Holiday travel tips

Make a checklist to ensure you’ve got everything you need

It's a good idea to make a holiday checklist before you travel. In the excitement of booking your getaway, it's easy to forget things. Here are some important things to consider when making your checklist:

Whether anyone in your group has any medical needs. You'll need to make sure they have the right amount of medication with them for the trip
If you're looking for a travel insurance policy, make sure you've taken out a travel insurance policy that suits your needs. Our useful travel insurance guides can help you make the right decision for you
If you decide to travel by car whilst you're away, you might want to consider taking out temporary car insurance. It can be a great option if you are sharing a long drive with someone else, or want cover for only a short period of time. If you rent a car, you'll get third-party cover included as part of the rental agreement
Researching what the weather will be like in your chosen destination and planning accordingly. Will you need to pack extra layers or extra suncream? - Or both?
Make sure you keep all your booking references in one place, saved to your phone or printed out.

Book early to avoid costs going up

Booking early is the best way to avoid rising costs when you travel, and gives you more time to plan your trip away.

Expedia's 2024 Travel Hacks Report says you should book a holiday:

• At least a month before your trip for domestic flights. This saves up to 24%, on average
• At least 60 days before your trip for international flights. This saves up to 10%, on average.

Airlines increase their costs the closer it is to your flight. Booking early can make sure you snag the best deal possible.

Book last minute to try and get the best deals

However, sometimes travelling last minute can work in your favour. You can find good deals with certain package holidays or city breaks. Here are a few things to bear in mind if you decide to book last minute:

• You'll need to be flexible and openminded about where you may end up travelling.
• If you end up buying travelling insurance, make sure you have the right travel insurance for the country you're travelling to. Annual travel insurance does not cover every destination, so if you're a spur-of-the-moment holiday planner, you might want to take out single trip travel insurance
• Check fares as early as possible. Airlines often sell their cheapest fares first, increasing their rates closer to the flight
• Travel light if you can. This will help you avoid any unnecessary luggage charges at the airport.

Travel outside of peak dates if possible

If possible, try to avoid busy periods like School holidays and Christmas, as these dates become more expensive. A holiday during the festive period can be fun, but it's also very costly.

Here are some benefits to travelling outside of peak seasons:

• You might be able to reduce the time it takes to get to the airport by avoiding extra traffic
• You'll usually save money because of decreased demand, getting cheaper flights and accomodation
• If you hate endless queues or wading through big crowds, avoiding peak dates can ensure a more laid back experience for everyone.

Top tip: Use our holiday budget calculator to work out the difference in cost by travelling outside of peak dates.

Use an eSIM to avoid roaming charges

Using a travel eSIM can help reduce roaming charges while you're away.

An eSIM is a digital alternative to a physical SIM card. They're activated on a phone using mobile data or wifi, and are compatible with most modern smartphones. You can activate some eSIMS at your holiday destination, while others you have to activate in the UK.

An eSIM works by finding a local network provider that's potentially cheaper than your current UK network's roaming rate. It's important to set your eSIM as default while you're away so you're not using your normal data allowance.

Oh, and another thing - If you buy travel insurance through us, you'll get a free eSIM with up to 2GB of roaming data as a reward*. We'll also give you instructions on how to use it in your chosen holiday destination. Boom.

*eSIM comes with pre-funded credit and the amount of data received in exchange, will vary based on the specific country you select. Compatible devices only. T&C's apply.

Plan how to get to the airport

So you're all set for when your plane lands. But what about getting to the airport?

If you're planning on driving to the airport, make sure you book as early as possible to save money on parking. You can book your parking as soon as your flight has been confirmed.

It's worth keeping an eye out for parking discount codes. The sooner you book the more likely you are to see offers and promotions.

If you decide to travel by train, make sure you check for any delays or strike action that could affect your journey on the day. It's a good idea to book an earlier train to make sure you get there with plenty of time.

If you're getting a taxi to the airport, make sure you have your booking confirmation to hand. Like parking, you can also find cheaper taxi deals if you book in advance.

Consider travel insurance for your trip

Whether you're travelling in a large group or going on a romantic getaway, there are travel insurance policies to suit everyone.

If you're going away with your family, our family travel insurance covers two adults and up to eight children. For couples, we offer couples travel insurance. This is the same as regular travel insurance, but covers both people under one policy.

We also offer single-trip insurance for one-off holidays. This covers you from when you buy the policy until you return from your trip. This can be a good option if you are travelling for a longer period of time, say 90 days. You can also select specific destinations to reduce the cost.

If you have more than 1 trip planned in the next 12 months, annual travel insurance could work out cheaper. You can choose the date that your policy starts, and get cover for up to 31 days per trip.

If you're travelling in the UK, travel insurance could still be useful as it covers cancellations and delays, as well as lost baggage. Another popular choice of holiday in the UK is camping, but you may need specialist camping insurance to cover equipment and other cancellations.

Avoid checking bags if they’re not needed

Some budget airlines can charge a lot to check bags in. It's a good idea to check the costs with your airline before you travel.

It can be useful to share a bag with someone else on your trip, or use hand luggage if you're going on a shorter break.

If you're someone who packs light, carry-on luggage is a much cheaper option, and you can access your essentials while you fly.

Bringing hand luggage also reduces the risk of lost luggage and saves you time. You won't need to wait around to find suitcases or bags, your holiday can start as soon as you land.