Government Travel Advice When you Travel your safety is important. Always check the foreign office advice of your country before you go.

United Kingdom citizens

New Zealand citizens

Australia citizens

USA citizens

Canada citizens

European countries citizens

General Health Advice Most countries also publish details on health advice for all countries, this is an example in the United Kingdom.

General Safety Advice

* One of the benefits of travelling with others or a group is the increased level of safety. However, any travel has risks attached so it is important to be prepared to ensure a safe and problem-free trip.

* Do your research about your destination – get a guide book, go online, read our country and pre departure information. Your country’s foreign affairs ministry should also have a website dedicated to keeping travellers safe overseas – this can be a very good source of information, tips and advice.

* Sign up for email or SMS travel alerts for destinations you’ll be travelling for.

* Get travel insurance – if you can’t afford insurance, you can’t afford to travel. Obtaining comprehensive travel insurance is recommended for any trip overseas. Visit our Travel Insurance page for information about how much cover you need and where you can buy travel insurance. Check your policy carefully and make sure it covers you for all the activities you want to do on your travels.

* Make sure you budget enough for fun and a buffer for emergencies. Bear in mind you may need a contingency fund for things not covered by your travel insurance.

* Make copies of all your travel documents (passport, vouchers, itineraries, insurance) and leave it at home with someone you trust in case of emergency. Scan the documents and keep electronic copies in a web based email account like Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail etc.

* You may like to register your journey with your local government travel advisory service so they can contact you in case of emergency. This is usually fairly straightforward to do online.

* Take care of your health needs in advance of travel – consider prescriptions, vaccinations, dental care, medical certificates, mosquito repellent, glasses/contact lenses and any other ongoing issues you may need to deal with as you travel.

* Avoid all demonstrations and protests given their potential to turn violent.

* Pay close attention to your personal security and monitor the media for information about any possible new safety or security risks.

* Carry a copy of your passport with you wherever you go and keep your passport in a safe place, such as a hotel safe at reception.

* We advise you to exercise a reasonable degree of caution when you travel, in the same way you would anywhere else in the world. You should be aware that all nations have both petty crime and sometimes more serious crime, but you should not be paranoid.

* Remember to be very careful with your personal belongings (ie: passport, tickets, excess money, etc), and only take them out with you if it is necessary – otherwise you can leave them in the hotel safe deposit box.

* If you are venturing out alone, let someone at your hotel know where you’ll be going and when you can be expected to return.