Holiday to spain anxiety

[Tiredtweenmum]

We have been saving hard to go on a holiday abroad for the first time in 15 years. It is our DC first holiday abroad. Because of the time it’s taken to save and the fact it is their first foreign holiday I’m getting really panicky about it 🙄
passports are new, everything is booked but I wake up most nights in a panic thinking I have forgotten something.
We also haven’t been abroad in so long that I feel like I’ve forgotten how to ‘do’ it!! what are things that I may have forgotten I need to do or bring for flying and going to Spain?!

I know this sounds silly!

Boarding pass and check in from home, if you are flying with certain airlines.

Besides everything that’s been mentioned I always take a paper with relevant phone numbers, addresses and in our case a list of allergies too in multiple languages. I print copies and get them in every bag separately.

I would say 99% of the time it’s not necessary (especially if you’re staying in a resort for example), but in case any freak circumstance happens it’s there.

Thank you so much. I know I’m being any ridiculous! At 17 and 18 I went to South Africa on my own and had a great time. I don’t know why I’m getting stressed. I suppose I want it to be a lovely experience for DC. DH is massively laid back!

How early should we get to the airport? I can’t remember!
also am I right in thinking liquids in hold bags are unlimited?

Whereabouts are you going @Tiredtweenmum? And when? Are you in a hotel or self catering ?

If you forget things you can mostly get them when you’re there. The exception is passports obviously!
Other things to think about - insurance, medication, chargers.

If you are checking in bags at least two hours. The bag drop at our local airport is horrendous. Hold luggage fine for all liquids.

We normally aim to get to the airport two hours before our flight, but if you have an early morning flight at peak time I would add an extra half an hour. Yes you can pack full size toiletries in your check in bags, but what you can take in your carry-on depends on where you are flying from. If it’s Birmingham then you can also take full size toiletries and your own drinks through security in your carry-on bag but that doesn’t apply across all airports and may not apply when you are travelling home.

"OP gently"

I wonder what you could possibly be implying 😄

It's a tad premature to be feeling this stress. Do not indulge it.

Tickets on phones are fantastic but I print them out too, just in case my phone magically dies!

Playa montroig eurocamp :)

Remind yourself that if you forget something then no-one dies.

We did that in France recently.

Not daft at all! I was the same when I took my two on their first holiday abroad to Ibiza two years ago, we hadn't been abroad since 2005. I also have a DS with asd so was very nervous. I print off all documents such as flight/hotel/transfer vouchers, insurance certificate, boarding passes if I can. Best to have a bank card which does not charge for using abroad though we mostly use Euros. Mind passports get stamped, passport control guy at Ibiza was getting fed up and constantly shouting "stamp page!!@" 😀. We put all toiletries in hold luggage but you can take liquids in hand luggage, we fly from. Glasgow and there is still the 100ml rule. Electronics do not need to be taken out. We take games for kids on flight. We recently did our third holiday abroad, it does get easier. Enjoy!

As long as you have passports, tickets (checked in) and insurance you can get anything else there. Just check your luggage allowances carefully and be at the airport in plenty of time. Enjoy!

Honestly something always goes wrong on holiday. You always have to buy something or replace something or forget to pack something super useful. Your best plans for days out, at least one tourist day goes pear shaped and you planned it wrong or miss out on the great experience. I never know how to go on holiday somewhere until after I've been there and made lots of mistakes.

It helps me a lot to remember all that! Most things happen well enough. Stuff can be bought there, most experiences go well, etc.

Liquids: some airports have own rules. Basically I still plan for the 'old' rules which is bringing only empty bottles thru security.

It will tell you on the app of the airline but I always get there 3 hours before just in case there are any problems on the way. Check the app before you leave for updates.

You'll all have a great time OP, particularly as it's their first abroad trip. Relax, go with the flow it'll be fine.

Oh and DH has started putting clothes for a few days in a cabin case in case our luggage goes missing..hasn't happened yet! Queues at passport control in Spain in our experience are fine, they separate families into a separate queue, sometimes this can be as long as the normal queue though but have never waited long..longer coming back going through border control sometimes..think of eventualities like if plane is delayed how to keep kids entertained..

@BauhausOfEliott
Do you down load tickets for a hard copy ? What about the boarding pass ?

I went to Madrid a couple of months ago. At the terminal I arrived at from the UK everyone was funnelled down the same channel. It was only as we got very close to the immigration kiosks a member of staff asked for any EU passports. So would have got through a couple of minutes before everyone else. I guess it can be different at different airports.

OP having a checklist is an excellent way to help make sure things go smoothly and for easing your concerns that you will have missed something. But can I also suggest, if you aren't already, you spend a bit more time thinking about how great it's going to be. What you're going to enjoy. What the pool is like, or the room, or the town, or whatever other bits really excited you about the place when you booked it. Making yourself think about other things - good things - gives your brain other things to latch on to than all the worries. It takes effort, time and consistency if you've been worrying for a while, but your brain is fairly trainable.

The UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) lets you get necessary state healthcare in the European Economic Area (EEA), and some other countries, on the same basis as a resident of that country. This may be free or it may require a payment equivalent to that which a local resident would pay.

That I could be a lot more blunt... I'm 56 and find I have to rainge myself in as the younger generation seem very alien to me. I've had a boss call me a scruffy cunt. Not worth pissing on...he was right but I doubt the younger generation would accept the comment.

That I could be a lot more blunt .... yeah, I knew that 😉

It's rein btw, as in to rein a horse.