Top tips and advice for safe travel
You’ve researched the destination, you’ve booked the holiday, but the holiday preparation for safe travel doesn’t end there.
Follow our top tips for safe travel to make sure you're prepared at all times. We've got advice for what to do before you arrive at the airport, while you’re boarding the plane, and what to do when you reach your destination. It's also worth checking the Foreign Office Travel Advice for the country you're going to for the latest information.
Safe travel before getting to the airport
Need travel advice before going on holiday? To make sure you’re good to go, here’s our top tips for what to do before travelling.
Get travel insurance cover
Organise your travel insurance as soon as you’ve booked your trip, to ensure you are protected from any unexpected situations that may arise during your holiday. Depending on your chosen insurance policy, insurance can cover you in a variety of scenarios, from compensation for delays and cancellations to medical expenses.
When selecting your travel insurance, check it covers the full duration of your trip, all your activities (including cruises and extreme sports), as well as any extra cover for travel disruption, valuable possessions and medical conditions.
Travel insurance costs are dependent on the length of cover you’ll need, pre-existing medical conditions, and any optional extras that were selected. As a rule of thumb, expect to pay around £20 for a single European trip, and £45 for a single trip outside Europe*.
Pack a copy of your policy in your suitcase, and tell your friends and family you're travelling. That way, if you find yourself in a situation where you require support, you’ll be able to call the right people and get the help you need. Need even more security? We recommend ordering a free Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) when travelling abroad. A GHIC provides access to state-provided medically necessary healthcare at the same cost as a local resident when visiting EU countries and a few select destinations.
Check entry requirements
Make sure you meet the entry requirements for your destinations, including any stopover places. Check the Foreign Office for travel advice, including passport validity, visa requirements, and customs rules. If there are any steps you need to follow, then leave sufficient time to organise any documentation you may need.
Check your passport is valid for travel in the European Union
Heading to one of the following countries from London Luton Airport? Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Lithuania, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland — you may need to check your passport is valid for EU travel.
You will need to renew your passport if there’s fewer than three months left on your passport while you’re travelling, or your passport is 10 years old or more on the day you enter an EU country. Find the latest Government advice on passports and travelling abroad.
The Entry/Exit System (EES) is also in operation across the European Union – follow the Travel to Europe website to find out more.
Pack mindfully for your holiday
Consider any local laws and customs for what should be worn at specific destinations. For example, if you are travelling to a religious site, choose clothes that will cover your shoulders and knees. To make sure you’re prepared for all occasions, cconsider taking a neutral-coloured scarf that can be used to cover your head or shoulders.
Flying while pregnant
According to NHS guidance, you are allowed to fly when you are pregnant. However, some airlines may not allow you to fly towards the end of your pregnancy. Before booking plane travel, check with the airline for their policy on travelling while pregnant. Airlines may also ask for a letter from a medical professional confirming your due date and that you are not at risk of complications.
If you are travelling after giving birth, there are a handful of exceptions where you may be able to take liquids through in quantities greater than 100ml: baby food, sterilised water, cow’s milk, formula milk and breast milk. Find out more about Security liquid limits.
Safe travel while at the airport
From check-in to takeoff, follow our top tips for safe travel at the airport before you board the plane.
Flying with lithium batteries
Rechargeable lithium batteries can be found in many devices: smartphones, laptops, cameras, vapes, powerbanks, and more, but this common item can pose a potential fire risk if packed in checked baggage.
Pack any items with lithium batteries in your hand luggage. Need to charge anything before take-off? Charging points are available across the terminal to charge devices before boarding.
If you have any devices with a lithium battery in your checked luggage, we recommend turning the device off.
Unsure of what to pack in which bag? Check out our recommendations for hand luggage and hold luggage.
Agree on a meeting point
If you’re travelling as a group, it may be difficult to stick together in one place. Before splitting up, agree a meeting point and keep in communication via WhatsApp groups and texts to make sure you know where everyone is. You may even want to turn "Find my Friend" features on, so you can see where someone is in the terminal if they get split up from the rest of the group.
The same also applies when you're on holiday: decide on a meeting point before going on adventures to make sure that everyone can get back safely.
Make sure to eat and drink before flying
People need fuelling like planes. So make sure you eat and drink! If you've got some time before the gate's called, head to a restaurant like Nolito or Sanfords for a sit-down meal. Running with a few minutes to spare? Grab a bite to eat at Pret or Burger King. And if you want to save money, sign up to myLLA for exclusive offers and deals.
Safe travel while on holiday at your destination
Once you're on holiday, it's just as important to follow safe travel tips to make sure you fly home with lots of good memories. Travel safely on city breaks, beach holidays, sport holidays and more.
Keep your valuables safe
Whether you're flying to a busy city or escaping the tourist hotspots, it's always important to know where your belongings are. The best way to do this is by leaving your most valuable possessions at home so you can't lose them.
If you need to bring something valuable on holiday, keep it with you at all times, or keep it in your suitcase while it's locked. There can be higher levels of petty crime in city centres and at major tourist attractions.
Stay safe on balconies
Hotel balconies, wobbly ledges, or even walking by the top of a staircase, you won't want to fall. Keep an eye on people you're travelling with who may be unsteady, and avoid risky behaviour. Hotels can fine or evict you for unsafe behaviour, and your insurance may not cover trips or balcony incidents that were an individual's wrongdoing.
Be the life of the party, safely
It's okay — and normal — to want to unwind on holiday. But don't relax too easily. If you're enjoying an alcoholic drink in a new environment, keep your drink in sight and never leave it behind. If it smells or tastes wrong, ditch it. Be aware of methanol poisoning while you're abroad, too. As little as 30ml, or a shot, of methanol can kill, while 10ml can cause blindness.
If you, or anyone in your party, displays symptoms of methanol poisoning, alert the local authorities as soon as possible.
Safe travel as a solo traveller
Travelling on holiday by yourself can be a great way of exploring new destinations at your own place. But, when you are on a solo holiday, you'll want to make sure you follow our top tips to keep safe. Find out our top tips for stress-free solo travel.
💎 Avoid wearing expensive items so that you can blend in with the crowd.
📱 Carry a paper copy of your emergency contact details on you at all times in case anything happens to your phone.
🗣️ Learn a few words in the language of the place you're going to so you can converse with locals.
🚕 Travel by a licensed taxi where possible so you're never alone on a dark street.
👜 Wear a bumbag instead of carrying a shoulder bag so everything you're carrying is on your body.