First package holiday abroad!

[CherryBlossom321]

I’m 40 years old and in May we (DH + 2DD’s) are going to Majorca. It’s our first family package holiday abroad (we have visited Disneyland Paris a few years ago). We’ve chosen an all inclusive package. As this is a first ever for me (husband was taken abroad several times as a teenager), I’m wondering if anyone has specific tips on travelling and making the most of it. Our passports are here, we’ve arranged insurance and we need to organise our GHIC cards. I’m terrified at the thought of flying (which is why I picked somewhere two and a half hours away), have no idea how luggage/ hand luggage works and feel generally out my depth! Can anyone offer pointers to make this experience as anxiety free as possible please?! Thanks so much.

Check the baggage allowances. Packages often include a hold bag/case as well as cabin but there will be size limits for cabin bags and weight limits for hold bags, and these may vary by airline.

Make sure you don't spend all the time in your resort.
As for flights check your airline rules. We went to Antigua with BA and we had a suitcase, an under seat bag plus hand luggage . Other airlines aren't as generous.

@CherryBlossom321 A question that is often considered rude but how much did you pay? I hope you and your family have a wonderful time. It's a great location, perfect to make lifelong memories.

No problem, it’s a week long stay and was around £3500, give or take.

Majorca is great and your kids will have a ball. Be warned, The buffet will be plentiful but it may get a little boring.
Give yourself plenty of time to get to the airport and allow extra time for the airport itself just in case of any delays at passport control etc. you don't want to be getting on a flight stressed out because you have been running around or waiting in queues!
Make sure you get some water for your coach transfer in case it takes a little while. It might get hot.

Following as we've just booked our first holiday abroad, too! It's an all inclusive 5 star resort in Turkey for us - I can't wait but have so much left to organise!! We got insurance when booking the holiday, have upgraded baggage allowance and a few other bits with airline so think that's sorted. What are GHIC cards out of interest?

May I ask where you're staying?

Should be a really easy holiday. Just check baggage allowance as can be v specific.

It’s a global health insurance card. I’m told that if we become unwell and need treatment, it will prevent a very difficult situation.

On the east coast, in Sa Coma.

Ghic is only good for EEA countries so don't think it covers Turkey, It gives access to the same emergency health care as a local but in many countries you may still pay a fee and charges for medicines and any private treatment or inpatient care , which should be recoverable from travel insurance.

@LIZS, thank you for that - I have checked and you're right, Turkey isn't covered. Does anyone have any idea of anything similar that does cover us. I (stupidly) assumed the travel insurance we bought when we booked the holiday would cover any medical expenses should we need it but it doesn't appear that it does from this thread.

Also, how much spending money would anyone recommend for all inclusive abroad holidays? We don't anticipate leaving the report haha!

Travel insurance will but you may need to pay more costs upfront and reclaim it later, or get insurer to confirm to hospital that they are covering you.

Oh you'll have a great time! Sa Coma all inclusive is definitely a good choice for your first ever package holiday.
If you are only there a week you shouldn't feel guilty if you just enjoy the hotel and don't stress about doing anything else. The beach is lovely.

A few tips on AI buffets.
Take your time or else it can feel a bit canteen like and everyone eating at different rates while half the family are wandering around choosing.
Get everyone seated, get drinks. Then starters and eat together.
People often say they are repetitive. Often that's because of greed. You will see people who have everything on their plate- meat, fish, stew, pasta, chips, rice etc. Just have normal meals! You canget as much or little as you like, so perfect if children get something they don't like.

You might want a bit of cash for the odd bus or taxi fare or souvenirs, Id take around 100 euros cash if you want and put most spending on a card. Takea card that doesn't charge a lot for exchange, Martin Lewis website gives good advice.

I did a fair few AI holidays when DC were little. They're grown up now so we don't bother with AI but they are perfect for families.

Remember to put liquids and sharp items in your luggage not hand luggage! If you are a bit of a nervous flyer have you considered booking the airport lounge so you can relax away from the stresses? They have the gate information available in their so you can’t miss your flight!

The beach is something DD’s and I are looking forward to most. The pictures we’ve seen are stunning!

That’s a good idea, thank you!

The flight will start boarding a fair while before it’s actually due to take off. Keep checking the info boards for your gate number. I used to work in an airport and the amount of people who would arrive at the gate 15 minutes before take off expecting to get on was astounding.

Don't forget small bills in local currency to tip staff. A small amount daily for cleaning staff and bartenders. You can usually order currency from your bank.

Bring plenty of sunscreen because it is very expensive to buy it at the resorts.

We only did all inclusive once. Buffet got boring and we love exploring and eating other places so all the rest accomodation and pool only

Three resorts Sa Coma, Calla Miller and Cala Bona are more or less joined and there is a little train that runs along the seafront connecting them.

Make sure you cross pack in case a case goes missing. It doesn't happen often but I spread everyone's clothes between cases just in case.
If anyone has medicine put it in hand luggage. Liquids includes cream or lotion so don't put your sun cream in the hand luggage.
You don't say how old the DC are but if they are very little then sun protection suits save a lot of hassle applying sun lotion.
Most hotels provide pool towels so check before you pack those. I recommend taking a big old sheet to act as either a beach mat or pegged to an umbrella for extra shade. I used to do this after seeing the Dutch families use one.

An AI in Mallorca is super easy so don't worry about it too much! Flight will be short and Palma a non scary landing!

We've had a few minor health things when in Mallorca and they do a lot in Pharmacies and I've found them really good. Obviously pack sunscreen etc but stuff like that is widely available so don't stress if you've forgotten anything.

Make sure you're bags are within the size / weight limit as they're v strict and put all liquids in suitcase. You can take 50 ml items in hand luggage in a small clear bag but I can't be faffed so unless needed on the flight put in suitcase. You can take an empty water bottle through then fill up on the otherside or buy a drink in Boots or whatever to take on the plane as it's £££ if you buy anything on the flight.

Most AIs have pool towels so check this before you go as saves lots of luggage space.

Noone tells you what to do at the airport- they don’t make announcements like at a railway station.
You check in first. Different airlines have different desks for this so you need to look on a big board and find out which zone or desk number your airline is at. Go to the right desk for your flight. Airline staff check your tickets and take the big suitcases off you to go in the hold (the boot of the plane).
Then you and the hand luggage follow signs for ‘departures ’. Your passport and tickets will be checked by security staff.
Then you will have your hand luggage scanned. You will possibly have to remove boots or heavy shoes, belts, chunky jewellery etc and walk through a metal detector. Your bag and any coats and laptops etc go in plastic trays through a scanner.
Then you collect all your bits from the plastic trays and put your shoes and belts on and then you are in the departure lounge. Basically a load of shops and not enough seats!
There are no announcements. You must keep an eye on the screens for your flight and it will tell you which gate (like a platform at railway) to go to. Depending on which airport this can be quite far away. Might involve a tram/transit journey. We always start heading to gate as soon as it pops up on the screen.
At the gate different airline staff will check your tickets again and then you sit down and wait. They often call for people with kids to board first, then people in row 15-30 then 1-15 or whatever so listen out to the right time.
The key is keeping an eye on the board and getting to the gate in good time. (Despite travelling with us extensively my teen did not do this first time he travelled alone and missed the flight even tho in the airport in time).
At the other end, follow signs for Arrivals, passports will be checked again, then baggage reclaim. Boards will show flight numbers and which baggage conveyor belt your suitcases will be on (like Easyjet from Luton will be on number 1, Tui from Frankfurt on 3 etc).
Get your suitcases ( tie a ribbon or sticker on before travelling if they are black or from Primark as half the cases will look the same). Take suitcases and hand luggage and children through the exit and there should be a rep from Your travel company there to yell you which coach to get on.
hope that helps have a lovely holiday.

There may be self checkin for hold bags. You need your boarding card Open on app or printed out, put each bag on the scales and scan the barcode , you will receive printed tags, one for the bag and to keep to track of your luggage. It then gets taken away on a conveyor.

Thank you so much for this - this is the level of detail I need to quell my anxiety! I think I’ll find this part of it the most stressful, so helpful to know exactly what to expect (I think I would have assumed that we would be “called”).