Getting stung by a jellyfish is not a pleasant experience. Even less pleasant is having someone insist that urine is a great cure for the sting. Believe me there are cleaner and more effective ways of dealing with it.

The first thing to do is to rinse the skin with hot water. If hot water is not available then use salt water. Using gloves, peel off the tentacles. If you don’t have gloves available then use a stick or shell. Avoid touching or getting them on your clothing.

Watch the victim carefully for anaphylactic shock. Symptoms can include itching, wheezing and dizziness.

If the patient can cope, immerse the wounded area into hottest water that they can stand. Preferably over 102 degrees. Give them ibuprofen to help with the pain.

Always seek medical attention if the sting was severe or if the victim is showing any signs of distress.

Holidays are about relaxing and having fun but you can easily let your guard down unwittingly and become a victim of crime.

To avoid becoming a victim, ensure that you remain alert and aware of your surroundings at all times. If using a camera or MP3 player make sure that you still keep your eye on your purse, wallet or handbag.

If you have hired a vehicle you may stand out as a tourist so have your keys in your hand ready when approaching your vehicle. Drive with the doors locked and keep belongings out of view and easy reach.
When walking through town try to look as though you know where you are going. Looking lost and waving a map around could attract the wrong kind of attention.

If you are walking at night stick to busy, well lit streets rather than venturing down dark, little used side roads. Use a taxi if necessary to stay safe.

Depending on your destination you may wish to avoid wearing expensive watches and jewellery. Alternatively leave them locked in your hotel room and wear them in a safe environment such as the hotel restaurant.

Only carry the amount of money that you need for that day. Money belts hidden under clothing are a good idea. Use a money belt concealed under your clothing or an inside pocket.

If you are dashing off on a last minute mini break, or you are not very good at planning ahead. Never fear…….help is a hand!

There are now a good number of “check lists” which can help you organise these things last minute! If you are terrible at packing like me, and struggle to decide what to take it is much easier to have a guide to follow, rather than simply guess. This task is made much harder if you are going to a destination which has varied weather. My own personal tip would be to take one item for most types of weather and that way you are prepared for the unknown. For example if you are going on a sunshine break, always pack a jacket just in case it gets colder in the evenings.

Prior to travelling make sure you contact your network provider and advise them that you plan on travelling abroad to ensure your phone will work once you arrive. I made this mistake once and would not do it again!
Whilst you are on holiday, it is only natural to want to keep in contact with friends and family back at home. However it can often cost a small fortune to ring home from a mobile phone. From personal experience it is not the best feeling arriving back off your holiday, only to find a phone bill on your door step for a stupid amount of money!
If you are on a budget you are probably better off texting people you want to keep in touch with, especially as it is free to receive text messages abroad. If you receive calls however it can cost as much as a pound a minute.

Beware if someone calls you and leaves a voice mail message, you can be charged for picking it up as well as being charged for receiving the message itself.

Planning is key to a successful holiday. If you leave everything to the last minute travelling can be very stressful. It is essential to plan ahead and get organised with plenty of time to spare, enabling you to enjoy the experience you have proabably waited along time for.

A few tips with regards to having a stress free start to your holiday. Make sure you organiase your holiday insurance and your currency exchange well in advance of the date you are due to leave. If you are flying, ensure you get to the airport with plenty of tiem to spare, and also arrange how you will be getting home after your return flight. It can be useful to do some research on your destination prior to leaving as a little bit of local knowledge can go along way!

When going on holiday you should always be very vigilant with regards to your health. With the spread of Swine flu across Britain it has never been more important. Passengers who are travelling by air or by sea are being monitored as they check in. If passengers appear to have swine flu symptoms the airline or cruise company has the right to stop the passenger from travelling.

There is confusion also over whether or not travel insurance will be valid to cover any medical treatment required or a cancelled trip. A British Airways spokesman advised that so far there had only been a low number of cases of people who had shown signs of swine flu and as a result had been advised not to fly.  If you are to due to travel over the coming weeks please follow the advice given by the professionals.

If you are a frequent traveller then no doubt at some point you have suffered the effects of Jetlag. Obviously the length of your journey will determine how severe of minor your jet lag will be. You may be lucky enough not to suffer from it, but if you are one of the unlucky ones it can make journeys abroad difficult. It is important to know how to minimise the impact allowing you to enjoy your holiday or trip, particularly if you are taking a long haul flight and only staying for a few days at your destination.
Airlines are continually striving to make your journey as comfortable as possible, with the introduction of “seat beds” which can be pushed flat once you are in flight. Along with this, pillows and duvets are also offered to help travellers feel refreshed once they get off the flight. Advice suggests you should avoid drinking on the flight and consume water instead. Moving around can also help improve circulation.