Don’t forget your toothbrush: Things to remember before your holiday

So your tickets are booked and you’ve packed your bags – everything’s set right? Well, not quite, there’s plenty more to think about before you take your trip, unless someone’s doing all of your organising for you! There’s more to making sure that you have a great holiday than you might think, with a few things to guarantee a relaxing time that some people often forget or, more often than not, leave until the last minute. See this list of typically neglected extras that you’ll need to consider before going away.

Foreign Currency
It’s often something that’s left to the last minute, but shopping around for foreign currency will definitely save you some pounds. Don’t think you can leave it to the airport – they often have very high rates that are well above the norm. Worse still, think you can just withdraw money from a foreign ATM when you’re abroad. Unless you have a special card, then you’re very likely to be charged a fee and suffer from a poor exchange rate. Do some shopping for the best rates around the high street if you’re going on a short holiday. If you’re going away for the long term, you may want to consider consulting a currency broker.

Travel Insurance
Many people think that having an EHIC card will cover you for any problems while you’re away. However, the EHIC only covers a certain amount of costs (it differs in different countries) and it never covers the cost of repatriation – or returning home to get treatment if your condition is particularly serious. It is essential to get private health insurance before your journey. Sometimes it will come with your holiday package, but it’s possible to get cover from just £5. For further information on travel insurance take a look at the AA website, where you’ll be able to get a competitive quote.

Check Your Documents
It might sound a little obvious, but it can’t be stressed how important this one is. Many a (potentially) great holiday was ruined by not checking passports properly, and assuming that they’re not out of date, only to arrive at the airport to find that they’re not valid for travel. Make sure you check, and check again. Some countries also forbid you entrance if you have less than six months to run on your passport, so it is essential that you check this before your journey. It is sometimes possible to apply for fast track passports, for more information see the Citizens Advice Bureau travel abroad page. If you’re travelling within the EU then be sure to check that you and your family has an EHIC card, which will entitle you to reduced cost and sometimes free cover if you have an accident or fall ill abroad.

Getting to the Airport
This can often get expensive. If you’re going solo or with a group of friends on a long backpacking holiday, it is almost certainly best to try and get a lift or catch the train. Families may want to consider getting a taxi, or driving to the airport and parking there. Out of these two options the latter is almost always likely to end up cheaper. For more information, take a look at Holiday Extras, who supply airport parking at all commercial UK airports.