Many of us have arrived at the airport or our destination only to discover that you have left an item behind or forgotten to book or confirm something in advance. If you don’t prepare, it is easy to forget even important items in the stress of getting ready for your holiday. Below you will find a handy checklist to ensure that you have everything covered before you leave the house and can relax and enjoy your time away.
Check your passport
Find your passport and ensure that it is in date and has enough remaining pages. There is nothing worse than arriving at the airport, only to realize that your holiday is over before it has begun due to your passport not being valid.
Organise essential travel documents
Make sure you have all the documents you need, do your research to see if you need an entry visa and what documents you need to do this, any hotel reservation details, flight tickets or boarding passes, and get organised with a folder (paper, online, or app) to store them safely.
Know your luggage allowances
Taking more than your luggage allowance to the airport and having to pay extra at check-in puts a dampener on the start of your holiday. Make sure that you have weighed your luggage before you go to stop any unpleasant surprises at check-in. You can pre-book extra luggage in advance for a much cheaper price than at the airport.
Take out insurance
Make sure you take out the appropriate insurance for your type of trip. Travel insurance is essential and covers you for a variety of potential hazards and threats that could ruin your holiday, such as lost baggage, flight delays, and medical bills. There is nothing worse than suffering misfortune and now being able to do anything about it, so make sure you’re covered and have all the appropriate numbers and paperwork with you.
Arrange transport
Book transport to and from the airport to ensure you’re not left stranded. Pay attention to traffic updates and leave extra time in case of a disruption on your planned route. If you are driving your own car, make sure to arrange for parking at the airport, pre booking in advance is usually cheaper. If you’re taking the train, bus or taxi, or hiring a car, make sure you have the money and any paperwork needed. Pre book your car hire to save money, especially during peak season or school holidays, and to ensure you can hire a vehicle that meets your transport needs.
Exchange money
Sorting out your travel money at the last minute can be very costly. Exchange your money in advance and look online to find the best currency exchange rates. An alternative to taking cash is to use a prepaid card. You can top up the card as you go, online or over the phone, but make sure to look out for any hidden fees or charges. Avoid credit cards as they can have large fees for overseas usage unless they are specifically designed for travel usage.
Inform your bank
Let your bank know you will be using your debit or credit card while abroad, or you could find that your accounts have been frozen due to suspicious activity.
Set up roaming
Contact your telecoms provider to ensure you are kept connected – sometimes setting up roaming requires visiting a branch in advance and leaving a deposit, so make sure you check. Think about getting a dongle if internet usage may be required and wifi is not reliable.
If this all seems like a lot of work, then let us help you out! We have lots of experience in supporting our clients with their travel plans – and if you don’t have a trip planned, let us help you find one!