A Checklist to Help Prepare You for Your First Holiday Abroad
Nov 17, 2022
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Are you ready for your first holiday? You’ve got an assortment of bikinis and outfits. You’ve got at least three books. You bought a travel hairdryer you just know is going to dry nothing. You’re ready right? We beg to differ. Packing is just half the journey. There might be a few good surprises going abroad, but also a few surprises you could do without. Take a look at our suggestions for what to be ready for when you go abroad.
Travel insurance
First, cover all basis with some travel insurance. As an example, the type of travel insurance from Staysure will cover you for a range of worst case scenarios, including cancelling or cutting short your holiday, whether due to Covid or not. Lost bags or money, or a trip to the hospital or a dose of medication, are all covered by a reputable travel insurance provider. For a relatively small up-front fee you’re mainly paying for peace of mind, but the kind of peace of mind that will prevent you suffering from a lot of common problems that could occur.
A travel safe
Your hotel might have a safe, but there is no guarantee that it’s not broken. The chances of that go up with how cheap you’re going with your accommodation and if this is your first holiday abroad in a major city full of tourist, it’s likely that going cheap is your only option. You might be lucky if the door closes for as much as a London cupboard would cost in rent: a lot.
There are a few little gadgets that guarantee you some safety and privacy. Take a strong portable door stopper to make sure that door stays locked while you’re in there, and you can invest in an affordable travel safe that can fit in your bag. Keeping your passport and money safe is of the utmost importance.
Some basic research
We say this with the utmost respect: people hate tourists. Have you not been frog-marching through your city’s most popular street, late for a meeting or trying to catch a train when you slam face-first into a backpack. It’s a universal thing we must deal with. So, make being a tourist a little easier on the locals that have to deal with you. A few common phrases in their language goes a long way, especially if you’re going outside Europe where it isn’t as common to learn English for the sake of customer service.
But it’s also for your own sake. Research some of the scams that are common, so you don’t get caught out. You might hear the phrase “You’re English?” (Even if you’re not.) “My brother’s English” as conversation starter. They’re trying to either distract you for a pick pocketing or butter you up to “show you their favourite restaurant” where they will invite everyone in the place to order something and leave you with the bill. A lot of variations of these scams are common so be wary of anyone who stops you on the street.
Take a look at the government’s website on travel advice that covers if a given country is accepting of LGBT, niqabs, and if there are any waves of petty or serious crime to be aware of.
Transport from the airport
One of these scams, by the way, is for taxis to pick up tourists at the airport and give them a lift – for a very upgraded price. A five-minute journey could cost you the price of a night in your hotel. It’s better to have your transport from the airport sorted before you arrive. You can either hire a taxi from a reputable source (some airlines have recommendations) or if you buy a package holiday you can get on a coach with all the other passengers on your flight for cheaper. Never just get into a taxi waiting at the entrance.
Tags: English