Regardless of whether you have a plethora of stamps gracing the pages of your passport or not, it always pays to plan before going on holiday. Instead of stressing and scrambling around ensuring every little detail is in order, start the process in good time – three months to be precise!

Here’s our trusted travel checklist to help make life that little bit easier!

At least three months before departure…

Check your passport is valid

Many countries require passports to be valid for at least six months from departure and valid for the duration of the trip. Always check well in advance as the renewal process can be arduous and time-consuming!

Confirm visa requirements

Depending on where you’re from or where you’re going, you may need a visa to enter your desired country. Always check well in advance as application approvals can take weeks, if not months!

Get the vaccines you need

Some of the world’s most popular holiday destinations such as India and Indonesia require vaccinations. Visit your doctor well in advance of your trip to check what you need, if any.

Book accommodation

Especially during peak seasons, accommodation books up quickly. To avoid missing out on your perfect place in the ideal spot, always secure your hotel, villa or Airbnb as quickly as possible. Checking early will give you plenty of time to compare prices and places, which should hopefully save you money!

Photo credit Getty/Atstock Productions. Ensuring your passport is valid for at least six months is crucial before travelling.

One month before departure …

Pick up travel insurance

Even the most careful and organised travellers can’t predict what might happen on holiday. Don’t run the risk of being caught without protection – always purchase travel insurance.

Organise other transport

As well as your main outbound flight, it’s important to organise other means of transport, such as hire cars, shorter inbound flights, trains or buses. This will save a lot of hassle and time when you arrive at your international holiday destination.

Ensure travel details are correct

From dates to names, always check travel details are correct and match those on official documents. This is especially true for flight tickets where names don’t correspond with those in a passport. Airlines may charge a fee depending on the significance of the error which can cause hold ups when waiting to board.

Get a local SIM card

Whether you’re there for a week or jetting off an a month-long whirlwind adventure, having a local SIM card in your phone is so worth it. This way, you can enjoy cheaper rates and eliminate large roaming charges.

Photo credit Getty/HEX. Having a local SIM card is great for avoiding high roaming charges

The week leading up to your departure …

Get some travel money

It always pays to have some local currency on hand when travelling to an international holiday destination. You can never guarantee that every place will accept international debit/credit cards, and foreign ATMs are synonymous with high fees and exchange rates. Loose local change is also great for tipping!

Inform the bank

No matter where you’re jetting off to, always inform your bank of your travel plans. If they spot transactions in an unfamiliar location, the bank may assume someone is using your card fraudulently and choose to lock it. Save yourself the hassle – pop into your local branch or give them a call beforehand to let them know.

Make copies of important documents

Having paper copies of your passport, travel insurance policy, driving licence and any other important documents is crucial when travelling abroad. If you were to lose any of the aforementioned, it can be hard to replace without this evidence.

Photo credit Getty/PhotoAlto/Frederic Cirou. Make sure you have enough local currency on hand!

Not only do we have all your travel insurance needs taken care of, here at Travel Insurance Direct we have plenty of other planning resources so you can ensure your holiday is nothing but spectacular and stress-free.