With the peak summer season fast approaching, ABTA – The Travel Association is encouraging holidaymakers to follow its Travel Checklist to make sure they’ve ticked off the most important steps to take when preparing for their holiday this year.

The eight-step checklist includes checking the Foreign Office travel advice for the destination they’re visiting, taking out comprehensive travel insurance, sticking to the existing rules for liquids and laptops when travelling through airport security, and making sure their passport will be valid for their travel dates.

ABTA’s Travel Checklist

1. Read the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office travel advice – this is where you’ll find the latest advice for the destination you’re visiting.
2. Check your passport will be valid for your travel dates and allow time to renew if needed – if you’re travelling to any country in the EU (except Ireland), your passport must have been issued less than 10 years before the date you enter the EU and be valid for at least three months after the day you plan to leave. 
3. Take out comprehensive travel insurance – make sure your policy covers your specific needs, including any activities you plan to do or existing medical conditions.
4. Make sure you have a valid GHIC – if not, apply for one for free at NHS.uk. Having a GHIC means you can access to medically necessary state healthcare in all 27 EU countries, Switzerland, Montenegro, the Channel Islands and Australia, if needed while you’re away.
5. Check the rules if you’re travelling to the EU – make sure you are aware of restrictions on items that can be taken into the EU, the documentation required when driving or taking your pet abroad, and potential charges for using your mobile phone depending on your network.
6. Stick to the current rules for liquids and laptops – many airports haven’t fully implemented  the next generation security scanners yet, so make sure to follow the existing hand luggage rules around liquids and electronic devices when going through security to avoid delays.
7. Get your travel money sorted – the use of cash and card varies overseas, so take enough travel money with you for the country you’re visiting. Remember you may need cash on arrival for bus or taxi fares, as well as for tips or for cash-only transactions while on holiday.
8. Have a fun and safe trip – we want everyone to have a holiday to remember, for all of the right reasons, so make sure you take steps to keep yourself safe, such as, when swimming, following the rules at the pool, look out for warning flags and signs at the beach and closely supervise children in the water. ABTA has lots of advice to help you stay safe on holiday.
    

Visit abta.com/travelchecklist for the full advice.