There was a time when all the preparation you needed for a holiday was to tick off the three-pronged check list: tickets, money, passport. Those days are long gone and with slaving away in the office to tie up any loose ends before you go, there doesn't always seem to be time to do any more groundwork. Hell, a holiday is meant to be your time off, right? But if you've just picked up a cheap flight to Kenya in the hope of doing a spot of sand surfing, or booked a last-minute romantic weekend in Vilnius, here's a guide list to some preparations you need to carry out before you jump on the plane. You can read it on your lunch break and ensuring everything is in place before you go means you can really sit back and enjoy the break.
Tickets
Most airlines, for example Ryanair and easyJet, do not issue paper tickets. The good news is, you don't get to the airport and realise you've forgotten to pick them up from your bedside table, but don't forget to take along your booking reference when you go.
Money
Traveller's cheques still remain the safest way to carry money as they will be replaced if they are lost or stolen.
If you choose instead to carry cash for ease, make sure that it is not all kept in one place. Even the safest seeming Western cities suffer from pickpockets.
Getting hold of money abroad has become much easier as ATM machines will issue money to foreign cards, but there will almost always be a charge for this. Check with your bank before you go.
You can always exchange money at the airport. It is sensible, though, to make sure when possible, to have a bit of the local currency before you arrive in a country, especially if arriving at night. Enough cold hard cash to pay for a taxi fare, supper and the first night's accommodation should do the trick.
However, it is illegal to export the currency of certain countries. In which case, carry some US dollars, as well as sterling, as they are often popular and easy to exchange.
And if you've only booked a one-way flight, please, make sure you've enough money in the bank to get a return when you need to.
Passport
Search out your passport a bit sooner than the night before you want to leave.
If you're planning on travelling in stamp-happy countries such as those in Africa, make sure that at least half of the pages in your passport are blank and that it doesn't expire within six months.
If you need to apply for a new passport, you can send your application to the passport office by post or apply online. It will normally take up to three weeks to return to you, but don't panic if you've left it too late. For an extra fee, you can make a personal application at one of the passport offices. They are normally able to process your application on the same day. For more information see the United Kingdom Passport website.
Visas
If you're travelling far overseas check whether you will need a visa for your trip. Call the Embassy of the country you are visiting or have a look on their website for details. There will be a form and a fee and you will be expected to provide a passport photo. Some countries will require you to have an interview with consulate staff, others may ask for an invitation from the country.
Be warned though, visa applications can take weeks or months to process depending on your destination, and you will need to send them your passport as well. If you need to get both renewed at once, you could be in for a long wait.
Insurance
It can seem tempting not to take out insurance, especially if you're only popping to France for a long weekend. What could really go wrong? However, it's probably best not to find out, especially when both single trip and annual insurances can be picked up fairly cheaply. Read our insurance travel tip for more information.
Remember to take your European Health Insurance Card for medical insurance within European countries.
Make copies
Carry copies of all important documents in a separate place to the originals just in case they get stolen. To be extra safe leave photocopies behind at home with somebody you can get in touch with in an emergency.
Jabs
Okay, they're horrible, we all hate them, especially the ones that they ruthlessly stick into your bum. But, and you already know this, five minutes of pain and embarrassment are much better than catching rabies.
Every doctor's surgery has guidelines of which vaccinations you need to take for which part of the world you are travelling to. Some are merely advisable, but proof of immunisation against certain diseases is actually a requirement before entering some countries. There is a charge for almost all jabs except the ones that are obligatory at home and which you might have let lapse.
Accommodation
Yes, we know it's great fun to arrive in a country with a rucksack on your back and no idea of where you are going to stay that night. But check ahead, just in case. If your flight gets in late at night, the idea of walking round the town in the dark looking for somewhere to stay soon loses its appeal. And if you arrive in town just as the national cheese-eating annual conference is taking place you might find that there's simply no room at the inn.
Packing
Pack appropriately. You may be a hardened backpacker, but if you're going off to see the opera in Milan, you're going to feel a bit out of place in flip-flops and a string vest. Equally, a ball gown and stilettoes won’t work on a beach in Thailand.
Don't forget that, unless you're very lucky, you're going to have to carry your own bag. It may be nice to have an outfit for every occasion, but if you have to have to take a quick nap after the exertion of carrying your suitcase up one flight of stairs at the hotel, you're not going to get a chance to wear them all anyway.
If you're going backpacking you could do worse than to follow the time-honoured advice: pack your bag, then take everything out, leave half of the clothes on your bedroom floor, and pack it again. And don't forget the wet wipes.
One stop shop
The Foreign & Commonwealth Office has been running a Know Before You Go campaign since 2001, which advises travellers of all the details they need before making a trip. Wherever you are going you should check the FCO website at www.fco.gov.uk/travel or contact them on 0845 850 2829 for extra information. If you are travelling to areas where there may be conflict, wars or violence, it might just save your life.
Updated June 2008
