Holiday checklist - 18 essential steps

Rule changes, strikes and prolonged travel disruption have undoubtedly made planning a holiday overseas a more complicated and daunting process.

That’s why we’ve done the hard work for you and rounded up everything you could possibly need to think about before you go. 

Not only will we ensure you’ve got everything covered, but our advice could also save you a fortune. Take car hire insurance, for example. Our top-rated policy is just £23 for a week, whereas the insurance sold at the rental desk offers less cover and costs up to £168.

Airport parking is another area where prices have rocketed. Want to avoid paying over £400 a week? See our tips below.

Once you’ve ticked off all the tasks in our checklist, we hope you can enjoy stress-free travels and have a little bit more spending money in your back pocket too.

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Before you book

Consider when to book to avoid disruption

We all know to try and fly outside the school summer holidays; it’s not just cheaper but you are less likely to encounter disruption. But you should also try to fly in the mornings when you do travel. A morning flight is statistically less likely to be cancelled or delayed. Data from OAG suggests that 11am is the sweet spot, slashing your chances of disruption by up to a quarter.

The reason for this is that short-haul planes fly to various destinations throughout the day, so the later you fly the more likelihood your plane or crew got caught up in disruption and is running late.

Check strike dates

The summer holidays are also when most strike action takes place. In recent months strikes have been announced from border force, air traffic control and airport staff. To help you avoid disruption we’ve rounded up major travel strike dates in the UK and crucial holiday destinations.

If you can, check strike dates ahead of time and avoid traveling on them. Strikes by air traffic control tend to be especially disruptive.

Choose a recommended holiday company

The most important decision you will make when booking is how you book and who you book with. 

Which? always recommends taking a flight-inclusive package holiday if you can. Packages provide legal and financial protection if things go wrong, and support and repatriation in the event of an emergency (like the recent wildfires in Rhodes). 

But some package holiday companies offer a much better holiday experience than others. That’s why we survey thousands of customers every year. Whether you’re looking for a traditional beach break, escorted tour, walking holiday, city break or even something tailor-made, you’ll find a recommended provider in our reviews of the best and worst package holiday companies.

If you choose not to book a package, you can still ensure you travel with the best. Check out our reviews of the best and worst airlines and accommodation booking websites.

Check your passport validity and visa requirements

Following Britain’s exit from the European Union, there are new passport rules for Brits travelling to Europe’s Schengen Area. Get this wrong and you risk being denied boarding and losing your holiday.

So make sure you check your passport in good time. The Passport Office advises travellers to allow at least 10 weeks for applications to be processed.

You can find everything you need in our round up of passport rules and entry requirements.

You don’t yet need a visa or visa waiver to enter the EU - that’s coming in 2024 - but you will do in many other countries, including the US (Esta). 

You can check entry requirements for specific countries on the FCDO’s advice pages.

Find out what vaccinations you need

Always check the NHS website Fit For Travel to find out the health risks of your destination. 

Even Europe can hold risks for travellers. For example, if you’re hiking or camping, you may want to be immunised against tick-borne encephalitis.

If you think you need jabs, visit your GP or practice nurse eight weeks before travel because some inoculations and boosters take time to become fully effective.

Check which medication you can take abroad

If you need to travel with medication, check the rules for every country you will visit, or even pass through. Some countries, including Japan, UAE and Singapore have an extensive list of medicines they won’t allow in. 

You may need to get a letter from your GP, which you should request two months before departure. Your surgery may charge for this letter, as the service falls outside basic NHS healthcare. Carry this letter, along with your prescription, when you travel.

As soon as you book

Buy travel insurance straight away

We can’t emphasise enough how important it is to buy travel insurance as soon as you book. 

It means you’re much more likely to be covered for any pre-departure issues that mean you can’t travel. 

Many holiday companies and airlines will try to sell you their own insurance - don’t take it. It isn’t usually any cheaper, and it’s certainly not better. 

To help you make the right choice, we’ve rated hundreds of policies and scrutinised the T&Cs of each one: Find the best travel insurance.

Check your EHIC and apply for a GHIC

The Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) is a must for travelling in Europe. It entitles you to healthcare in most European countries for the same cost as locals. In many countries, like Spain, that means you won’t pay a penny to see a doctor or be treated in a public hospital.

The GHIC replaces the old EHIC (European Health Insurance Card). If you still have an EHIC, and it’s still valid (check the date), then you don’t need to do anything. But if it has run out, you can apply for a GHIC directly from the NHS.

The GHIC won’t cover everything though (that’s why you need travel insurance), and there are pitfalls to look out for. We’ve rounded up everything you need to know about the GHIC.

Reserve a hire car early

If you need a rental car for your holiday, we recommend booking it straight away because you’ll usually get the best price. It’s worth checking our reviews of the best car hire providers before you book.

Even if prices do come down (as they have in some locations this summer), if you book with a good provider you can cancel fee-free at any point (up to 48 hours before the rental is due to start), and simply rebook at that better rate.

Don’t take car hire insurance from the car hire firm

Car hire companies will try to sell you their insurance at the rental desk. But we’ve found it’s overpriced and offers poor cover. Take Avis for example. In Spain you’ll pay £168 for a week’s insurance, on top of the car hire cost. But it only gets a policy score of 46%.

You’re far better off buying from a specialist insurer online, in advance. You’ll pay as little as £23 per week, with a comprehensive policy, scoring 76% in our analysis.

We’ve analysed the policies to give you our selection of the best car hire insurance in 2024.

Book airport parking early

You’ll save a fortune if you book your parking in advance. Manchester Airport’s multi-storey turn-up price was a whopping £406 for a week’s holiday when we checked. That’s four times the price of a booking made four months in advance (£95).

To help you get an even better deal, we’ve compiled a list of the best ways to save on airport parking.

Avoid fees overseas with a good travel credit card

If you don’t already have one, it’s a shrewd move to get hold of a top-rated travel credit card that offers fee-free spending and a great exchange rate on foreign transactions.

Which? has identified the best credit cards to use abroad to save you money. See our table of Best Buy travel credit cards.

Before you go

Buy foreign currency 

Even if you’ve got a great travel credit card, there are some places where cash is still king. And it’s a good idea to have some cash with you when you arrive for a taxi, bus or train to your hotel.

But you should never exchange money at the airport. The rates are terrible. Last time we checked, changing £500 in the terminal would get you €115 less than if you bought currency online or on the high street. 

Read all of our advice about getting the best rates when you buy currency.

Sort out your mobile roaming

With most of the big networks reintroducing roaming charges in Europe, and eye-watering costs further afield, it’s essential that you take steps to avoid bill shock before you travel.

For example, O2 customers who use their phones in the US pay £6 a day for a ‘travel bolt-on’. This means a fortnight’s holiday adds £84 to your phone bill.

Whether you decide to switch to wi-fi only, buy a bundle, switch providers, or invest in an e-Sim card will depend on where you’re going, how often you travel and how much you plan to use your phone while you are abroad.

Our guide to mobile roaming charges tells you everything you need to know.

Check your luggage allowance

Don’t get caught out by airlines’ ever-changing luggage allowances. Always check what size and weight of suitcase and cabin bag you’re allowed to take with the airline before heading to the airport. And remember that the airlines with the stingiest luggage limits tend to be the ones with the highest charges for adding extra bags. 

If you find that you need new hand luggage for your trip, these are the best cabin bag brands for 2024.

And if you are in the market for a new full-size suitcase, our recent survey of luggage owners found some affordable suitcase brands that are virtually indestructible.

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Check for disruption before you leave - and never cancel

Already this summer we’ve seen strikes and wildfires disrupting peoples’ holidays before they’ve even left home. 

Always check your airline’s website to see if your flight is delayed, and the airport website - often the latter is updated faster. And leave extra time if delays and cancellations look likely.

If airline staff go on strike, it can lead to long check-in and bag drop queues. If, while queuing, it becomes apparent that you may miss your flight, call your airline before departure to see if you can move to a later flight for free.

If you’re concerned about the European heatwave and wildfires, don’t cancel your holiday. Instead contact your airline or holiday company to see whether there is an option to move your holiday to a later date, and it not, wait. If the operator cancels your holiday you should then be offered a full refund or the option to rebook.

You should also keep an eye on the latest advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. If the FCDO advises against travelling to your destination, then you should be able to make a claim on your travel insurance.

Consider easing your airport experience

Fast-track security services promise passengers a stress-free experience at the airport, so in these times of frequent disruption, is it worth paying the extra? Sometimes. Our guide to airport fast track tells you when and where to take the gamble.

Another option is to pay between £25 and £40 to access an exclusive lounge at the airport. But, again, your experience will vary dramatically depending on where you fly from. Before you spend the money, read our guide to the best and worst airports for lounges. 

Pack a decent sun cream

Check the expiry date on your sun cream before you travel, and also whether your brand passes muster. Shockingly, our tests regularly uncover sun creams that fail UVA or UVB tests (in some cases, both) meaning they don't provide the protection against the sun’s harmful rays that they claim.

Our full sun cream reviews tell you the brands to avoid, as well as some great value Best Buys.