Overseas travel

Planning is the key to any safe trip. You can find a lot of advice on travelling abroad from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office covering passports, visas and other key items. Advice on what to do if you take ill or have an accident whilst out of the country can be obtained from the Department of Health.

Travel information from the Foreign & Commonwealth Office

The Foreign & Commonwealth Office website offers lots of travel information including:

official Foreign Office travel advice for over 200 countries, country-specific travellers' tips, and links to travel advice of foreign governments
what to do before you depart, passports and visas, travel insurance, money matters, health matters, dangers of drugs and keeping your home safe
travellers' checklists to make sure you are well prepared and have a safe holiday
precautions while you're away: security and general tips on customs, laws and even driving abroad
what to do if something goes wrong during your trip
answers to the most frequently asked questions
The Foreign & Commonwealth Office website

Vaccinations and health

The Department of Health website has advice on:

avoiding health risks, including advice on vaccinations for different countries
planning for healthy travel
getting emergency medical treatment
getting a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), which entitles you to free or reduced-cost emergency treatment in some European countries.

Medical treatment in many countries is very expensive so consider taking out travel insurance that covers you and your family. Over exposure to the sun can cause skin cancer, heatstroke and sunburn.