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Travel Aware

Staying safe and healthy abroad

Advice for going abroad

Stick with your mates.

Going abroad with your mates is all about having fun. Lounging by the pool, catching the rays and partying into the early hours.   

It should be a trip you want to remember for the right reasons.

Sadly, for a small number of Brits, their holiday ends in a hospital ward or a police station.  

But we are here to share with you a few simple tips that can help you have a holiday to remember, not one to forget.  

Here are five things that can help prevent things going wrong on the strip:

Friends don’t leave friends behind.

Serious incidents often happen after drinking alcohol when you are alone and isolated.

◊ TIP: Stick with your mates throughout the night. Stay in contact and if you’re staying at the same accommodation, go home together.

Drinking abroad can be different than back in the UK. The quality and measurements of alcohol can be larger, cheaper and deals can result in you being drunk quicker than intended.

Drinks spiking can also take place on holiday. Spiking is adding alcohol or drugs to someone’s drink without them knowing.

S piking is commonly used to distract you from theft or impair you before an assault .

◊TIP: Do not leave your drink unattended and do not accept drinks from complete strangers. This is the best strategy to prevent the possibility of your drink being spiked.

◊TIP: Consume water in-between alcoholic drinks. This will help pace you throughout the night and help keep you hydrated.

◊ TIP: Drink at your own pace. Everyone’s tolerance to alcohol is different. Consider avoiding rounds or having a break from drinking alcohol if you are feeling uneasy.

Remembering where to go at the end of the night can be tougher than you think. It’s a new environment, a different climate, and drinking alcohol could make this harder.

TIP: Keep details of your accommodation on you. Consider taking a screenshot of the hotel’s address before going out. Or ask reception if they have an address card you can take and store in your wallet.

◊ TIP: Use messaging apps to set up a group chat. This way you can send your location to your friends if you get lost or check they are safe if you lose them.

It is easy to get lost in a foreign country. Add alcohol and sun and it’s now even easier to get lost.

◊ TIP: If you are on the strip, before your first big night, familiarise yourself with the area. Exploring your surroundings will help you remember where you are later.

◊ TIP: Agree a meeting place in case you lose your friends and cannot get in contact (e.g. phone out of battery or lost etc.)

Travel insurance

Travel insurance is important. It provides protection and coverage for unexpected events that can happen on holiday. Travel insurance can cover a range of scenarios, such as:

• medical emergencies and repatriation
• lost or stolen baggage
• trip cancellations or interruptions
• natural disasters

You must purchase insurance cover that is appropriate for your travel plans. Travelling without the right cover can be very expensive if things do go wrong while you are abroad.

There are many reasons why travel insurance may be invalidated.

If you buy a basic policy that does not provide enough medical coverage, you may get a big bill if you have an unexpected health issue on holiday.

You may buy a policy that does not cover your planned holiday activities such as water sports or quad biking; or does not cover cancellations or delays. If you’re injured doing activities, or your trip is disrupted, you may have a big bill to pay.

So, before you go on holiday, you can do some small things in only a few minutes which could save you a lot of money.

You must declare all pre-existing medical conditions when buying travel insurance. If you already have cover, you should check that your list of medical conditions is up to date before each trip abroad.

Failure to do this could mean your claim is rejected if you have a medical emergency while travelling.

Therefore you must be honest about any medical conditions you have, to avoid risking a big bill.

Check your policy to see what you need to declare. Medical conditions can include, but are not limited to:

• heart conditions
• high blood pressure
• respiratory conditions (such as asthma)
• mental health conditions
• any form of cancer

When buying travel insurance, consider the type of coverage you need. If you intend to engage in adventure activities, like quad-biking or water sports, you may need specific insurance cover. Check your policy before you travel to make sure all your activities are covered.

Make sure you buy travel insurance that covers the entire duration of your holiday. Some insurance policies have a limit on the amount of time you can be abroad; if you exceed it, your policy may be invalidated.

You may assume you will not need to be brought home for medical reasons whilst on holiday. But, if you become ill or injured while travelling, you may need to be transported to hospital, or back to the UK, for treatment. Medical evacuations can cost thousands of pounds.

Check your policy covers medical evacuation before travelling. This is especially important if your trip includes adventure activities like climbing, quad-biking or water sports.

Before you go on holiday, share your insurance policy details with travel companions, and friends or family at home. This can be helpful in case they need to contact your insurance company on your behalf, if you get into trouble abroad.

When you travel, take a paper copy of your insurance policy with you. If you lose your phone abroad, this paper copy will provide the information you need, including your policy number and insurer’s emergency 24 hour telephone number.

More information

Travel advice

More travel insurance info

Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC)

Travel checklist

Worldwide help and services

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What is the latest Foreign Office travel advice?

The fco says its advice is under ‘constant review’, article bookmarked.

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One of the key determinants of whether Brits can travel abroad this summer following the global coronavirus pandemic is the Foreign Office travel advice.

The FCO keeps individual country pages on its website regularly updated, with all the latest information and warnings about potential risks, such as political unrest, natural disasters and terror attacks.

If the FCO advises against “all but essential travel” to a country, it invalidates travellers’ insurance, and visiting there is at your own risk.

Here’s everything you need to know about the current advice.

What is the latest Foreign Office advice?

The FCO has been advising British nationals against all but essential international travel since 23 March. However, this advice was lifted for 67 destinations as of 4 July.

This list was updated later in July to include a further 19 destinations , but two were removed after further spikes in coronavirus cases: Spain and Serbia. There was much confusion for holidaymakers after the FCO initially left Spain’s Balearic and Canary Islands on its exempt list, before changing its advice again less than 48 hours later.

Luxembourg was also given the boot, along with Belgium and Andorra, after a spike in coronavirus cases.

The FCO list is separate from the one issued by the Department for Transport (DfT), which details “travel corridor” destinations from where travellers can now enter England, Wales and Northern Ireland without having to quarantine for two weeks (Scotland published its own list).

If the FCO advises against travelling somewhere, is it illegal to go?

No. The warning is not a “ban” as such – but going there against Foreign Office advice means nearly all travel insurance policies are invalidated (unless you buy special – and expensive – high-risk “war zone” insurance). It also might make things more complicated if you needed to be repatriated in the event of an emergency.

Why can I book a flight to a country if the FCO warns against travelling there?

Many airlines have restarted operations – for example, easyJet had its first flight post-lockdown, a hop from London to Glasgow, on 15 June after 11 weeks of being grounded.

• 10 FAQs about summer holidays this year

Others continued to operate flights throughout April and May, much to the confusion of consumers, considering most countries’ borders were closed at that point and the FCO advised against all international travel.

Wizz Air, for example, restarted flights from Luton to 15 destinations in May, including Budapest, Belgrade and Tenerife. Ryanair started selling seats to numerous European destinations, including Barcelona, Athens, Bologna and Nimes, from mid-May.

Wizz said the flights were “to provide an essential service to those who need to travel”, reported Forbes – presumably referring to returning citizens and permanent residents or medical staff, the only people who would be exempt from the rules.

Which? claimed at the time that it looked like airlines were cynically still running flights so that those who had already purchased tickets but were unable to fly because of FCO advice would be unable to claim a refund.

Ryanair, for example, is continuing to run scheduled flights to Cyprus throughout July and denying passengers a refund, despite the fact the country’s borders are currently closed to those travelling from the UK.

As countries in Europe start to open their borders again, and the UK announces the relaxation of both the FCO blanket travel warning and the mandatory two-week quarantine for inbound travellers from certain countries, catching a flight abroad purely for leisure purposes finally seems feasible. But Britons should be aware that travel advice can change at the last-minute – as was the case with Spain being removed from both the DfT and FCO “safe” lists – and that when this happens, airlines are not legally obliged to refund flight-only passengers. However, those who’ve booked a package holiday will be protected from some changes; if the FCO suddenly says it advises against travelling to a destination, tour operators will generally cancel holidays there and are required by law to refund customers in full.

Can I travel within the UK?

From 4 July, up to two households have been allowed to stay overnight in “self-contained accommodation” together – including hotels, bed and breakfasts and campsites – as long as social distancing guidelines are followed.

Many English hotels reopened on 4 July, complete with stringent new cleaning measures.

Sydney's Bondi Beach reopens as Australia relaxes lockdown

However, recently reinstated lockdown rules in parts of the north of England mean people visiting family or friends in the affected areas are not allowed to stay in their homes or the same accommodation, such as a self-catering apartment, together (unless they have previously formed a support bubble).

Northern Ireland was a day ahead, with hotels, pubs, restaurants and tourist attractions all able to open with suitable social-distancing measures from 3 July, while Scotland reopened many tourist facilities on 15 July. Aberdeen is currently experiencing a local lockdown , with people told not to travel there and residents banned from travelling more than five miles from home for leisure purposes.

Travel restrictions in Wales were lifted on 6 July and self-contained accommodation has been able to re-open as of 13 July.

Up until 17 July, anyone without a car was pretty stuck when it came to domestic travel, as the government advised against all “non-essential” public transport journeys. But Boris Johnson has now said travelling by public transport is permitted throughout England, whatever the reason for your journey.

When is the advice against international travel likely to end?

• Could an air bridge salvage your summer holiday?

The FCO travel warning has been lifted for more than 60 destinations as of 4 July. More destinations have since been added, while others have been removed – click here for the latest list.

The need to quarantine has also been removed for travellers entering the UK from countries and territories regarded as “low-risk” by the Joint Biosecurity Centre, as well as 14 British Overseas Territories and the Common Travel Area (Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man).

Popular holiday destinations that are exempt from both restrictions include France, Italy, Greece and Turkey.

The FCO says of its list: “All our advice will remain under constant review to take into account the latest situation in each country.”

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COVID-19: Foreign Office relaxes advice for UK travellers to 51 destinations

Passengers going to those countries and territories will now be able to get travel insurance as most companies will not provide cover if the Foreign Office is advising against all but essential travel.

Political reporter @alixculbertson

Friday 8 October 2021 18:01, UK

The Foreign Office is lifting restrictive COVID travel advice for a further 51 countries and territories.

Destinations that are having the "all but essential travel" advice lifted today comprise of former amber list nations such as Jamaica and The Bahamas.

A second stage will see 42 ex-red list countries and territories having the advice removed on Monday, including South Africa, Mexico and the Seychelles (scroll down for the full list).

Live COVID updates from the UK and around the world

With the advice lifted, people will be able to get travel insurance again for those destinations as most insurers use it as a reference point to exclude cover.

The move comes two days after 32 countries and territories, including Fiji, Malaysia and Bangladesh, had the advice lifted as the government aims to simplify travel in the wake of the success of the vaccine rollout, better understanding of the virus and improved public health in those destinations.

The advice was initially put in place due to the COVID situation in those countries and territories and was focused on people departing from the UK.

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Related Topics:

• Coronavirus
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On Monday, the traffic light system - related to inbound travel to the UK - was dropped in favour of just one red list.

The red list was then reduced to just seven countries on Thursday, with 47 destinations coming off the red list from Monday.

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Countries and territories where 'all but essential travel' advice has been lifted today:

The Bahamas, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Jamaica, Martinique, Palau, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Western Sahara.

Countries and territories where 'all but essential travel' advice will be lifted on Monday:

Angola, Argentina, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Cape Verde, Chile, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Cuba, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Georgia, Guyana, Indonesia, Lesotho, Malawi, Mexico, Mongolia, Montenegro, Mozambique, Myanmar (Burma), Namibia, Nepal, Paraguay, Philippines, Reunion, Rwanda, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sudan, Suriname, Tanzania, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Uganda, Uruguay, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said: "These updates make travel abroad easier - boosting trade, tourism and reuniting friends and families.

"I am delighted that the safe reopening of travel allows people to exercise personal responsibility and visit more destinations across the globe."

The government has said the advice will be reintroduced or not lifted in "exceptional circumstances", such as if the local healthcare system is overloaded by a domestic COVID outbreak.

Some countries and territories will continue to carry the advice to not travel there apart from essential travel, but it will be because of other circumstances such as instability, not COVID.

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Going on holiday is an exciting time full of new experiences, a change of pace and beautiful scenery. While relaxing is all part of the enjoyment, it's important not to let your guard down completely to ensure safe travels.

Travel Aware

We recommend that you check the  Travel Aware  advice for up-to-date information from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. You'll find useful tips on how to stay safe so you can make informed decisions when you're travelling abroad. You can register for email alerts specific to the destination you’re travelling to.

Health advice

You should only travel if you are fit to travel and able to participate in all part of the services that you have booked to undertake. You will need to comply with the health requirements of your destination, as well as prove that you have any necessary vaccinations for your travel arrangements. Consult your doctor about any health requirements for your destination beforehand and visit IATA Travel Centre to find out what vaccinations you'll need.

Should you need to take any medication with you, check before travel that you are allowed to take it into the country you are visiting. Some countries do not permit certain medicines even though they may be widely accepted in your own country. Take any paperwork or authorisation from your doctor that may be required.

Our insurance partner, Europ Assistance, offers travel insurance covering medical emergencies and travel disruptions.  Find out more

Take care abroad

Millions of people travel the world each year and enjoy trouble-free trips, but crimes against people and property are a fact of life. Take the same responsibility for your own safety abroad as you would do at home.  Here are some useful tips:

• Use credit cards where possible to avoid carrying excessive amounts of cash or travellers cheques.
• Use the hotel’s safety deposit box if there is one.
• Lock your door even when you’re inside your room, and when you leave make sure you close and lock your windows, doors and balconies.
• Don’t walk around poorly lit areas and beaches after dark, and don’t feel embarrassed about crossing the road if you feel uneasy about someone in the street.
• Try to use only registered or official taxis, so ask the hotel for guidance.
• Drink responsibly.

Helping you make the most of your holiday

• If you take part in adventure sports during your holiday, check that your instructor is qualified, insured and properly trained. 
• Check that any watersports representatives who may approach you from outside the hotel or on the beach are officially appointed or associated with the hotel. If in doubt, check with the hotel staff. 
• Make sure you research any local vendors, their safety policies and insurance before agreeing to take part.
• Remember to check your insurance policy, because not all policies include cover for certain types of sports.
• If you will be using equipment other than your own, don't use anything that looks or feels unsafe.
• For safety reasons, you should not do any scuba diving within 24 hours of arriving on your holiday, or within 24 hours of your flight home.
• Children should never be left unsupervised on balconies.
• Do not climb or stand on balcony furniture and keep all furniture away from the balcony walls and railings.
• Do not lean over, sit or climb on the balcony wall or railings. The height and design will vary from place to place and few areas are legally obliged to install either toughened or safety glass in windows or doors.
• In bright sunlight or at night, it can be more difficult to tell if a glass balcony door is closed so please take care not to walk into them.

Few hotels provide non-slip mats in the bathrooms, however in some hotels they are available on request. Tiled bathroom floor surfaces can be slippery when wet so take extra care on wet surfaces.

Before you swim, always make sure that the beach is recommended for bathing and that there are no tides, currents or hazards that could make it unsafe. Although many beaches will have lifeguard supervision, you should still familiarise yourself with the flag warning system as well as any rescue service procedures. Some areas are zoned off for watersports activities so be aware if they are present and avoid using any zoned areas.

• Please supervise your children at all times, especially around playgrounds, lifts, balconies and open water, and especially if the evening entertainment on your holiday takes place around a swimming pool.
• Before you use a cot, make sure that vertical bars are not more than 10cm apart and that the mattress fits snuggly into the base. If the side bar is adjustable, make sure that it is high enough to prevent your child from climbing out. Cots and high chairs should be sturdy and free from sharp edges.
• Never leave children unattended in a bath, and make sure you check the water temperatures yourself first before allowing your children to use the bath.

When you arrive at a destination, ask what you need to do if you need to contact the emergency services. We suggest you inform your party members and keep all useful telephone numbers in a safe, accessible place, and add the numbers to your mobile phone. If you have any concerns, check that your tour operator has a duty office or helpline telephone number. These numbers should have been given to you with your booking details.

Take great care and closely supervise any children when they are close to any plug sockets. Bring suitable adaptors for the local voltage with you.

Fire regulations and procedures can differ from country to country and some local regulations may prevent a hotel from providing the level of fire safety that you may be used to, either for historic or aesthetic reasons.

When you first arrive at your hotel, make sure you and your travelling party familiarise yourself with the fire procedures and emergency exits for your accommodation. If there is anything that you don’t understand, always ask.

The following checklist may help:

• Read the emergency plan, which is usually on the back of your room door.
• Find out where the nearest fire exit is located and walk from your room to at least one escape route, counting the room doors between your own and the fire exit.
• Find out how to raise the alarm.
• Keep your room key in the same place by your bed at night.
• If a fire occurs: • Raise the alarm and tell reception. • Leave immediately if possible, keeping low to avoid smoke. • Keep your group together. • Use the stairs, never use the lift. •  Close all windows and turn off air conditioning. •  Fill the bath with water and put wet towels and sheets around the door cracks. •  Keep calm and listen for any instructions.
• If there’s a fire elsewhere in the hotel, take your key and place the back of your hand by the doorknob to check its temperature. If it’s too hot to open or if the corridor is full of smoke, call the reception and tell them that you are unable to leave your room.

A change in climate, different food, very cold drinks and sometimes combined with alcohol may result in an upset stomach, which is not necessarily the result of poor local hygiene or food preparation. Take sensible precautions, especially with raw foods, drinking water and any ice that is in your drinks. We recommend that you drink bottled, purified or boiled water when travelling. Alcohol can dehydrate you so avoid it when sunbathing and do not drink alcohol when you go swimming.

Gas Appliances

If you have a gas cooker in your accommodation, always check that it has been turned off when you've finished using it. If the gas is supplied direct from a bottle, turn off the supply at the bottle neck when not in use.

Recognise the signs of faulty gas appliances. Black marks or stains around the appliance, lazy orange flames instead of crisp blue flames and too much condensation are all signs that gas appliances aren't working properly.

If you’re in any doubt about a gas appliance in your accommodation do not use it and speak to the hotel reception, Villa Company or your Tour Operator.

Carbon Monoxide

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a poisonous gas sometimes produced when fuel-burning appliances malfunction. You can't see or smell CO, but it can be fatal.

Don't mistake carbon monoxide poisoning with other holiday sicknesses, such as food poisoning, dehydration or a hangover. The six main symptoms include headache, dizziness, nausea, breathlessness, collapse and loss of consciousness.

British Airways Holidays operate a policy to not provide accommodation with internal gas water heaters. If you have booked your hotel or villa with us, and have concerns that there may be a gas water heater within your sleeping accommodation, please contact us immediately. The British Airways Holidays 24 hour helpline number is detailed in your travel documentation.

In some countries, the lift will only have three sides with a slight gap between the door opening and the lift shaft wall. Always keep children to the rear of the lift.

Various insects and even small lizards should be expected in all tropical destinations, national parks and game reserves. They are a way of life and not a reflection on the standards of hygiene and cleanliness. You can reduce the risk of insect bites by using repellents and covering up, especially during the evening and at night.

Many restaurants are open sided, which means local birds or small animals can visit and may want to share your food, but please don't encourage the birds and animals by feeding them.

Where possible avoid the sun when it is at its strongest and wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from the sun’s damaging rays. Hats will help protect your head and face and sunscreen with a suitable sun protection factor is essential from day one of your holiday.

If you are travelling with children, enjoy the swimming pool at your hotel safely by following these steps to help you relax:

• Recce the pool environment when you first arrive at your accommodation. Identify safety features, barriers, slides and chutes, deep and shallow end, whether there is a lifeguard if it's a shared pool and when they’re on duty. 
• Take a moment to enter the local emergency numbers into your phone when you arrive.  
• Make sure you or someone you are with knows lifesaving techniques. There may not be a lifeguard where you are going, so learn some basic CPR, and even if there is a lifeguard, it's always good to be prepared.
• Always keep your eyes on the children, whether it’s you or someone you trust.
• Take time to explain   to children how to use the pool safely, and provide armbands if required. 
• Check depth markings around the pool.
• Remember that a lifeguard may not be a local requirement.
• Advise the hotel management immediately if water clarity means you cannot see the bottom of the pool.
• Do not dive if there are ‘No diving’ signs posted around the pool, or where water depth is less than 1.5 metres.
• Do not drink alcohol and swim, or swim immediately after eating.
• Do not swim outside of the pool opening hours, or at night.

Vehicle hire

Hiring a car is a great way to explore and car hire can be organised with us before you go.

If however you decide upon a company of your own choice, please ensure that it is a well-known reputable company. Before taking charge of any vehicle we suggest you follow these guidelines:

• If you are not familiar with automatic drive, ask for a run-through from the hire depot agent.
• Check the bodywork and windscreen.
• Check that the tyres are in good condition.
• Check lights, seatbelts, screen wash and wipers.
• Ensure you read your rental agreement and are happy with the details and any applicable charges before signing. If you are not happy with any aspect of the car or its condition, do not leave the depot and ask for the car to be changed.
• Familiarise yourself with local regulations.
• Never drive while under the influence of alcohol.
• When leaving your car, keep maps, travel information and so on out of sight to reduce being identified as a tourist.
• Most insurance companies do not cover you for accidents whilst hiring mopeds or scooters due to the potential risks and it is for this reason that we do not recommend the hiring of mopeds or scooters.

Child seats

Laws regarding child-passenger safety vary from country to country. In general, we recommend travelling with your own child seat and where possible ensuring a private transfer is booked as due to their design minibuses are usually unable to be fitted with child seats. When booking car rental or transfers with British Airways, we'll tell you in our booking information if it's possible to request a child seat to be provided locally and any restrictions that may apply in your destination.

Road safety

In some countries, drivers drive on the other side of the road so take care and look the other way first before you cross a road. Not all drivers will stop at a pedestrian crossing either.

• Don't draw attention to yourself by wearing valuable accessories or carrying expensive electronic equipment.
• Keep valuables locked away in your room, but don't leave them in your suitcase.
• If there is no safety deposit box in your room, ask the reception if there is a hotel safe you can use.
• Make a photocopy of your passport and carry it separately from your passport, in case the original is lost or stolen.
• If any of your property is lost or stolen from the premises, you should report it, along with any relevant receipts, serial or identification numbers, to the management and also to the local police within 24 hours. Keep a note of the time and date you reported the incident along with names of persons you reported the incident to. Ask for a copy of any written reports.

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Accessibility Links

Foreign Office ‘red zone’ countries: all the places you shouldn’t visit

Not every country welcomes visitors and some trips may be ill-advised.

F or intrepid travellers, the list of destinations is pretty expansive. There are, after all, close to 200 countries and territories around the world. While most destinations are open to tourists — that is, if you can get there — there are places in the world where travel is ill-advised or dangerous. It’s important to check Foreign Office travel warnings before you go abroad. Remember that your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against Foreign Office advice and in some cases there may be a lack of consular support. Here are some of the places Brits shouldn’t visit.

Main photo: the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem, Israel (Alamy)

What is the official Foreign Office advice on travelling to Israel?

Due to the conflict in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories, the Foreign Office is advising against all but essential travel to both destinations. Additionally, the Foreign Office is advising against all travel to specific regions including but not limited to Gaza, the West Bank, and areas that border Syria and Lebanon. You can see the full updated list on the Foreign Office advice pages.

If you are currently in the country, you are advised to register your presence with the Foreign Office. This will allow you to receive information that will help you leave the country.

• Is it safe to travel to Israel right now?

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Which other countries have been affected by the conflict.

The Foreign Office is currently advising against all travel to Lebanon , where there are ongoing mortar and artillery exchanges in the south of the country. In addition, those in the country should consider leaving while there are still commercial flights available.

• Is it safe to travel to Turkey right now? • Is it safe to travel to Cyprus right now? • Is it safe to travel to Egypt right now? • Is it safe to travel to Dubai right now? • Is it safe to travel to Morocco right now?

Which other countries do the Foreign Office advise against travel to?

These are the nations and territories that have a Foreign Office travel warning in place for the entire country. Even if a country isn’t on this list, there may still be restrictions in place, for example at contentious borders or in a particular region. So before you plan a trip, check the Foreign Office website for the latest travel warnings and restrictions.

• Belarus FCDO travel warning in place • Russia FCDO travel warning in place • Ukraine FCDO travel warning in place

Middle East

• Iraq FCDO travel warning in place • Iran FCDO travel warning in place • Israel FCDO all but essential travel warning • Lebanon FCDO travel warning in place • Occupied Palestinian territories FCDO all but essential travel warning • Syria FCDO travel warning in place • Yemen FCDO travel warning in place

• Burkina Faso FCDO travel warning in place, except capital Ouagadougou • Chad FCDO travel warning in place for most of the country • Central African Republic FCDO travel warning in place • Ethiopia FCDO travel warning in place for significant parts of the country • Libya FCDO travel warning in place • Mali FCDO travel warning in place, except capital Bamako • Mauritania FCDO travel warning in place for significant parts of the country • Niger FCDO travel warning in place • Somalia FCDO travel warning in place • South Sudan FCDO travel warning in place • Sudan FCDO travel warning in place • Western Sahara FCDO all but essential travel warning in place for significant parts of the country

• Haiti FCDO travel warning in place • Venezuela FCDO all but essential travel warning

• Afghanistan FCDO travel warning in place • Myanmar FCDO travel warning in place for significant parts of the country • North Korea FCDO all but essential travel warning • Turkmenistan no commercial flights and only citizens permitted entry

Australasia

• Nauru only essential travel recommended (imposed by local government)

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Foreign Office updates travel advice for popular holiday destinations due to risk of Iran attacking Israel

The UK Foreign Office has updated its travel advice for a number of countries - including some popular with UK holiday makers due to concerns about a potential Iranian attack on Israel. Tehran has vowed to retaliate following the destruction of its consulate in Damascus, Syria, in an airstrike earlier this month which left several top generals dead.

Israel has not commented on the attack. However Iran's leader the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said the country “must be punished and it shall be”.

Israel itself has already threatened to strike directly at Iran if it launched an attack from its territory, and there are fears the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza strip could also be expanded through the involvement of the Iran-backed, Lebanon-based militant group Hezbollah.

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Late on Friday, the Foreign Office issued updated advice for a range of countries across the Middle East and wider Arab World. Many of the affected areas were for countries few people visit or which the Foreign Office advises against travel against, including Syria, Lebanon and Algeria.

However a number of countries visited more frequently by British travellers are also on the list. These include Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates (which includes Dubai and Abu Dhabi), Egypt and Morocco.

From Stansted Airport, the nearest major international airport to Cambridge, a number of flights operate to some of these countries. These include an Emirates service to Dubai, a TUI flight to Sharm El-Sheikh in Egypt and Ryanair flights to a number of destinations in Morocco including Fez, Tangier and Marrakech.

The updated Foreign Office advice for all affected countries states: "There is rising tension between Iran and Israel. Any military action could escalate quickly and could pose risks for the wider region. If you are in the region, or considering travel to the region, monitor news updates and continue to check FCDO travel advice for updates."

Full list of affected countries:

The following countries have had their travel advice updated to reflect the rising tensions. Information is accurate as of 9.50am on Saturday, April 13 and could change quickly.

Saudi Arabia

*The Foreign Office already advises against all travel to this location

**The Foreign Office already advises against all travel to most of Iraq and only essential travel to Iraqi Kurdistan

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United Kingdom Travel Advisory

Travel advisory july 26, 2023, united kingdom - level 2: exercise increased caution.

Reissued with obsolete COVID-19 page links removed.

Exercise increased caution in the United Kingdom due to terrorism.

Country Summary:  Terrorist groups continue plotting possible attacks in the United Kingdom. Terrorists may attack with little or no warning, targeting tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, local government facilities, hotels, clubs, restaurants, places of worship, parks, major sporting and cultural events, educational institutions, airports, and other public areas.

There is also a risk of isolated violence by dissident groups in Northern Ireland, focused primarily on police and military targets.

Read the  country information page  for additional information on travel to the United Kingdom.

If you decide to travel to the United Kingdom:

• Be aware of your surroundings when traveling to tourist locations and crowded public venues.
• Follow the instructions of local authorities.
• Monitor local media for breaking events and adjust your plans based on new information.
• Enroll in the  Smart Traveler Enrollment Program  ( STEP ) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
• Follow the Department of State on  Facebook  and Twitter.com/Travelgov
• Review the  Country Security Report  for the United Kingdom.
• Visit the CDC page for the latest  Travel Health Information  related to your travel and return to the United States.
• Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the  Traveler’s Checklist .

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Foreign Office travel advice: Eight countries added to 'do not travel' warning list for UK holidaymakers after declared 'too dangerous'

The Foreign Office has added eight countries to its “do not travel” warning list.

The government urges UK holidaymakers not to travel to the eight new countries added to the list as they have been declared “too dangerous”.

The Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) issues advice to holidaymakers and regularly updates its travel advisories based on how dangerous countries are perceived to be and what particularly to look out for when visiting them. In total, 66 countries - or parts of countries - have been declared "too dangerous" for British tourists by the FCDO.

Eight nations have been added to the list by FCDO, these are Russia, Ukraine, Iran, Sudan, Lebanon, Israel, Belarus and the Palestinian territories.

These nations are categorised as either on the 'red list' or 'black list' by experts in the UK Foreign Office.

The FCDO does not ban UK citizens from travelling to these countries but it says they may find themselves without any government support if something were to go wrong.

The advice given for each country is slightly different but the same warning is given that help may not be offered to those who travel.

The Belarus warning from the FCDO reads: "Russian military operations are taking place in Belarus.

"There is some risk that direct conflict linked to the war in Ukraine may spread to Belarus. If conflict starts, FCDO’s ability to offer consular assistance will be severely limited. Routes out of the country are limited, particularly by air."

Currently the Foreign Office is sternly advising against travel, or all but essential travel, to 24 destinations on the 'black list'.

These destinations are: Afghanistan, Belarus, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Chad, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Lebanon, Libya, Mali, Niger, North Korea, Palestinian territories, Russia, Somalia, Somaliland, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Ukraine, Venezuela, and Yemen.

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The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office ( FCDO ) provides advice about risks of travel to help British nationals make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice .

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Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against FCDO advice.

Western and central Mindanao and the Sulu archipelago

FCDO advises against all travel to western and central Mindanao and the Sulu archipelago because of terrorist activity and clashes between the military and insurgent groups.

Northern and eastern Mindanao

FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the remainder of Mindanao, excluding Camiguin, Dinagat and Siargao Islands, due to the threat of terrorism.

Find out more about why FCDO advises against travel .

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No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide as well as support for British nationals abroad which includes:

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Foreign Office issues new warning for tourists travelling to Greece

Officials have updated advice after a change to the law was brought in this year and said activity 'may be frowned upon'

• 10:43, 13 APR 2024
• Updated 14:04, 13 APR 2024

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The Foreign Office has issued new travel advice for anyone going to Greece. The government has updated its website - and told some travellers they need to take extra care.

In a new addition the Foreign Office highlighted LGBT+ travellers and said that although same-sex marriage was now legal after a change to the law this year - people travelling to the country need to take care.

It said: “Same-sex sexual relations are legal in Greece and civil unions between same-sex couples have been legal since 2015 and same sex marriage was legalised in February 2024. The age of consent in Greece is 15, this applies to partners of both the same sex and opposite sex. Transgender people are able to change their legal gender. Anti-discrimination and hate speech laws apply to gender identity.

“Public attitudes towards same-sex sexual activity vary throughout the country; showing affection in public by same-sex couples may be frowned upon, especially in rural areas.

“Attitudes are generally much more welcoming in Athens and on many Greek islands, particularly on Lesvos, Mykonos and Skiathos. See our information and advice page for the LGBT+ community before you travel.”

The Foreign Office also said that UK tourists need to take extra care because they might be targeted in terror attacks. It said: “There is a high threat of terrorist attack globally affecting UK interests and British nationals, including from groups and individuals who view the UK and British nationals as targets. You should remain vigilant at all times.”

The situation in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories has also caused concern and the Foreign Office said: “Greek authorities have increased security at some prominent locations, including tourist sites, due to events in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Stay aware of your surroundings, stay away from demonstrations and follow the advice of local authorities.”

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UK government lawyers say Israel is breaking international law, claims top Tory in leaked recording

Chair of foreign affairs select committee Alicia Kearns said at a Tory fundraiser that legal advice would mean the UK has to cease all arms sales to Israel without delay

Analysis: starvation in Gaza likely key to UK legal advice on war crimes

The British government has received advice from its own lawyers stating that Israel has breached international humanitarian law in Gaza but has failed to make it public, according to a leaked recording obtained by the Observer .

The comments, made by the Conservative chair of the House of Commons select committee on foreign affairs, Alicia Kearns, at a Tory fundraising event on 13 March are at odds with repeated ministerial denials and evasion on the issue.

On Saturday night, Kearns, a former Foreign Office and Ministry of Defence official, who has repeatedly pressed ministers, including foreign secretary David Cameron , on the legal advice they have received, stood by her comments and called for the government to come clean.

“I remain convinced the government has completed its updated assessment on whether Israel is demonstrating a commitment to international humanitarian law, and that it has concluded that Israel is not demonstrating this commitment, which is the legal determination it has to make,” she said. “Transparency at this point is paramount, not least to uphold the international rules-based order.”

The revelation will place Lord Cameron and prime minister Rishi Sunak under intense pressure because any such legal advice would mean the UK had to cease all arms sales to Israel without delay.

Legal experts said that not to do so would risk putting the UK in breach of international law itself, as it would be seen as aiding and abetting war crimes by a country it was exporting arms to.

Answering questions at an “evening drinks reception” hosted by the West Hampstead and Fortune Green Conservatives in London, Kearns said: “The Foreign Office has received official legal advice that Israel has broken international humanitarian law but the government has not announced it.

“They have not said it, they haven’t stopped arms exports. They have done a few very small sanctions on Israeli settlers and everyone internationally is agreed that settlers are illegal, that they shouldn’t be doing what they’re doing, and the ways in which they have continued and the money that’s been put in.”

Kearns told the gathering that both she and Cameron believed strongly in Israel’s right to defend itself. “But the right to self-defence has a limit in law. It is not limitless,” she said, going on to suggest that Israel’s actions put its and the UK’s long-term security at risk.

“Some of the ways in which Israel is prosecuting this is making their long-term security less certain. It is making our long-term security less certain. I’m amazed that our national threat level has not gone up. And it breaks my heart because I know it could be done differently.”

The British barrister Sir Geoffrey Nice, who was the lead prosecutor at former Serbian president Slobodan Milošević’s trial from 2002 to 2006, said he would not be at all surprised if such advice had been given by government lawyers and called for it to be made public.

Nice said: “A warring party becomes unlawful if it cannot show that its actions have been proportionate. It would not be surprising if there had been advice to that effect from the Foreign Office’s lawyers.”

Were that to be the case, he said that “at the very least that would mean the UK would have to look at the whole issue of arms sales to Israel. It takes you into the area of aiding and abetting. It takes you into to very difficult areas.”

He added: “Countries supplying arms to Israel may now be complicit in criminal warfare. The public should be told what the advice says.”

The UK’s arms exports to Israel amounted to £42m in 2022, a figure described by defence secretary Grant Shapps as “relatively small”.

But former lord chancellor Charles Falconer said a legal assessment that Israel had broken international law would also prevent the UK sharing intelligence with Israel.

“Governments who abide by the rule of law cannot ignore mounting evidence of breach which would then put those governments in breach if they continued assisting,” he said.

In a session of the foreign affairs select committee in January, Cameron was asked directly by Kearns whether “you have never had a piece of paper put in front of you by a Foreign Office lawyer that says that Israel is in breach of its international humanitarian commitments under international humanitarian law”.

Cameron stated that “I cannot recall every single bit of paper that has been put in front of me … I don’t want to answer that question.”

He later said that “if you are asking me whether I am worried that Israel has taken action that might be in breach of international law … yes, of course I am worried about that. That is why I consult the Foreign Office lawyers when giving this advice on arms exports.”

Other UK ministers have previously claimed that Israel has abided by international law. In late November, business secretary Kemi Badenoch said on Sky News that “we’ve always said that Israel should abide by international law, and that appears to be what they have done … It looks like they have taken great pains to make sure that they’re staying within the confines of the law. We applaud them for that.”

Labour has repeatedly called for the government to be transparent about the legal advice it has received.

On 22 March, David Lammy MP, the shadow foreign secretary, wrote to Cameron, calling on him to publish the legal advice on Israel’s compliance with international humanitarian law.

On 26 March in the House of Commons, Lammy asked the minister for development and Africa, Andrew Mitchell MP, if the foreign secretary had received legal advice saying there was a clear risk that items licensed by the UK might be used to commit or facilitate a serious violation of international humanitarian law. Mitchell said “no government do[es] that”, adding later that “we do not disclose our internal legal advice”.

Last week, the international court of justice ordered Israel to allow unimpeded access of food aid into Gaza, where huge numbers of people are facing imminent starvation . Cameron has repeatedly voiced his frustration at Israel’s action in blocking aid from crossing the border into Gaza.

The war began on 7 October after Hamas launched an attack inside Israel that killed more than 1,100 Israelis, mostly civilians, and took about 250 people hostage.

Israeli military attacks on Gaza have resulted in the death of more than 32,000 people, the majority women and children, according to local health authorities.

A Foreign Office spokesperson said: “We keep advice on Israel’s adherence to international humanitarian law under review and ministers act in accordance with that advice, for example, when considering export licences. The content of the government’s advice is confidential.”

• Israel-Gaza war
• The Observer
• Conservatives
• Foreign policy
• David Cameron
• Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
• International court of justice

Most viewed

Eight countries 'off limits' for UK tourists in 2024 because they're 'too dangerous'

E ight countries are now off limits to UK tourists because they are "too dangerous." The UK Foreign Office has warned over the eight countries - which it has deemed "too dangerous" for holidaymakers to visit as we head deeper into 2024.

Eight nations added to the list by FCDO are Russia, Ukraine, Iran, Sudan, Lebanon, Israel, Belarus and the Palestinian territories. These nations are categorised as either on the “red list” or “black list” by experts in the UK Foreign Office.

On Belarus, the UK Foreign Office warns: "Russian military operations are taking place in Belarus. There is some risk that direct conflict linked to the war in Ukraine may spread to Belarus. If conflict starts, FCDO’s ability to offer consular assistance will be severely limited.

READ MORE UK faces first heatwave of 2024 this weekend with three parts of England hottest

"Routes out of the country are limited, particularly by air." It adds: "The Belarusian authorities are facilitating Russia’s war against Ukraine. Russian military operations are taking place inside Belarus. The situation is unpredictable and could escalate without warning.

"This has increased the risk of conflict within Belarusian borders. If conflict takes place, FCDO’s ability to offer consular assistance may be limited. Events in Ukraine are fast-moving. There is high risk of military activity in places where there are Russian and Belarusian military personnel and equipment."

The warnings for Ukraine and Russia follow the Belarus guidance, while Israel and Palestine have been locked in unrest since October. On Sudan, the UK Foreign Office says: "There is a military response to Houthi militants’ attempts to disrupt international shipping in the Red Sea.

"The military activity is limited to the Red Sea and Yemen, but travel advice for nearby countries could change at short notice. You should monitor travel advice and follow instructions from local authorities." The warning for Lebanon echoes this reasoning, the Foreign Office adds.

UK Adds Pakistan To List Of Countries "Too Dangerous To Travel": Report

In their latest report, the FCDO alerted that the organisation has updated the list and added eight more countries.

According to the FCDO alert, the total number of banned destinations is 24 (Representational)

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) of the United Kingdom has recently added Pakistan to its list of countries that it states are "too dangerous" for UK citizens to travel, reported Geo News.

According to the latest FCDO alert, the total number of banned destinations is 24, Geo News reported.

The FCDO's alert covers a range of concerns that pose a threat to visitor safety, including crime, war, terrorism, disease, weather conditions and natural disasters, Geo News reported, citing the Manchester Evening News.

Moreover, the newly added countries are those involved in conflicts, including Russia, Ukraine, Israel, Iran, Sudan, Lebanon, Belarus, and the Palestinian territories.

Meanwhile, the blacklisted countries include, Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, the Central African Republic, Chad, Haiti, Iraq, Israel, Lebanon, Libya, Mali, Niger, North Korea, Somalia, Somaliland, South Sudan, Syria, Venezuela and Yemen.

Additionally, the Foreign Office has also issued a red list, according to Geo News.

The countries included in the red list represent those regions where travel should be avoided "unless absolutely essential."

"If you're planning to travel somewhere from the UK, remember not to visit the blacklisted countries or countries on the red list," it added.

In 2023, Pakistan witnessed 1,524 violence-related fatalities and 1,463 injuries from 789 terror attacks and counter-terror operations, including nearly 1,000 fatalities among civilians and security forces personnel, reported Dawn.

Moreover, overall fatalities, including those of outlaws, marked a record six-year high, exceeding the 2018 level and the highest since 2017.

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Reportedly, the country saw a surge in violence for the third consecutive year with an uptick recorded each year beginning from 2021.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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