So, the day has come, and you have booked your holiday. The dreams of warm waters, gentle breezes, local food and amazing culture are foremost in your mind. Before you know it, the departure day is around the corner, and you begin to wonder about the pre-holiday arrangements.
Travel insurance? Getting to the airport? Will we have to queue up for ages? Got currency? Do I have the right documents? What about roaming charges on my mobile? If you’re not careful, the stress can build and build. Relax! The processes are simple and easy to follow with these tips.
Travel Insurance and why you need it
Insurance is always essential. Fraser Lyall, Policy Adviser for General Insurance at the Association of British Insurers, says ‘Travel insurance can offer you peace of mind, knowing that you’re covered for things like emergency medical care should you fall ill or suffer an injury abroad’.
Sure, that’s obvious. Bear in mind that holidays can get cancelled, holiday companies sometimes go broke, airlines can stop flying, people get ill, or flights are cancelled due to Acts of God, plus a whole manner of other events could prevent you from travelling, so the earlier you are protected, the better. Book Holiday – Book Insurance now !
Frequent travellers should go for multi-trip insurance as this will be a lot cheaper than numerous single-trip purchases. At all times, ensure you are truthful about your age, health, planned activities, and any health conditions when on vacation. Finally, if you think you are covered by your bank, check to ensure all angles are covered.
TIP: France is becoming stringent about paperwork and has released a statement: “You must have an insurance certificate covering all medical and hospital expenses for which you may be liable for the duration of your stay in France, as well as medical repatriation costs and expenses in the event of death.” The certificate must be in English or French.
Do it yourself or use a Travel Agent?
It can be a risky business when you act as your own travel agent. When you buy a flight and then a hotel separately, you have no support. The onus of getting home when things go wrong is on your shoulders. And you may not be able to get a refund on the tours and ancillary services you arranged if the holiday can no longer go ahead or you are stranded.
A package bought from an ABTA member in the European Economic Area (EEA) is protected financially. This means that if the travel company ceases trading, you will either be able to take that holiday or get your money back.
The ATOL fund serves to reimburse you if your UK-based tour operator goes out a business, as some have in the last year.
Also read: My flight was cancelled. Can I get a refund for my flight and claim compensation?
Planning to get to the airport
In an ideal world (apart from noise pollution), you will live five minutes from the airport and Joe le Taxi will be there on your doorstep. But the world is not ideal.
You could consider public transport, but unreliability and the thought of sweating profusely whilst humping suitcases around tend to put people off.
Getting a mate or a relative to do you a favour can also work, but remember to pay the drop-off charges at most major airports, as the fines are quite stiff. Also, ensure your mate does not go on a bender the night before.
The alternative is, of course, to take your own transport, and as indeed more than 20 per cent of all UK holidaymakers use an airport parking service. There’s plenty of choice, but choose carefully; you don’t want to be reunited with a car that has an extra 10,000 miles on the clock and looks like it’s been to the south of France and back via agricultural land.
My advice is to book airport parking early for the best price and space—booking more than two weeks ahead can cut the cost by half. You can compare deals and save time by using a comparison site like APH.com, where you can check reviews, use loyalty discounts, and choose the option (Meet & Greet, on-airport, or off-airport) that fits your needs.
Nick Caunter, Managing Director of APH.com, one of the UK’s largest airport parking companies, says, “By planning, savvy holidaymakers can find airport parking is an affordable, reliable and easy option to get to their flight. We always advise customers to do their research before booking to ensure a reliable company and high-quality service.”
I always book with a member of IAPA (the Independent Airport Parking Association) who has a set of published minimum standards, and so far, my car has not taken part in the Monte Carlo Rally. As with most things if the quote you have looks to be too cheap to be tru,e it most probably is.
Currency
These days, it is less important to have a purse full of the folding stuff as you go on holiday, given the ubiquitous nature of card readers and the ability to pay by plastic and phone. Most people do, however, want to travel with at least some local currency to pay for the odd drink, trinket, or simply to tip good service.
You could buy your currency last minute at the airport, but this is by far the most expensive way to change your currency. You will always get a better rate of exchange by ordering the currency in advance of your travel, no matter where you pick it up from, be it the airport, your local M&S or via postal service.
You may also like to consider pre-paid travel cards, which in the UK also give a better exchange rate than using a regular debit or credit card, especially since they allow the locking in of rates ahead of travel and avoid extra foreign transaction fees depending on the provider and the currency.
Stick to the bigger providers such as Revolut or HSBC Global Money Card (the card I use), and remember these cards can carry more than one currency, should you be crossing borders.
Fast Track
Passing through security checks is a much swifter and hassle-free process than it has been in the past. The computer saying yes has helped considerably, and many of the modern machines mean that you don’t have to take your electronics out of your bag or remove your shoes, this being restricted to those wearing Captain America Biker boots.
If, however, you are concerned about potentially hanging around when you could be examining the benefits of duty-free, have a look at purchasing a one-off ticket to go through the Fast Track channel (if you are in business class, you will have this anyway).
At Gatwick South Terminal, for example, it is only £6 to access swifter clearance by booking in advance.
Passing through the airport
Arrival at the various airports around the world offers all sorts of challenges, but assuming you have the right electronic ticks on your passport examination (eg do you have an ESTA for the USA), life is becoming simpler.
For UK visitors to the EU, you now have the opportunity to use an automated system that will capture your name, travel document details, biometric data (fingerprints and facial images), and date and place of entry/exit. If you are travelling to Eire or Cyprus, none of this applies, and you are treated like a local.
Also Read: Passport stamping to be replaced by biometrics
For frequent visitors to the USA, you have Global Entry – a worthwhile process you can start here; for others, you have a choice of queuing up and having a chat with the friendly, welcoming immigration officers or utilising the new Mobile Passport Control App (available on Apple and Android).
Just before landing, take a picture of yourself and answer a few questions, then look out for the MPC line in arrivals. Take your passport with your mobile device, and the queues will be shorter and your time engaged with officialdom kept to a minimum. Oh, and by the way, it’s free!
Staying in touch
You have arrived and are surrounded by all sorts of new stimuli, but what about the folks back in Blighty? Don’t you want to let them know you have arrived safely or just serve them a huge dollop of FOMO?
Yes, of course, you do, but what about using the mobile? Won’t it cost an arm and a leg? No, it doesn’t need to. First tip is to use the Wi-Fi whenever it is available and make virtual calls via WhatsApp or other comms software. Before you travel, check with your provider what the deal is for calls and data when in your destination.
The general rule is that the further away from the UK you are, the more likely it is that you will be charged a lot for a small amount of data. The solution is installing an e-SIM, which in effect turns your phone into a local device with both cost and connectivity benefits.
Dale Takio, CEO of SmartSimUSA, says ‘Our e-SIM offers unlimited 4G/5G data on the fast, reliable T-Mobile network across the US. Clients also receive a local US phone number for easy reservations and check-ins. It includes unlimited calls within the US and unlimited international texts. The SIM supports mobile hotspot, allowing connection of up to 5 devices. Plans are flexible, ranging from 5 to 30 days, with pricing around $3.60 ( £2.66 )per day.’ Well worth it.
Are you more relaxed? Follow the above tips and trust me, all will be well. If you are still in doubt, though, contact your trusted travel advisor/agent who will be able to help and advise you on all the above – Bon Voyage!