A Holiday is always a special time. It’s your time to relax, unwind, forget about the worries in the world and simply enjoy either being alone or with the one’s you love most. Most holidays include a lot of planning and preparation, and while it can be a rather stressful and anxious time, depending on what you need to get sorted, making sure you do plan ahead is the best way to ensure your holiday goes as smoothly as possible.

If you’ve travelled a lot in your lifetime then you’ve probably mastered the normal preparations and checks, however for someone that’s new to flying or are about to venture on their first holiday, there may be a few things you haven’t thought about. Flying around the world can be pretty tense for some people, especially if flying isn’t your favourite cup of tea. While most people dread long haul flights, long waits at airports, and all the security checks and Airport check-ins, a few simple tips of being prepared can help smoothen things out. Being prepared for your adventures is a must. Not only do you have your holiday and actually getting there to worry about, but you may also have to sort a few things out back home before you leave.

To ensure you make the most of you holiday and won’t have to worry about a single thing while away, we recommend sorting out and preparing the following in good time before you fly out.

House Safety

If you feel it’s necessary and have someone you can trust living nearby, there’s no harm in getting them to look after or simply watch over your home. A quick check every now and then will go a long way if your holiday means you’re away for a few weeks. If you do plan on having a relative or close friend ‘house sit’ your home, make sure you give them enough notice and run them through any necessary checks. Plan ahead and give them the dates, perhaps a spare key, and a list of things they may need to do or follow up on while you’re away.

Getting To The Airport

While you may already have your ticket booked to fly you away to your holiday destination, you need to actually get to the airport before you worry about that step. A lot of people seek help from family and friends when it comes to driving to the airport seeing as it can work out a lot cheaper than leaving your car parked at the airport or hiring a taxi. However, if you aren’t able to make such arrangements make sure you book a reliable taxi or coach ahead of time. Book in your schedule early and give the company a ring the day before you fly out just to double check everything is still in order. If you plan on leaving your car parked at the airport then we suggest you do some research and find out the rates beforehand. Turning up late or not having enough cash on you to pay for the parking ticket there and then is never a good thing. Make sure you allow plenty of time between your estimated time of arrival at the airport and the actual time your plane will depart.

Documents

Depending on where you’re travelling to you may need some extra documents. This could be a visa, medical information, medical documents etc. While a passport is an obvious Document you know you must have in order to depart, you must also make sure your travel documents are valid and will be throughout your stay abroad. It’s also a good idea to have the contact details of the nearest embassy to where you’ll be staying just in case of an emergency. Preparing all your documents in advance can save you from a lot of hassle, especially when these documents are so crucial and could possibly mean you don’t end up flying out.

Luggage
Packing can be a nightmare. We’ve all experienced it; being over the weight limit. It’s frustrating when you have a ton of things you want to bring with you but simply won’t fit in your luggage. Making sure you pack as light as possible is one of the best ways at winning when it comes to your luggage. It’s a known fact that when one goes on holiday, they’ll bring more with them home than they had going. Leave enough space in your luggage for other items you may purchase while abroad. Only pack the necessary and make sure you keep everything you’ll need during your flight in your carry-on bag. With the strict weight limits, investing in a lightweight yet sturdy and reliable suitcase can be a big help. There are loads of luggage sets available today that are as light as they can be, giving you the extra few kilos to pack your belongings. By packing ahead of time you can decide what will stay and what will go. Based on personal experience, I once saved myself 4 kilos by packing a month in advance! If you pack your suitcase earlier than usual you’ll most likely take things out and put other things in. This is a great way for you to realise what you’ll really want and need while on holiday. Are you really going to use that thick sweater in somewhere like the Maldives? Or are you going to need 3 pairs of trainers when you’re only planning on exploring once? There’s a lot of things you need to take into account when packing, but the more time you give yourself to pack and rearrange, the more you’ll realise what’s really important for you and your holiday.