6 Safety Travel Tips for Travelling Abroad

Book with A TICO Registered Travel Agency or Website To verify if a travel agency or website is TICO registered, check our online directory. All travel agencies and websites located and operating in Ontario are regulated by TICO. Registered TICO travel agencies and websites provide additional consumer protection for your travel investment that may not be available when booking with travel agencies and websites based in other countries or provinces.

1.Research the conditions and laws of the country you plan on visiting.

Remember you are no longer in Canada and the health conditions, laws and customs may drastically differ from those at home. The Government of Canada publishes a comprehensive travel health and safety guide. They also publish the latest travel advisories for each country regarding situations that may affect the safety and well-being of Canadians travelling abroad. This can include COVID-19 levels, issues of civil unrest, strike or other health and safety issues.

2.Photocopy All of Your Travel Documents.

Make photocopies of travel documents such as:

• COVID-19 vaccination proof and/or testing results
• Tickets
• Itineraries
• Passport
• Insurance policy
• Identification
• Credit cards

Leave photocopies of these documents with a friend or family member at home. You should also carry the same photocopies in a safe place, separate from your original travel documents and identification.

3.Know the Location of Canadian Embassies & Consulates.

The Government of Canada offers emergency consular assistance. Check out the directory of contact information for Canadian embassies and consulates abroad. It’s a good idea to note the contact information for each country you plan to visit, and enter the contact details into your cell phone. Canada’s consular services can assist in many ways should travelers find themselves in trouble:

• Replacing a lost or stolen passport
• Providing contact information and advice regarding local doctors, hospitals and information on local police

In emergency situations, they will also contact friends and relatives to request assistance in sending money or airline tickets. With authorization, they will contact family if there has been an accident or if detained by police. You can reach the Government of Canada 24/7 at the Emergency Watch and Response Centre in Ottawa if you experience problems abroad (by email at sos@international.gc.ca or call +1 613-996-8885; collect calls are accepted).

4.Be covered with the right type of insurance

Now more than ever, it’s critical to know what your travel cancellation, interruption and medical insurance will and won’t cover. You may want to consider additional insurance beyond what’s covered through your group benefits or credit cards. The Travel Health Insurance Association of Canada has published helpful COVID-19 travel insurance FAQs.

5.Register with the Government of Canada’s Registration of Canadians Abroad.

Before you travel, register with the Government of Canada’s Registration of Canadians Abroad. This free service allows government officials to contact in destination if there is an emergency (such as a natural disaster or civil unrest), instructions during emergencies, important changes to the Travel Advice and Advisories for the country for which you registered, and more.

6.Bring the Correct Travel Adapters

Many countries have different size plugs and voltage and you always want to make sure you can charge your cell phone, tablet or laptop to maintain contact. Keep someone posted on where you currently are and where you are heading next.

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Book with a TICO Registered Travel Agency

To verify if a travel agency or website is TICO registered, check our online directory. Take the TICO Traveller Quiz to see what type of traveller you are. Sign up to receive quarterly travel consumer protection email updates. For more travel tips and information, visit the Smart Traveller Guide. All travel agencies and websites located and operating in Ontario are regulated by TICO. Registered travel agencies and websites provide additional consumer protection for your travel investment that may not be available when booking with travel agencies and websites based in other countries or provinces. For more information about how TICO helps, click here. Any questions can be directed to tico@tico.ca or 1-888-451-TICO (8426).