Health
Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice.
Vaccinations
Current vaccinations: Should be brought up to date.
Consider the following vaccines in particular:
- Diphtheria:
- for all travellers.
- Tetanus :
- for all travellers.
- Poliomyelitis :
- for all travellers going to developing countries or participating in outdoor adventure activities.
- Tuberculosis :
- for infants < 6 months travelling in areas with high incidence (Africa, South America, Eastern Europe), persons < 25 years whose tuberculin test is negative and travelling to developing countries.
- And others...
Specific vaccinations: depending on the region where you are going, the duration of your stay and the season, certain vaccines are recommended. One month before leaving, check with your doctor or with a licensed international vaccination centre about vaccinations that you need to have performed before you leave (yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis, hepatitis A or B, etc.).
Malaria
Preventive treatment depending on your destination. From your doctor or at a visit to the vaccination centre, get informed about the risk of malaria in your destination and the appropriate treatment (this depends on the trip [geographic area, duration, season etc.], as well as on the traveller [contraindications, pregnant women, etc.]). Treatment begins on the day of departure and is continued during the trip and for 1 to 4 weeks after returning.
Medical kit
To be prepared with your pharmacist's or doctor's assistance
Chronic treatments
If this applies to you, ask your doctor to make a summary of your medical file, translate it into English if possible, and make sure that you bring along a sufficient amount of your treatment for the duration of your stay.
Insects
Mosquitoes, phlebotomus, and ticks: remember to spray your clothing with repellents (Moustifluid Lotion For Fabrics and Clothing Tropical Zones) and do not forget bodily repellents for exposed body parts (Moustifluid Body Lotion).
Identification documents
- Check the rules for entry and stay with the embassy and consulate of your destination country: what documents are required? Passport, identity card, visa?
- Photocopy your identification documents and keep the photocopies at home (in case the originals are lost or stolen while you are travelling).
- Remember to bring ID photos with you.
Insurance
Subscribe a international assistance contract before leaving.
Bring along you the appropriate form of international agreements (European card of disease insurance, which replaces the form E111 for all European citizens).
Pets
- Bring along your pets' vaccination certificates if they are travelling with you.
- FYI: some countries prohibit the entry of animals, and others require importation permits.
Money
- Remember to bring local currency with you and ensure that you have various methods of payment: credit card, cash, traveller's checks, etc.
Driving
- Learn about the local traffic laws.
- Bring along the following documents if you are using a motor vehicle: vehicle registration, international insurance card, international driver's licence (request this from the prefecture), etc.
For more information, consult the government website: www.diplomatie.gouv.fr