A Guide To Do’s And Dont’s For Your Next Holiday
Introduction
Holidays are a time to relax and enjoy yourself after the hard work you put in through the year. However, there are a few things you should take into consideration to ensure your holiday is the relaxing reward you deserve rather than more work than your day job.
Do...
1) Make sure you’re protected
Never travel without insurance, not even for a weekend. It’s easy to think nothing can happen if you’re only away for a few days, but it’s not worth the risk. It might seem that by passing on the insurance you’re saving yourself the price of a meal out while you’re away, but think on.
Source: flickr.com/photos/alancleaver/
Make sure you’re covered. I went away for a long weekend a couple of years ago and my partner was taken ill. The £25 we spent on travel insurance was certainly better than the £35,000 we would have spent in hospital and repatriation bills had we not been covered.
2) Pack for all weathers
No matter how reliable you think the weather will be, it can always take a turn for the unusual. Make sure you have sunscreen, at least a few warm clothes and something to keep you dry in the rain. You never know how things are going to turn out.
3) Check before travelling
Five minutes online before you go can mean the difference between a happy holiday and a terrible mistake. Check the Foreign Office website to make sure there are no consular warnings if you’re travelling to far-flung locations, check flights before you leave home and ensure you have all the details of your tour operator and insurance provider before you set off.
4) Consult your GP
Most GP practices offer travel health clinics, and these are particularly useful if you’re headed somewhere exotic. Make sure you have all your vaccinations up-to-date and you have all the medication you might need while you’re away.
5) Tell someone where you’re going
Always make sure that someone at home knows how to get hold of you in an emergency. Mobile phones and emails may be able to reach you pretty much anywhere these days, but don’t rely on these if something goes wrong. Leave the details of your accommodation, including a contact telephone number, so you can be reached if necessary.
Don’t...
1) Fall foul of the law
You’d be amazed how the laws between countries differ. In Dubai, for example, you can be arrested for simply holding hands with your spouse in public. Medication you can obtain over the counter at home could be illegal at your destination, so be sure to check the specific dos and don’ts where you’re headed.
2) Drink the water
This is a worthwhile starting point for any country you visit. Many countries do not have the same high standards for water purification and drinking the tap water is a sure-fire way to pick up some nasty bugs. Take local advice on arrival, but until you hear otherwise, don’t drink the water.
3) Take anything for granted
You’d be surprised just how different the culture can be in places that seem familiar to you. Travelling in India, people will be grossly offended if you eat with your left hand. Putting your feet up on a chair to catch the sun in South East Asia is hugely disrespectful.
Source: flickr.com/photos/ganessas/
You’ll be surprised how different things can be even in a country that seems similar. Take a little time before you go to acquaint yourself with the local ways of doing things and save yourself getting into trouble when you get there.
4) Assume things will go according to plan
Make sure you allow time for contingencies when travelling. Booking into a hotel the night before you fly might save the panic of getting stuck behind an accident on the way to the airport. In these days of heightened security, it’s worth leaving at least three hours to get through the necessary checks to reach departures.
5) Get caught out with baggage allowances
Airlines levy enormous fees for excess baggage these days, and it’s so easy to avoid. These days, you can get hand-held scales that will tell you whether you’ve exceeded your allowance. If you’ve got something you want to take home with you, it could be cheaper to post it rather than pack it.
This post was sponsored by Housetrip, click here to visit their site. With all these things in mind, you can hardly fail to have a good time. With a little planning and some attention to detail, you can make sure that you don’t forget to do the most important thing – relax and enjoy your break.
Further Reading
