Find out what you need to prepare before you go travelling. With good holiday prep you can relax while you’re away, here’s what you need to do…
Everyone gets excited for their next holiday away in the sun, but there are a few holiday prep things you need to remember to do before you leave. From obvious things like remembering your passport to things that you might not have thought of yet like COVID travel testing, this article will get you ready to enjoy your time away. Use this information like a checklist and make sure you haven’t missed anything out so you can be worry-free on your next trip away.
Book a Covid Test
For the safety of yourself and those around you, it is wise to book a covid test before you go away. This will make sure you won’t suddenly fall ill whilst on holiday from contracting covid at home. It also ensures that you aren’t putting those around you at risk, especially those considered immunocompromised. Booking a covid test is very simple, and they are usually done by yourself with a testing kit at home. It’s hassle-free and will put your mind at ease before you leave. Some destinations still require you to do a Covid test by law so make sure you check the rules and regulations before you go.
Get a Passport
Perhaps the most obvious point, however, some people do forget their passports. If you don’t have a passport, then you need to make an application for one. An important part of holiday prep, it’s best if you leave a few months before you plan to go away to allow for your application to be processed in time, so you actually have a passport before your flight.
Once you have a passport, remember to take it with you to the airport otherwise, you will miss your flight and will be left with an unexpected expense that will cut into your budget for the holiday.
Get a Visa if Required
Before you go on your next trip, it would be wise to check if you need some kind of visa to visit the country you are going to. After all, 60% of the countries in the world require a visa to enter them. Most of the time, all you will need is a visitor’s visa if you don’t plan on staying for long, but you will need to get one if it’s required.
If you think you might be staying for longer than a visitor’s visa allows, for example, if you’re studying abroad for a semester of university, then you might need to get a student visa. There are different types of visas available, so make sure to check which one you will need on your next adventure away.
Get Travel Insurance
Everyone should get travel insurance before they go away on holiday. It ensures you will be taken care of if you do fall ill whilst on holiday and it is usually relatively cheap. It will also put your mind at rest and will allow you to enjoy your holiday without worrying about what happens if a friend or family member becomes unwell.
Find Out How to Contact Home Whilst Away
Some people like to go travelling to get away from everything at home, including family and friends. This is well and good however, you should have ways to contact home if you find yourself in a situation where you need to. Thanks to advancements in technology, these days, it is quite simple to contact people on the other side of the world with just a connection to the internet. Apps such as Skype and WhatsApp are free, and you only need a stable connection to make contact with those at home.
It is also a good idea to check what your phone plan allows whilst you are abroad in a specific country. Some plans allow you to use your phone abroad with no added charges, whilst others will charge you a lot if you just want to phone home. Make sure to check before you go on holiday to save yourself a nasty bill when you get home.
Remember to Make a Budget Beforehand
Budgeting is an extremely important life skill to have so you understand the value of money and learn how to use it effectively. Going on holiday is a great way to practice budgeting. You can decide how much you plan to spend each day and calculate costs such as travelling, eating, accommodation and shopping, so you don’t get carried away whilst on vacation.
This being said, once you have created a budget for your time away, take some extra cash just in case you find yourself in a sticky situation where you need money to get out of it. It’s better to be safe than sorry, especially when you are somewhere unknown.
These are our top holiday prep tips for you to follow. Do you have any more pieces of advice you swear by when you go away? Let us know!
