This isn’t a packing list, I’m not going to start listing everything you should put in your suitcase, this is a checklist of the things you need to do before you contemplate packing your bag. Those important things you need to prep for your holiday and will regret if you forget and something goes wrong.
GHIC or Equivalent
I’m from the UK and here we have a GHIC card, the newer version of what was an EHIC, which is basically a health insurance card, providing you with access to state healthcare while abroad in a number of different countries.
It’s completely free to claim it and will stop you from having a huge bill at the end, or even worse, being rejected at a healthcare facility.
The card lasts up to five years and it only took a week to arrive for me, albeit I still had to answer some extra questions (not like I’ve lived in the UK my entire life or anything).
I do want to state that a GHIC card doesn’t guarantee you free healthcare, it just means you get the equivalent state healthcare that a normal resident of that country gets, so anything that would be free for them is therefore free for you. In some countries, you do have to pay for treatment, even as a resident, therefore this won’t magically become free with the card.
SIM or Roaming
You need to work out your phone situation before heading abroad and what works in one country or on one phone deal won’t be the same for someone else. You can use an eSIM to connect online while abroad, something Raquel arranged when we went to Japan.
This is basically the modern digital version of getting those plastic SIM cards you would put in the phone, nowadays you just set the destination and plan you want, you pay and receive a QR code, then you install it and activate it when you’re ready for your holiday.
The secondary option is that you ensure you have roaming on your phone and you double check it covers you for the country you’re visiting. This works for me in the EU, but I need a SIM card if I leave the EU zone as the prices can otherwise jump and I don’t want to be caught out with a hefty bill at the end of the holiday.
Check Your Passport Expiry Date
I am so guilty of not doing this myself, as when you get the passport you normally have a good 10 years on it, but that time will drift away and if you’re within 6 months of flying, they can sometimes reject you at the airport. That rule isn’t true for all airlines and airports, it’s quite a generic rule that’s constantly repeated, but if you are within 6 months, just don’t take the risk and renew way before this point.
Gov.UK claims it can take up to 10 weeks to renew your passport, however for me it took way longer, approximately 4 months, therefore there is a huge risk in leaving it close to the expiry date or when you go on holiday.
Sort Out Transport Methods
Before flying to Japan, we had to plan out the JR pass and Suica card, as one you had to pay for in advance of arrival and then collect at the airport.
Just the same, if you plan on booking trains through Europe, you might be hoping to book these on the day, but during busy weekends, you might find they’re all booked up, or if you want a nice seat, those are all taken, so it’s worth preparing this in advance.
Just the same, you might need to download a local app for public transport, as this can help with ordering a ticket and not having to worry about machines or asking someone questions, while it can save money on each ticket.
Empty the Fridge
Now this might sound like something that can be done on the day, but that’s so wasteful! I always see this as a two week activity, as when you do the food shop in the build-up to your holiday, you should minimise what you need to purchase, nothing that won’t be used up before your holiday that will expire during that time you’re away.
You can then aim to use up everything you have in the house, which will cut back on some costs and prevent food wastage. I always see this as a weird challenge, the odd meals you make leading up to the holiday, using the leftover sauces or bottles in the fridge and that pack of carrots that has overstayed its welcome.
Then one day before you fly, make sure to empty out anything that will go off, plus you can put in your meal deal (providing you buy this in advance, as it’s a lot cheaper than getting it at the airport).
Travel Insurance
Ok, ok, I’m a bit of a hypocrite here, as I have a terrible history of failing to pay for travel insurance. But the fact is that I’m just playing with fire when I’ve forgotten or just not bothered, especially if this is an expensive trip across the globe.
The insurance will cover you against cancellations or delayed flights, as well as medical emergencies and lost baggage. Having said that, you really do have to read the terms and conditions carefully and don’t just pick on what’s the cheapest, as it’s the cheapest due to the fact it covers virtually nothing and you have to pay a big excess.
For example, imagine it covers for lost equipment, but the policy states that there is a £500 excess, it means you don’t get anything up to £500, then it’s any value of item lost over that you can claim against the insurer. I’ve seen so many people caught out by this.
