1. General statistics

  • 65 million trips abroad expected in 2007

  • 13.5 million Britons live abroad

  • 90,000 consular cases each year

  • 24% of people have celebrations interrupted by holiday horrors

  • 36% of young skiers and snowboarders get into trouble abroad combining alcohol and altitude adrenaline

  • 70% of young Brits now prefer to travel abroad for stag and hen parties

  • 45% of young people are not aware that alcohol can effect you more quickly when drinking at high altitudes

  • 31% of Brits don’t take out insurance that covers the sports they intend to take part in

  • 65% of people remember to pack suncscreen

  • 38% make sure they have contraception

  • 73% buy new clothes

  • 66% of British nationals forget to take photocopies of important documents

  • 35% forget to travel with valid travel insurance

  • In a recent survey, 46% of people bought new clothes, BUT only 26% researched their destination

2. Counting the Cost*

If you aren’t properly prepared before you go on holiday it could end up costing you…

£600 Two days in a general ward – Mediterranean

£400-600 Gastro-enteritis – Mediterranean

£10,000 Broken leg – USA

£20,000-30,000 Heart attack – USA

£15,000 Bronchitis requiring seven days inpatient treatment, Far East

£20,000 Bronchitis requiring seven days in-patient treatment, USA

£5,000 Treatment of a broken leg (in Europe), if surgery required £7,500

based on treatment in a private medical facility – costs are lower if treated in a state facility.

£24,000 Treatment of broken leg (in USA), but one case with this injury it exceeded £76,000

£4000 to £5000 A weeks hospital stay (in Greece)

based on treatment in a private medical facility – costs are lower if treated in a state facility.

£30 to £35,000 Air ambulance (Jet) from the East coast of USA

£12 to£16,000 Air ambulance (Jet) from the Canaries

* all costs are only approximates and can vary

3. Did you Know’s?

  • Did you know that on many Caribbean Islands it is against the law to dress in camouflage clothing?

  • Did you know it is an offence to eat and drink in the immediate vicinity of the main churches and public buildings in Florence?

  • Did you know that women are not allowed to drive in Saudi Arabia?

  • Did you know that  both smoking in a public place and failing to flush a public toilet are chargeable offences in Singapore?

  • Did you know it’s a criminal offence to make critical or defamatory remarks about the King or other members of the Royal family in Thailand?