31/05/2022
Things to think about when booking a holiday
When you are arranging a holiday, there can be a number of things to think about to help it to run smoothly, particularly if you haven’t been away for a long time. The following checklist should help you with this.
Using a travel agent – Make sure that any travel agent you use is a member of ABTA, the Travel Association who represent UK travel agents and tour operators. Travel agents who are members display an ABTA symbol in their windows so that you can easily recognise whether they are a member.
Hiring a car – If you are planning to hire a car in the UK or abroad, check with the care hire company that you can get insurance cover first. Many companies have restrictions on age and you may find that you can’t get the insurance cover that you want.
Passports – make sure you have a valid passport for the duration of your stay
Electronic System for Travel Application (ESTA) – this gives you permission to travel to the US without a Visa.
Visa – check if you need one on the GOV.UK website
Travel insurance – You don’t have to buy your insurance from the travel company that you book your holiday with. Shop around to make sure that you have the type of insurance that fits your needs and covers all of the activities that you intend to do on your holiday.
Many companies offer annual travel insurance cover, which might work out cheaper for you, depending on the number of holidays you take each year. If you are travelling in the UK, you may already be covered under your existing home contents insurance.
Makesure - MakeSure Travel Insurance (makesureinsurance.co.uk)
Organising your own package – Putting your own ‘package holiday’ together is increasingly popular now. A package holiday is a pre-arranged combination of at least two of the following three elements: transport, accommodation, and other tourist services.
If you are organising your own package and are making bookings over the Internet, you should ensure that you keep a record of all of the relevant booking reference numbers and confirmations that you receive.
Travelling in a group – If you are travelling as part of a group, don’t rely on one person to make all of the arrangements in case they fall ill during the planning stages, or are unable to go on the holiday.
Going away for a long time – If you’re planning a long stay holiday, check with your local social security office whether any benefits you receive will be affected.
First Aid kit remember to take all your medication and pack it according to the guidance for that country. Things like insect repellent for mosquitos and midges, sun cream, as well as tweezers for splinters or ticks, plasters and antihistamine cream are all useful.
