As we grow more adventurous with our destinations, it should be remembered that caution must be exercised when travelling to areas of civil unrest or inclement climate. You are more likely to be involved in a car accident than a flood, earthquake or insurrection while abroad. However, you should avoid putting yourself in a vulnerable position. Check up on the political situation in the countries you wish to explore and find out if the area is prone to severe weather conditions. Carry copies of all your valuable documents and maintain regular contact with home.

Embassies have telephone answering machines, which are usually monitored outside office hours. The Department of Foreign Affairs also has an after-hours duty officer contactable in genuine emergencies at +353-1-4780822. The Department strongly advises travellers not to carry items for others or leave luggage unattended. In countries where there is no Irish consular representation, Irish citizens may seek assistance from other EU embassies or consulates.