Checklist Before You Go On Holiday

Going on holiday can be enormously stressful, if you don’t approach it in the right way. Form a good plan, however, and you’ll always feel in control of the situation. But exactly what does a good plan look like?

Organise Your Travel Documents

Venturing abroad means packing a passport. Fail to do so, and you’ll be turned away at the border. For most holidaymakers, a special wallet for passports is worth having. This goes especially for families with many passport holders travelling as a group. 

You might also need other travel documents, like visas, boarding passes, and hotel reservations. These can often be stored and transported digitally – but having a paper copy might give you additional peace of mind.

Pack Smart – Don’t Forget the Essentials

Packing is critical. Getting a checklist in order will help to ensure that you don’t forget anything. You’ll have personal items including contact lenses and cases, with you. Toiletries, cosmetics, and medication should also be included. If you’re going away during summer, the right sunblock is essential. Fail to pack it, and you might have to pay over the odds after you’ve arrived.

Different destinations will require different kinds of clothing. If you’re going skiing, then the chances are that your suitcase will be larger than it would be if you were going to a beach resort. 

Sort Out Travel Insurance and Health Prep

It’s important that you’re prepared for any eventuality. This includes sudden illness and injury. Make sure that you are appropriately insured, and that you’ll be able to receive healthcare in the country you’re visiting without incurring a hefty bill. The Global Health Insurance Card is a relatively foolproof, convenient way of doing this in the European Economic Area (and a few other countries).

Depending on your destination, you might also need to think about additional precautions, including vaccinations. All overseas travellers have a responsibility to keep their vaccines up to date, or risk being turned away when they come to board a plane or cross a border. Note that you’ll need to not just be vaccinated, but able to prove that you’ve been vaccinated.

Prepare Your Home for Your Absence

A visibly empty home might make an appealing target for burglars and other unscrupulous people. It’s therefore worth taking a few precautions to give the impression that you’re in. Tell a neighbour to check your post, and set a timer so that your lights turn on and off during the evening. The right security camera setup might also be a worthwhile deterrent.