Top Tips To Get Ready For Your Holiday

Have you just planned a holiday and are already counting down the days until you go? Once a trip has been booked the countdown begins and what better way to get buzzed than to start getting ready sooner rather than later? Depending on how far away your break away is, there are a number of things you can do to get prepared. From checking your passport and getting your grooming habits in place, to starting your clothes shopping, booking your excursions and organizing your insurance, below are our top tips to get ready for your holiday.

Get your grooming habits in place

When you go away you want to look your best and this involves booking in any necessary treatments before you go. If you suffer from thinning hair, you could look into robotic hair restoration for example. Or perhaps you want better skin, so it can be an idea to start implementing a skincare routine. The sooner you get your grooming habits in place, the easier it will be to get appointments and feel your best on your holiday. Just like many things in life, the longer you leave it to get prepared, the more it may cost and the less likely it is that they have appointments available for you. Plus being prepared can take away a certain level of stress from your holiday.

Check your passport

Before booking any holiday check the dates on your passport! Remember that different countries have different requirements for the remaining months before you have to get a new passport. For example, Portugal requires you to have at least three months on your passport if travelling from Europe or six months outside of Europe. Other counties may have different rules. It’s also worth remembering that a standard passport can take around 5 weeks to be replaced. There are fast track options however these may take longer to process. The last thing you want is your holiday approaching and the stress that you need a new passport because you didn’t check if it was in date or not.

Take out the correct travel insurance

The second most important thing to consider when getting ready is your travel insurance. Your insurance will cover you for medical expenses, lost luggage, cancellation and much more. Without it, you could end up losing a lot of money if something unfortunate was to happen. When researching insurance companies, there are many in the market. For this reason, make sure you look at the reviews and ask for recommendations from your family members and friends. Most companies rate their policy by a star rating, five being the best and one being the lowest. We would always recommend using a comparison site and going for the highest rating insurance.

Clothes shopping

Part of the excitement of a holiday is the period before when you are getting excited about it. You’ll want to order new swim shorts, t-shirts, shorts, shirts, trousers and much more. Make sure you give yourself enough time to do your shopping as you will want it to arrive in time. Create a Google docs spreadsheet and make a list of all the items of clothing you will need. This way you can order new things as well as be sure you are bringing everything you need on the trip. If you are going away with friends, you can plan a shopping trip in advance so that you can get excited together.

Plan your excursions

Depending on your trip your excursions will differ drastically. However, we would always advise planning them in advance to make sure you get the excursions that you want to do. If you are planning a cruise, most cruise lines will have a list of excursions that they would recommend. Travel agents will also have a list of excursions for you to consider if you are booking a land holiday with them. When planning your excursions, there are plenty of things to consider. The length of time, the cost, whether it’s good value for money and much more. Some people prefer to not do excursions as they enjoy exploring instead.

Check your mobile phone coverage

Different countries have different agreements with mobile network providers. Some countries will include the minutes, texts and mobile usage of your home network when abroad, whilst others will charge you more. Before your trip research the rules of your contract and if it’s not available online, contact them directly. The last thing you want is a large bill due to your internet allowance not being included as typically, the charges are very high – especially internet usage.

Prepare your paperwork

Before Covid-19, this used to be a little simpler. Now, depending on the country you are visiting, certain requirements are needed in order to enter the country. This may be in the form of a passenger locator form, proof of your vaccination certificate or proof of insurance covering covid-19. If you don’t have the evidence needed when entering the country, it is within their right to decline entry. This of course will ruin your holiday and you may not be entitled to claim any money back. Before setting off on your holiday, make sure you check the requirements of entry and have it printed out instead of using an app. Apps are extremely useful but if for any reason they go down, this could cause you an issue.

Confirm your luggage allowance

Every airline that you travel with will have a different luggage allowance that you have to abide by. Even if you have travelled with them before, changes can apply so don’t take what you had before as confirmation. Do your research and confirm the allowance that you are allowed. If you need more, pay in advance as this could save you some money. The sooner you upgrade your luggage allowance, the lower the cost will potentially be. If you are over your allowance on the day, they will charge you for it and this can be a lot more than if you booked it in advance.

Prepare your medication

Any medication that you may need, have this prepared well in advance to avoid any mad rush to get it delivered in time. Common medications like paracetamol, ibuprofen and hay fever tablets can be purchased at your local chemist. Anything stronger or medically required due to a certain condition that you may have could require you to visit a doctor beforehand and have it ordered in. Holidays can be ruined if you do not have the necessary medication that you may need.

Prepare your transfers

Transfers to the hotels, from your hotel to the airport at the end of your trip and to the airport are often cheaper when booked in advance – especially if the distance of the journey is substantial. Also by booking in advance you guarantee that you have a transfer that will pick you up on the day, instead of having to find one if the one you normally use is sold out. If you don’t plan to use a transfer, make sure you do your research beforehand to make sure there are suitable transport options when you arrive.

There are so many tips that we could have included for getting ready for your holiday. That said, the above are ten that we believe are very important. What tips do you have for getting ready for your holiday? Are there any tips that you would like to add to our list above? Which of the points above do you do well in advance? Let us know in the comment box below.