Nearly half of holidaymakers spend more time researching all aspects of their holiday than the actual duration of the trip itself. Although it can be fun and exciting, sometimes it can seem quite overwhelming especially when you are spoilt with choices.
In order to begin planning your trip, you will need to first ask yourself and your travel companions what sort of trip you want. There are plenty of options; cultural trips,
cheap beach holidays, a city holiday, the list is almost endless.
Once you know what you want from your holiday we recommend spending a bit of time researching to give yourself an idea of where and what you can expect at a particular destination you have chosen. Review sites such as TripAdvisor have become popular amongst holidaymakers and can also help select the best possible hotel option and to give the reader an idea what experiences other holidaymakers have had.
Once you’ve settled on your destination and hotel, it is time to run through a few things so you are prepared to travel when the time comes. Below are our top 10 tips before travelling internationally.
1.Travel Insurance
With COVID still lingering around it is always ideal to take out travel insurance. Always check if your policy covers you overseas and for emergencies. The cost of medical and repatriations can cost thousands of pounds so it simply isn’t worth the risk travelling without a travel insurance.
2.Documents
We recommend you scan all your travel documents and email them to yourself. This is ideal if your documents are lost or stolen, you’ll be able to prove your citizenship at the British embassy to ensure you come back safely if ever needed. We also recommend you check if the country you are visiting requires a visa, some provide free visa upon entry and some may require you to pay locally. Please check the foreign travel advice to check for an up to date information.
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice.
3.Language
There is no need to be fluent in a foreign language, however, knowing few phrases in the local language can improve your travel experience. Some of our favorite phrases you can learn are, Hello, please, thank you, nice to meet you, how much is this?, what is the final price (we do love a bargain sometimes). Places such as
Spain and
Turkey will have English speaking staff but they’ll love it if you ty to speak the language a little too.
4.Local Currency
The exchange rates at the airport tend to be a huge rip-off, so we advise you to convert your money at a local bank as the best rates are given there. ATM are readily available, however, you need to check with your bank before you travel to check on any fees attached withdrawing from the ATM. Always have local currency readily available when going shopping and on your tours as not every place will accept credit cards.
5.Baggage
Always check the weight and the dimensions required for your luggage when travelling, some airlines provide free hand luggage with every ticket purchased, some low cost airline will expect you to purchase the luggage towards the end of your purchase. If you are booking your holiday with a travel agency always ask what is included in your flight price because if you don’t you could face fees during check in at the airport. There are also several options when travelling with children so always check with the airline before departing from the UK.
6. Adapter
Trying to look for an adapter once you arrive at your destination can be a daunting experience, a quick google search will let you know what plug converter you will need. Furthermore, Amazon sells universal adaptors that come equipped to handle multiple types of plug sockets. We also recommend buying a portable power bank for those long beach days and when exploring cities, as you will be snapping away on your phone for the best Instagram photos and you don’t want your battery to die.
7.Local food
We love getting to know a country through its foods, so we recommend speaking to locals or your hotel receptionist to find out the best local cuisine available near you or a taxi ride away from your resort/hotel. Try everything, even if you have no idea what it is as we promise you will not regret it.
8.Write down address of your accommodation
Although getting lost can be fun, if you don’t have your phone or the name of the hotel and address the experience can become very stressful. Always keep your hotel reservation confirmation with you or pick up a hotel business card from the receptionist and carry it around with you. If you are lost, show it to a taxi driver or local and they will be able to guide you back to your accommodation.
9.Medicines
Pain and fever medicine, Imodium in case of food poisoning, antihistamine if you are allergic are always good to carry with you and of course medicines prescribed by your doctor for your health. We also recommend taking your prescriptions along with you in case of emergency and always carry it with you in your hand luggage in case your hold luggage gets lost in transit. Make sure you have enough to get through your trip and a little extra as you may decide to stay a little longer.
10.Unlock your phone
Whether you are travelling for business or leisure, some of us cannot live without our phones. Once your phone is unlocked usually by contacting your mobile phone provider you can access the internet by purchasing a local sim card. Temporary sim cards are readily available once you arrive at the airport, many plans are available and can be topped up locally should you run out of data.
As your departure date gets closer you may start to get more nervous depending if this is your first time or have never experienced travelling with your family before. The benefits of
cheap beach holidays or city escapes and the experience of new places far outweighs the stress of planning your trip. Following our top 10 tips can surely ease your stress and ensure you have a great
cheap 2022 holiday.