Planning for your holiday
General advice about planning and researching your holiday destination before you travel.
Before you go on your holiday, it’s a good idea to do some research. A bit of local knowledge can go a long way, and could help you with everything from local customs and laws to the sort of weather you could expect – and hence what clothes you should pack! But more importantly, you might find out essential news about local political problems or civil unrest, or other dangers best avoided.
There are many sources for getting the latest information about your holiday destination, and guide books are a good place to start. However, as guide books are only as recent as when they were published, it’s a good idea to check online websites too. These might be official tourist information sites for the location that you’re visiting, or independent bloggers sites where travellers load their own reviews and experiences of their travels.
'Know before you go' website
A useful website to visit is the Foreign and Commonwealth Office which has specific pages about travelling and living abroad. In addition to the latest news about topical events that might affect travellers, there are handy tips specific to different types of travellers (backpackers, disabled, women, football fans, etc). You can also refine your search of the pages to a specific country and there’s a handy checklist for you to run through before you leave for your holiday.
Important note: Our travel insurance doesn’t provide cover for travellers who go to destinations where the Foreign and Commonwealth Office advise against visiting, so it’s important that you check before you travel. And if you booked your holiday before the FCO published recommendations not to travel to that destination, you’re covered by our policy for the cancellation. See the travel policy document for full details.
'Know before you go' partner
LV= is proud to be a ‘Know before you go’ partner with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. ‘Know before you go’ is an ongoing campaign with around 400 travel partners to help Brits stay safe and healthy abroad. The campaign was launched in 2001 to promote these key messages:
- Get adequate travel insurance
- Check the FCO’s country travel advice
- Research your destination – know the local laws and customs
- Visit your GP as soon as possible before travelling
- Check your passport is in good condition and valid and you have all necessary visas
- Make copies of important travel documents and/or store them online using a secure data storage site
- Tell someone where you are going and leave emergency contact details with them
- Take enough money and have access to emergency funds
According to the FCO, every year thousands of British travellers seriously regret not taking these simple steps. A bit of research ahead of your journey could save a lot of headaches and hassle abroad when you want to be enjoying yourself.
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