Heading abroad with your friends?
It’s all about sun, music, beach days and nights out.
But problems on holiday can happen when people get separated, too drunk or caught off guard.
A few simple habits can help your trip stay fun – not something you wish you could forget.
What can I do?
Be prepared
- Check Travel Advice before travelling to understand the risks, entry requirements, and local laws.
- Buy a travel insurance policy and make sure you know what cover it provides. If you don’t do this, you could be liable for emergency expenses, including medical treatment, which may cost thousands of pounds.
- Print a copy of your travel insurance policy and take it with you in case you lose your phone. Share the document with friends and family.
Know the risks
Our Travel Aware page has lots of information on that could help you. Find out more information on risks below.
- If you’re heading to a festival abroad, check our guidance on how to stay safe and get help in an emergency.
- Drink spiking and methanol poisoning can take place on holiday. Learn about the warning signs and practical steps to help reduce the risk. Find out more about symptoms.
- If you experience rape or sexual assault abroad, support is available – find out what to do and how we can help.
- Understand the risks of travelling for medical treatment and how to plan safely. Read our planning list.
Be prepared
- Check Travel Advice before travelling to understand the risks, entry requirements, and local laws.
- Buy a travel insurance policy and make sure you know what cover it provides. If you don’t do this, you could be liable for emergency expenses, including medical treatment, which may cost thousands of pounds.
- Print a copy of your travel insurance policy and take it with you in case you lose your phone. Share the document with friends and family.
Plan ahead
Getting ready and going out
Stay connected
- Use a messaging app to set up a group chat and share your location. If someone wanders off, this could help you find them.
Look out for each other
- Wherever you are, if your mate is looking worse for wear, keep them away from roads or dangerous heights, and let bar or hotel staff know if they need medical attention.
- If someone is annoying your group, try and move away.
Arrive together, leave together
- Serious incidents can happen when someone is alone and vulnerable. Friends don’t leave friends behind. If you go out together, go home together, and if someone’s not okay – don’t ignore it.
Watch you drinks
- Don’t accept drinks from strangers or leave drinks unattended.
- Avoid free shots or suspicious cheap alcohol. If it doesn’t feel right – don’t drink it.
- For more information on how to reduce your risk of spiking and methanol poisoning abroad, check the Spiking and methanol poisoning page.
Don't take risks with drugs
- Taking illegal drugs isn’t worth the risk. You can’t know for sure what’s in them or how strong they are. Penalties for possessing drugs can be even more severe abroad, including heavy fines or prison.
- Drug dealers can take advantage of tourists by selling them drugs that are not what they are supposed to be. Don’t trust people offering you drugs. At best you could just be getting ripped off, but at worst it could be something really dangerous.
- Taking drugs in a foreign country can make you and your mates more vulnerable, bringing unwanted attention from people who could take advantage of you, and from the local police and security.
- For more advice on how to avoid risks from taking drugs, visit FRANK.
Pace yourself
- Drinking abroad can be different to back in the UK. The quality of alcohol can vary and the measurements of alcohol larger.
- Consume water in-between alcoholic drinks. This will help pace you throughout the night and help keep you hydrated.
- 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.
Agree a meeting point
- Phone dies. Signal drops. Pick a spot to meet if you get separated.
Know your way home
- When you first arrive in country, try to familiarise yourself with your surroundings.
- Before you go out, make sure you screenshot your hotel address and save it in your phone. You can also write it down or ask reception if they have an address card you can take with you.
- If in doubt, take a licensed taxi or reputable ride-sharing service.
Holiday activities
Quadbikes, motorbikes and mopeds
- Before you hire a vehicle, make sure your travel insurance covers you and check the small print of the lease agreement.
- Pay particular attention to any limits on engine size and necessary licenses. Many travel insurance policies expect you to hold the correct UK licence for the type of car, motorbike or moped you intend to drive abroad. This means that if you wouldn’t be legally permitted to drive it in the UK, your insurer may not cover you for driving it abroad.
- Always wear a helmet and hire from a licensed shop.
- If you aren’t sure about the vehicle or it doesn’t look safe, don’t get on it.
- Never ride after drinking alcohol.
Festivals abroad
While you’re at the festival:
- always keep your passport and other valuables in a safe place – some festivals provide lockers
- if you must carry your passport or other valuables with you, keep them in a safe place (for example, in a zipped inside pocket)
- keep some spare cash separate from the rest of your money and credit cards
- do not leave bags unattended – if you spot anything suspicious, report it to security staff immediately
- stay with your friends, look out for each other and avoid walking back to your accommodation alone
- stay hydrated and wear suncream and a hat – temperatures can be higher and the sun stronger than in the UK
For more information, visit our travel safety checklist for festivals abroad.
