Important Travel DO's before you board your flights from UK

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Here are some DO's before you set your foot out of the UK. You must consider them by the time of booking a flight or planning holiday vacations or business trips. These useful travel tips will help you to avoid the unnecessary hindrances during the holidays. Date : Thursday, January 13, 2011

Travel agents bombard you with lots of attractive travel destinations and packages and added to that the lure of cheap flights to your dream destinations sometimes knock you off your rationality. You were so excited about those packages that after booking your tickets you find that Passport expires in another month or so, or your driving licence needs to be renewed or that you have too little time to go for the necessary health check-up etc. So here are some DO's before you set your foot out of the UK:

• Gather as much information possible from the Travel advice page by FCO and do remain updated by signing up for email alerts related to the country you are visiting
• It is best to register with the LOCATE service by FCO so that you can be reached in times of emergency.
• Be informed about where your country's embassy would be located in the country you are visiting and knowing the timings of the office would be helpful to you to seek help.
• Travel with an insurance and make sure that it covers you for any sports or activities that has risks of injury.
• Even if you are travelling within the EU, you need to have travel insurance, and you can also get a European Health Insurance Card for free or reduced emergency care. Call 112 to contact the emergency services in any EU country.
• Some countries in Africa and Asia might be affected with diseases like malaria, yellow fever, tuberculosis, Hepatitis B or H1N1. See that you consult your doctor before you visit any of those countries.
• Be confirmed that you have got the correct visas for the country you are travelling to and that you have a valid passport.
• Before you book your flights from UK see that you have a passport and if you are an adult applying for a passport for the first time, you are required to attend the interview to testify your own identity. For more information visit DirectGov.
• It is essential that you check the passport regulations of the country you are visiting for some countries may require the visitor to have the passport valid for 6 months after the date of the travel.
• Store the photocopy of your original passport in some safe place while you travel and do store them online is a secure data storage site.
• Ensure that your passport is filled with contact numbers of persons, who could be approached in times of emergency.
• Keep your friend or relative informed about your travel destination and duration and if possible with the itinerary and an emergency contact number as well.
• Money is essential when you travel. See that you have both cash and travellers' cheques with you and also keep some extra for emergency needs.
• Take the help of a good travel guide to plan your holiday well.
• If you intend to drive abroad, acquaint yourself with the driving laws of the country you are visiting and do carry your current and valid licence with you.
• Before you pick up your medical kit, see that you have taken the prescription and have kept the medicines in its original packet because some destinations such as Dubai restrict certain medicines for common cough etc onboard the plane.
• Also check HM Revenue & Customs Travel website for information on duty-free allowances, banned goods etc. as collecting wild flowers and shells in Seychelles are strictly prohibited.