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 see 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

Money

 

Since 15 June 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 nor to those travelling within the EU.

Restaurants

The Municipality of Rome recalls the most important rules of the Code of Consumption for restaurants:

-Show a readable menu even outside the restaurant

-Charge for bread only if the customer expressly requests it

-Specify the prices of each course before the customers makes an order

-Show the wine list with relative prices

-Release a tax receipt specifying relative prices details

-In Lazio the 'cover charge' (coperto) is free

Skiing

If you are planning a skiing holiday it is advisable to contact the Italian State Tourist Board for advice on safety and weather conditions before travelling.  They can be contacted at:

1 Princes Street
London W1R 9AY
Tel: 020 7 355 1557/1439

You should be aware that off-piste skiing is highly dangerous.  All safety instructions should be followed meticulously given the dangers of avalanches in some areas.  Italy has introduced a law forcing skiers and snowboarders to carry tracking equipment if going off-piste.  The law also obliges under-14s to wear a helmet and there are plans for snowboarders to be banned from certain slopes.

Further information can be obtained at the following websites:

http://www.goski.com/italy.htm
http://www.avalanches.org

You are reminded that the currency in Italy is the Euro. Further information can be obtained from Money Matters and the Euro.

The British Consulate, Venice has relocated to:

British Consulate,
Piazzale Donatori di Sangue 2/5
Venice-Mestre
30171

Tel:  (0039) 041 5055990 or (0039) 041 5069389
Fax:  (0039) 041 950254