The foreign office has loads of useful advice for travellers, both before they go and while they are abroad.  Here is their checklist of things to do before you go away:

• check our travel advice pages for the country you are visiting.  Sign up for email alerts and you’ll get the latest updates for that country
• register with our LOCATE service so we can get in touch with you if something goes wrong
• find out where the nearest embassy will be – check their website to find out what services they offer and their opening times
• don’t travel without insurance – make sure it covers you for any activities you are likely to undertake such as extreme or water sports
• travelling within the EU? Then get a free European Health Insurance Card for free or reduced emergency care - you still need full travel insurance though! Also remember, you can call 112 to contact the emergency services in any EU country.
• check with your doctor as soon as possible to find out if you need any vaccinations before you travel
• make sure you’ve got correct visas for the country you are visiting and that your passport is valid.
• All first time adult passport applicants must now attend an interview to verify their identity. It now takes up to six weeks to get a first passport. For more information please visit www.ips.gov.uk
• for certain countries your passport must be valid for 6 months after the date you travel – check before you go
• take photocopies of your passport and other important documents and keep these separate from the originals when you travel and/or store them online using a secure data storage site.
• make sure you fill in the emergency contact details in your passport. This will make it much easier for us to contact someone if necessary
• tell a friend or relative where you are going and for how long for - give them some idea of your itinerary if possible and an emergency contact number
• take enough money for your trip and some back-up funds in a mix of cash and travellers cheque -  make a note of the cheques’ numbers before you go
• invest in a good travel guide to help you plan your trip
• driving abroad? Make sure your licence is current and valid. Make sure you are aware of the driving laws in the country you are visiting
• check HM Revenue & Customs website "Travel" for information on duty-free allowances, banned goods etc.