5 important things to do before you travel this summer

But in the excitement of going somewhere new or revisiting a favourite getaway, we can often forget to cover off the basics first. Booking accommodation and travel is just one small strand of organising a successful holiday – you’ll also want to make sure your home will be safe, your travel documents are in order and your money will stretch. Don’t know where to start? 

Our five-point list below should steer you in the right direction so the only thing you have left to worry about is when happy hour kicks off at the hotel bar. Cheers to peace of mind!

1) Finances first – make sure you can afford your holiday

2) Home security – keep your property safe while you’re away

3) Cover up – and not just in the sun!

4) Plan your spending – from budgets to currency cards

5) Road trip – check your car before you travel

1) Finances first – make sure you can afford your holiday

Before booking any holiday, make sure it’s within your means. The clever thing to do is to put a little bit of money away each month, which should soon build up into a tidy sum to take you and your family somewhere nice. 

Compare savings accounts to find one offering attractive interest rates and tailored to your individual needs, and read our dedicated blog on the subject, suggesting simple ways to start saving now. There are also plenty of budgeting apps which can help keep your savings plan on track. Many of these will ring-fence your holidays funds automatically, so you don’t have to lift a finger.

If you haven’t had a chance to squirrel cash away for this summer, taking out a short term loan to pay for your break, dipping into an overdraft or putting it on credit card might seem tempting. Be warned, however, that these can come with steep interest rates. Plan how you will pay the money back before committing. We’ve put together a complete guide to borrowing money responsibly, which should be required reading before you start looking for the best loans for your circumstances.

Finally, don’t feel pressured to go anywhere at all if you haven’t got the money. A cost of living crisis, environmental concerns and sky-high airfares have put the brakes on plenty of foreign holidays this year, so you won’t be alone in opting for a staycation – or staying home full stop. 

Even on a tight budget, you can still make precious holiday memories for the whole family by getting creative and thinking outside the box. Need some inspiration? We’ve got the lowdown on everything from garden camping to free days out on the inland waterways among other savings tips for the school holidays.

2) Home security – keep your property safe while you’re away

An empty house can be a prime target for burglars so make sure you’ve done everything possible to keep it secure. You might consider fitting extra security measures such as door locks, intruder alarms or installing your own CCTV, but there are plenty of other, cheaper ways to deter thieves too.

• Start by getting a neighbour to keep an eye out for suspicious activity and to pop in every few days to remove post that might have built up in porches, for example.
• You could also pay someone to mow your grass while you’re away – another tell-tale sign a property is unoccupied – and remember to cancel milk and newspaper deliveries.
• Using timer switches on lights and radios is another great way to make sure your home looks lived in.
• Avoid posting your holiday snaps on social media until you return – you never know who might be looking for an easy home to target.
• Spare keys are often left under flower pots and in garages, making these the obvious first places that burglars will check. To be on the safe side, take them with you or leave them with family or a trusted friend instead.
• Remove valuable items from sight so they can’t be easily spotted from the window. And, if you haven’t already, make sure high-value items are insured. Registering them online at immobilise.com, the national property register, is a good way of increasing the chances of them being returned to you if they do get pilfered.

Even if you’re not going away, bear in mind that the hotter summer weather can leave the door open – quite literally – to burglars. If you’re in the garden, close and lock the front door and windows, and make sure all downstairs entry points (front and back) are closed if you nip out. Meanwhile, keep expensive garden tools and outdoor toys, such as bikes, stowed away safely in a shed when not in use. 

3) Cover up – and not just in the sun!

Theft, cancellations, delays or accidents can all cast a shadow over your holidays, and sometimes leave a gaping hole in your finances too. Having the correct insurance in place will give you peace of mind the you’re covered for most eventualities. 

Let’s start with the most important – your health. If you’re visiting an EU country, get your hands on a UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) which gives you state healthcare in Europe at a reduced cost, or sometimes for free. It replaces the EHIC card (these are still valid until the expiry date on the individual card) and you can apply, for free, on the NHS website. 

Note that the card only covers “medically necessary healthcare” (ie. healthcare that cannot reasonably wait until you get home) and that not all state healthcare is free within the EU and Switzerland. You may have to pay for services that you would get for free on the NHS.

The government also points out that neither the EHIC nor GHIC is a substitute for travel insurance as it may not cover all health costs and never covers repatriation. Travel insurance is not just important from a medical perspective – it can also cover things like lost and stolen bags, and disruptions to travel or accommodation, such as delays and cancellations. The exact cover will vary significantly between different policies, so read the details thoroughly before you buy.

Even if you’ve got travel insurance sorted, you can help keep your possessions safe on holiday by following some simple steps:

• Keep cash and cards close to you, for example in an inside pocket or money belt worn under your clothes. Alternatively, divide money (as well as gadgets such as phones and laptops) between your bags, so if one gets stolen you haven’t lost everything. Any cash you don’t need while you’re out and about, as well as important documents like passports, plus valuables and electronic devices, can usually be stowed in a safe in your hotel room, or at the front desk.
• Take a picture or photocopy of your most important documents. If they get lost or stolen, this will speed up the replacement process and make it easier to report.
• Lock suitcases and bring a padlock to attach them to luggage racks on long train journeys.
• Be alert in busy places and queues, especially at night time, and read up on local scams online or in guidebooks before you go away.
• If your phone is stolen with a bank app on it, you should act quickly to stop access to your accounts. As well as reporting the theft to police, contact your mobile phone provider to block your SIM, and inform your bank to cancel any cards linked to Apple Pay or Google Pay. Banks can also monitor transactions for suspicious activity. You should change passwords for any accounts available on your mobile, prioritising your email, Apple, Google or Samsung accounts.
• Finally, remember to check foreign travel advice on the UK Government website before you leave. This will have the latest safety and security information for the country you’re visiting, as well as passport entry requirements, including any visas you might need.

4) Plan your spending – from budgets to currency cards

Even if you’re excellent at counting your pennies at home, holidays have a habit of making us relax a little – and this extends to our spending. To stop yourself splurging on souvenirs or getting carried away on cocktails, set up a realistic budget before you go. 

One way to do this is by using a travel prepaid card for holidays abroad. A prepaid travel card works in a similar way to a debit card, except you pre-load them with money before using them. Since they don’t offer an overdraft facility, there is less chance of spending more than you have allocated for the trip. 

A multi-currency prepaid card account works the same way, except there is an additional feature: you can convert what you top up to another currency. Some offer the option to hold several currency options for use while travelling, and most prepaid card accounts come with a mobile app that can send you notifications of spending, low balance alerts, and more, so it's easier to keep tabs on your spending.

If you compare currency prepaid cards with some traditional banks, the exchange rates and fees offered can be competitive. When choosing travel prepaid cards however, there may be additional costs to consider, such as for topping up or using your card at an ATM, as well as monthly fees. As with most things in life, it’s worth shopping around.

One thing’s for sure, never assume your existing bank card is best for your holiday abroad. Check what you’ll be charged before you go and find a cheaper alternative if necessary. And remember, if given the option when using your card it’s usually better to pay in the local currency rather than pound sterling. Finally, while cards are undoubtedly convenient, it’s recommended to carry some cash around with you too in case of an emergency. 

5) Road trip – check your car before you travel

If you’re holidaying closer to home this summer, and using your own vehicle to get there, make sure it’s fit for the journey first. According to the RAC, only a fifth of UK drivers (17%) regularly do so, and a quarter (24%) say they never do checks beforehand. The remaining 60% only do it sometimes, which the breakdown recovery service warns is setting many motorists up for problems en route and costly garage bills. 

Add higher temperatures to the equation, the stop/start of holiday traffic jams, as well as the demands of towing caravans etc, and the chances of breaking down increase dramatically. A few simple checks before setting off could make all the difference:

• Start by making sure you have enough fuel for the journey, taking into consideration that your car will guzzle more in heavy traffic.
• Look for signs of damage and wear and tear on tyres, and replace them if necessary, especially if the tread has fallen below the legal requirement. Make sure they are inflated to the correct pressures and always carry a spare wheel in case of punctures.
• Top up your oil if necessary to avoid overheating, and check your coolant level at the same time.
• Top up your screenwash and make sure your windscreen wipers are working effectively, not just for rainy conditions but to clear summer insect smears as well.
• If you’re crawling in traffic with sat navs, tablets and phone chargers all plugged in, summer car journeys with the family can put more demand on the car battery. Check there are no electrical problems beforehand – a warning sign is trouble starting the car in the first place.

Make sure you leave enough time between giving your car the once-over and setting off on holiday to get any potential problems fixed. If your car is beyond repair and you’re forced to fork out on another, you may find our guide on applying for car loans helpful.

TIP: Both KwikFit and Halfords offer free vehicle health checks, which may be worth doing before setting off on your journey.

Conclusion

Getting ready for a holiday isn’t easy. In this post alone we’ve covered topics as diverse as affordability and home security, insurance and driving tips. The purpose isn’t to overwhelm you, nor simply to give you peace of mind (once you’ve worked through the list) to sit back and enjoy the vacation.

Rather, we want readers to realise that being properly prepared for your holiday also has huge cost-saving benefits. By getting organised you’re giving yourself more time to compare prices, set budgets, avoid costly breakdowns – and break-ins. Being prepared pays off.

We’ve got plenty more tips on how to save money on holiday abroad in our online guides.

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