The ultimate foreign holiday checklist

Booking a holiday is so exciting. The anticipation of the trip whether it’s in a week or 18 months. The planning can begin and I love that! I think it’s a feeling people can get addicted to, I do. Endorphins get released, it’s a light at the end of the tunnel kind of feeling. It’s easy to get caught up in it, focus on the main trip, and discard the other things you need for your trip. I have created a foreign holiday checklist, particularly for UK travellers but I’m pretty sure wherever in the world these will apply and help you to avoid any major disaster!

Passport

It sounds like common sense I know, but have you checked the passport validity? For lots of destinations, you need more than 6 months of validity left on your passport to travel. Don’t get caught up thinking that as long as it’s valid it’ll be OK… I can’t imagine how heartbreaking it would be to get to the airport and be denied boarding! And while you’re checking the validity check your name.

This sounds ridiculous but as a travel agent I have lost count of the number of times I have booked something and the customer has come back to tell me they gave me the wrong name. Depending on the airline this could be around £100 to change a name once the booking is confirmed. Worse still if not picked up before travel it could result in denied boarding. I have spent many hours in my career on the phone to airlines and tour operators begging for a free name change!

Visa

Not all countries will require a Visa but some will and the application process and requirements all vary. Some are quick and easy, and some, such as the Indian visa ask for so much information and photos. They take so long so sometimes, it’s a good idea to ask your travel agent if they can help with them. If not there are Visa brokers out there who specialise in helping people apply. It’s useful to keep in mind that although a good travel agent will offer the information about which Visa to apply for, it isn’t the law for them to tell you. Plus they are human so it’s best to double-check yourself once booked or before booking. Travel advice can be found on the FCO site for UK citizens and passport holders.

Travel Insurance

I cannot believe how many people try to get away without paying for travel insurance. I debated putting it higher on my foreign holiday checklist, to be honest. Every customer of mine is asked if they have travel insurance and I can almost guarantee they will dodge the question. They expect me to rip them off, it’s crazy.

Most tour operator terms and conditions state that you must have a valid travel insurance policy. This is not something that should be bypassed and the EHIC is not an alternative but something that should run alongside.

Think back to how many times you’ve seen a Just Giving page set up and shared on Facebook because someone was in Tenerife and had hurt themselves on a waterslide and needed hospital treatment but couldn’t afford it. They didn’t realise how lucky they were to live in the land of the NHS. We’ve seen it over and over again but it still gets overlooked so many times.

It shouldn’t be expensive and you DO NOT have to purchase it with the travel agent or the tour operator but you do need it, even if you’re buying a flight only and heading to visit your Great Aunt in Germany. Comparison sites are great. Make sure it’s a reliable company that you use and that it covers medical, possessions and any extras. Cruise cover, water sports or ski cover are often optional extras.

Book your insurance as soon as you can because you aren’t covered until you have it. For example, if you book your holiday for 4 weeks, leave and leave the insurance for a bit intending to book it the day before you go, but then a freak accident at work a few days before departure means you can’t travel so you’d lose your money usually and you’d have no way to get around it. It’s not worth the hassle, make sure you are insured.

Check local taxes

Over the last few years, there has been a rise in resorts charging a tourist tax. Lots of them expect to be paid at the hotel reception on arrival so it’s wise to make sure you know how much you’ll be expected to pay and have enough local currency ready to pay it. Different resorts and countries have different taxes. You need to check and be specific, for example checking “Spain” would be a bit of a minefield as Catalonia and the Balearic islands all charge different fees. Again, this is something your travel agent will be able to tell and most tour operators include the information at the time of booking to give the correct information.

So I sound like I’ve stated the obvious but these are such common things to forget and overlook. They cause so much grief and often end up losing you a lot of money. You know I’m not about losing money and I’m all about saving it!

Let me know if this has helped you or if you think I’ve missed anything. I’ve got lots more top tips here.

Becky x

Click the download below to get a PDF format of my checklist.

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