Always take out Travel Insurance well in advance of travelling. The policy will cover you for any medical expenses that you incur should you be involved in an accident or become ill and require hospitalisation.

Apart from medical expenses the policy should also cover things like; legal expenses, cancellation & curtailment, loss of money, baggage & passport, repatriation and personal liability.

Oxygen

There is less oxygen absorbed into the blood and circulated throughout the body during flight as compared to ground level due to a decrease in oxygen with an increased cabin altitude. As long as you are in reasonably good health, your body has physiological mechanisms that compensate for this decreased quantity of oxygen. On the other hand, passengers with significant heart, lung, and blood diseases may not well tolerate lower amounts of oxygen. Therefore, they should consult their physician before air travel to evaluate their capability to travel and to determine if there is a need for medical oxygen or other special assistance. Medical oxygen can be arranged with most airlines and it is important to check with your carrier several days in advance of the flight. Furthermore, the combination of low oxygen, alcohol, inactivity and sleep can generate unpleasant side effects like dizziness and/or fainting if one stands up too fast after awakening. Arm and leg exercises before standing up will usually prevent this.

Leave copies of your important documents such as: tickets, drivers license, passport, visas, medical documents, prescriptions and so on with a friend just in case you need a back-up sent to you in an emergency. Also, leave a copy of your itinerary with family or friends at home so that you can be contacted in case of an emergency.

Put identifying markings on the suitcases you check through such as bold coloured tape in a recognisable design. You could also put tape over the closure to prevent tampering by baggage handlers. Don’t put all your valuables in luggage you check; e.g. jewelry, cameras, watches. Remove old airline destination tags.

Make sure you have a signed, valid passport (and any visas, if required). most countries require you to have a full 10 year passport. Your passport should be valid for at least six months after your expected date of return to the UK and have at least two blank pages to allow room for visa stamps. If not, get a new one.

Beware of well-dressed people who happen to be around, happen to speak your language fluently and happen to come up to you and start chatting. Gangs exist that are fronted by some very credible people who win your confidence and then take you to see their friend or a relative where you can buy lots of different things at low, low prices. Don’t be tempted – you will get ripped off!

Do NOT accept drinks from anybody that you have just met, especially if in dubious surroundings or do not know, they could be laced with any type of concoction.

In most cases people only need advice, but in cases of real difficulty such as death abroad, serious accidents and illnesses, arrests and detentions, or those at risk of physical harm, the Consul will take action.

Food
Here you will know the kind of food you will be able to get in Cuba(mainly the typical cuban cuisine). Also there are tips of how to save money while eating good, including some addresses and phones of several restaurants.

The Consul will do everything possible to help British nationals who have been arrested or detained overseas. The Consul cannot get you out of jail or give you money. But the Consul will take action if your rights have been denied or abused.

MISCELLANEOUS

Passengers requiring prescription medications should always carry them on board in their hand luggage. This is especially important if you are taking medication for heart disease, diabetes, or seizures. Jet lag is often associated with air travel especially when crossing multiple time zones. The symptoms of jet lag are multiple and vary with each individual, but result mainly from the internal body clock being out of phase with the daily schedule at the travel destination. Sleep is also often disrupted, leading to additional fatigue. Adjusting to jet lag is generally easier when travel is to the west, but most travelers adjust to the new time after a few days. Several tips may help diminish the effects.

• Rest well before the flight.
• Try to move 1-2 hours toward the destination time before flight, if your schedule permits.
• Eat lightly before and during the flight.
• Once departed, reset watches and other activities to the destination time.
• Drink water and fruit juices inflight and minimize alcoholic beverages.
• Consider using caffeinated beverages strategically during the day to mask fatigue but avoid use within 4-6 hours of bedtime when the effect may make sleep onset more difficult.
• Wear loose, comfortable clothing.
• Schedule outdoor activities on the first few days at the new destination.
• After arrival, adjust to destination time as soon as possible.
• Limit naps to a single nap of 30-40 minutes or less. Go to bed and awaken at the appropriate time for the new time zone.
• Discuss with your physician if sleep medication could be beneficial.

For travelers who SCUBA dive, it is advisable to wait 24 hours after the last dive before taking to the skies so as to minimize the risk of developing decompression illness, such as the bends

Passport & Visas

• Check the passport and visa requirements for the countries you are visiting / transiting in on your planned journey – make sure you apply for them well in advance of your date of travel.
• Check the validity of your Passport and Visas.
• Don’t forget your passport and visa on the day of travel.
• If you lose your passport or visa please contact the embassy or consulate immediately in the country you are traveling in.

Security

• Put a luggage strap around your case for easy identification and extra security
• If you lose your passport or visa please contact the embassy or consulate immediately in the country you are traveling in.
• Never carry packages on behalf of anyone else, however genuine they seem to be.
• Never leave luggage unattended at airports, this creates a high security risk

Health

• Check the inoculation and health requirements for all of the countries you are visiting on your journey. Please be aware some vaccinations need to be administered 4-6 weeks before travel.
• If you are carrying medicines or medications with you please keep a note of your condition and the medication you require somewhere handy e.g. a piece of paper in side the cover of your passport, where it can be easily found in an emergency.
• Ensure you take extra supplies of medication in case you get delayed abroad.

Tickets

• Check the ticket for Flight(s) details & accuracy as soon as you recieve it.
• Keep your tickets with your passport and visas and do not forget them on the day you travel

Packing

• Pack the night before you travel, to save rushing and being late for your flight.
• Check the weather forecast at your destination before travel to avoid taking unnecessary luggage.
• Roll clothes instead of folding them, it creates less creases. Honest!
• Pack travel sizes of all of the lotions and potions you require to save space.

Baggage

• Check with the airline you are traveling with on the stipulated baggage allowances
• Ensure that your hand baggage allowance does not exceed the level enforced by the airline you are traveling with. This ensures unnecessary embarrassment at the check-in desk, having to move luggage from your hand baggage to your suitcase.

Getting To & From The Airport

• Check timetables for public transport in advance to ensure you arrive at the airport in plenty of time
• If taking your car pre-book parking wherever possible or get someone to give you a lift in order to save time
• Wherever possible use only metered taxis around the airport

Money

• Make sure you have enough foreign currency for your immediate arrival into a foreign country, particularly if your flight arrives at an odd hour.
• Always make a list of the Credit / Debit Card numbers and travelers cheques you are carrying along with the suppliers contact numbers in case they get lost.

Special Requests

• Give airlines plenty of notice for special meal requirements or seating requests.

General

• Try to leave plenty of time for checking in at the airport.
• Always reconfirm your flights before setting out for the airport (do this about 24 hours before time of travel)
• Check Duty Free allowances carefully particularly on EU destinations.
• Try to book your flights outside of peak hours, in order to avoid busy commuter routes and congestion at the airport.
• Do not drink too much before boarding the aircraft, as alcohol and cabin pressure cause enhanced dehydration. You are also unable to use the toilets until the aircraft is airborne and at a safe altitude for the seat belt sign to be taken off.
• Check with the airline you are traveling with, as to the availability of telephone and laptop power points on board.
• Leave contact details for yourself either with someone at home or somebody in the office in case they need to reach you in an emergency.
• A phrase book is always handy – remember, not everyone speaks English.

Jetlag

• Try to drink plenty of water whilst on the aircraft as this helps to counter dehydration.
• Check in flight magazines, for gentle exercises to do whilst on board to stop stiffness and tiredness of joints.
• Cleanse and moisturize skin regularly whilst on board again to counter dehydration.
• Eat a light meal onboard as easier to digest, avoid excessive carbohydrates and fats