Lord Baden-Powell, the founder of the Boy Scout movement famously coined the motto, 'be prepared', and this is especially good advice for people planning a trip abroad.

Thorough preparation for your journey will ensure maximum enjoyment and minimum stress. After all, a vacation is all about relaxation and pleasure, and these rewards could easily be compromised if setting off from home without sufficient 'groundwork'.

The British Isles are packed with a huge number of sites of great historical significance, beautiful scenery and attractions. The key to seeing as many of these as possible, (should you so wish), is forward planning.

Planning a visit to a different country can be a confusing ordeal, but armed with the helpful hints and details provided in the 'Travel Information' section of our website we have tried to make this experience as painless as possible.

As with any foreign journey you will need to consider things which may not even cross your mind whilst travelling within your own country.

How to Travel
Whether you choose to fly, sail or travel by car or train, (European travellers), or a combination of both, there are an abundance of travel operators to choose from, each of them trying to offer the best deal and keenest prices. If you are a student it is worth checking to see if you are eligible for any discount. Older, retired people may also benefit from a similar enquiry, check with your local travel agent for details.

Flying
If you want to take advantage of discount air tickets, it will pay off to check with the relevant flight companies daily ,(or even more frequently). If you are prepared to travel on extremely short notice, you can go on the standby lists where air companies offer last minute cancellations at ridiculously low prices.

One-way tickets
As the name suggests, a one-way ticket will only get you to, (or from), your destination. This is fine for open ended return dates say for example a back-packing holiday but you must possess enough discipline to save enough money for a return ticket.

Return tickets
Purchasing a return ticket is much less expensive than two one-way tickets. They are usually valid for 12 months, (check with your travel agent), but can be an inflexible option as they often require you to state your return date, destination and location of return flight. Again, ask your travel agent for details as the various airline companies will stipulate different requirements.

Round-the-world tickets
Depending on the airline this type of ticket will offer a variety of destinations or stop off points in a pre-determined sequence, (Asia, Africa, Australia for example). Usually valid for 12 months these tickets however do not enable you to 'backtrack' the preset route. The time limit of 12 months could present problems for those wishing to do some serious exploring. A strict, self instigated itinerary would be advised for this type of trip.

Charter flights
This type of flight is arranged by a tour operator who has negotiated a special deal with an airline company. Available in the budget range of the pricing bracket, be prepared for tight schedules, no stopovers and changes to the route.

Courier flights
The bigger 'blue-chip' companies, (large companies or corporations listed in a top 100 index), will sometimes offer well discounted or even free travel expenses in return for a service. This service usually involves hand delivering documents overseas. Be warned, the packages you carry for the particular company may force you to travel lighter than you had originally planned. The flights they offer are usually a round trip with an expiry of between one and four weeks.

Flight Taxes
Check with your travel agent.

Other Things to Consider

Language
Obviously, English is the language of the majority of our population, but if travelling to Scotland and Wales you may well hear people speaking in their native tongue of Gaelic or Welsh respectively. If English is not your first language you should invest in a good phrase book. Even English-speaking people from around the world will have problems with some of our more eccentric English expressions and phrases. A good source of reference for Americans is this British/American 'on-line' lexicon.

Immunisation
No immunisations are required for travel to the UK.

Insurance
When travelling abroad you must always take out sufficient insurance. Purchasing the policy before obtaining your tickets or holiday may also cover you for any cancellations

It is important to take out a policy that covers theft, loss and medical situations. The peace of mind that travel insurance brings is well worth the extra expense incurred, and in the long run could save you a great deal of expense and heartache. Your travel agent can usually help with the multitude of policies available, but always take out specialist insurance if you intend to take part in extreme sports such as skydiving or bungee jumping.

As with all policies and contracts, always read the small print carefully and ensure that you are covered for all possible eventualities.

Your present health
Make sure that any members of your party are physically fit to travel. As well as general well-being, this includes dental and optometric health. If you lose or break your glasses, (or even false teeth-yes it can happen!), an unwanted medical bill could put a huge dent in your spending money.

If you think you are fit enough to travel but still require prescription medicine, make sure to take an abundant supply. Also, always make sure that your medications are contained within their original packaging, (this will make it easier to replace should you for any reason need to replace it).

There is no need to pack water purification tablets for a trip to our shores, as UK tap water is clean and safe, but drinking from all 'natural' water sources is always best avoided.

Remember 999 is the UK's emergency number!

Documentation you may require

Passport
Obviously this is the most important document to remember and without it you won't even leave your own country! It should be valid until at least six months after your scheduled return date, (just in case the unexpected happens and you are delayed in our country). Renewal of your passport may be very difficult overseas with some countries demanding that your passport is valid for a minimum period after your return date.

If you do not currently possess a passport, please bear in mind that the process could take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months, so don't waste any time, apply now! Your travel agent or Embassy will be able to provide more information.

Some further tips are:-

• Ensure you complete the next of kin details in your passport.
• Make a note of your passport number and date of issue, and keep it separately in a safe place.
• Leave a photocopy of your passport details page with a friend or relative at home.
• Take a second means of photo identification with you.

Visas
Be sure that any children included on your passport will still be younger than 16 by the conclusion of your journey.A Visa is an endorsement in a passport signifying that the document is in order and permitting the bearer to travel into or through the country of the government issuing it. This endorsement usually specifies the period of time that the bearer may stay in the country and there are different types of visas: Tourist, Business, Transit and Work.

If you intend to travel more extensively around Europe, please pack more passport photos as you will need up to four for each additional visa required.

British Visas
Like our weather, our regulations are subject to change without a lot of notice so it is essential to check the current situation with your local British embassy or consulate before travelling. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office will also provide any further information you require.

Citizens of the EU (European Union) can live and work in Britain free of immigration controls and should not need a visa.

Immigration authorities are notoriously tough and Britain is no exception, dress smartly and always hold proof that you have sufficient means to support yourself while staying in Britain. People have been refused entry before because they have been carrying papers indicating that they may be entering Britain looking for work.

To extend your visa while in Britain, contact:-

The Home Office
Tel: 0207 0088438

Driving License
If you intend to drive, obtain an International Driving license as you will not be able to obtain one once you arrive.

Remember! Make photocopies of all important documents and don't keep them in the same place as the originals!

What To Pack

The type of holiday you are planning will dictate what and how much you will need to pack. Obviously if you are planning a backpacking or walking holiday you will need to travel as light as possible using a bag or pack that is suited for this purpose.

It's a good idea to purchase some sort of padlock for your luggage which could also be used to secure temporary storage lockers.

Think comfort and security, a light backpack or rucksack is more comfortable and harder to snatch than a shoulder bag.

If you are planning a backpacking holiday, items such as a compass, 'Swiss army knife', flashlight and electrical adaptor plug would be wise additions to your luggage.

Essentials Check List

• All required documentation, including passport, visas and international driving license.
• A phrasebook, (should you require one.)
• A guidebook to the UK.
• Travellers cheques in easy to spend denominations, along with a separate record of their numbers.
• Cash, (in both sterling and your own country's currency), kept separately from your traveller's cheques.
• Photocopies of all documents including passport, visas, travel insurance policy, health insurance and birth certificate.
• YHA membership card, (if appropriate).
• Backpack and daypack, (if planning to do some walking).
• Money belt/neck pouch that can be hidden away, (securely), beneath clothing.
• Electrical adaptor.
• Essential medical supplies, (if you are on prescription drugs).