How to Plan your Visit Abroad and What to Carry with You

There’s so much more to consider when you holiday overseas compared to staying at home.

You’ll need a passport if you’re coming to the UK, for instance, a change of currency into sterling and, of course, a way to get here. In this blog post we’ve put together all the essentials i.e. what you really need to consider and plan. It should give you a great start to getting organised for your trip abroad. So, hold steady, here goes…

Location – where will you go?

Will you head for a coastal resort such as Cornwall, the Cuillin mountains of Scotland or some beautiful country village in the Cotswold’s? Or perhaps you fancy a city break? If so, the UK’s four capitals – London, Edinburgh, Belfast and Cardiff – all have their unique characteristics and are well worth visiting.

Budget – how much do you want to spend?

It’s not just the cost of travel you have to consider, of course. Yes, if you’re staying with a host then you won’t be expected to pay anything for your accommodation. But you might want to take him/her or the family out for a meal to say thanks while you’re there. And then you’ll have food to pay for while on a day trip, entrance to attractions and possibly gifts to buy.

Book your flights/sea travel

Which airport is nearest your initial destination? Might it be easier and cheaper to get there by ferry? Your journey is often the most time-consuming – but also fun – part to work out. How much can you save on flights by using ‘finder’ apps, for instance. And what about an initial hotel for when you land and want to get your bearings before meeting your host family? Maybe you’ll need another hotel room on leaving. Again, apps can help you find the cheapest deals here too.

Have a folder for documents

Keep all your really important documents in one place – in a single folder that you always keep about your person (especially when travelling). This should consist of:

              · Your passport

· Any visa document

· Driver’s licence (if booking a hire car)

· Travel insurance policy

· Credit cards and foreign currency

· Flight tickets (print these out, even if they’re on your phone app)

· Any reservation emails for hotels etc

Getting packed

As well as your main suitcase or rucksack, it’s a good idea to have a change of clothes in your cabin baggage. That way, if your hold luggage goes missing, you at least have some clean clothes to change in to.

Try not to ‘overpack’ with clothes though. Remember, if you’re staying at a host’s home then you’ll be able to use the washing machine. That way you’ll be able to wear the same clothes again during your holiday.

The type of ‘essentials’ you’ll need (alongside your passport, money etc) include any medication, a small first aid kit, chargers for your phone and other electronics, adaptor plugs and a language guide.

Your money

It may be an idea to let your bank know that you’re going abroad – especially if you plan on using ATMs when you get there. That’s because security checks with many banks these days lead to them freezing accounts when customers log in from outside their own country.

It’s always a good idea to take a mix of money i.e. notes, a credit card and your own currency for your return journey. Also check around for the best deals for currency exchange too – never leave it until you get to the airport as you’ll be whacked with a much higher interest rate.

Destination planning

You know you want to. This is the part you’ve been waiting for i.e. planning what you’re going to do once you arrive in the UK. Make a note of all the attractions you want to go and see (even if you know you won’t have time for everything). For the venues you definitely want to visit, it may be an idea to book tickets several weeks in advance of your arrival to make sure you don’t miss out.

If you’re going to a city and think you’ll be using transport a lot ie the underground or a regular bus service such as Transport for London, then look out for special cards and travel passes. These can save you quite a bit if you’re staying in the one location for a week or two.

Get in touch

If you haven’t booked a host for your visit to the UK yet, then now is the time to do so! Take a look at our website www.visitsomeone.com to find the perfect UK host and location for you.

Useful UK websites:

· www.gov.uk

· www.tripsavvy.com

· www.rac.co.uk