Are you getting ready to go on your summer holidays soon? Preparing and packing or a holiday is an exciting time but can often be quite stressful too, especially if you are not fully make your travel arrangements! Let’s be honest, we have all been there where pre-holiday stress has taken over and not only have we made the start of our holiday not as great as it could be, we have also forgotten to do or pack some of the most obvious thins! Well, if you are going to be jetting off abroad soon, there is no need to panic as we have out together this handy checklist that will ensure you don’t forget anything before you leave and that your holiday gets off to the best possible start!After finalizing all your travel arrangements,make sure you go through this list of things to do before traveling to make sure you are ready.
Get Your Passport Out and Ready
Of course, this may sound like an obvious one, but digging out your passport is one of the most important things that you will need to ensure that you do before you go on holiday. There is nothing worse than arriving at the airport to find that you have left it at home and then being in a frantic rush trying to get home and back to the airport again with it or asking someone to bring it to you. What is even worse than forgetting your passport at the airport? Not checking it a few months beforehand, arriving at the airport with it, then realizing that it is not even in date! Checking that your passport is in date is absolute crucial as not doing so could lead to your holiday being over before it has even begun. What’s more, you also need to check a few months before you go to your destination what the laws in that country are regarding passports. For example, many destinations such as the United Arab Emirates require that you still have six months left on your passport to enter the country. Make sure you are not caught out by this!
Check for Other Essential Documents
Alongside having your passport, you will also need to ensure that you have all of the essential documents for your trip. This could be entry visas that are required for some countries such as the United States of America, your driving license if you are going to be hiring a car and hotel confirmations. Get yourself a plastic folder and put all this information together. We would also recommend that you put a list of useful numbers in this plastic folder too such as emergency contact details and taking a note of your passport number.
Pre-book Car Hire
Are you thinking of hiring a car on holiday? Then make sure that you do this before you leave! Booking your car hire before you go will save you a tonne of money which is especially important if you are going to be going on holiday at a peak time of year. If you don’t do this, you could end up paying a lot more than you needed to or, even worse there may be little choice in the cars left to pick or no cars at all.
Book Your Airport Parking
While we are on the subject of cars, what is also important to remember is to book airport parking before you go on your holidays. Airport parking can be expensive, so booking this in advance will ensure that you not only save money but also that your holiday gets off to a stress-free start. You can book your parking on birminghamparking.com and Birmingham Airport Car Park 7. You can then enjoy your holiday knowing that your car is safe and secure and will be waiting for you when you come back. It is also a good idea to check your route to the airport before you leave. Have a listen for any radio traffic alerts and ensure that you have extra time to get to the airport should there be any delays.
Check Your Luggage Allowance
No one wants to start off their holiday on the wrong foot and so it is important that you aren’t stuck at the check-in desk because you have over-packed. If this happens, you will then need to try and disperse your weight around and into your hand luggage or you will have to pay big fees for the extra weight. Check what the weight allowances are for your airline before you leave and if you are going to take extra luggage, make sure to pre-book this for the best possible price.
Ensure Your Home Is Secure
Before going on holiday, one of the biggest things to remember is ensuring that your home is secure before you leave. This means not just double checking that it is secure, but triple checking that your doors and windows are all locked and secure. Even better, ask a family member or neighbor to check in on the house and ensure that everything looks in good order. Remember, if you don’t secure your home properly and a break in occurs, your insurance will not be valid!
Take Out Your Travel Insurance
Before you jet off, making sure that you have your important travel arrangements like travel insurance is vital. While you will also need to make sure that you have an in date European Health Insurance Card if you are traveling within European, it is important to remember that this is not a replacement for travel insurance! By having travel arrangements like travel insurance you will be protected for a number of different incidents. This includes things such as your bags being stolen, your flight being delayed or if you have medical charges that the EHIC will not cover. Remember, you can get the travel arrangements like EHIC card free from the NHS website.
Make Sure Your Bank Knows You Are Going Abroad
Before going abroad, it is important that you let your bank know that you won’t be in the country as you may want to, or in some cases have to, use your debit or credit card abroad. If you start using your card abroad without any prior warning to your bank, you will be risking having them think that this is suspicious activity and they could stop your card without any warning which is a hassle that no one really wants to have to deal with while they are off abroad. Before you go on holiday, even if you have already warned the bank that you will be out of the country, it is worth taking a note of their emergency phone number in case you need to contact them immediately. This will give you the peace of mind that you need when you head off abroad!
Now that you have had a reminder of all the things that you need to remember before going on your holidays this year, it is time to get excited! All you have to worry about now is whether you are going to be hitting the beach or the famous attractions at your destination once you arrive. Let’s face it, it is a fantastic problem to have!
Very important to notify your bank. I went traveling once without notifying it and as soon as I tried to use my card it got blocked. I had to call to the bank and explain why my card was being used in another country.