Planning Your Holiday

Here are 10 travel tips that will help you plan your holiday:

Learn about the weather at your travel destinations. Don’t get caught unprepared, and always double-check the weather forecast the day before your departure. The best weather forecast websites are the weather channel, wunderground, and – our favourite – accuweather.

Plan your finances. Make sure that all your credit cards are valid and have enough credit limit in case of emergencies.
Save phone number of your credit card company in case you encounter unexpected problems. Carry foreign currency for small payments.

Read about the latest safety and security situation at your destination. Consult the government travel advisory website of your country. If your country does not have a dedicated travel advisory website, you can always consult the up-to-date travel advice on the other government websites.

Educate yourself about food and drinking safety when traveling to developing countries, in order to minimise the risk for traveler’s diarrhea. Know what to do in case that you would develop diarrhea despite taking precautionary measures.

Apply beforehand for ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorisation) when you travel to/via USA, or for an eTA when you travel to/via Canada. Avoid last minute problems by getting all your paperwork in order.

Apply for your visa in time. Visa process can take time during holiday season. You must carry your (international passport & visa) when travelling. Some embassies take a long time to issue visa – specially during the holiday season.

Inform yourself about the health situation in the country that you want to visit. When applicable, visit your doctor for immunizations (allow up to 6 weeks for any vaccinations to take effect) and other travel-related medical treatments.

Pack you luggage well in advance! Make use of our packing list, so that you can buy missing items in advance. Pack smart so that you have your essentials handy whenever you need them. Keep your medicines in your handbag.

Plan your itinerary. Consult travel guides like Rough Guides, Lonely Planet, and – out favourite – TripAdvisor to plan the perfect holiday for yourself. Alternatively, write to us if you need suggestions while planning an itinerary.

Book your flights and accommodations in advance to avoid extra costs and disappointment. You can use the links on our travel portal to book your holiday. Before booking, be sure to read the following tips: