Everyone looks forward to that time of year when they clock off work, jump on a plane and head off to the sun for their holidays. However, if you’re not careful, it is incredibly easy for your dream holiday to be ruined by a small accident or a lack of planning.

It’s highly important to make sure you know exactly what to look for in terms of safety when it comes to going abroad, so here are a few top tips for holiday safety:

Protect personal possessions
Keeping your possessions safe while you’re in a foreign country is one of the most important safety factors to consider. No one wants to deal with the complex process of getting a new passport, nor do they want their hard earned cash stolen from them.

With this in mind, the best way of keeping your possessions protected is by making sure they are locked in the safe in your room or that the hotel managers have placed them in the hotel safe. Try to carry around as little as possible in terms of cash and valuables and don’t leave anything on show in your hotel room.

Look after your money
Money can be the biggest concern when it comes to going abroad. We all know how expensive it is to make withdrawals from foreign cash machines; a fact that often makes it a good idea to change all your money before you leave.

This results in you having to ensure the safety of excess cash a lot of the time. While placing cash in the hotel safe is a great option, you may also want to think about traveller’s cheques. These may cost a little more initially, but your money is protected should the cheques be lost or stolen and you’ll need to sign and show proof of identity to have them changed into currency.

Take care of your health
There are a number of practicalities you must remember when venturing abroad. Some are easily remembered, such as clothes and sunglasses, but others are not so obvious.

If you’re going on a romantic retreat, you’ll need to remember to pack contraception and perhaps certain medication. If you regularly suffer from conditions such as cystitis, you may want to consider Cymalon 4g Granules for Oral Solution (contains Sodium Citrate) as you don’t want these ailments ruining your trip. Please remember to always read the label.

Research your destination
If you’re visiting a country that you have never been to before, then it is probably a good idea to try and find out a bit about the area. Working out what is considered rude and polite behaviour can help ensure you don’t act in an obnoxious and perhaps insulting manner, while travel information pages also give advice on common scams to watch out for. You should also brush up on a few language skills to improve your communication skills and perhaps invest in a travel guide to help you decide what to do and where to go.

Sources:
Travel health - http://www.nhs.uk/livewell/travelhealth/pages/travelhealthhome.aspx
Contraception - http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/contraception-guide/Pages/contraception.aspx
Cystitis - http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Cystitis/Pages/Introduction.aspx