Travelling Abroad This Summer: A Checklist Of Dos And Don’ts

‘Summertime and the livin’ is easy’...well, maybe not quite, but it is holiday time for those who can afford it. If you are looking to go abroad this summer here are a few tips to ensure a problem free trip.

1. Check well in advance that your passport is up to date and valid, and that your destination is a safe place to travel to; and allow plenty of time if renewing a passport prior to travelling. Go to www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice to check the latest official travel advice on your destination country.

2. Check Visa requirements for your destination. Every destination country has some form of Visa requirement, and in the EU these are changing later in the year. Read the latest at www.which.co.uk/news/article/uk-holidaymakers-to-pay-6-visa-fee-to-visit-europe-after-brexit-aappf7l2djli-aaPPf7l2djLI for an up-to-date explanation of requirements when travelling to Europe.

3. Strongly consider investing in health and travel insurance. Both are essential. Go to www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/insurance/types-of-insurance/travel-insurance1/travel-insurance/ to see what kind of insurance is best for you and how to get it.

4. Look into ‘roaming charges’ for things like phone usage and check banking fees and charges you might be liable for when abroad. Contact your phone company and bank to find out the cheapest way to phone and bank abroad.

5. Think about contingency plans just in case your flight is delayed or cancelled. If your flight is delayed long enough, your airline has to give you access to food and drink, phone calls and emails, and accommodation if you’re delayed overnight. If your flight is cancelled, you have a legal right to a full refund or replacement flight to help you get to your destination. Go to www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/holiday-cancellations-and-compensation/if-your-flights-delayed-or-cancelled/ for more on this.

6. Find out how to claim compensation for delayed, damaged or lost luggage. You have a legal right to claim compensation from the airline if your checked-in luggage is delayed, lost or damaged. Go to www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/holiday-cancellations-and-compensation/get-airline-compensation-for-lost-or-delayed-luggage/ for more information.

7. Make sure you know who to contact if things go wrong. Always contact your holiday company in the first instance, if looking to complain about service provision, but also know the contact details of the nearest Consulate or Embassy just in case you find yourself in serious trouble. If complaining about service provision, be sure to collect supporting evidence in the form of photos and recorded conversations (e.g. via email or WhatsApp messages if possible).

8. Finally, before you book any trip away, make sure you have checked and confirmed your holiday entitlements at work. Employers do have rights to deny specific holiday dates on ‘operational grounds’. Go to www.citizensadvice.org.uk/work/holidays-and-holiday-pay/taking-your-paid-holiday/ for more on this.

Any trip abroad is a potential adventure, whether you have travelled before or this is the first time.

If you can, always try to learn some key phrases in the language of your destination country, and try to find out ahead of time about local customs and prices for basic items like food and travel; knowing the currency exchange rate, for example, will reduce the chances of feeling a ‘prices shock’ when you arrive.

The better you prepare the greater the chance of you having a fantastic break. Go to www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/ for more on your rights as a holidaymaker. Alternatively, go to travelaware.campaign.gov.uk/. Enjoy your trip!

By Ed Hodson

Citizens Advice South Warwickshire - Citizens Advice working in partnership across Warwickshire