Top 5 travel tips ahead of Hamburg

[FSF]

Right, it's not long till most of you will be setting off for Hamburg, so while you're going through your suitcases and checking you've got your Fulham shirt and spare pair of pants, here's the FSF's top 5 list of things to check and do before you go to Germany

1) First and foremost, check out the FSF's Guide to Hamburg - http://www.fsf.org.uk/hamburg2010/

By now you'll be bored of us plugging it, but it's full of useful information - check out the sections at the bottom of the page that give you information about eating and drinking, things to see and do, how to get around and more. There's a specially created Google Map on there too, highlighting the main areas and points of interest, so you get the lay of the land before you go.

2) Secondly, it's well worthwhile putting the following number into your phone before you go - 07956 12 13 14. That's the number of the FSF Fans' Embassy. It'll be staffed 24 hours a day from Tuesday to Thursday, and if you find yourself getting in to any difficulties, or with any questions or queries, then it's a very handy number to have around. If you lose your passport, get robbed, end up in hospital or get arrested, we can put you in touch with the relevant consular services, or advise you on your best course of action.

3) Check your passport is valid. It might sound daft, but you wouldn't be the first person to assume or falsely remember that their passport was fine, only to get to the airport on matchday and be turned away from the plane. Find it, check it, re-assure yourself.

4) While you've got your passport in hand, if you're doing more than a daytrip we'd advise you to get a photocopy of the details page of your passport, if you can. In the event of losing your passport while abroad this can make the whole process of getting back to the UK so much simpler. It also means that you can leave your passport safely locked up in your hotel while you go out on the lash - the German authorities will accept a photocopied ID should you need to produce it.

5) Travel insurance - while it may seem somewhat unnecessary, and an extra cost of 'oh, it'll never happen to me', you never know what might happen, especially after a few beers. We hope that a lot of you have got and EHIC card (the new version of the old E111 form that entitles you to medical treatment), but travel insurance is something you can get sorted immediately before you depart, can be done relatively cheaply (a simple single-trip policy could cost as little as £10-£20 or so). If you get something nicked, or have a simple accident, you'll be happy you've got that sort of cover. Don't get stung for medical bills or replacing lost items.

We want you to have the safest and most enjoyable trip possible, and following some or all of the above might just help you do that.

http://www.fsf.org.uk/hamburg2010/