A Handy Holiday Planning Checklist
With as many as one in 10 travellers turning up at the airport without a passport, you can never take anything for granted when it comes to holiday preparations.
The old adage says you’re bound to forget something when you head abroad. But with this handy checklist for over-50s travel insurance, you do not have to risk that one thing being as important as your passport!
1. Passport validity
It isn’t just forgetting your passport that can throw your travel plans into turmoil, however. Turning up with documents that have expired is just as problematic. Always check the expiry date on your passport before you travel, preferably a few months in advance so you have plenty of time to renew. Also, be aware that certain countries require you to have six months validity or more on your passport to be allowed in. Check the entry requirements of individual countries here.
2. Visa requirements
While you are checking the entry requirements for your destination country, don’t forget to find out whether you need a visa or not. Turning up to certain countries without a visa can prove a very expensive mistake, or even result in you being sent back on the next plane home.
3. Medication
If you are on regular medication, make sure you stock up before you go abroad – running out while you are away could quickly see a dream holiday turn into a nightmare. Taking all the medication you need with you is a safer bet than taking a prescription in case there are any problems sourcing a particular product.
4. Banking and money
In the age of global banks and ATMs, the days of having to carry travellers’ cheques have gone. However, what travellers’ cheques were good for was security. A good idea to copper bottom your finances while abroad is to carry a moderate amount of cash exchanged at home, a debit card and a credit card. This should keep you covered for all eventualities, but remember to tell your bank and card issuer where you are travelling to.
5. Travel insurance
No travel checklist is complete without travel insurance – so easy to forget, yet so important in case something goes wrong while you are away. From flight cancellations to lost luggage, travel insurance gives you peace of mind and financial protection.
Most importantly, though, it covers you in case you need medical assistance while abroad, which can incur astronomical costs. If you are travelling with a medical condition, make sure you travel with a bespoke insurance policy that covers your needs. Most general policies will not give you the level of indemnity you need for specialist medical care, and may even be invalidated by your condition.
