things like general enquiries, claims and medical emergencies. You could potentially save yourself a lot of hassle by saving the numbers in your mobile phone.

Pack your policy documents

It’s worth printing off a spare copy of your travel insurance policy documents to take with you on holiday. That way they’ll never be far away if you need to check something about your cover, such as whether you’re insured to jump on a banana boat.

While you’re there…

Be aware of DVTs

Long flights can put you at risk of developing a deep vein thrombosis, a potentially dangerous blood clot in one of your body’s deep veins, normally in the lower leg. They are caused by long periods of inactivity, hence why long haul flights are a risk factor. To help negate the risk, drink plenty of non-alcoholic drinks, wear loose fitting clothes and regularly flex and extend your ankles. You may also want to consider wearing compression stockings.

Stay hydrated

If you’re travelling somewhere warmer and more humid than the UK, then it stands to reason that you’ll need to drink more water than you do at home. Be especially aware of this following your outbound flight. Flying can be very dehydrating, so remember to take on plenty of fluids during your flight as well as once you’ve landed.

Only carry the cash you need

These days, credit and debit cards are accepted almost everywhere. British cards are usually accepted at foreign ATMs too. So there’s no need to carry your entire holiday budget in your pocket. If you do only want to deal in cash, try and estimate what you need for the day and leave the rest in your hotel room’s safe.

Conceal your valuables

Sauntering around with your Nikon slung over your shoulder might make it easy to get the perfect holiday snap at a moment’s notice. But it also makes you look pretty attractive to thieves, who won’t think twice about making off with your prized possession. Similarly, be wary of leaving your mobile phone or iPod on the café table while you’re stopped for a bite to eat and a pint.

You can read travel and safety advice specific to your destination on the British Foreign & Commonwealth Office website. Get an instant travel insurance quote online at www.world-first.co.uk or by calling 0845 90 80 161.

Tags: safer holidays, travel advice, travel safety, world first travel advice

This entry was posted on Saturday, July 21st, 2012 at 7:31 pm and is filed under Travel Tips. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.