Travel Advice And Information
Now matter how often we travel and no matter how experienced we are, we always need to listen and take on board any travel advice that is on offer. Travel advice comes in many different areas and if you are travelling to a destination to which you have never been to before, it is advisable to seek as much travel advice possible for that specific destination. We all think we know it all when it comes to travelling but unfortunately we don’t and every time I travel, I learn something new. I believe we should embrace any new advice that is offered, as it will probably come in useful one day!
The term ‘Travel Advice’ is so broad and commonly used it can cover such a wide area. People are always searching for travel advice and each individual’s questions can relate to different topics. It is human nature to want to know more, especially if it is about something we have never done before or somewhere we have never been to before. The advice we search for can be something less serious such as places and sights to see and visit, restaurants to eat in or it can be advice for more serious questions such as Medical advice or Health care.
As I mentioned earlier, travel advice comes in many different areas and this page is designed to provide you with relevant contact details and numbers for the areas that are most common in travel.
Destinations
The most common area people ask advice on is ‘destinations’. Obviously, when travelling to a foreign country or destination, people are a little apprehensive and would like certain questions answering before they go. Many countries require you to have a Visa, there are many countries to which you will need vaccinations prior to travelling and there are certain countries whose laws are very different to those in the UK (or your home country) and if you are travelling to one of these countries, you certainly need to be familiar with their laws and culture.
As you can appreciate, with all the best will in the world, it would be impossible for me to even attempt to answer each an ever single question or provide travel advice for every destination throughout the world. However, what is possible is for me to offer you contact details for the appropriate organisations that are in place to provide travel advice for certain areas of travel and for the many destinations throughout the world. Having the following list of travel related organisation that offer travel advice is a very useful tool to have and one that will hopefully help take the stress out of planning your holiday and travel arrangements.
Foreign Travel Advice
If you have any questions regarding your chosen travel destination, I would certainly recommend visiting the Gov.uk (Government) website. The Foreign Travel Advice page is a great source of information and it allows you to ‘search for a country or territory’ by simply typing the name of your destination into the search box. It then provides a wide range of information about that country including:
Safety and security, Terrorism, Local laws and customs, Entry requirements, Health, Money and it also allows you to contact FCO Travel Advice Team if you require further assistance.
You can visit the Gov.uk via the following links: Foreign Travel Advice – Travelling Abroad
Another great little website that offers a range of information and travel advice is the ‘NaTHNac’ (National Travel Health Network and Centre) website: NaTHNac
Travel Advice For Vaccinations
As we mentioned previously, if you are planning to travel to a foreign country, you may need to have vaccinations before you travel. These vaccinations are in place to help prevent you from contracting many of the infectious diseases such as Malaria and Yellow Fever that are common in certain countries around the world.
There are several different types of travel jabs and which one you have before travel will depend on which countries you are visiting. If you are unsure as to whether you will require vaccinations for the country you are visiting, you can check to see if you will need any at the following website. You can also contact your GP or nurse for advice and they will be able to check your records to see if your jabs are up to date and advise you on what is the best action to take regarding vaccinations.
Useful Website: Fit For Travel
If you would like to read more advice about travel vaccinations, then the NHS provide a helpful page about travel immunisation and you can visit it by following the link below:
Passports
One of the biggest nightmares many people have starts even before they have left their own home and that is the one with their Passports(s). So many people find themselves in the situation of not being able to find their Passport or realising that their Passport has run out or is due to expire soon before the date of travel or even whilst they will be away on their travels. Obviously, this is not ideal and you should always try to ensure before you book your travel arrangements that you know where your Passport is and that it is valid for the duration of your travel.
If you need any advice on applying for a passport or renewing a an existing Passport, you can read more information on the following Government website:
Travel Safety
Travel undoubtedly has its risks and depending on where you are travel to, what you are doing and how you are travelling will determine what safety precautions you should take. Doing a little homework before you travel and familiarising yourself with the potential dangers that may arise on your travels is always good advice, especially if you are travelling with children. However, unfortunately the unexpected can happen and no matter how much precaution we take, it can catch us out. Use common sense when travelling and if somewhere does not feel safe or an activity does not feel right, try to avoid it!
With have written a separate page about Travel safety and if you would like to read more, please visit the following page: Travel Safety
If you are unsure or are concerned with any aspect of your travel, it is always advisable to seek travel advice from an expert or professional in the appropriate field to which your concern is associated.