Mark Hyde the founder of Planetwise, a traveller training company, gives us the low-down on how to stay safe while on gap-year travels.

Horror stories about travellers’ misfortune often appear in the press, so is it really necessary to carry emergency survival equipment?

You have to weigh up what a piece of equipment is going to do for you. Emergency homing beacons are a luxury and even if you have one it may not be as important to your survival as basics like clean water. Intruder alarms and rape alarms are a good deterrent. They can be jammed in doors of rooms and easily carried on your person or in your bag. However there is no substitute for good preparation and common sense.

How long should students thinking of travelling take to prepare for their trip?

About six months. Spend this time researching the countries you will be visiting. Think about what time of year you will be there and what the weather will be like. It’s also worth knowing if there will be any festivals on while you are there, because this can affect how easy it is to find accommodation.

Also inoculations. If you’re only planning on spending a few days in a country that has yellow fever, weigh up whether it’s worth the cost of the injections, which can be around £60. Look on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s website the day before you leave and also while you are travelling as things can change.