Winter travel: Tips from legal experts

Ensure you passport in date

Most countries will not allow you access if you have less than 6 months left on your passport. Make sure you check your passport expiry date and the entry requirements for the country to which you are travelling. Requesting a new passport can take weeks, if not longer, so make sure you give yourself plenty of time.

Take out travel insurance

Before going abroad, it is important to buy travel insurance. This would ordinarily cover you for any medical expenses, should you require medical treatment abroad, and most policies also provide cover for repatriation costs. However, ensure you read the Terms & Conditions carefully as these can vary from insurer to insurer, and it is important that you choose the right policy to cover your individual needs. It is especially important to check that it covers you if are going on a cruise holiday for winter sun, or if you are participating in sports such as skiing, because many insurers will prohibit cover or require payment of an additional premium such as winter sport protection.

Get the UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC)

This replaces the European Health Insurance Card (E111). You can apply online for free and the card lasts 5 years, your family can be added to the card too. The benefit of this card is that it will give you necessary state healthcare in E.U. countries and some other participating countries. The healthcare will be provided on the same basis as a resident of that particular country e.g. if a resident has to pay a £100 excess to be entitled to unlimited free healthcare, then the GHIC card would entitle you to the same; you would pay the £100 excess to be entitled to unlimited free healthcare.

“Necessary state healthcare” is defined as healthcare that cannot reasonably wait until you come back to the U.K, so the GHIC can help make this a smoother transition in getting healthcare should you need it.

Staying safe while you travel

Preparing for your winter holiday is important, but no matter how much you prepare you cannot always know everything that is going to happen. We are here for those unexpected times.

If you or a loved one is injured abroad or while travelling, we may be able to help. The knowledge our team of lawyers has with accident abroad claims is unsurpassed with many of the team having worked in the legal teams of tour operators and package holiday providers, giving them a keen insight into the world of travel.

Contact us online here for any advice or to start a claim.