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Whilst
on holiday abroad, most disasters can be avoided and you can be
prepared for many possible occurrences. Before travelling,
consider these points:
-
Make a list of emergency contact telephone numbers
-
Take copies of important documents such as passports and insurance policies, keep them separate from the originals
-
Know what your insurance covers and be aware of what it doesn't cover
-
Ask your doctor about vaccinations
-
If you are taking medication, make sure you have ample supply for your stay
-
Look at the Dept. of Health leaflet on health advice for travellers, (with your E111).
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| List of Embassies here |
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Whether
it
is
something
as
simple
as
a
lost
credit
card
or
something
more
serious
such
as
a
traffic
accident
or
a
death,
they
can
be
made
more
serious
because
of
language
barriers
and
unfamiliar
systems.
The
key
to
it
all
is
knowing
who
to
contact
and
considering
how
you
would
cope
when
the
situation
occurs.
Here
are
a
few
possibilities:
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If you are arrested:
If you commit a crime you should expect to pay the penalties. If
you are arrested for a serious crime, you should insist on your
country's consulate being told. They will then contact you and
advise you on a solicitor and make sure you are treated as
though you were a Spanish citizen. The consulate cannot however
pay for your legal advice, put up bail or have you released as a
matter of course. [Arrested
for drink-driving ?]
If you have anything stolen:
Money, passport or anything else, then firstly report it to your
local police, most of which now have an interpreter. Insist on a
statement about the loss then if you still need help, contact
your consulate. See our
Embassies
page for phone numbers. The police will give you a crime
reference number which will be required by your insurance
company. If your credit card is stolen or lost, you will need
these
telephone numbers.
If someone dies: If any member of your party dies
whilst in Spain, contact your consulate immediately. They will
help. In Spain, burials and cremations often take place the same
day as the death; this may result in ashes being transported
back to your own country so quick action is essential. Most
airlines are unhappy about flying coffins back to the UK. |
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Final
checklist
before
you
travel:
Insurance: Make sure your insurance covers:
-
An air-ambulance in case you need to be flown home
-
Medical bills
-
Bringing a body home in the event of a death or bringing people home in the event of illness or injury
-
Replacing and/or bringing your car home
Drugs
-
avoid any involvement with drugs as penalties can be severe
-
don't carry parcels or luggage through customs for anyone else
-
don't cross borders with strangers, ie hitch-hikers
-
carry a doctor's prescription for any medication you may need
Credit cards and money
-
make a separate note of the numbers and expiry dates on your cards
-
make sure you have sufficient funds to cover emergencies
-
take traveller's cheques wherever possible - keep a record of the numbers on them
-
carry only sufficient money with you at any given time - divide the money between you and partners
-
use a money belt or secure inside pocket - leave the rest in your safe or apartment etc
-
leave at least one of your credit cards in a safe place
Passports and Visas
-
check your passport is valid for your entire stay in Spain and make a note of the number and issue date etc
-
check if you need a visa; see your local embassy
-
take another means of I.D with you, preferably something with a photograph; a new photo driving licence is perfect
-
keep your passport in a safe place and carry a copy with you at all times
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