Holiday checklist

Before you go - paperwork, passports & planning:

• Ensure your passport is up to date and check if you need a visa. Some countries expect your passport to remain valid for a minimum period (usually 6 months) beyond the date you enter the country.
• For medical claims in Europe, make sure you have the European Health Insurance Card. This replaces the old E111 form. Ask at your local Post Office for details. The card qualifies travellers for the same medical treatment as local residents. Get a health card.
• Arrange airport parking and car hire.
• Find out about and get the jabs you need as soon as you've booked your trip and preferably at least 6 weeks before you go - you may need a course of treatment over several weeks.
• Going on a fly/drive trip? Make sure your driving licence meets the requirements.
• Visit the Foreign Office website for up-to-date health, safety and other information on your destination.
• Get a good guidebook and learn some of the local lingo.

Before you go - money & insurance:

• Arrange travel insurance and take the insurance certificate and policy with you. You'll need it if you have to make a claim. Get travel insurance.
• Ensure your insurance is adequate. If you plan to go skiing, for example, you need to be sure your policy covers you.
• Get travel money and travellers cheques - it's best to take a mixture with you including debit and credit cards. Get free home delivery on foreign currency when you order commission-free travel money.
• Sort out an overdraft in case you want to make a big purchase when you're away. Arrange an overdraft.
• Use Online Banking to keep on top of your finances while you're on your trip. Register for Online Banking.

When you're ready to go, don't forget to:

• Make a list of emergency phone numbers for insurance claims and lost and stolen cards and travellers cheques.
• Write luggage labels - but be safety conscious. Don't write your home address on your luggage labels until your journey home. Put your destination address inside your case as well as on the label.
• Keep a record of all relevant booking reference numbers to avoid disappointment, especially if you've booked online. Make sure the company can provide evidence of security for refunds and repatriation in the event of insolvency. There are various schemes such as ATOL, ABTA, AITO, ABTOT or IATA.
• Pack your credit and debit cards to pay for things and withdraw cash. But avoid carrying all your cards when you're out and about. Keep at least one locked in your hotel safe.
• Take photocopies of important documents, such as your passport, visa and insurance policy. If the originals are in your bag, put the copies in your case or hotel safe. You should also leave copies with someone trustworthy at home.
• Carry some local currency for those cab and bus journeys on arrival.
• Fool thieves - cancel newspapers and other deliveries and consider putting lights and your TV on a timer to give the impression you're still at home.
• Leave a spare set of keys with someone you trust in case there's a problem.  

Find out more
Get an online discount on travel insurance
Order commission-free foreign currency
Travel insurance tips

Important information
Please read our site terms and conditions. In addition we would advise you that: The information given in this article was correct as at November 2007. It does not, however, take account of any changes in regulations, the law or interest rates since that time.

This article is not a substitute for obtaining professional advice from a qualified person or firm.

Barclays is not liable for any opinions expressed. While every effort has been made to ensure that the information contained is accurate at the time of publication, no liability for damages is accepted by Barclays, the publishers or any other organisation or person providing information, arising from any errors or omissions that may appear, however caused - or from any editorial alterations to submitted information.

Barclays is not responsible for the accuracy or content of web sites of other providers which may have links from this website. In creating hypertext links to any other web site, Barclays is not recommending that web site or giving any assurances as to its standing.

Examples given of products and services are not exclusive. Other companies may provide the same products and services, and inclusion of a product or service should not be taken to indicate that Barclays recommends it over any similar product or service.