Research your Destination
 
Don’t wait until you get there to find that the tourist attractions are either closed, fully booked, miles away from your location, way beyond your budget or there just aren’t any.
It’s easy to say “We’ll see what there is when we get there” and then spend minutes grabbing every piece of literature in the hotel foyer and hours ploughing through it.
 
Use the internet and take the time to research your chosen destination, plan your days before you go, it can make huge a difference to the quality of your holiday and you may even save you a bit of money. A travel guide and phrase book would also be useful for when you arrive.

 
Checklist
 
At Least Six Weeks Before Departure
  • Check the  requirement for vaccinations, if so, are yours up-to-date?
  • Check the  requirement for medications such as anti-malarial tablets. (Insect repellents may be useful).
  • If you are to take prescription medicine abroad then ensure you have the documentation for the medicine and enough of the medication to see you through the length of your holiday.
 
 
 
Travel Insurance
  • Make sure your insurance covers you for cancellation, all medical bills, transport home for your family in the event of sickness or injury including an air ambulance if required. Cover for sporting hazards if required.
  • Vehicle cover, replacement or returning it to your home.
  • Check the provisions of your house insurance and credit cards with regard to valuables etc. 
  • Check for the need for Visas.
  • Check that your passports are valid for the full period of your holiday.
  • If traveling within the EU, obtain (EHIC) European Health Insurance Cards : Form E111 from the Post Office – conform the correctness of the details you provide and have it stamped. This will entitle you to free or reduced cost of emergency medical care.
  • Do you need your driving license?
  • Order you currency, travellers cheques  etc.

 

 
Money
  • Make sure you have enough cash to cover emergency situations.
  • Take a mixture of funds. Cash, Travellers cheques and credit/debit cards. Don't keep them all in one place if possible. Keep a record of the travelers cheque numbers separately to the cheques.  
  • Keep all your cash/cheques in a safe if possible. These are worth the additional cost as Travel insurance policies only pay out for stolen cash taken from a safe. Don’t carry all your cash around with you. Take out only what is needed on a daily basis and leave the rest in the safe.  
 
Credit/Debit Cards
  • Check the expiry dates of your credit and debit cards.
  • Take only the cards that you are likely to use and check the extra charges that may apply when using your card abroad. 
  • Make sure your card payments are up to date.
  • Your card company will be automatically monitoring your card transactions and will pick up on any sudden change in your spending habits. It would be advisable to inform the card issuer if you plan on using a particular card  heavily during your holiday. The last thing you want is for the card to be suspended.
  • Ensure that your card is accepted in the country you a visiting.
  • Check sales invoices before signing – check the number of zeros and strike a line through any blank space in the amount section. Keep a copy of the sales receipt.
  • Keep a close eye on your card when making payments. It only takes a moment to run a card through a reader, providing enough information to clone your card.
  • Any loss of a card should be immediately reported to the issuer. By doing this you will limit your responsibility for unauthorized use.
  • Make sure you take with you the emergency numbers for all your credit/debit card issuers. Keep the list separate from the cards.

 

Travel Documents  
  • Citizens of the European Union (E.U) need only a valid passport or identity card for  travel within the E.U.
  • Check your passport will be valid for the whole trip. Remember that some countries also require that your passport is valid for at least another 6 months.
  • Photocopy your passport, visas and all other important travel related documents, especially your travel insurance policy number and contacts.
  • Children under the age of 16 must have their own passport or be included on an accompanying adults passports. Children in this age group are not permitted to travel without an adult.
  • Children between 16 and 17years old must have written authorisation from their parents/guardians before being allowed to leave the country.
  • If you are traveling by car you will need your driving license and insurance documentation.
  • Take a photocopy of your passport, visas and any other important documents. Make a note of passport numbers, dates and where they were issued. Also take a note of your travel insurance policy number.
  • Check if you need visas.
  • Keep your travel documents in the hotel safe. Do not carry them around with you.

 

 
 

Airport Security

Check-in at the time required by your airline - usually one or two hours before a UK / European flight. Two to three hours before other international flights.

 
Cabin Baggage Rules
Check with your airline before you fly.
Below is an example of the rules at Heathrow Airport.
However, things may vary and so it is important that you
check with your airline before you fly for the latest update.
 
At Heathrow Airport passengers may carry more than 1 item of hand luggage through security. You should check hand baggage allowances with your airline before arriving at the airport, as the weight and size of hand baggage allowances differ between airlines. Some airlines may allow you to carry one item only.  Whatever the number of items, each must be no larger than 56cm tall, 45cm wide and 25cm deep.
 
Hand Baggage Restrictions
You should also check with your airline, as some operate further limits on bag size
  • Cabin baggage must be no larger than:
     56cm (22in) tall, 45cm (17.7in) wide, 25cm (10in) deep
  • All items carried will be X-ray screened.
  • You no longer need to remove your laptop from your bag at Heathrow Airport.
  • Put all small items like keys, coins, mobile phones into your coat or hand baggage and place these into a tray.
  • Place your hand baggage into the tray.
  • If you have liquids in containers of 100ml or less, you can put these into a clear resealable bag. These items should be placed alongside other items in your tray.
  • Pushchairs and walking aids will be X-ray screened.
  • Wheelchairs will be thoroughly searched.
  • To save time, we advise you to place only valuables and items you need for the light into your hand baggage.

 

Travelling with liquids - 100ml rule 
  • Only limited quantities of liquids may be carried through security control as hand baggage. This includes bottled drinks, suntan lotion, fragrances, cosmetics and toiletries.  
  • The following restrictions apply to all liquids, creams, gels, pastes and aerosols taken through security control:
  •  Liquid items may only be carried in containers holding up to 100ml.
  • They must be carried separately in a single transparent, re-sealable plastic bag.
  • The bag must be no larger than 20cm x 20cm (8in x 8in) and all items must fit inside so that it closes properly.
  • At security control the bag must be placed separately on the conveyor belt for screening.
  • Liquid items larger than 100ml should be packed in your hold luggage - otherwise they will be confiscated.
  • Exceptions to the 100ml rule can be made for baby food or milk. However, you should only carry what you need for the flight, and you may be asked to taste these items at security control.
  • Exceptions may also be made for medicines. However, you may be asked to taste any liquid medicines, or to provide evidence (such as a doctor's letter) that you need them for your journey.

Prohibited Items
Sharp or pointed items must not be carried in hand baggage and will be confiscated at security control.
  • This includes knives, razor blades, cutlery, tools, hiking poles, hypodermic needles (unless medical necessity can be proved), catapults, corkscrews, toy or replica guns, sporting bats or cues and darts.
  • Scissors with rounded blades are permitted. Scissors with pointed blades up to 3cm are also permitted.
  • Please note Christmas crackers, party poppers, cigarette lighters and non-safety matches may not be carried. However, you can carry one cigarette lighter on your person. Lighters that are refilled with flammable liquids (for example 'Zippo' type lighters) cannot be carried at all.

Shopping at the Airport
  • Anything you buy after security control can be taken on board the aircraft, including bottled water, wines and spirits, fragrances and cosmetics in sizes over 100ml.

 
 
 
Before You Leave
  • Confirm arrangements for airport transportation at both ends. If you are using airport parking it is best and most often cheapest to book it in advance.
  • Check your carriers luggage requirements. These should be detailed on or with your air tickets, if not check the carriers website.
  • Check your house sitting, childcare or petcare arrangements.
  • Ensure that you have all the documents from your tour operator/travel agent?
  • Collect together all the travel documents and make a couple of photocopies, leave one at home with someone you trust. Store the second set in a separate place to your original travel documents.
  • Make sure you have your travel insurance details, in-case  you have to contact them.
  • Cancel deliveries of milk and newspapers.
  • Leave your contact details with a friend or relative.
  • Arrange for a relative, friend or neighbour to make regular checks on your home whilst you are away.

 

NOTE: This above information is a rough guide, certain aspects are subect to change and it is up to the reader to confirm the exact details where required.

 

 

 

 

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