Travel experts’ eight golden rules for travelling abroad this summer

HOLIDAYMAKERS have been given eight rules to follow to make sure their trips aren’t ruined this summer.

A lot can go wrong when heading abroad, so it’s important for travellers to do everything in their power to avoid any problems.

Fortunately for those with plans to jet off this year, travel trade association ABTA has released a travel checklist, to help people plan properly for their getaways.

Their eight-step list includes checking travel advice, passport expiry rules and changes to liquid rules at airports among others.

1. Read the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office travel advice 

Top of the ABTA list is to check the government’s travel advice for the destination you’re heading to.

This provides advice for travellers about anything from weather, to strikes or political issues in the country and lets people know how safe it is to visit each destination.

Brits unsure of how safe their holiday will be should visit the FCDO site to check if there’s anything that could impede their vacation.

2. Check your passport will be valid for your travel dates and allow time to renew if needed 

Next up on the checklist is passport validity, which has caught out a lot of people at airports.

Even if your passport is valid, you might not be able to get into your destination.

For instance, if you’re travelling to any country in the EU (except Ireland), your passport must have been issued less than 10 years before the date you enter.

It then must also be valid for at least three months after the day you plan to leave. 

Other countries outside the EU have similar validity rules as well, so it’s always worth checking before you travel.

3. Take out comprehensive travel insurance

Anyone travelling without insurance could get stuck with huge medical bills if anything goes wrong.

ABTA recommends making sure your policy covers your specific needs, including any activities you plan to do, or existing medical conditions.

4. Make sure you have a valid GHIC 

A Global Health Insurance Card, or GHIC, provides Brits access to medically necessary state healthcare in all 27 EU countries, Switzerland, Montenegro, the Channel Islands and Australia

Anyone who doesn’t have one, or has an out of date card, can apply for one for free on the NHS website.

It is advised to get insurance as well as the GHIC, as it doesn’t cover all medical costs incurred while abroad.

5. Check the rules if you’re travelling to the EU

There are several rules that could add unwanted costs to your holiday, or create unnecessary problems.

ABTA recommends making sure that you’re aware of restrictions on items that can be taken into the EU.

You should also check the documentation required when driving or taking pets abroad, and potential charges for using mobile phones abroad, depending on networks.

6. Stick to the current rules for liquids and laptops

A lot of airports haven’t fully installed the new security scanners yet, while those that have still have some rules in place, with the 100ml regulations not completely scrapped.

It’s worth following the pre-existing hand luggage rules around liquids and electronic devices when going through security to avoid delays.

Either that, or check the rules at both airports you’ll be travelling through to make sure of what you can and can’t bring in your bag.

7. Get your travel money sorted 

While card use in the UK is pretty much standard for payments everywhere, it’s different in other countries.

ABTA suggests taking enough travel money for the country you’re visiting just in case cash is needed.

Physical money may also be needed on arrival for bus or taxi fares, as well as for tips and other cash-only transactions.

8. Have a fun and safe trip

Finally, ABTA recommends taking as many steps to keep yourself safe as possible.

For this, they include following the rules at the pool, looking out for warning flags and signs at the beach and closely supervising children in the water.

Graeme Buck, ABTA’s Director of Communications, said: “Getting the final preparations in place for your holiday can be part of the excitement of going away, but it might also start that nagging feeling that you’ve forgotten to do something really important.

“That’s why we’ve put together our Travel Checklist – following the eight simple steps should make sure that preparing for your holiday this summer is as stress-free as possible.”

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