#travelaware
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#travelaware…
When you’re planning your trip to Australia, reliable information and a bit of pre-trip planning can be the difference between a safe, successful adventure and feeling hopelessly out of your depth.
That’s why we’re working with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office’s #travelaware campaign to encourage travellers to Australia (and everywhere else) to plan and prepare before you board the plane. Stay safe overseas – Know Before You Go
Whether you are travelling to Australia to visit friends or family, to take part in exciting sports or just to get a bit of rest and relaxation, you’re sure to want your trip to go smoothly. Although most overseas trips do go without a hitch, British travellers still can, and do, run into trouble whilst they are away.
The good news is that many of the most common problems 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 worry later on.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office’s website www.travelaware.campaign.gov.uk offers straightforward travel advice, top tips and up to date country information to help you plan your holiday.
Travel tips from the FCDO
- Make sure you have valid travel insurance, even if you’re only planning a short trip. And make sure it will cover you for wherever you’re going and whatever activities you plan to take part in while you’re there.
- Check what vaccinations you need by visiting www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk, your travel health clinic or GP at least 6 weeks before you travel.
- Read up on your destination, including local laws and customs. A good travel guide should give you this information, and it’s also worth talking to your travel agent or tour operator about possible risks.
- Make photocopies of your passport, visas, insurance details and any other important travel documents. Take one copy with you (packed separately from your real documents) and leave another copy with a relative or friend at home. Alternatively store them online using a secure data storage site.
For lots more travel advice, take a look at www.travelaware.campaign.gov.uk
Country by country advice
You can also find travel advice for specific countries on the FCDO Travel Advice by Country. This includes areas of the country that may be risky to visit, the likelihood of terrorist activities and any health issues that you should watch out for. The information is updated regularly, so by selecting the countries you plan to travel to, you can make sure you’re properly informed.
Don’t go to…
Sometimes there is such a high level of risk in a certain country, or part of a country, that the FCDO recommends that you simply don’t travel there. You can find a list of these countries and areas on the FCDO Travel Advice by Country.
Introducing your local British Consulate
You’ll probably know that British Consulate offices exist in foreign countries, to assist British nationals while they’re in the country. But do you know what they can actually do to help if you can get into difficulty – and what they can’t do?
For example, your local British Consulate can:
- issue a replacement passport if yours is lost or stolen
- help if you are a victim of crime
- make special arrangements if there’s a terrorist attack or a natural disaster
But they can’t:
- get you out of prison
- pay fines for you or put up bail
- help you enter a country if you don’t have the correct visa
You can get all the facts about the British Consulate services at www.travelaware.campaign.gov.uk
Read more articles on the #TravelAware campaign
Check Your Checklists
To make sure you’ve done everything you can to make your travels safe, why not take a look at the FCDO’s range of online checklists?
You can find checklists for:
what to do before you set off
special precautions for groups including women, gay and lesbian travellers, gap year students and sports supporters
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