I need you all to give all the tips for travelling abroad

[wanderpanic]

So, I haven't travelled abroad for over 20 years. Many reasons, mainly small children, lack of finances and lack of time off work.

I've enjoyed some lovely holidays in Uk but now I have teens and we are in a better position to save, I'd really like to get off abroad in 2025.

But I'm petrified. It's become a silly irrational fear, and I need to get it sorted.

So give me all your tips, guides and ideas.
I'll take it all. Places, packing and ideas.

Eg of some of things I'm stressing about include: what you're allowed on the plane, when you arrive at the airport and things I may not have even thought of.

I know I can google and research but thought I'd try here first, so be gentle!

I'm usually not so wispy about things but for some reason I've made this a much bigger thing then it needs to be and need you lot to shake me out of it!

Thanks

Sorry I have no ideas at all. I totally sympathise with the fear. I would be going half an hour in the car and coming back three days later, max.

Good luck.

I used to be an intrepid traveller too op. Not a clue now. I read on here that packing cubes are all the rage.

In your situation I would back book a package holiday, so that if there are any problems with flights or transfers it will all be sorted by somebody else. Plus there will be a rep in your resort so if you're not happy with the hotel you will have somebody to support you. However my experience at package holidays is that everything tends to go very smoothly! I get to the airport three hours in advance because I don't want to feel rushed and I'm happy to get a snack and wander round the shops once I've gone through security. In terms of the plane you can take on board food from home if you want a picnic, you can't take drinks through security but you can buy them airside and take them on the plane. At the very least I would take a bottle of water because flying dehydrates you. You can take your tablet with films downloaded onto watch. If you're on a budget you might want to look at all-inclusive – obviously the holiday cost will be higher but then you will not need to spend very much at all when you get there. Hope that helps!

Be organised. Have your passports, boarding passes, paper work in a small compartment of your handbag so they can easily be found.
Don't get to the airport with just the right amount of time. Get there extra early so you don't have to worry about lines and you can enjoy exploring it.
You can have most things on the plane as long as it's not pointy, bladed or explosive. Airport and airline websites say what these things are. Bring chargers especially the ones which go to direct to USBs and don't need plugs.
If you have teens let them do the research and help you plan and pack and prep. It will save you work, make them excited and let them buy into the holiday more.

Go somewhere relatively simple. Mallorca maybe. Book a package holiday, which includes transfers from the airport to your hotel and back, so you don't have to worry about that.

Make sure your passport is not out of date and that it has enough time left on it - go into a travel agent with it and ask if necessary.

Packing - check the baggage allowance for your flight - if you have luggage for the 'hold', i.e., a large suitcase, you can pack large bottles of liquid such as shampoo etc in that. For cabin bags, you need to keep liquids (so lip gloss, hand sanitizer etc) to 100ml or less. You can buy water once you've got to the departure lounge.

Are you travelling alone? Approx. how many hours of flight? Where will you be staying, i.e. hotel, Airbnb, etc. ? And is it a country for which you will need a visa? Are you planning on hiring a car?

Do you have travel insurance or health insurance that can be used when travelling?

For most places, you need your phone and your charger with whatever plug works in that country and your credit card. Keep your phone charged and have a printed copy of anything really important such as boarding passes and a photcopy of your passport, plus things that will help you feel calm like a map of how to get to the hotel.

If you are on any medication, take a copy of the prescription and the whole box (i.e. not just a strip of unidentifiable pills.)

Look up the emergency services' phone numbers (112 for all 3 in Europe).

Between now and when you go, note down on your phone what you might need to take with you. You can write the things down whenever something pops into your head. Then when it comes to packing, you have a ready-made list waiting for you. You don't have to take everything on the list, but you probably won't forget anything.

Measure your hand luggage. They can be very strict and the sizes are smaller than they were a few years ago. I've been charged 30€ for a suitcase being only a few centimeters too big.

The first thing you do at the airport is check in the big suitcases, then you go through security and they scan your hand luggage. Then you wait (forever) until you're called to go to your gate. For me, it wasn't until I was about to board the plane that they measured my hand luggage and charged me for it.

If it’s mainly the flying that makes you anxious, there are some lovely places you can travel to by train/coach/ferry.

Check what kind of power sockets they have where you’re going and take at least one adapter.

Make sure you have a payment card that won’t charge you for using a different currency. Both Starling & Revolut are good.

Look at Duolingo & YouTube to learn some basic phrases in the language of where you’re going - even if it’s just Hello & Thank you.

Usually the cheapest place to buy water in the departure lounge is the duty free shop however you may have a Boots or similar where you can get a meal deal (or just reasonably priced drinks.) Most airports also have water fountains, usually outside the toilets, and it's fine to take an empty water bottes through security with you in your hand luggage.

The key things are passport, insurance, flight tickets and money. Everything else can be worked out easily enough on the hoof.

Passports: make sure all passports have enough time left on them, you need a minimum of 6 months for most countries. Don't forget to take them! Buy an a5 plastic wallet to keep them together and to hand.

Insurance: buy as soon as you've booked the trip.

Flights: baggage allowances are more complicated than they used to be and vary by airline, have a think before you book about whether you'll need checked luggage or not. Having said that, worst case scenario you'll have to pay extra at the airport. Usually nowadays you check in online before you travel and print your boarding pass at home (I think this is true for all airlines but I could be wrong).

Money: many people travel with only debit or credit cards these days. Virtually everywhere has atms. I personally still like to take a couple of hundred £s worth of either the local currency or dollars so I can at least cover airport taxis without worrying about finding a machine.

Also phones - roaming works in most places these days but you need to check with your operator before you travel as you sometimes need to turn it on or prepay. Don't depend on your phone Internet working like it does in the UK - have a map/guidebook just in case (speaking from experience!).

General guidance on arriving at the airport is to get there at least 2 hours before domestic/European flights and 3 hours before international ones. I always like to build in a bit of extra time to chill out, mooch around the shops or sit and read.

No liquids over 100ml are allowed in carry on (but fine in checked baggage). Google is very useful for checking what counts as a liquid - for example, lipstick, stick deodorant and wet wipes don’t, but toothpaste and all aerosolised sprays do. You can take up to 1 litre worth of liquids - in bottles/tubes of 100ml or less - in your carry on, as long as they are in a sealable clear plastic bag (one per person). You can use a sandwich type bag from home or there are free ones given out at the airport.

When you book your tickets, it will say what your baggage allowance is per person, including weight. As a plan for the worst type person, when packing my carry on I always try to a) put anything that I’d be gutted to lose in there and b) pack a variety of clothes so that if my hold luggage were to get lost I’d have enough to scrape together a holiday wardrobe! I also try to wear any heavier jackets/shoes on the journey, as then it doesn’t count towards the weight allowance.

Once you’ve booked flights you’ll get emails with reminders about what you need to do and when (like entering personal details and checking in), so it should be pretty straightforward for you ☺️ Also don’t forget to check the entry requirements for whichever country you’re visiting (e.g. for the USA you need to apply for an ESTA beforehand).

Take some foreign currency in cash - including small bills -- to use for bus, train or taxi fares, tips etc, plus some for drinks and snacks when you arrive in case meal times are out of kilter.

Sort out passports first. Are they all valid and have enough time on them? Put them somewhere you will find them before you travel.

Money. Get a Starling or similar account that doesn't charge for using card overseas. Don't bother buying currency, use an ATM when you get there.

Check your luggage allowance and sizes permitted.

Group stuff together for security (electronics, liquids/gets etc). Follow the instructions, pay attention and don't panic. Count your trays at security, make sure you empty the same number once you are through so you don't leave anything behind.

Pay attention to the boarding screens and leave plenty of time to reach the gate. Go to the loo before you board even if you think you don't need to. Don't drink alcohol or take shoes off. Do drink lots of water.

Enjoy your holiday.

Someone above mentioned roaming for phones. Look into charges for where you're going; for some countries they are extortionate, and if you'll be wanting data (other than hotel wifi) or phone calls, you'd be better turning off roaming and getting a local sim or esim. Same for the kids, or they could get some big bills! Remember your phone might be using data in the background - people have run up hundreds in bills just from software updates, incoming emails, etc.

Also, if you use one already, consider putting a spending cap on your account.

https://globetrender.com/2023/07/27/british-travellers-face-mobile-roaming-bill-shock/

I'd suggest you take the train somewhere instead of flying, if practical. Are you far from London? If not, then take the Eurostar. It's much less hassle than flying

Take 1 plug adaptor for each hotel room (assuming with teens you've probably got 2), and a 4 way extension instead of faffing with multiple adaptors. Not every room has plenty of sockets and 1 adaptor plus 4 way makes it a doddle for teens to charge phone, powerbank fan etc all at the same time. And take powerbanks lol

I always buy shampoo, conditioner, gaviscon and shower gel at the airport so it doesn't count towards luggage weight, especially if going by budget airline and weight allowance is less.

Get organised before you go through security with your liquid bags (1 per person) easily accessible. With 3 of us I tend to have 1 bag with electrical bits and liquids and the other 2 with a couple of outfits, shoes, swimwear and essential bits in case a suitcase or 2 goes missing plus book, cards or whatever needed for flight

Photocopy important docs in case you lose your bag/phone/passport. I keep these in a folder with copies of boarding passes in case phone dies, insurance info etc.

Make a list and cross stuff off as you pack. Make sure you don't overlook important stuff by making a note when you use stuff at home as part of your daily routine. Eg morning notes would be toothbrush, paste, moisturiser, medication and so on. Do this til you go to bed and you have a list of what you use daily as it's easy to overlook daft things!

My tips sound obvious, three copies of you documents travel/passport/travel insurance. Keep one on you, one in your case and one set at home where you can contact them quickly if you loose your phone, bag, case.

Take dental floss, small but invaluable when I was back packing. I made make shift washing lines from it. Tied together backpack when the zipper stuck and secured an unlockable door on a backpacking hostel (24 years ago). And make a shoe lace in the middle of no where.

Large cotton sarongs, I have used them a makeshift sheets, towels, pillows on long bus/coach journeys etc. Also, much better for drying off at the beach. Stops your towel getting sandy and scratchy and dries in minutes and they fold up to nothing.

Safe travels

Book a package holiday somewhere fairly unchallenging but nice, eg Minorca or Greece. Book direct with the travel company eg TUI, don't use one of the third party companies such as Love Holidays as if there are any issues you'll get better customer support from the main travel company eg TUI. Jet 2 Holidays are also good.
Make sure your passport has at least six months left on it (as of date of holiday) or if you don't have a passport yet, get them before you book a holiday.
Get travel insurance, and get it at the time you book your holiday.
When you are thinking about where you want to go and when, check average weather and temperature for the time of year for the place you want, so as to make sure it's likely to be not too hot or too cold.
Check the reviews for any hotel on TripAdvisor before you book.

Most branches of Boots now allow for click and collect in their shops after security. This means you can get full size bottles of toiletries in hand luggage (helpful if only taking hand luggage) without paying the higher airport prices

Take an empty water bottle through security as most airports have water fountains where you can fill up without having to buy water

Pickpockets can be found in most cities so avoid backpacks and go for cross body bags with the zips facing your body. Some backpacks have the zips at the back so you have to take it off to access it, these will be fine. Keep cards and money in separate compartments or if travelling with more than one person, have one person carry cash and one carry the cards

If doing a city break download Citymapper if you don’t already have it for your local UK city. It will help you plan how to get around and you can save routes so you can access them without using data

Hop on hop off sightseeing tours and/or free walking tours are good to do early on in your trip to get your bearings and find places you may want to visit later

If putting luggage in the hold, have at least one change of clothes, underwear and nightwear in your hand luggage in case your case gets lost.

Put an air tag into your hold luggage in case it goes AWOL

Don’t go to a travel agent for advice unless you actually book the holiday with them. They’ll hate you.

Check your airport to see if the liquid rule still applies as it's being phased out.
Use your boots points to buy a meal deal.

My advice is don't worry.
Last short trip we went on, city break with three teens. My kids all pack their own bags and have to be responsible for their own stuff. Got to the airport, asked son where his bag was, reply - what bag? Anyway, my son when away for the weekend with only the clothes he was stood up in. And it was fine.

Book a package holiday - TUI is a good option. They will take care of everything, well you have to get yourself to the airport but afterwards they will fly you to the area, bus you to the resort and have arranged your hotel. If it's all inclusive all your meals and drinks are included. With teens Tenerife is a good option, plenty of activities on offer (they will collect you and bring you back) and/or good public transport to visit local towns/volcano. If flying with them you get 20kg of luggage included so the only thing you do need to do is pack your liquids in your hold case not your hand luggage.

You'll need an adapter plug though many hotels have usb ports these days to charge phones. I personally don't bother with euros and just use contactless if I want to take a bus or buy a drink out. I take an empty water bottle and fill it once through airport security. You can take your own (non liquid) food for the plane to save money