Taking a holiday
Going on holidays is a great experience for thousands of people every year; that is until they realise they've forgotten something like the camera or their favourite shoes. Things can get even worse if your luggage is stolen or you're injured while overseas and you suddenly realise you didn't update or take out the appropriate insurance.
Below are some suggestions that should help to ensure your holidays are enjoyable experiences:
Travel insurance
Credit cards
Foreign Currency
Personal loans
Home insurance
Life insurance
Travel advice
Document storage
Passports
Travel Preparation
Health
When travelling overseas it's very important to protect yourself against the unexpected. For example, falling ill while you are overseas can be a very stressful and expensive experience if you don't have the appropriate insurance.
Credit cards are an excellent source of money when you're overseas. From a safety perspective, credit cards reduce the need to carry large amounts of cash. However, it's always important to be vigilant when using your card to avoid the risk of card or identity fraud.
If you're travelling overseas it pays to have a range of options to access your spending money. Foreign currency can be particularly useful when you first arrive or at the airport. If there is no ATM in sight, travellers' cheques can be invaluable.
If you just can't afford that dream holiday of a lifetime, a personal loan may be the answer.
Don't forget to make sure your home insurance is up-to-date. A vacant house could be at greater risk.
It's something we don't like to think about, however some risks do exist when travelling. Just to be on the safe side it's best to make sure your life insurance is up-to-date. QPCU offers life insurance that you can purchase online.
Travel advice
Find out if there are any travel warnings to the areas you intend to travel. Go to www.smartraveller.gov.au/ for more info.
Document storage
Look into the possibility of storing a copy of all your important travel documents using an online service.
Passports
Check the expiry date of your passport as many countries require that you passport is valid for at least 6 months after your intended stay.
Travel preparation
1 month before you leave:
- check that vaccinations are up-to-date
- ensure that you and your party's visas are up-to-date
- confirm all travel arrangements to and from the airport
- organise any pet care or house sitting.
2 weeks before you leave:
- make sure you and your family have all the necessary clothes for your destination
- organise any foreign exchange or travellers' cheques needed
- consider purchasing a guide book or looking online about your destination and familiarising yourself with the language and customs.
1 week before you leave:
- make sure you have all the appropriate tickets and paperwork needed for your travel
- if using an online document storage facility upload copies of all your paperwork
- if you have any medical conditions and require medication make sure your prescriptions are up-to-date and you have documentation for all the medications you have on your person.
3 days before you leave:
- confirm luggage sizes and weights with your airline
- leave a copy of your house keys and any other security devices with a trusted friend or family member
- if you have an alarm system, leave the details of this system with a trusted friend or family member.
1 day before you leave:
- pack your luggage
- check petrol and oil in your car and fill tyres with air (including the spare)
- confirm flights with airline
- prepare any snacks you intend to take on the flight.
Health
Drink lots of water on the plane and avoid alcohol and caffeine as these will dehydrate you. Plus make sure you do simple exercises in your seat to arrive fresh for your holiday.
Have a great holiday!