It is important to prepare your trip well in advance. Here are some general guidelines for getting ready.

• Visit your travel clinic, doctor or practice nurse at least 6-10 weeks before you leave to check on immunisation requirements. If you are travelling for more than a month, see them earlier.
• Discuss Malaria requirements and sort out with your travel clinic, GP, practice nurse or pharmacist your Required medication.
• Sort out your first aid kit and any medication you might need - including enough prescription medication for the trip.
• Read up about your chosen destination to learn about the culture, laws and customs.
• Check that your passport is valid and does not expire before you return.
• Check on visa requirements for your chosen destination.

Check your passport expiry date. Some countries require that a passport is valid for a minimum of 6 months from the date of return to U.K. Existing stamps in your passport may prevent entry into certain countries. Some countries require a Visa a stamp in your passport that gives you right of entry. These are issued by the relevant Embassy. Your tour operator/travel agent should be able to give you the necessary advice.

For the latest advice check with your travel operator and consult your doctor's surgery for the latest advice.

For the latest information on DVT prevention see our information page

If you are going to be away a long time or have concerns about your teeth, it is a good idea to have a check up. If you have crowns or fillings it could be sensible to take a dental first aid kit with you.

Looking After Yourself in an Emergency

A comprehensive first aid kit will only prove its worth when it really matters. Try to ensure you have at very least a basic one. If you have not had any first aid training you should consider a general first aid course such as the EFR one day course offered by Simply Scuba. This course is not related to diving and meets current first aid at work standards so you may be able to get your employer to help pay for it.

Decide how you will get to your departure point and, if appropriate, book Airport Parking and Overnight Accommodation. Photocopy all important documents e.g. Passport numbers, travellers cheques, bank cards, insurance documents etc. and leave a set with a relative or friend. It is also a good idea to keep a set somewhere in your luggage when travelling.

Apart from general holiday shopping remember, if travelling to hot countries, you possibly need to purchase :

• Insect repellent
• Sun protection
• First Aid Kit
• Swim wear
• Travel guide book
• Water purification
• Sterile needle pack

You can take some very basic precautions to avoid problems whilst on holiday:

• Padlock all luggage zips - it will not deter a determined thief but will the opportune thief. The thief will pick on someone who has not taken the precaution - it's the easiest and quickest option
• Keep all your money and documents close. Consider a body wallet or money belt
• Don't wear expensive or expensive looking jewellery

Buying travel insurance
Market surveys show that many people don't take insurance. People believe that their credit card accident cover, home insurance, or private health cover is sufficient. However, it is unlikely that these will give adequate cover.

Shop around
The cost of travel insurance varies widely, so shop around to find a good price and the right product, rather than opting to travel without cover. Simply Swim has teamed up with Essential Travel to offer their travel policies. Bear in mind that a cheaper policy may have less cover. If you make several trips each year, consider taking out annual multi-trip insurance to save time, money and effort.

Know what your policy covers and check that the cover is adequate.
If in doubt ask your insurer. Your policy should cover you for the following:

• The whole time that you are away, whether that is a day or a year.
• Any activities and sports you might do. Some activities, such as jet skiing, are excluded from many policies. Many insurers will extend cover, if requested, otherwise shop around for a specialist policy.
• The medical and health cover is very important. It should be for a minimum of 1 million for Europe and 2 million world-wide. It must include cover for emergency medical treatment, hospitalisation and repatriation.
• Personal liability - for injury or damage to others and their property.
• Cancellation - if you have to cancel or abandon your trip. Cancellation cover should start as soon as you book your trip.
• 24 hour emergency service and assistance if things go wrong the assistance company will help you to sort everything out.
• Possessions cover, including money and documents to specified limits.

• Your policy may also cover Personal accident - money paid on death or permanent disability.
• You may also wish to consider verifying whether your policy covers you for legal expenses to help you pursue compensation or damages following personal injury whilst abroad. This could be of particularly use if there is no legal aid system in place in the country to which you are travelling.

Check the conditions and exclusions
If you are in any doubt, contact your insurer to find out exactly what cover you have.

• Most policies will not cover drink-related incidents.
• Most policies do not cover drug related incidents.
• You must take reasonable care of your possessions or your policy will not cover you.

Declare anything that you think might affect the cover
Be honest - tell your insurer about current or past medical conditions. This should include the condition of those to be insured and others, such as close relatives, whose state of health may prevent you from travelling or may cause you to curtail your trip. If you don't declare you may invalidate your policy.

UK Passport Service: www.ukpa.gov.uk
Foreign Office : www.fco.gov.uk