Latest news with #traveladvice
The Independent
2 days ago
- The Independent
Greece and Turkey wildfires: Is it safe to travel to popular holiday hotspots?
Greece and Turkey continue to battle major wildfires amid a severe heatwave. Temperatures reached 42.4C in central Greece at the weekend, with emergency services battling fires in the Peloponnese area of Athens and on the popular tourist islands of Kytheria and Crete. Turkey has also recorded its highest temperatures as fires continue to rage in the forested mountains surrounding Bursa. Thousands of residents have been evacuated. The highway linking Bursa to the capital, Ankara, is also closed as surrounding forests burn. The Independent's travel correspondent Simon Calder explains the latest advice if you are due to travel this summer.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Anyone travelling to Turkey urged to make 'check' before holiday
The Foreign Office has updated its travel advice for people heading to Turkey. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is the ministry of foreign affairs and a ministerial department of the UK government. The FCDO is the UK government department responsible for protecting and promoting British interests around the world. It often informs people about the latest travel changes, offering key advice before people make a journey abroad. In the latest update for Turkey, the Foreign Office has shared information about using e-sims in the country, the update comes via The update states: "Access to some e-sim services is restricted in Turkey. Check with your provider before travelling." The country is hugely popular with tourists, boasting a number of resorts, and visited by millions from the UK. READ MORE: Ryanair rule could see you charged £55 and not because of your bag READ MORE: Luggage rules including backpacks on Ryanair, easyJet and Jet2 flights When travelling abroad, many people like to use international eSIMs, but anyone planning to do so in Turkey should be aware of a new regulation. Travel expert at Holafly Juan David Soler, has issued a warning to all British holidaymakers to act fast and make changes before they take off for their favourite Turkish resort. He said: "Turkey's sudden ban on eSIMs has caught many travellers off guard, and it's vital that UK holidaymakers heading there this summer take action before they fly. "eSIMs have become the go-to option for Brits wanting affordable mobile data abroad without the hassle of physical SIMs or costly roaming. But now, travellers will no longer be able to activate a new eSIM once they arrive in Turkey. The travel expert continued: "To avoid getting caught out, UK travellers should ensure their eSIM is fully downloaded and activated before leaving the UK. "This means setting up your digital SIM while still on UK networks, and confirming it's working properly before departure. Otherwise, you could be left without internet access the moment you land, which can be a serious issue if you rely on your phone for maps, transport, or bookings." If you choose to travel, you should research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance. Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency. To enter Turkey, your passport must have an 'expiry date' at least 150 days after the date you arrive and at least one blank page. You should check with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet requirements and renew your passport if you need to.
The Sun
4 days ago
- The Sun
All the passport rules you NEED to know now to stop your summer holidays being ruined or even cancelled
THESE are all the passport rules that you need to know. Thousands of Brits were affected by mistakes which ruined their holidays last year. 5 5 5 Many UK holidaymakers were turned away from the airport gates last year because they were unaware about a simple but costly error. According to travel expert Alpine Elements, people are unaware of strict passport rules when travelling abroad, particularly to countries outside the EU. Last year alone, hundreds of people were either refused boarding or entry despite holding valid passports. This caused honeymoons to be ruined, cruises to be missed, and thousands of pounds were lost in non-refundable costs. The 6-month validity rule Some destinations require UK passports to have at least six months left before the expiry date on arrival. So even though your passport may still be active, many border agents in countries will not let you though, even if they don't require a visa. Popular destinations that enforce this rule include: Dubai and the UAE, Thailand, Indonesia (including Bali), Turkey and Egypt The spokesperson from Alpine Elements explained: "It's a harsh rule but widely enforced. It catches a lot of people out because they assume no visa means no problem." Not just about expiry However, some countries also base their entry rules on the date that the passport was issued. Within the EU's Schengen Zone, UK travellers must have a passport that was issued within the last 10 years AND at least 3 months left before expiry on the return date. Why TSA May Ask for Multiple IDs: What Travelers Need to Know in 2025 Alpine Elements explained that the first condition has caught many UK residents off guard. They spokesperson explained: "People renew passports early, but if the new passport carries over old months, some airlines or border officials won't accept it." Alpine Elements added that this was especially common with UK passports issued before September 2018. Real stories of ruined holidays Last summer, a couple from Leeds missed out on their honeymoon to Bali which they paid £5,000 for. The airline staff refused to check them in as their passports only had five months and three weeks left. This was just short of the six-month rule that is in force by Indonesia. An additional family was denied boarding to Dubai after discovering their passports were over 10 years old. This was also despite having four months left before their travel documents experied. The spokesperson from Alpine Elements added: "People don't realise airlines can deny boarding based on destination entry rules. You don't even get to argue your case at immigration — you're stopped before take-off." What Brits should do before flying To avoid disappointment, you should check your passport at least six to eight weeks before travel. Brits are advised to check both expiry and issue date by using the UK government's passport validity checker. Holidaymakers should renew their passport early if the expiry date is within six to nine months. Touritsts should also remain extra cautious if visiting countries like Thailand or UAE who have strict rules. Even for some cruise ports, the spokesperson explained: "It's heartbreaking to see someone turned away at the gate over a technicality. "And it's worse if it's a long-planned celebration or a once-in-a-lifetime trip." 'With post-Brexit changes and non-EU travel rules, Brits can't afford to be casual about passports anymore." "Even if you've travelled recently, double-check every time — the rules vary wildly depending on where you're going." 5 5
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Daily Mail
Popular tourist hotspot makes big change to travel advice
A popular winter sun city break destination has seen travel advice issued by the UK government changed this week. British tourists planning to visit Morocco have been warned by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office about the risks of carrying drugs in and out of the country, including Class B drug cannabis. The North African country has severe penalties for tourists caught carrying illegal substances while transiting through Moroccan airports, with heavy fines and long jail sentences handed out. The new Government travel advice issued yesterday says drug-detecting technology has been ramped up in recent years in the country. Its advice now reads: 'Illegal drugs, including cannabis, carry severe penalties. You should expect a long jail sentence and heavy fines for possessing, using or smuggling illegal drugs, including when transiting through the airport. 'Airports in Morocco have excellent technology and security for detecting illegal items. This is also used to scan the baggage of transiting passengers.' Tourism in Morocco continues to grow year-on-year, with around a million visitors descending on cities including Marrakech, Casablanca and coastal resorts including Essaouira and Agadir. The update comes just a day after a British mother was charged with trafficking drugs into Germany after being caught allegedly smuggling cannabis from Thailand. Cameron Bradford, 21, from Knebworth in Hertfordshire, was arrested at Munich Airport on April 22nd when she attempted to collect her luggage. Authorities had become suspicious after she allegedly changed her flight at the last minute, having originally been due to fly to London Heathrow via Singapore. Her family had filed a missing person report after raising concerns when she did not return home as expected, but then learned the next day she was in Germany. Miss Bradford was arrested and held in custody - and has now been charged with attempted transit of cannabis and abetting the international trafficking of cannabis. The mother, who has a young son, is set to make an appearance at a hearing in Munich District Court on August 6 as authorities continue to investigate. A Foreign Office spokesman said today: 'We are supporting a British woman who is detained in Germany and are in contact with her family and the local authorities.' Miss Bradford's arrest is one of a series of cases involving suspected young British female drug mules stopped by police at airports in countries around the world. This week, another British woman was arrested in Mauritius accused of trying to smuggle cannabis inside her six-year-old son's suitcase. This week, Natashia Artug, 35, of Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, was detained alongside seven other people accused of carrying more than 161kg of the drug - worth £1.6million - in their luggage. The boy's luggage alone is said to have had 24 packages of drugs wrapped in clear cellophane inside weighing 14kg. Campaign group Justice Abroad claimed Ms Artug is 'vulnerable' and was coerced into travelling to Mauritius by people involved in the drug trade who threatened her and her family, adding that she did not know the bags contained cannabis. Miss Artug's partner Florian Lisman, a 38-year-old Romanian, was also arrested and said to be carrying 32 drug packages, an iPhone and £260. The other Britons detained were Patrick Lee Wilsdon, 22, Lily Watson, 20, Shannon Ellen Josie Holness 29, Laura Amy Kappen 28, and Shona Campbell, 32, who each had between 30 and 32 packages, according to local newspaper Le Mauricien. They were all on the same British Airways flight from London Gatwick to Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam airport last month. The suspects have all been charged with drug trafficking and remain in custody.
The Independent
21-07-2025
- The Independent
Simon Calder issues mobile roaming warning for summer holidaymakers
British holidaymakers are being advised to be vigilant about potential mobile phone roaming charges while abroad. Holidaymakers in Corfu have recently faced bills of up to £300 due to their phones connecting to Albanian mobile phone masts. This issue of unexpected roaming charges is not confined solely to the Corfu and Albania region. The Independent 's travel expert, Simon Calder, provides essential information on how to avoid these additional costs. Watch the video above.
