Insurance Services

Useful Tips for Successful Travel

Check whether there are any a special occasions such as public holidays/local elections/political conferences/major sporting events in the destinations you are travelling to. As well as affecting prices, hotel availability and traffic, security may be heightened and the likelihood of terrorist attacks can increase.

Make three copies of your itinerary, passport & visa. Pack one copy separately from the originals, leave one with your School or Service and one with an emergency contact person. Please note: many countries will require you to carry your passport/ID at all times. Having another copy in your luggage will help if your originals are lost/stolen/confiscated.

Email any important documents to yourself - if you lose your memory stick or your laptop gets stolen, you can still access your email from another computer. And make a list of contacts before you leave the country.

Use hotels you know and trust. Reputable 4/5 star hotels are not just for comfort, they have higher security standards and good medical emergency procedures.

If you are travelling to a country you have not been to before - do some research. While you may have been to a neighbouring country, there will be differences and country-specific issues to consider. Visit the FCO website and Red24 (password 7797) or contact Mark Jackson in the UEL International Office.

Check the medical provision in-country before you go. Although you will be covered by University insurance, you may not be admitted to the hospital without cash payment on arrival (even as an emergency case in an ambulance). Visit the Red24 website (password 7797) to check the medical provision before you go. Click on 'Travel assistance website', select the country you are visiting, then click on 'Health Advisory' in the horizontal menu bar.

If you wear glasses or contact lenses, pack an extra pair. When carrying your own medications, take a copy of your prescription with you and the generic names for the drugs. If you have any doubt about the legality of carrying a certain drug into a country, consult the embassy or consulate of that country first. Keep medicines in their original, labelled containers. If a medication is unusual or contains narcotics, carry a letter from your doctor attesting to your need to take the drug. Take enough medication for the duration of your trip plus 7 days (for emergencies).

Charge your mobile phone daily - you don't want the battery to run out in an emergency or when you are on a long journey in-country. Programme in the numbers of local contacts and emergency contacts like the University's Emergency Assistance providers. Do not take pre-paid phones (the credit will not last), and make sure your phone will work in the country you are going to. If you have a UEL mobile phone, check with Paul Ash, UEL Telecoms Coordinator, (x2102) that your UEL mobile phone is enabled for overseas use with sufficient available credit.