Preparing for your trip
- Keep yourself up to date with your government's latest travel advice and warnings, right up until you leave.
- Make sure you have the correct visas and that your passport is valid - for some countries it must be valid for at least 6 months from the date you enter the country.
- Make copies of your passport and other important documents and keep one set with someone at home and another set with you, separate from the originals.
- Take some emergency funds in cash and travellers cheques, making a note of the cheques' numbers before you go.
- If you plan to drive, make sure your licence is current and valid.
Insurance and healthcare
- Wherever you're travelling, you must get travel insurance before you go, making sure it covers you for activities such as extreme or water sports if you think you may participate.
- If you're a citizen of the EU, organise your free European Health Insurance Card for access to free or reduced emergency care anywhere within the EU, though you'll still need full travel insurance.
- Organise your travel vaccinations at least six weeks before you leave and find out about your destination country's rules on carrying prescription medicines.
Mobile phones
- If you're taking your mobile phone, check with your service provider to make sure you'll have access abroad, or think about buying a local SIM card when you arrive.
- If you take your phone, store useful numbers such as the local police and your nearest embassy or consulate.
When you get there
- Refresh yourself when you arrive with a shower but avoid hot baths as they may make you feel tired.
- To minimise your jet lag, try to get out into natural light and eat according to the mealtimes of your new time zone.
- Be extra careful with food and drinks so you'll stay fit and healthy for meetings.
- Find out whether it's safe to drink local tap water. If not, stick to bottled water, avoid salads, ice and fruit that can't be peeled.
- Be vigilant applying insect repellent, especially in the evening, to protect yourself from insect bites.
- Be discrete with your valuables, including mobile phones and cameras. You may want to use a padlock on your suitcases and briefcase or handbag.
General advice
- Respect the environment of your host country - don't buy wildlife souvenirs, conserve resources like water and don't litter.
- Be sensitive when taking photographs, videos or using binoculars. Your intentions may be misunderstood, especially near military installations.
- Spend some time finding out about local customs and dress and local laws - there may be serious penalties for breaking laws that to you may seem trivial.
