MARKS SET go!
Follow our three step guide to the perfect holiday
THE summer holidays may seem a long way away. But that makes this the perfect time to prepare. It’s when turnaround times at the Passport Office are at their fastest (and phones are answered quickly on the enquiry lines). It’s when you can get all the other vital documents in place early. And it’s when you can protect your whole holiday with the right insurance. Here’s how.
1Check everyone’s passport. Do you know where it is, and is it still valid? Oddly enough, Passport Office research shows youngsters’ passports seem to go astray most often, even though parents say they’re always kept in the same drawer. And as passports for under-16s only last five years, these are the ones that are most likely to be out of date.
Reapplying in the spring means you won’t get caught in the usual presummer backlog or have to pay extra fees for speedy service. Go online at gov.uk and click on ‘Passports, travel and living abroad’ for the cheapest way to get new, or first-time passports. High street photo shops can take pictures in the right format and offer codes to transfer the image directly on to your online application.
This is also a good time of year to check your passport’s expiry date – and the number of stamp-free pages it contains.
Several countries won’t let you in if your passport is due to expire within three or even six months of your holiday. To make matters worse, the EU can refuse passports that are more than 10 years old (an old quirk in the rules mean some UK passports last up to 10 years and 9 months).
If your expiry date puts you in the danger zone this summer then it’s worth getting a new passport now. And remember that you don’t need to wait till your old one has expired till you apply for a replacement.
Some countries can also refuse you entry if you don’t have a completely empty page for their entry stamp. Some expect a pair of blank, facing pages. So if you’ve too few blank pages now’s the time to get a replacement. TOP TIP: Find out the entry requirements for every country under Foreign Travel Advice at gov.uk. It details passport validity rules, says whether you need Visas or e-visas (such as an ESTA for America) and lists customs rules, so you know what not to pack in your case.
2Take a look at the end date of your old EHIC or European Health Insurance Card if you have one. They were vital for getting free emergency health care in Europe but as they expire they should be replaced by broader GHIC or Global Health Insurance Cards. A
GHIC card actually offers health benefits in more countries (Australia is a useful addition to the list) so they really are ‘don’t leave home without one’ products.
Better still, GHIC cards last five years and they’re free. Get one from the official nhs.uk website – and avoid companies that charge to apply on your behalf. Everyone needs their own card, and adults can apply on behalf of under-16s. Apply now and the shiny new GHIC should be with you in less than three weeks. In summer it can take much longer. TOP TIP: Keep your GHIC with your passport so you don’t forget to take it. Put it in your wallet, purse or pocket while you’re away. Everything will be smoother if you can show it should disaster strike.
3Travel insurance is often the ultimate last-minute holiday purchase (some shops even sell policies in airport departure lounges). But experts say we miss a trick by waiting so long. That’s because policies’ cancellation terms are among their most valuable benefits.
Once you’ve taken out a policy you can claim your money back if something goes wrong and you’re unable to take your holiday as planned. That can include losing your job, as well as close family members falling ill or worse. And while travel insurance policies got a lot more expensive in the early days of Covid, prices have since fallen right back down to earth. Shop around on a comparison website, pick a name you trust and a family of four should get cover for a fortnight’s holiday in Europe for less than £60.
TOP TIP: Always tell someone at home who your policy is with so they can help start a claim if required. Make sure you keep your policy number and emergency number in an easily accessible place. And don’t forget that policies can pay out for missing or damaged luggage and delays as well as cancellation and medical costs.