Europe

Insurance

We recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling.  You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake.  For more general information see travel insurance.

If things do go wrong when you are overseas then this is how we can help.

 

Registration

Register with our LOCATE service to tell us when and where you are travelling abroad or where you live abroad so our consular and crisis staff can provide better assistance to you in an emergency. More information about registering with LOCATE can be found here.

Skiing

If you are planning a skiing holiday it is advisable to contact the Austrian Tourist Agency in London (tel: 0845 101 1818) for advice on weather and safety conditions before travelling. You should be aware that off-piste skiing is highly dangerous. All safety instructions should be followed meticulously given the danger of avalanches in some areas and in particular in times of heavy snow accumulation. For your own safety please always check with the local tourist offices on current snow/weather conditions upon arrival.

 

Avalanche beepers (receivers) are the most common rescue devices and, when properly used, provide the fastest way of locating an avalanche victim.

 

Avalanche information can be obtained by telephoning (Tel:  +43 512 581839) or by visiting the following websites: http://www.lawine.at or  http://www.avalanches.org. Extra caution should also be taken during the spring season, as this is when avalanches most commonly occur.

 

Money

Since 15 January 2007 new legislation on the controls of cash entering or leaving the EU apply in all Member States. Any person entering or leaving the EU will have to declare the cash that they are carrying if this amounts to 10,000 euros or more; this includes cheques, travellers' cheques, money orders, etc.  This will not apply to anyone travelling via the EU to a non-EU country, as long as the original journey started outside of the EU or to those travelling within the EU.