For most of us, Christmas is all about spending time with family and friends, and you may be organising a trip abroad to see your loved ones over the Christmas period. Although you may be familiar with the country that you are going to visit, it is easy to forget to do certain things when getting ready for a holiday; such as renewing your passport or arranging medical travel insurance cover.
Here at OK To Travel we want to help you to prepare for your holiday, and bring you our 12 top travel tips:
Check that your passport is valid. We do receive calls from customers who do not have a valid passport and cannot travel. If it needs to be renewed, this may take up to 3 weeks.
Visit your GP 4-6 weeks before your trip to check whether you require any vaccinations.
Get medical travel insurance and make sure you are covered for any activities that you may wish to participate in.
Make copies of all travel documents including passport, EHIC and insurance policy.
If you are taking any devices onto an aircraft, make sure that these are fully charged.
You can carry essential medicines with you in your hand luggage, such as an inhaler, but it is important to carry supporting documentation such as a letter from your GP or a copy of your prescription.
If you are travelling with any mobility aids, such as walking aids or a wheelchair, these will need to be security screened before entering a cabin. If in doubt, check with the airline before travel.
If you are bringing any perishable food back with you, you may wish to check on the FCO website for advice on food import regulations.
After taking out medical travel insurance with OK To Travel, you must inform us if there is any deterioration in your illness or if you develop a new medical condition.
Add useful numbers to your phone such as the number for the local police.
For a single trip policy please enter the date you leave the UK. Cancellation cover starts on the day you buy the policy.
For an annual multi trip policy, the start date must be within 31 days of today's date. Please note that no cover at all is provided on your annual policy until the policy start date.
End Date
For a single trip policy please enter the date you leave the UK. Cancellation cover starts on the day you buy the policy.
For an annual multi trip policy, the start date must be within 31 days of today's date. Please note that no cover at all is provided on your annual policy until the policy start date.
Destination
Area 1 – UK inc. Channel Islands: Means the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the Scilly Isles, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands.
Area 2 – Europe exc. Egypt, Israel, Spain, The Canaries, Turkey, Cyprus & Malta: Means the continent of Europe west of the Ural Mountains including the Republic of Ireland, all countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea, as well as Madeira and The Azores, (but excluding Egypt, Israel, Spain, The Canaries, Turkey, Cyprus and Malta).
Area 3 – Europe exc. Egypt and Israel: Same as Area 2 (but including Spain, The Canaries, Turkey, Cyprus and Malta).
Area 4 – Worldwide exc. Singapore, China, Hong Kong, Mexico, USA, Canada & Caribbean: Means anywhere in the world (including Egypt and Israel) except Singapore, China, Hong Kong, Mexico, USA, Canada and the Caribbean.
Area 5 – Worldwide exc. USA, Canada & Caribbean: Same as Area 4 (but including Singapore, China, Hong Kong and Mexico).
Area 1- UK inc. Channel Islands Means the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the Scilly Isles, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands.
Area 2 - Europe exc. Egypt, Israel, Spain, The Canaries, Turkey, Cyprus & Malta Means the continent of Europe west of the Ural Mountains including the Republic of Ireland, all countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea, as well as Madeira and The Azores, (but excluding Egypt, Israel, Spain, The Canaries, Turkey, Cyprus and Malta).
Area 3- Europe exc. Egypt & Israel Same as Area 2 (but including Spain, The Canaries, Turkey, Cyprus and Malta).
Area 4 - Worldwide exe. Singapore, China, Hong Kong, Mexico, USA, Canada & Caribbean Means anywhere in the world (including Egypt and Israel) except Singapore, China, Hong Kong, Mexico, USA, Canada and the Caribbean.
Area 5 - Worldwide exe. USA, Canada & Caribbean Same as Area 4 (but including Singapore, China, Hong Kong and Mexico)
Area 6 – Worldwide Means anywhere in the world
If you are travelling to more than one country, take care to select the region which covers all the countries you are travelling to. For example, if you are travelling to Portugal and Spain you would select Europe inc. Spain, Cyprus, Turkey, Malta.
Trip Type
Single Trip - One off individual trip up to 184 days in duration for anyone under 75 years old, 92 days duration thereafter. All trips must start and end within the UK and are available to UK residents only.
Annual Trip – Year long cover with a maximum of 31 days per trip. All trips must start and end within the UK and are available to UK residents only.
UK Resident
Our policies are only available to you if you are currently in, and are a permanently resident of, the United Kingdom, Channel Islands or Isle of Man and you are also registered with a medical practitioner in one of these territories.
Please note that any trip that has already begun when you purchase this insurance will not be covered.
Search for destination
The destination you entered was not found.
Please indicate the region you will be travelling to based on the definitions below.
Area 1- UK inc. Channel Islands Means the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the Scilly Isles, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands.
Area 2 - Europe exc. Egypt, Israel, Spain, The Canaries, Turkey, Cyprus & Malta Means the continent of Europe west of the Ural Mountains including the Republic of Ireland, all countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea, as well as Madeira and The Azores, (but excluding Egypt, Israel, Spain, The Canaries, Turkey, Cyprus and Malta).
Area 3- Europe exc. Egypt & Israel Same as Area 2 (but including Spain, The Canaries, Turkey, Cyprus and Malta).
Area 4 - Worldwide exe. Singapore, China, Hong Kong, Mexico, USA, Canada & Caribbean Means anywhere in the world (including Egypt and Israel) except Singapore, China, Hong Kong, Mexico, USA, Canada and the Caribbean
Area 5 - Worldwide exe. USA, Canada & Caribbean Same as Area 4 (but including Singapore, China, Hong Kong and Mexico)
Area 6 – Worldwide Means anywhere in the world
If you are travelling to more than one country, take care to select the region which covers all the countries you are travelling to. For example, if you are travelling to Portugal and Spain you would select Europe inc. Spain, Cyprus, Turkey, Malta.