Foreign Office issues guidance to UK tourists heading abroad
Brits planning a summer getaway have been given guidance from the Foreign Office. It's all too easy to dive into your holiday without considering potential issues.
For instance, severe weather conditions on your flight day could result in cancellation. Alternatively, an unexpected incident near your accommodation might mean you can't stay there for your entire trip. Some nations also enforce stricter dress codes for travellers, even tourists.
Luckily, there's a straightforward way for Brits to ensure they're fully prepared for their holiday in advance. Writing on X, the FCDO said: "Heading overseas? Before you pack your passport, check the latest Travel Advice for your destination.
"You'll find all the key info from entry requirements to laws and cultural differences".
Checking foreign travel advice
The Foreign Office website provides up-to-date advice for British travellers for 226 countries and territories, including popular British holiday destinations like Spain, Italy, Egypt, Greece, and France. To utilise the website, simply locate the hyperlink for your destination country or type it into the search bar.
The website will then provide you with any updated warnings and whether they remain current. For instance, the Foreign Office for Greece issued an update on 4 July about wildfires spreading through parts of the country.
Despite the entry being updated at the start of the month, it underscores that the advice remains relevant due to the high risk of wildfires in the region throughout the entire summer season, spreading from April to October. The Foreign Office can also assist you in preparing for any emergencies by providing information on who to contact.
For example, if you require emergency services in Spain, it is advised to dial 112 for police, fire services, or an ambulance. It also advises that if you need to report a crime, you can do so at the nearest station of the National Police, regional police, or Civil Guard.
Important advice for those with travel insurance
It is particularly crucial to stay updated on Foreign Office guidance if you have taken out travel insurance for the duration of your holiday. If the Foreign Office has warned against travelling to a certain region, you could be at risk of invalidating your travel insurance.
If your insurance does become invalid, you could be responsible for footing the bill for any medical emergencies yourself. This could lead to excessively high costs depending on where you're travelling.
For example, a fall resulting in a fractured leg in Spain could result in a bill of £2,500. Or in Greece, a quad bike crash requiring surgical intervention could result in costs ofover £80,000.
Meanwhile, contracting a stomach illness or infection in the USA that demands hospital care could result in charges exceeding £150,000.
The Association of British Insurers (ABI) warns: "When shopping around for travel insurance, make sure that the policy is right for your needs, and do not automatically opt for the cheapest. This is especially important if you have any pre-existing medical conditions."
They also suggest taking out travel insurance the moment you book your trip to safeguard against potential losses like cancellation charges if sickness stops you from travelling. At the very latest, they urge getting it sorted before departing the UK, as many policies offer protection from the moment your journey begins until you get back home.
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Leader Live
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Is it safe to travel to Greece? Tourist advice amid wildfires
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