A few tips and precautions are all that you need to follow before embarking on a foreign trip to avoid it becoming a nightmare.

What is it?

A travel checklist for frequent travellers. Not the bare essentials, but the not-so-cared about essentials.

Why are we writing about it?

When on a trip abroad, it is good to remember that outside your country you may be exposed to less familiar local conditions, that too without support. Or the support may be very expensive. So it is important to take a few simple precautions for a safe and secure stay abroad.

What are the things that I need to check before I leave?

First, make sure that you have full travel insurance. Unless your employer provides a health-care plan, you should consider private health-care plans to cover treatment in the country where you live. You should remember that the costs of a medical emergency abroad can be very expensive.

Make sure your insurance is up to date. Check exactly what is covered -- your luggage and equipment, personal injury, and legal costs. Also, look carefully at exemptions to the insurance policy.

Make sure that all your vaccinations are up to date. Be aware of possible health risks during your trip. Pack enough supplies of medication that you are taking in your hand luggage. Also, keep your medication in its original packaging and take any prescription documents with you.

Fill in the contact details at the back of your passport for your next-of-kin or someone who can be contacted in an emergency. Apart from your passport, take another form of identification with you. Be aware of the immigration and customs controls of the country you are travelling to.

In India, you can get online information on how to get a passport from the Identity and Passport Service (www.passport.gov.in).

Leave an itinerary and details of your journey with someone back home. Make two copies of your passport (including pages with relevant visas), insurance details and any other important travel documents. Leave one copy at home with family or friends and take one copy with you, packed separately from your passport.

Take enough money for your trip and some back-up funds, such as traveller's cheques, some cash or credit cards. Check that your cards are valid, and find out how you can replace them and your traveller's cheques if they are lost or stolen. Keep a separate note of their numbers and of the number you would need to ring to stop any credit cards if they are lost or stolen.

If you are planning to drive, make sure your driving licence is current and valid and learn the driving laws, licence requirements and driving conditions in the country you are visiting.

Once you are there?

Only carry as much money as you need for the day. Leave the rest, and at least one credit card, in the hotel safe if one is available. Keep copies of your passport, insurance details and other important travel documents separate from the originals.

Keep to local laws. There may be very serious penalties for breaking a law which might seem trivial to you. Check what you are bringing back to India is legal. Be aware of local attitudes to alcohol and know your own limit.

Keep your drinks with you at all times as drinks can be spiked with drugs to make you more vulnerable to assault or rape.

Is that all?

Almost. If you have been travelling for long, you will have a list of your own. Add and embellish your own list with this and keep a printed copy.

SNIPPETS

Jet's set

Now they may be busy readying themselves to fly to the USA, but that doesn't stop Jet Airways from introducing another gateway to the lucrative London sector.

The market leader in India is now flying twice a week between London and Ahmedabad. The airline is not just hoping to tap the tourist inflow into Gujarat with this flight, but also hoping that this route acts as a gateway for tourists to Rajasthan.

The airline will use an Airbus 330-220 aircraft on the new route with 30 specially configured seats in the Premiere Class (first class) and 196 seats in the economy class. The aircraft will also come equipped with a wide choice of in-flight entertainment.

Smart connections

GoAir is increasing frequency on some of its routes this summer. The Wadia Group-owned airline now has 64 weekly flights connecting Mumbai and Delhi. It will also fly to Kochi from Delhi and Bangalore and between Hyderabad and Chennai.

The airline also has more flights connecting Mumbai and Srinagar and a flight to Jammu via Delhi from its Mumbai hub. So enjoy!