by It’s less than two months before the schools start to break up and the summer holidays begin. Time to start thinking ahead. Being prepared will save you time, money and stress. Here’s our checklist to make sure everything goes as smoothly as possible.
Passports
This is the first thing you should double check, especially if you are traveling to the EU this summer. Since the withdrawal agreement, new rules apply to some travellers. These arise from the confusion surrounding the expiry date of British passports, some of which have been renewed to be valid for a few months longer than the usual 10 years.
However, countries in the Schengen area impose a strict 10-year limit on all passports. They use the date the passport was first issued as a starting point and also require it to be valid for at least three months after intend to leave the area. In short, to be sure, you need to ignore the expiry date and check that your passport was issued less than nine years, nine months before you plan to return to the UK. Other countries such as Egypt and Thailand require at least six months of validity remaining on the passport before departure. You can check individual countries on the Government website. The Passport Office says it “usually” takes three weeks to issue a new passport, but it would be wise to allow more time.
Vaccines
If you are traveling a long way, there is a very high chance that you will need vaccinations. The NHS recommends seeing your GP or private travel clinic at least six to eight weeks before you are able to travel as some take time to be fully effective. He has a useful reference site here.
House and pet sitters
Those who prefer to have someone present in their home when they are away – perhaps because there is a pet to watch over – should be sure to book a house sitter well in advance. Agencies providing these services include Homesitters and Universal Aunts.
Travel insurance
If you don’t already have holiday cover, get it now. Travel insurance is usually valid from the moment you buy it so, if anything goes wrong with your plans, you’re already covered. Our guide to finding the right policy is here.
Holiday protection
If you have booked a package holiday covered by the Air Travel Organized Licensing (Atol) rules your money is protected if the operator or airline goes out of business. If you’re traveling independently, it’s worth investing in travel insurance that includes extra financial protection (see our guide above).
Car rental
In the peak of summer, the sooner you book your car rental, the cheaper it is likely to be. If you haven’t made up your mind yet, you definitely don’t want to leave things much longer. Brokers, who negotiate with local and international suppliers, are usually the best places to start when comparing prices. Zest and Auto Europe are two of the best. But always make sure you’re comparing the odds and factoring in all the extras, especially the cost of waiving the excess (see below). Our full guide is here.
Car hire insurance
Standard insurance sold with cars does not cover the excesses charged on claims which are often set at £1,000 or more. To avoid the risk, remove additional cover before collecting the car. Most hire companies will try to sell you a policy that will refund the excess or reduce it to zero. But independent insurers are usually cheaper. Which one of them? Recommend Chew and ReduceMyExcess.
Your own car
If you are driving to an overseas destination, check that your standard car insurance covers you abroad and print out a copy of the certificate in case you get stopped. You will also need the new UK sticker (rather than the old GB one) and you may want to buy additional breakdown insurance (AA for example). The RAC has a useful checklist of what you need to bring.
Airport parking
It is always much cheaper to book in advance rather than turning up at the last minute. In some airports, such as Manchester, the only option is in most of the official car parks (the only car park available here for customers is the short stay, which costs from £464 for eight days, compared to £92 in advance). At peak times the further in advance you can get a booking, the better.
Airport hotels
If you have a flight that requires you to check in before 8am, you may be in the market for an airport hotel. Check for options at brokers such as Holiday Extras and Park BCP. If you also need parking it’s worth looking for deals that combine the two.
GIC
The Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) replaced the old EHIC arrangements and gives British citizens access to free or low-cost medical treatment in EU countries. It does not replace a full travel insurance policy, which generally also covers the possible costs of private medical treatment, emergency repatriation, cancellation of your holiday, third party liability, lost luggage and so on, but it is a very it is positive. in case of emergency. It could also save you money if you have to make a medical claim. The card can be ordered for free. Please allow at least 15 days for delivery.
Spending money
For most destinations, the cheapest way to get money is to use an ATM when you arrive – as long as you have a debit or credit card that offers a good deal. That card will usually be used to pay for things directly in the most efficient way to pay for things. But make sure you know the terms offered by your card issuer well before you travel, so you can switch cards if necessary. I use a Monzo card), but our detailed guide is here.
Roaming rates
Be careful. The automatic ban on roaming charges for using our UK-based phones in the EU has ended. So you may now be charged for the data you use and the calls you make, although some contracts and providers still offer free roaming. Check the details for your destination well before departure and make sure your children are up to speed. Depending on your circumstances, it may be worth investing in an e-sim.
Restaurants, events and babysitters
You are traveling at the busiest time of the year. If you hope to try a special restaurant, get tickets to a show, or visit a popular exhibition, plan and book well in advance – the same if you want to arrange babysitters.
Airport trains
It is often cheaper to book these in advance. A single Stansted Express costs £9.90 between London Liverpool Street and Stansted Airport, compared to the normal price of £23. You can book up to six months in advance.
Fast security
At peak times – say early Saturday mornings in the summer – security queues can be very long. If you’re willing to pay to skip them, most airports offer a fast pass (usually around £7 per person), which you’ll need to book through the airport site in advance.
Check in
Some airlines allow you to check in weeks in advance, others only 24 hours in advance. Either way, don’t leave it too late – it’s better to act when you still have plenty of time than when you’re in a rush to leave.
Baggage restrictions
Most of us are familiar with the baggage fees charged if your luggage exceeds the size or weight limit specified by the airline. For example, Ryanair charges £24-£60 if your cabin bag exceeds these limits and has to be checked in at the last minute. It’s almost always cheaper to add extra bags/weight before you check in, so check the rules for your flight (they vary widely) and if you think you’ll be close to the limit you might be even doing a trial pack per week. or two in advance.
Home security
If you don’t want to hire a house fitter, there are other security measures you can take when you leave an empty house. The best bet is to ask a neighbor or friend to keep an eye on things. It is also wise to leave a car in drive and use preset timers for the lights and radio. Some people even hide the address on their luggage tags at the airport, for fear of would-be burglars hanging around scanning addresses, while others avoid taking taxis to the airport from their home address.
Copy documents
You’ll save paper copies of all your documents in case you lose them, or something goes wrong. On my phone, I also have a photo of all the cards in my wallet. If it gets lost or stolen, it’s a useful reminder of what to cancel and renew.
