Insuratrip’s Travel Checklist & Advice

Whether you are taking a year out to go backpacking or are planning a honeymoon to a relaxing destination, it is important to be prepared for your travels.

Culture

• Before you embark on your travels try to learn as much as possible about your destination’s local people and their customs, as well as the laws of the country. Do your best to blend in.
• Be respectful on your travels – don’t litter or cause offense to local people, and conserve resources like water.

Health

• For your safety, check with your GP if there are any medications or vaccinations you will be requiring before you travel.
• It is important to have travel insurance to cover you for emergency medical expenses whilst you are abroad. Without travel insurance, medical problems can become incredibly expensive.

 Safety

• For the most up-to-date safety information regarding your destination country, visit the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office website. InsuraTrip does not provide travel insurance for countries and areas to which the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has advised against all (but essential) travel. If you do plan on visiting a country or areas which the FCO has advised against all but essential travel to, such as Afghanistan, Syria or Iraq, you will find that most regular travel insurance policies will not cover you, however High Risk Voyager may be able to. For more information, click here. 
• Try to keep your valuables like mobile phones and watches hidden whilst abroad, especially when visiting poorer countries, as these items can make you a target for mugging and/or petty theft. A safe alternative is to buy a cheaper mobile phone to take with you on your travels.
• Make sure you put a padlock on your suitcases and rucksacks, to protect your belongings against theft.
• It is not safe to carry large quantities of cash, so try to limit the amount of cash you have on you at any one time. If you are planning on taking cash on your travels, a money travel card is often a safer option.

 Visas, Passports and Paperwork

• Make photocopies of all important travel documents, including your travel insurance policy and passport.
• When possible, hire a room safe to store your passport and any other important documents, like a visa.
• Give someone at home details of where you are staying, for how long and the best numbers for them to contact you.
• Fill in the ‘emergency contact’ on the back page of your passport.
• If you are travelling to Europe, make sure you apply for a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) as having this card will allow you to access state provided medical care for free or at a reduced cost.
• If you are travelling to the USA, make sure you apply for an ESTA as soon as possible. If you are rejected, you will need to apply to the U.S. Government for a visa in order to travel.

Don’t Forget…

For official up-to-date travel information, including local laws and customs, country entry requirements and safety advice, please visit the Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office.