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| Passports & Visas |
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If you're a travelling abroad, even in the European Union, you will need a full Passport and you may also need a Visa to gain entry into your chosen destination. If you've booked your holiday through a travel agent they should explain all the requirements to you, but its always a good idea to ask.
For more information on obtaining or replacing a UK Passport take a look at the UK Passport Agency web site. To check if you need a Visa for your journey you can either contact the relevant country's Embassy or look at the Travel Advice pages on the Foreign & Commonwealth Office web site.
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| Stay Healthy |
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| No one expects to be ill on holiday but preparing for the possibility will put your mind at rest. Whether holidaying abroad or in this country, packing a small first aid kit is essential. You probably have most of the contents at home already; plasters, antiseptic creams and wipes, small bandages, safety pins, painkillers etc. If travelling abroad with children it's
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| easy for them to take in too much sun at the start of the holiday and become dehydrated so make sure they drink plenty and take some oral rehydration powders with you. |
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Always take care in the sun and use a good quality sunscreen with a high protection factor, preferably a total sun block on young children and babies. Make sure you apply regularly, particularly after swimming or other water activities. If you're staying the UK, don't forget the sun can still damage skin if it's cloudy, so you'll still need to use a sunscreen.
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| If travelling to countries in the EU make sure you take a completed form E111 which will entitle you to some free and reduced-cost emergency healthcare. Forms are available from Post Offices. |
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| Travel Insurance |
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| Travel insurance may add a few pounds to your holiday expenses but is worth every penny for the peace of mind it brings. And don't be tempted to just accept whatever is offered by your travel agent. Read the small print and make sure you and your family are properly covered for theft, loss and medical problems. As with any type of insurance, there are
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different levels of cover, for example most policies don't include dangerous or water sports in their standard cover. If you know you are likely to take part in these actvities, make sure you're covered.
You will also need to make sure all your belongings are insured. Check for payout limits for individual items, what will happen in the event of lost luggage and what you would need to do in the event of loss, theft or illness. Make sure you have the insurance company contact numbers with you while you're away.
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