General Safety When you’re on holiday, it’s easy to relax and forget the basics—but safety should always come first, as such, this page is divided into sections for clarity: General Villa Safety, Preparing for Your Holiday, Out and About Safety, Beach Safety, Road Safety, Useful Links. Please review all sections carefully to ensure a safe and enjoyable holiday. Please take a few moments to review the important guidelines provided here. They’re designed to help you enjoy your stay while keeping you and your loved ones safe. General Villa Safety Preparing for Your Holiday Out and About Safety Beach Safety Road Safety Useful Links Villa Safety & Security Lock all windows, shutters, and doors at night and when leaving. Set the security device if available when out or at night. Report suspicious activity to the Holiday Helpline. Take care to lock doors and windows even when relaxing by the pool. Some villas have alarm systems with sensor-controlled cameras (only active when alarm is set). Fire Safety Familiarise yourself with safety info and emergency numbers upon arrival. Locate exit doors and fire extinguishers / blankets. Do not tamper with smoke detectors or remove batteries. If alarm sounds, evacuate immediately and do not re-enter. No smoking indoors. Never leave cookers unattended. Gas Safety If you smell gas: extinguish flames and avoid switches. Open doors and windows, inform our Helpline Team immediately. Never attempt to locate a gas leak yourself. Never use gas cookers for heating. Rural Locations Be cautious of platforms, drops, and steep slopes.Supervise children near farms or animals in rural locations. General Safety Take care with glass patio doors, sunlight can make them hard to see. Tile floors and bathrooms can be slippery when wet. Do NOT use electrical appliances near water. Swimming Pool Safety Make sure you know your pool depths and observe our no diving policy. Do not swim at night or under the influence of alcohol. Supervise children at all times. Report any pool faults immediately. Do not run around the poolside—surfaces can be slippery. Shower before swimming; wear hats/shirts for sun protection. Do not swim if the water is cloudy and be sure to contact our Helpline Team. Accident & Illness Report accidents or illnesses to the Holiday Helpline immediately. If you have any concerns regarding villa safety, contact the Holiday Helpline. Travel Insurance Travel Insurance No one wants to be thinking of accidents or incidents while they’re on holiday, but life can be unpredictable and if the worst does happen, it is essential that you have adequate travel insurance to cover you against travel risks such as lost or stolen luggage, cancellation cover and most importantly, unexpected medical bills. So please take out appropriate travel insurance before travelling and make sure it covers you for all the activities you want to do and remember to take a copy of your insurance policy with you. Travel Advice If you are travelling within Europe, ensure you have a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) that hasn’t expired and understand what it covers - This only entitles you to basic state medical care in participating countries, it does not cover repatriation- you still need full travel insurance. For your free EHIC card visit https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/healthcare-abroad/apply-for-a-free-ehic-european-health-insurance-card/.When you are venturing somewhere completely new and you really don’t know the destination that you are travelling to, it can be quite intimidating. It is therefore always important to research your destination and learn about the laws, customs and entry requirements of the country you’re visiting and understand how they differ from home, check www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice.Check your passport is valid, fill out the emergency details, look after it while travelling and keep it in a safe place. Make sure you have all necessary visas. Make copies of important travel documents, take a picture or make copies and store them securely using a secure data storage site. Research vaccinations or any other medical requirements for your destination, and if necessary visit a travel health clinic before you travel. For medical advice visit travelhealthpro.org.uk.Please ensure that you leave in plenty of time for the airport and drive safely. What to Bring Tell your friends or family about your travel plans and where you’re going and leave emergency contact details.Take enough money with you and have access to emergency funds.Please note that telephones are not provided in our properties with the exception of Leisure Resorts whereby phones might be provided for internal resort calls. Therefore we recommend that you take a mobile phone on your villa holiday for emergencies. British Nationals Ensure you take the contact details of the local British Consulate in case of emergencies - www.gov.uk/government/world/embassies.Understand what consular staff can and can’t do to help British nationals travelling overseas, check www.gov.uk/government/publications/support-for-british-nationals-abroad-a-guide. Can I Travel With A Pacemaker? The British Heart foundation provides advice and guidance on travelling with a pacemaker, so please refer to their website for further information. www.bhf.org.uk - search pacemakers. If you require any further villa information in relation to this , please enquire with our sales team at the time of booking or with our concierge team post booking. Out and About Holidays are something we all look forward to each year. Time to relax, unwind and enjoy the local culture and cuisine. However Safety and security are always a concern when you travel, and a Villa Holiday is no exception. Whilst it's fine to relax and have a good time, there are a few sensible precautions you should take once you arrive at your destination.Write down the Villa name and our Holiday Helpline contact number in case of any accidents for the emergency services to find.Avoid walking along unpaved or unlit roads during the hours of darkness or otherwise ensure you carry a torch. Never walk home alone.Be aware that in some countries traffic isn’t required to stop at pedestrian crossings.Always book excursions through a reputable company. Don’t Flaunt Possessions Be cautious when using your brand new camera about and wowing people with your latest new gadgets. Maybe upload your photos to an online storage bank at the end of each day, just in case. Use Common Sense Chances are you aren’t going to encounter any problems on your holiday, but always use common sense and you’re sure to be fine. If a certain situation doesn’t feel right to you, walk away and avoid it. It’s probably the best thing to do. Cash Avoid carrying large amounts of cash on you whilst on holiday. Just take with you what you need and split your money between friends. We would suggest carrying a pre-loaded travel card as a safer option. Bags Make sure you have a secure day bag/handbag and keep it close to you at all times. If you or your partner carries a wallet in your pocket, keep it in the bag instead so as not to give pickpockets an easy ride. Avoid carrying wallets in your back pocket. Drinking Alcohol We all go on holiday to have a good time, but always be wary when out drinking. Keep an eye on your drink and never leave it unattended. Also avoid having too much as this can make you an easy target for theft. Taxis Always be sure that you are getting into a licensed taxi. A good tip is to settle on a price before setting off. Alternatively, if the taxi has a meter, ensure that the driver has it running. Always carry local emergency services number with you. Beach Safety Beach Safety So now you’re ready to hit the beach there are a few important things to remember, whether lifeguards are on duty or not.Beaches can become crowded and it is therefore easy to lose sight of children. Children are safest when supervised. As soon as you get to the beach, agree a meeting point in case of separation.When you arrive at the beach the first thing you might see is a sign giving you all the information about the beach you’re visiting. Check and take notice of warning flags and whether a life guard is on duty.When you’re heading to a beach, we urge you to respect the water. Rips are strong currents running out to sea, which can quickly take you from the shallows out of your depth. The beach can seem like a vast playground but the tide can come in surprisingly quickly and waves are great fun, but they can be dangerous. They have different characteristics depending on the beach and conditions - understanding how they work will keep you safer. Be aware of tides and currents.Blow-up toys and airbeds are designed for pools, not the sea where they can easily be swept out. If they are used then please keep near the shore.Never swim in a “no swim” zone.Jet Skis or other water based activities should be used with appropriate safety equipment. Sun Safety Sun Safety Sunburn can ruin your holiday and increase the risk of skin cancer in later life. Whilst the below seems very obvious, please keep safe this Summer and follow our tips on sun safety:Always wear sunscreenSun hat – slap on a broad-brimmed hat that shades your face, neck and earsSunglasses – wear wrap-around sunglasses with UV protection to shield your eyesShoulders – slip on a T-shirt or UV protective suit for children and remember to keep your shoulders coveredShade – seek shade, particularly during the hottest time of the day between 11am and 3pm when UV penetration is at its strongest.Drink plenty of water & keep hydratedKeep babies cool and well covered Road Safety Road Safety If you're driving in Europe for the first time, it's normal to feel a little bit nervous before you set off. You could be driving on the right-hand side for the first time, to different road rules and kilometre speed limits amongst other things. So here's what you need to know to feel confident behind the wheel. Top Tips for Driving on the Right Driving in a hire car abroad – You'll need to get used to a new vehicle before you set off. Pedals will be in the same order, but gear stick and handbrake will be on your right. So familiarise yourself with your hire vehicle.Roads differ to those in UK. It can take some getting used to driving on the right. Here's how to master it quickly:If you're driving down a narrow lane, pull over to the right to let oncoming vehicles pass.On motorways and dual carriageways, the overtaking lane is on your left side.Go easy when overtaking. If you need to overtake and you're driving a left-hand drive car, you may find you can't see the traffic around you properly. If you need to, wait for a stretch of dual carriageway.On roundabouts, give way to the left and drive anti-clockwise.Always be aware for cyclists which are very common in some destinations such as Mallorca and Lanzarote.Look at the signs. The best way to check you're on the correct side of the road is looking at road signs – if they're facing you, you're doing OK.Give yourself space. Keep a greater distance than you normally would between you and the car in front to make sure you have the time and space to react if you need to.Take extra care when you've just finished a familiar task, such as filling up at a petrol station where you could unconsciously slip back into UK driving mode.Always wear a seat belt.Never drink and drive. Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and National Travel Health Network and Centre The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and National Travel Health Network and Centre have up-to-date advice on staying safe and healthy abroad. More info: gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice. Security, Local Laws, Passport and Visa Information For the latest travel advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office including security and local laws, plus passport and visa information check gov.uk/travelaware and follow @FCDOGovUK and Facebook.com/ForeignCommonwealthAndDevelopmentOffice ABTA For ABTA’s latest advice for staying safe on holiday check abta.com/tips-and-advice/staying-safe-on-holiday Travel Health News Keep informed of current travel health news by visiting travelhealthpro.org.uk. General Travel Advice and Tips The NATHNAC (National Travel Health Network and Centre) website provides general travel advice and tips for staying safe while abroad. Take extra care while you’re away and ensure that children remain supervised at all times. nathnac.net Travel Insurance We recommend having adequate travel insurance in place for your holiday. Please read the following advice from ABTA: https://www.abta.com/tips-and-advice/planning-and-booking-a-holiday/travel-insurance Winner of 9 British Travel Awards in 2024