Travel Advice Feb 2010

Regarding the current threat, those intent on foreign travel from the UK (executives / close protection teams / travellers et al, will need to be aware of the the following changes and information in the travel policies from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Terrorism is a worldwide threat. Terrorist groups abroad have been known to attack foreigners and places where foreign visitors may gather, such as hotels, transport systems, nightlife areas and landmarks.


The Foreign & Commonwealth Office provides security advice for UK citizens who travel or live abroad.

Terrorism Abroad

You can take a number of common sense precautions to minimise the risk of being caught up in terrorism when you’re abroad:

• Regularly check our travel advice for the country you are visiting
• Subscribe to our email alerts
• Watch and read news about the country and region register with the local British Embassy or Consulate
• When you arrive be vigilant in public areas and places that attract foreigners and Westerners - embassies, Hotels, restaurants, bars and businesses look out for anything suspicious.
• Report it to the local police immediately – many terrorist attacks are foiled by the vigilance of ordinary people try to avoid routines that make you an easier target
• Vary the time and route of your regular journeys 

 

Before you leave make sure you:

• Check the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's (FCO) travel advice on their website or call 0845 850 2829
• Get travel insurance and check that the cover is appropriate
• Find a good guidebook and get to know your destination, including its local laws and customs ensure you have a valid passport and necessary visas
• Visit your GP at least six weeks before you go to check what vaccinations you need and whether you need to take extra health precautions
• Make sure your travel organiser has a policy for refunds and for bringing travellers home in the event that the company goes bankrupt (this should be backed up by an organisation offering financial protection)
• If your travel involves using airlines with which you are unfamiliar, you may wish to check their safety and reliability with a reputable travel agent
• Make copies of your passport, insurance policy plus 24-hour emergency number, and ticket details - leave copies with your family and friends
• Take enough money for your trip and some back-up funds, eg, travellers' cheques, sterling or US dollars
• Leave a copy of your itinerary and a way of contacting you, such as email, with family and friends
• The Foreign and Commonwealth Office website also produces specific travel advice for women, gay and lesbian travellers, young travellers, sports travellers, short-break travellers and backpackers.

Passport to do list:

• Fill in details of your next of kin on the last page
• Note down your passport number and date of issue and put these in a safe place, not with the passport itself
• Have you another form of photo ID to take with you
• Check that any children travelling on your passport will still be under 16 by the time they return (if not, they'll need their own passport - a child one if they will still be under 16 when they set off, and an adult one if they will already be 16)
• You should also check when your passport is due to run out and whether it is nearly full. Some countries will not let you enter if your passport has less than six months to run. The rules vary by country. For example, South Africa will turn people away if their passport has fewer than two blank pages left.
• If your passport is in its last year or is nearly full, you should check the rules of the countries you plan to visit before you book any travel. You can ask your travel agent or check with the embassy of the country concerned.
• If you need to renew your passport the Identity and Passport Service (IPS) can credit your new passport with any time (up to nine months) that the old one had left to run.