international advice
If you fancy venturing further away for an international stag party that's no problem, but the weekend does take a bit more preparation. You've got a few extras to think about, eg: accommodation, health, currency and exchange rates, safety and emergency, insurance, passports, tickets, transport, visas, what's on, time difference, climate and weather, to name a few. But rest easy we can help with outstanding stag weekends in Europe, leave the preparation in our hands and you‘ll be on the way to an outstanding weekend.
We pride ourselves on our relationships, high levels of efficiency, quality and service, we have fantastic reviews and testimonials from both clients and partners. If you're looking for a professional and dedicated organisation that's leading the way on international stag weekends, then send Stagweb a brief.
health, safety & emergency
Ignore this at your peril. Even if you doubt you'll be away long enough to get yourself in a pickle we recommend you don't chance it. If you've got somewhere distant in mind check out whether or not it's safe to travel there, if it is beware of the health considerations eg vaccinations. And if you or a member of the party gets sick / injured while you're there, what should you do? Healthwise, will you be covered by any Anglo-international relationships? (eg E111 / European Health Insurance Card). To keep up to date with the latest requirements and advice, please click here. If not be doubly sure you've got adequate insurance. If you're unfortunate enough to find yourself in an emergency situation have an action plan ready you need to know what to do, get your info sorted before you leave and be sure to have a look at the links below.
useful health & safety links
FCO’s Travel Health Advice - top suggestions from the Foreign Office.
Fit for Travel - NHS tips and checks when preparing for travel.
MD Travel Health - complete travel health info, updated daily.
e-med - online medical service offering immediate access to UK doctors.
The Foreign Office - general information on travel overseas (safety, visas, etc).
travelhealth.co.uk - nurse-led travel health site dispensing practical advice.
special needs
Not all countries are ready and prepared in the same way for special needs visitors, so if you have concerns or requirements don’t hesitate to let us know, we’ll do our very best to only put you in the most agreeable position.
important
It is important to note that while many countries are now part of the EU, public liability insurance does not equate to the UK’s substantial requirements. For example in the UK standard public liability for commercial tour operators should start at £2.5 million, in the eastern parts of the EU for example that maximum requirement can often only be US$50,000 - so you can see the relative differences.
disclaimers
As the protocol standards are also different internationally, on occasion you may also be required to sign a “disclaimer” - these will verify for example that you want to go ahead with a certain activity. This is standard practice in some countries and necessary evidence of your decision to go ahead.
ABTA press release (02/12/04) - credit card protection
A recent court case has clarified the law in relation to financial protection on credit card payment when dealing with non-UK suppliers. Section 75 of the Consumer Act 1974 has always ensured that the public are legally entitled to a refund of their money due to non-provision of services, usually caused by the financial failure of the supplier. The new judgement has ruled that this section of the Act does not apply to foreign transactions. This clearly emphasises the protection benefits of booking through a fully bonded ABTA member as opposed to booking direct with a foreign company. Further information can be found here.
rules of thumb
Essentially for any international travel you should consider your position and act appropriately, for example:
- Only ever book your travel (domestic or international) with an approved and competent partner
Service levels vary widely, the minimum requirement for group travel as British citizens, if you want to be covered, should be a recognised tour operators license and ABTA bonding (see details of our ABTA here)
- Ensure that everybody has insurance prior to travel
- Ensure that everybody has adequate insurance, eg check that the policy covers you for the activities you may be doing, repatriation, level of cover, etc. Remember not all policies are the same
- Get a European Health Insurance Card (replaces the old E111) - this is a reciprocal health arrangement between most EU countries (check which countries are covered), see more information here for more detail
- Ensure that everybody has the necessary visas (if non British passport holders are part of the party)
- Make certain that someone at home has copies of all your documents.
- Be aware of easily accessible and local knowledge eg emergency numbers, support, medications, etc.
- Make sure the whole group is on the same page, with all information, from the itinerary to the insurance.
- You can rest assured that Stagweb is totally professional, fully covered, prepared and committed to your needs
passport & visas
A pretty simple concern you would think but many leave it too late. How far in advance are you going to receive the tickets? Can you use e-tickets issued online? Check your passport hasn't run out, will it be valid for the full duration of your travel? Will you need a visa? Will anybody in your party (eg foreign friends) need a visa?
Visa links
Global Visas
passport agency
CIBT UK
 CIBT UK is the world's largest passport and visa provider with offices in the UK, USA, Netherlands and Germany, and is proud to be an ABTA Travel Industry Partner. The company's global team is trained to simplify and expedite the visa process, meet tight deadlines, and solve problems with high levels of service, knowledge and experience. Located in central London with a strong reputation for going the extra mile and meeting impossible deadlines, you can be assured that your visa will be secured efficiently. For full details go to www.uk.cibt.com.
insurance
A crucial consideration, there are no two ways about it you must cover yourselves with adequate insurance - Does it cover you if you play (eg adventure sports or wintersports) while you're away? Does it cover expatriation? What are the help services like? Make sure you're happy. And make sure details are easily accessible at all times.
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