Planning a family trip overseas can be incredibly exciting…But it can also be extremely stressful.
You obviously want to focus on the fun stuff – like researching which amusement parks to hit and what restaurants to try – but you also want to ensure that your family stays safe if things don’t go to plan.
To make that easier, and to hopefully take some of the stress out of planning, we’ve compiled a checklist of everything families should do before heading abroad.
Picture by Jamie Davies on Unsplash
Check Your Government’s Official Travel Advisory Site and Subscribe to Travel Alerts
No matter where you’re from, your government almost certainly runs an official travel advisory website and it should be your first stop when planning any overseas trip.
Just enter the country you’re wanting to travel to and you’ll find up-to-date information on entry requirements, visa conditions, local laws, health risks, and security situations. It’s free, it’s thorough, and it takes about five minutes to learn all you need to know aboutwhere you’re thinking of going.
Some of the most widely used include Travel.State.Gov (USA), the FCDO Travel Aware site(UK), Smartraveller (Australia), and Travel.gc.ca (Canada) but most countries have an equivalent worth bookmarking.
You can also subscribe to destination-specific travel alerts so you receive updates directly to your inbox if the advice for your destination changes while you’re away. And if a crisis does break out while you’re overseas, many governments will open a registration portal so they can locate and assist their citizens in the affected area.
Bookmarking your country’s travel advisory site on your phone before you leave is one of the smartest five-minute preps you can do.
Get the Right Travel Insurance, and Read It
Travel insurance is an absolute must, especially when you’re travelling with children. But not all policies are created equally, so it’s important to read the fine print to see whatis – and isn’t! – covered.
Of course, we’re not trying to cause you more anxiety, just trying to highlight that knowledge is power! A policy that fits your actual trip is worth far more than a genericone purchased in a hurry.
If you’re not sure what to look out for when checking your policy document, good comprehensive family travel insurance should cover everyone in the family on a single policy and will include overseas medical expenses, trip cancellation fees and lost deposits, delayed or cancelled flights, and lost or stolen luggage and personal items.
And some common exclusions to be aware of include:
- Adventure activities and sports: Most travel insurers don’t automatically cover activities like skiing, snowboarding, or certain watersports. If your trip involves any of these activities, check whether the policy includes them or whether you need to add a specific pack at the time of purchase.
- Cruise trips: Cruises are often treated separately by insurers, so a standard international policy may not cover you on board. If you’re planning a cruise holiday for your family, check whether your policy includes cruise-specific cover or requires an add-on pack.
- Pre-existing medical conditions: Cover for pre-existing conditions isn’t automatic. You’ll need to disclose any conditions during the quote process so they can be assessed. We can’t stress enough, don’t skip this step; particularly if you or your children have ongoing health needs.
- Travel to “do not travel” destinations: No travel insurer will cover you if you travel to a country where your government has issued a “Do Not Travel” warning. Always check your government’s official travel advisory rating for your destination before you book. If the highest warning level is in place, your policy almost certainly won’t apply.
Prepare for Medical Situations Abroad
You never really believe a medical emergency could happen to you or your loved ones until it does. And trust us, knowing what to do in advance can take the enormous pressure off in the moment.
Before you travel, locate your insurer’s emergency assistance number and save it in your phone. Most insurers have a 24/7 emergency line, and the number will appear on your certificate of insurance. Screenshot it, write it down, and keep it somewhere accessible offline, phones run out of battery and apps go offline, and in a stressful moment you don’t want to be frantically searching through emails.
As a general rule, contact your insurer’s emergency team as soon as possible if someone in your family is seriously ill or injured, if you have a medical bill you need help paying, or if you’re receiving any medical treatment in the United States, regardless of cost (US medical costs in particular can escalate very quickly, so do not wait to make contact).
For minor situations, like a doctor’s visit or a pharmacy run, you can usually pay out of pocket and submit a claim on your return. But keep all receipts and any documentation you receive.
Travel with Children’s Medication
If your child takes regular medication, a bit of planning goes a long way. We recommend you:
- Carry a letter from your family doctor or paediatrician that lists the medication, dosage, and the medical reason for it. This is particularly important for controlled substances, which can be restricted or require permits in some countries.
- Pack enough medication to cover the entire trip plus several extra days. Medications can be lost, delayed in transit, or unavailable overseas, so keep it in your carry-on, not checked luggage, and in the original labelled packaging where possible.
- Research your destination’s rules around the medications your child takes before you go. Some over-the-counter products in your home country may be prescription-only or even prohibited elsewhere. Your pharmacist can usually advise on this.
Organise Your Documents and Leave a Paper Trail
Before you depart, make copies of passports, insurance certificates, medical letters, and visa documents. And store physical copies separately from the originals, save digital copies in a secure cloud folder, and leave a set with someone at home.
Speaking of someone at home, you should always let them know your rough itinerary:where you’re staying, when you’re expected to be in each location, and when you’re due back. It doesn’t need to be exhaustive, but it’s a practical safety net.
We totally understand that this checklist might feel like overkill. But travel is one of the greatest gifts you can give your kids. A bit of groundwork means that if something does go pear-shaped, you’re ready for it rather than rattled by it, and you can actually enjoy the trip.
About 1Cover:
1Cover is Australia’s leading specialist travel insurer with over 20 years of experience. Pioneering the online travel insurance market, 1Cover revolutionised how customers could purchase their travel insurance. The insurer has protected millions of Australians and New Zealanders during their travels and is proud to offer cover that you can counton. No matter where you go, 1Cover is the One Thing You Need When One Thing Goes Wrong.
