Travel insurance is a must-have. It is often left until the last minute, but don’t forget about it, because if you suddenly have to cancel, you won’t be covered.
Check the exact wording of your policy. Don’t assume all holidays are covered: for example, if you’re going on a cruise you might need to pay extra because emergencies at sea cost more to resolve.
If your travel insurance comes with your bank account be aware most policies only cover holidays in Europe.
As with all things, be wary of any policy that seems to be a bargain.
Check to see if it covers all your costs if you need to cancel, provides you with at least £2million of medical cover, includes third-party liability protection and will pay to replace the contents of your suitcase if it goes missing — and make sure you don’t underestimate the value of your belongings.
Check your policy for age restrictions and be honest about medical treatments. If you’ve been referred to a consultant or are awaiting further tests then tell your insurer before you sign up.
If you haven’t booked a package holiday, ensure your cover includes ‘end supplier failure’. This will protect you if a company you’re booked with goes bust.
And if you’re travelling in Europe, don’t forget to order your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). This entitles holidaymakers to the same treatment at public hospitals as residents in that country, although it is not a substitute for a good insurance policy.
Never wait until the airport or hotel to get your holiday money. You get a much better exchange rate by ordering it in advance.
It is worth thinking about top credit cards for spending abroad. Halifax’s Clarity Credit Card allows you to withdraw cash or spend anywhere in the world free of charge. You pay interest even if you clear your balance in full at the end of the month.
For those who prefer a debit card, Norwich and Peterborough Building Society’s Gold Classic and Gold Light accounts have no foreign exchange or cash withdrawal fees. Gold Classic customers must pay in £500 a month, while Gold Light members must make five or more transactions a month. It can take some weeks to sort out these cards, so don’t delay.
Another option is to take out a pre-paid credit card, which you can load up with foreign currency.
Firms such as FairFX and Caxton FX offer good exchange rates and do not charge to top up by debit card or bank transfer.
Watch out for the small print. Some cards charge for cash withdrawals or if you don’t top up a certain amount, and make it difficult to get back leftover money.
When ordering cash, moneysavingexpert.com has a comparison tool called travelmoneymax.com to help find the best rate, whether you collect your money or have it delivered.
Think carefully about what bags you need. It may cost more to book more hold luggage but it is cheaper than paying at the airport. For example, on easyJet it costs £7 to buy an extra kilo of luggage in advance, but £11 at check-in.
Finally, put a reminder in your diary to print off your boarding pass before you fly. Budget airlines hit those who forget with hefty check-in fees. Ryanair, for example, charges £60 per person – £240 for a family of four.