Know before you go

Stay safe when you travel overseas

The AA is working with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) to help British nationals stay safe abroad

The AA is working with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) to help British nationals stay safe abroad

Whatever your reason for travelling abroad, you're sure to want a trouble free trip. Many of the things that go wrong for travellers can be prevented or made less stressful by taking a few simple precautions.

So it makes sense to spend a little time getting prepared before you travel – you could save yourself a lot of problems later on.

With this in mind, we are working with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) to help British nationals stay safe abroad. The FCO website offers straightforward travel advice, top tips and up-to-date country information to help you plan your holiday.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office advice

Wherever you're planning to go – Europe or further afield – the travel advice tool on the right will help you find the information you need to know, from entry requirements or the latest travel advice, to information on health vaccinations, local laws and customs.

Tips include:

  • Make sure you have valid travel insurance, even if you're only planning a short trip.
  • Check what vaccinations you need by visiting www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk, your travel health clinic or GP at least six weeks before you travel.
  • Read up on your destination, including local laws and customs.
  • Make photocopies of your passport, visas and insurance details and leave a copy with a relative or friend at home.
  • Reading up on what the local British Consulate can do to help you if you run into problems abroad – and what they can't do.

You can also find handy checklists to use before you set off and while you're away.

Contact the FCO

For all this and more information, visit the FCO website. Or if you prefer, call the 24-hour FCO travel advice line on 0845 850 2829.

Travelling in Europe?

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AA members enjoy a range of travel savings – from ferry discounts to offers on accommodation and car hire. Plan your trip with our free online European Route Planner, and make sure you've got European breakdown cover – save up to 30% when you book online and enjoy peace of mind with our 24-hour English-speaking assistance. AA Car Insurance customers enjoy 90 days of free European cover, and we also offer Travel Insurance too.

Make sure you're up to speed with the latest driving requirements for each country and local laws, and don’t forget to check out our European driving advice. You'll find everything you need for driving in Europe in the AA Shop. Standard delivery is free on all mainland UK orders. And members enjoy a 10% discount.

Updated April 2013