Travel Insurance - General Travel Tips
Before you leave
- Make sure you have printed all your travel insurance documents and all members of the party, either have their own copy or know where it is for access to any emergency numbers or information.
- Ensure all your travel arrangements to the airport/ferry port you have booked, have been confirmed the day before you travel. Don’t leave your travel arrangements to the last minute, especially if you are travelling during peak season, bank holidays or rush hour as taxi services etc book up quickly in advance and you may find it difficult to book at late notice.
- If you are driving to the airport/ferry port ensure you have enough petrol in your car, your tyres have good air pressure, your screen wash and oil are full and that you have calculated enough room for all your luggage including the passengers.
- Check weather and travel reports regularly up to 24 hours before you travel; at least if there is a foreseen problem you can make arrangements to leave earlier.
Airport
- Do not leave your luggage unattended. The toilets in airports are purposely designed with larger cubicles so you can take your baggage with you and reduce the risk of having it stolen.
- Always arrive at the airport with plenty of time to spare; you do not want to start your holiday with the hassle of trying to book onto another flight.
- Do not pack any valuables into the baggage that you are going to check in, pack these in your hand luggage and keep it with you at all times.
The Flight
- Onboard the flight keep all your valuables contained together in a small handy bag, which you can take with you when you go to the toilet; this is especially useful if you are travelling alone on the flight or your seats have been separated from one another.
- Ensure that you drink plenty of water on the flight; it is easy to become dehydrated, especially as the air filter systems make the air very dry. Keeping well hydrated will also make you feel less lethargic when you arrive at your destination. Try to avoid drinking alcohol on the flight as this will dehydrate you and disrupt sleep.
- Try to sleep if you can as it will help you to feel more refreshed once you land, especially if you have a long haul flight. Avoid drinking alcohol as this is a depressant and will give you unsettled sleep.
- Stand up and move around as much as you can every couple of hours to stretch your legs and encourage better circulation and blood flow which will help to reduce the risk of DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis).
Medical
- If you normally take medication ensure you have plenty with you and that you pack some in your hand luggage. It is advisable to take a little more than you need incase your baggage is delayed or your travel is extended for some reason on the return journey.
- Find out if you need to have any vaccinations before you travel. The sooner you can do this the better as some vaccinations and courses of medication have to start a certain amount of time before you travel. You can find out more from your local pharmacy or GP surgery.
- Make sure you stock up on bottled water and always ask for bottled water in restaurants, bars and cafes.
- Ensure you and your family are drinking plenty of water throughout the day. You will be perspiring in the sunshine and can quickly become dehydrated.
- It is best to avoid being out in the sun for too long during the hottest hours of the day which are between 11am and 3pm.
- If you are out at sea or in a swimming pool, be aware that the sun will still have the same affect and that you will also have the affect of the sun’s reflective rays on the water.
- Ensure you have a good factor sunscreen which you apply regularly throughout the day; the last thing you want is to be burnt, sore and have peeling skin; it is not a good look and regular episodes can have lasting damage to the skin.
- Always remember to take a small medical kit with you incase of minor accidents or illnesses etc. It is good to have items such as Aspirin, Paracetamol, plasters, antiseptic cream, Imodium, constipation relief, rehydration sachets, small scissors (not to be packed in your hand luggage though) and bandages.
- Always pack Insect Repellant as different seasons and years bring out different insects; some years bring out more insects than usual.
Accommodation
- If you have a safety deposit box in your room, make use of it to store your valuables, such as jewellery, cash, traveller’s cheques, mobile phones, Ipod, watch, cameras etc.
- Try to avoid staying on the ground floor of a hotel or apartment as it is more accessible to people and they can see into your room more easily.
- Try to sleep if you can as it will help you to feel more refreshed once you land, especially if you have a long haul flight. Avoid drinking alcohol as this is a depressant and will give you unsettled sleep.
- Be aware that salad ingredients and fresh fruit are likely to have been washed in local water. Find out from the hotel reception whether this is drinking water.
- Keep your room key with you at all times, even when you leave the hotel, but don’t leave it on display as it is seen as a target for thieves.
Out and about
- Only take out what you will need for the day; don’t carry all or too much of your money on you at one time.
- Keep your belongings close to you at all times, especially if you go to a marketplace or the like; they are often crowded places and hot spots for pick pockets.
- Try to keep your valuables in front of your person where you can see them; don’t leave your wallet in your back pocket as it is an easy visual target.
- Use your hotel to find out as much information you can about any areas you plan to travel to so you can avoid any that are deemed risky or unsafe.
- If you have a hire car or plan to drive during your holiday, familiarise yourself with local rules of the road, road markings and signs as these often differ from country to country. Also check which side of the road you should be driving on and which way round a roundabout you have to go.
Tips for Travelling with Children
- If you have children it is best to leave as much time as possible when making your way to the airport/ferry port so you can make sure they are comfortable, relaxed and have everything they may need for the journey. You are generally invited to board the plane first if you have young infants so it is a good idea to be at the departure lounge early so you can take advantage of the priority boarding which will give you more space in the empty overhead lockers and more time to settle down before everyone else boards.
- When you are at the airport always stick together, don’t let children go off anywhere on their own; airports are busy places with a very quick turn over of people and you can lose one another easily. The same applies when you are on holiday; foreign places can be very daunting and you can quickly lose track of a child if they stray from you, especially when you yourself are unfamiliar with the area.
- Make sure your child is wearing a sun hat; this not only protects their head and face from the sun but also helps to protect their eyes from too much glare.
- Make sure children are accompanied in and around the swimming pool at all times; it is easy to slip and for you to lose sight of them.
- As well as yourself, make sure children are well hydrated.
- Put a good factor sun screen on your children before you leave your hotel and venture into the sunshine. This ensures they are protected as soon as they are in the sun and also saves the hassle and mess of trying to do it once you are out. You should then reapply it regularly throughout the day, especially if they are in and out of water as some sun screens are not water resistant and it will wash off.
- Always remember to put sunscreen on their face too; children have more delicate skin than us adults, so a higher factor sunscreen is needed. See your local pharmacy for more advice.