Emergency travel tips or packing list?

[travelhelp]

My dad's had an emergency on holiday and is in hospital, I possibly need to fly out today to support my mum and spend some time there. I have a passport but haven't travelled for years and am just trying to make a list, what do I need to remember to do or pack?

money, credit card, phone charger, clothes rest can be bought there

Passport, credit card, travel insurance for your trip, medication that you need, driving licence, phone and charger.

I hope your dad is ok (and your mum too).

Sort your own travel insurance before doing anything, pack your passport, 2 credit cards, is it a currency that friends might have at home in case you need to take a taxi from the airport (although there are always ATMs at the airport)
Is roaming still included on your phone tariff or can you add it on cheaper at home to keep in touch with those at home?
Glasses/contact lenses/prescription sunglasses
Anything else can be solved with the credit cards
Hope your dad's ok

Thank you, roaming add-on is such a good shout, hadn't thought of currency either so will look into that.

Hope your dad’s ok.

Mentally walk through your day to determine what you’ll need – eg up, take meds, toothpaste on toothbrush, etc etc.

If you're parking at the airport see how much you can stretch the parking if you don't know when you're coming back.

DP was once sent overseas for work and didn't know how long the job would take. He had a one way flight and 2 nights in a hotel booked.

We worked out that parking cost just about the same for any time between 8 hours and 10 days, before the price started to rise sharply. So we booked him something like 9 days and 20 hours parking.

In the end, he was away for 9 nights and got back to the car about 2 hours before his parking ran out but if it hadn't been booked, it would have cost £££s more and they might even have wanted to move the car. But because he had so much parking booked, he didn't need to worry about this.

You probably don't need to worry so much about currency. Most places can be card only and if you need cash you can get some from a cash machine. Just make sure you know what your card provider charges as some charge a fixed fee for every debit card transaction, which will obviously get expensive if you make lots of transactions.

Have a look at:

www.moneysavingexpert.com/destinations/

Think about your comfort too, helping your mum and caring for your dad is likely to be mentally stressful and physically taxing, there will be lots of waiting around. If you have a kindle or iPad load it with books and downloaded films/tv and take that. Make sure you have your nice pjs and if you have a favourite bubble bath/shower gel take that too.

Thank you all 🙏

I've downloaded google translate too

Make sure you inform your bank/cc that you are overseas so your cards not blocked.

Portable charger
Travel adaptor

Take some masks too, just in case. I don't know where you're going but in Spain, some are still insisting on mask wearing on public transport. I know my taxi driver did 3 weeks ago.

Italy was the same in September - you needed masks for all public transport.

Passport, credit card, phone &charger (including adapter plug) everything else you can buy.

Suggestion 7 days of clothes, empty water bottle

Get travel insurance online - I use compare the market, but if you have preexisting conditions list them otherwise it's invalidated. Also get a ghic card, it won't arrive in time but as long as you apply they honour it

If your mother takes any medication then I would suggest taking some of that out with you in case she has to stay longer than planned and only took sufficient for the trip.