A travel expert has shared nine tips that can help you to ensure your holiday goes to plan.
Flying can be a stressful experience with lots of things to remember, from documents to timings, and getting something wrong can turn into an expensive mistake.
Travel expert, Dawn Morwood, Co-Director of Cheap Deals Away UK, said: “When I travel, I always double-check my passport for enough blank pages, especially when heading to places like South Africa or China. I also make sure my passport is valid for at least a year when I travel to countries with the six-month rule, like Thailand or Brazil.
“On top of that, I regularly renew my passport about nine months before it expires anyway, which has saved me from scrambling during high-demand periods.
“I recommend travellers use expedited services during peak seasons to make sure they get their passport on time for any last-minute trips. I’ve been stringently following these guidelines to travel smoothly around the world, without worrying about getting denied at the border.
“Every traveller should do the same to avoid unnecessary delays and stress. So forget prioritising the sunscreen, make sure you prioritise your passport!”
Making sure your passport is going to be valid for your travel is the most important step to take ahead of the trip. While many think theirs will be fine, all too often people are left stuck at the airport after not realising their passport won’t be valid.
Here are Mr Morwood’s nine tips for a stress-free journey.
Passport validity
Countries such as Indonesia, Bahrain and Thailand enforce a six-month passport validity rule so you should check visa requirements ahead of your trip.
Blank pages for stamps
Some countries require passports to have two blank pages for stamps. Some examples include South Africa, Russia, and China.
Renew passport in advance
The UK government requires at least three weeks for your passport to be renewed, but it’s best to send it off earlier as it can take quite a while to come back.
Passport information
Double checking details on your passport is crucial as any errors may cause delays with your reservations.
Watch out for entry stamps
Some countries, including EU members and Malaysia, require an entry stamp and if you do not get one, it can cause complications.
Check visa requirements early
Some countries have specific visa requirements, and while it might seem obvious it’s important to check this before you go. For example, Burma, India and Vietnam require specific visas. Be aware these can take a while to process.
Visa price research
It’s important to make sure you’ve budgeted for the cost of a visa in your trip as some can be quite expensive. It’s an additional cost that people often don’t realise can be up to £127.
Frequent traveller programmes
If you’re a frequent flyer, it is worth having a look at these programmes as they often give you faster access through customs and border control.
Passport expiry mid-trip
Make sure your passport won’t expire while you’re travelling or you could face issues getting home. This is mostly important to consider if you’re planning on travelling for an extended period of time.