New MSE Print out Travel guide

rf1952

always use a different credit card [preferably the mse recomended one] to your everyday one - far less problems if the worst happens.
your partner should have a seperate credit card on a seperate account, if traveling alone take 2 different credit cards and keep in seperate locations - that way you can continue spending on your holiday without 'extra' hasel.
all the important contact numbers for each card.
EHIC in europe
comprehensive insurance.

rf

Choco

Always leave a copy of your passport at home with someone and take a copy with you and put in baggage in case your passport gets stolen. lost etc. If changing your name e.g getting married are you aware you can have your passport issued in your new name prior to date of marriage? Only draw back is Passport will only be valid from date of marriage and therefore is no good if you need to travel before date of marriage.

shaz22

Photocopies of passport, birth certificate, driving licence etc. Spare loose passport photos to avoid hassles and expense of trying to replace Abroad.
What to do in the event of lost/stolen passport and what the Embassy will need.
What to do if you are a victim of crime and/or possibly need to claim from your travel insurance.
Don't actually think you are saving money by hand delivering a passport application to a UK passport office. Newport office told my auntie, who did this in Newport as she lives near the city, to go downstairs and pop it in the Royal Mail postbox outside to save herself a £10 extra charge.
Have important names and addresses, contact numbers, insurance details etc backed on up your email account.
Don't put your address on your outside luggage label as any would-be thieves will know your home is empty. Full details inside each case/bag, with destination accommodation (going on holiday) on label outside.
What you can take into a country and what you can take out.
Avoiding excess baggage charges - Lakeland portable scales are an accurate godsend. Was 500g inside my limit in Barcelona using them and the Airport scales agreed.
How to work out the best currency exchange rates and commission. I'm well-travelled, but currency exchange always confuses me!
Travelling with medication - supporting documents for needles etc. Painkiller co-codomol, available on prescription, is illegal in some places. Dubai or somewhere like that I remember.
Moneysaving deals on holiday. Eg, I once bought a Museum Year Card in The Netherlands (just needed a passport pic) and once I'd been in 4 it started paying for itself. In the end I visited 184 places with it (it was my job to check out things for The Rough Guides) plus it had the added advantage in The Netherlands in you could pop into a museum to use the facilities! They charge to use public toilets in Holland, even in McDonalds...unless you're a fella using a public urinal.
Also, you can buy value for money rail passes etc - you don't need to be a resident of that country.
Using mobiles and netbooks, wifi etc Abroad.
Being environmentally friendly and saving money. Eg, Germany has machines in supermarkets that accept your plastic bottles and give your deposit back to spend on your shopping.
Packing light - the minimum you need before adding anything else. I believe the army has the knowledge on this.
Advance research - save yourself money and time by booking things like internal travel from home on internet eg Amtrak etc and finding the cheapest fare times.
Supermarket discounters - eg Germany is home to Lidl, Aldi markt etc. Plus Europe had Euroshops which used to be better value against the pound, but you can still find some gems in there.
Maximising chances of airline upgrades and those little travel items worth their weight in gold - travel pillow etc.
Holiday complaints procedure - gathering evidence eg photos, video footage, views and contact details of fellow travellers in order to support any gripes with a company.
What to do if an airline loses your luggage or breaks things.
How to find free things to do at a destination. Amsterdam previously had a list of 20 free things to do in the city plus it gets you off the usual tourist treadmill.
Tesco Clubcard deals and hostel/hotel accommodation and airmiles.

luxury

Vacuum bags: The type that one can self-seal rather than requiring a vacuum cleaner hose. Not only do these save luggage space but, if you do buy clothing bargains to bring back, they might stop the suitcase zips from bursting.


Food bags: These transparent bags are ideal for small items, or emptying one's pockets at a security check-point, keeping toiletries/cosmetics from leaking over the contents of the case and, as a last resort, a sick-bag!

Take photos of your travelling companion(s) and luggage in case (no pun intended) any go astray.

When ordering any currency, shop-keepers and taxi-drivers the World over dislike large denomination notes (more profitable to forge a higher value note) and, by offering a smaller value, one can also get coins for vending machines.

Earphones should be of the in-ear bud type - less sound-loss to spoil one's listening pleasure and, if I am sitting next to you trying to sleep, it does not sound like a mosquito in a tin can!