Before You Go....

Purchase adequate travel insurance: Make sure your policy provides adequate cover, particularly for medical treatment and repatriation. Make sure any risky activities you've planned are covered (e.g. skiing, scuba diving). Remember to extend cover if you extend your stay.

Know your destination: Find out about local laws and customs and take a guidebook. Talk to your travel agent or tour operator about possible risks and check the country-specific travel information so that you're one step ahead of situations that may change quickly. If you are traveling to areas where there may be conflict, wars or violence, it might just save your life.

Make sure you have enough money:Take at least two forms of payment - ideally traveler's cheques and a credit card - so that if you lose one you have the other as a standby. Check the expiry date and make a separate note of serial numbers on your traveler's cheques.

Check that your passport is valid:Your passport should be valid for at least 6 months - some countries won't let you enter if it isn't. Make sure you have filled in all the details, including the information on your next of kin. Take another form of photo-ID and a photocopy of your passport with you.

Check your medication:If you take prescribed drugs, take the prescription with you in case you need replacements.In foriegn countries over the counter medications are also not given without a local doctor's prescription.Pack your medication in your hand luggage.

Tell friends/family where you're going: It is important that people are able to contact you in an emergency. Make sure you leave a way of getting in touch.

Car insurance: If you are taking or hiring a car make sure you have proper insurance and breakdown cover. Make sure your driving license is current and valid for the country.

Fill out an E111: This is available from The Post Office and gives access to free or reduced-cost basic emergency medical treatment in the EU, Iceland and Norway. Remember that it will only cover some of the cost, and only applies to certain hospitals. The cost of an ambulance is not usually covered, not is repatriation. You still need adequate travel insurance so you are covered for all eventualities.

Keep records : Make copies of your credit card, traveler's cheque numbers, passport, driving license, insurance policy, E111, and your travel insurer. Leave a set at home with friends or family.

LOCAL SIM : Making or Attending unwanted overseas calls can be avoided by purchasing a local Sim of the country from India.This will reduce your call expenses and you can always give your number to your friends and family back home for them to contact you