AXA offers advice for World Cup fans
0 commentsAs any football fan will tell you, the World Cup is fast approaching. So is South Africa, the host nation, safer for holidaymakers than Spain or Germany, or should fans headed there be availing themselves of the stab-proof vests aimed at the World Cup tourist market?
Ultimately it is up to the individual to decide but AXA Insurers have issued advice to the 20,000 travellers going to South Africa in an attempt to help keep them and their belongings safe.
A lot of the advice is common sense, such as taking out travel insurance in the first place and, given the fact that travellers are going to be part of a large crowd, keeping valuables in a money belt concealed under clothing. However, there are some tips applicable to South Africa in particular:
- Car jackings and smash 'n’ grab incidents are a problem in South Africa so keep car doors locked and valuables out of sight
- Be aware of health risks such as unhygienic street food stalls, HIV and AIDS, malaria in some parts and too much sun (even in winter)
- If you are thinking of cage diving with the great white sharks when the football is not providing enough of an adrenalin rush, make sure your insurance covers this sort of activity
- If England do well you may be tempted to celebrate in the traditional fashion but if you overdo the alcohol and have an accident your travel policy may well be invalidated. The same applies to taking drugs
- Take special care of your match tickets and pack them in your hand luggage. If you are unlucky enough to lose them your policy will only cover you for the face value and cannot replace the ticket.
In addition, the Foreign Office advises anyone wishing to visit a township to consult a reliable tour guide and to avoid remote beaches and beauty spots. They also point out that even urban areas of South Africa are not well lit so exercise caution.
For more advice see the Foreign Office website.
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