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A WAG at the Foreign Office: Footballer's lover hired to give holidaymakers travel tips
Last updated at 20:22pm on 20.08.07
Charlotte Meares: Online guidance
But in reality, being a WAG in foreign parts can be a perilous business.
So says Charlotte Meares, a 22-year-old model and fiancÈe of Spurs and England striker Jermain Defoe.
She has been enlisted by the Foreign Office to provide pearls of wisdom on the potential pitfalls of jet-setting.
The WAG's Guide to Travel offers tips to the wives and girlfriends of footballers - or anyone wanting to copy their lifestyle.
Miss Meares gives advice on how to cope with broken fingernails, broken hair extensions and what to do if you damage your Jimmy Choo heels.
The online guide is part of the Foreign Office's Know Before You Go campaign to advise travellers to be better prepared before they set off.
Miss Meares, who was paid an undisclosed amount for her time, said: "It's amazing how many things can go wrong when you are travelling.
"So I wanted to share my top tips for a hassle-free trip."
On beauty issues, she writes: "You never know when you might break a nail or your extensions turn green in the pool.
"To stay looking your best even if you are not taking a personal stylist with you, get the number of good local beauticians or check if the hotel has one before you go."
She also reminds travellers to note the number of the British embassy or consul, and explains: "It could be invaluable if you lose a passport, or if a bit of wild partying gets you into trouble with the local law."
Travel insurance is also "an absolute must".
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Out on the town: The guide includes advice on how to deal with foreign police after partying
She explains: "One tumble off a bar table in your Jimmy Choos without insurance could cost you £20,000 worth of shopping money on your hospital bill.
"And whether you've got five Louis Vuitton cases full of designer gear or a beaten-up bag full of Primark, you'll want to know that if anything gets lost or stolen you will be covered."
She also advises travellers to "go native to look cool".
"Arrive at your destination wearing something the locals would but with a unique twist - think henna'd hands in India," she writes.
In addition, they should always check hand luggage rules after Frank Lampard's fiancÈe Elen Rives delayed a flight because she wanted to take too much on board.
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The Tories have called the website advice a "frivolous" waste of taxpayers' money.
Their foreign affairs spokesman Marc Francois said: "This sounds like a bad episode of Footballers' Wives."
The Foreign Office said the guide was tongue in cheek, but gave a serious message.
A spokesman said: "We are trying to reach young travellers, in particular young women.
"We want to get their attention and this has proved very successful.
"These pages are the most used part of the website, getting hundreds of thousands of hits."
She added that Miss Meares was paid a "nominal fee".
Other WAGs who were approached were discounted as they demanded thousands of pounds for their time.
Reader views (6)
Some of it's just plain silly - but there is some usefull advice in there if you bother to check it out.
How many young girls do you know who bother to check these things. The FO daring to use something a bit different to get the message across - God forbid! Waste of money? What price would you put on keeping a young girl safe on holiday?
- Looney, London, UK
Please tell me this is a joke! Surely this is not costing taxpayers anything. SOMEONE please reply to me before I stick my head in the oven.
- Marina, East Anglia
And how much is this costing the British taxpayer?
- H, London
We seem to be encouraging the ludicrous behaviour of these vacuous little girls. Are there really enough of this type of thicko to warant a web page for idiot's travel advice?
- Steph, Ilford
Sounds par for the course under the current government, more money wasted on documents for morons by morons.
- Terry Roll, London
Good to see the F.O. concentrating on the serious issues at our expense. And as if anyone is going to go on holiday and NOT take a personal stylist with them!
- Paul, London
