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.

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).

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.

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.

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

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.

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.