Please check my checklist & then tell me about the airport?

dzug

Make sure you have something to write with in your pocket or hand luggage. There will be forms to fill in on the plane.

milkydrink

CPU

I have photocopies of our passports & holiday insurance docs (I also photocopy vax book & E111 card), keep them seperate & IF you did loose them you have copies with numbers ect handy.

Money belts can be a good idea if youre carrying lots of cash or travellers cheques. Be very careful of your handbags in the airports.

Chewy/sucky sweets are good for sore ears on the plane.

Stop worrying, enjoy, everything will be fine.

Happy holidays

Kim

Davidboy

Generally on longhaul flights there will be water at a dispenser by the toilets, gives you an excuse to get up and walk around.

Sweets to chew on take off and landing.

When you get to USA, you will find passport control very old fashoned AND long winded. Be patient. They have to stamp stamp stamp their books and your passport, they are also quite unfriendly about it all. Don't worry just smile and get through it.

Depends where you are going in USA, but I know in Florida, to get your hire car can take a while and queues galore. Beware they will try and get you to upgarde your car, unless you really want to then don't, it probably means they have not got any cars in the group you have ordered and so trying to get you to pay for upgrade. Keep saying no and you will get the upgarde for free, the worst that will happen is you will get the car you ordered NEVER a lower grade car.

When you get there, try and get a safe where you are staying and put your passport and all valuables including spare cash in safe, only carry enough cash around for the day.

Have a really great holiday, we have been to many places in America...you will love it, and yanks love the brits, can't do enough for you.

Enjoy

D

ceejayblue

Another tip, ladies' handbags are now counting as hand luggage so must be put into any normal sized hand luggage that you have. They were very hot on it when I flew to Spain 2 weeks ago (both ways in fact - Spain not normally known for being insistent on sticking to the "rules").

bajangal

Check with the hotel if you can have have a late checkout. Sometimes this is allowed if there are not busy. Also even if you check out at 11.00, add on time for getting down to reception, queueing to check out and making your way to the Terminal, that is going to be another 45 mins.
If you don't want to pay extra for the Airport Lounge, then once you have checked out of your hotel room, you can sit in the Hotel's bar/reception area.
Make sure that your hand luggage is not too big - it has to fit into the measuring rack.
Make sure it is not too heavy, check your tickets for correct allowance.
As previously mentioned you can only take ONE piece of hand luggage, that means that ladies handbags, cameras, laptops osv counts as ONE piece. Put them into one bag before security. You can always take them out afterwards. As an extra travelling tip, ALWAYS, ALWAYS take an extra carrier bag. If comes in so handy.
All liquids, gels and pastes must be inserted in a clear, resealable bag. These are given out at the airport. Take extras for the next time you are travelling. Nothing over 100ml is allowed through security. Bottled water and tin drinks is a no, no. Put lipstick, toothpaste, perfume, etc into the resealable bag. Do not overfill, you must be able to reseal it afterwards. It is sent through security separately. If taking a laptop, take it out of the case. Be prepared when going to security. Read the signs. Empty pockets. Take off coats and jackets. Don't wait til the last minute. Have a good trip.

blindman

Driving Licence

Spare glasses for the driver

Sunglasses as above.

Who are you travelling with??

Can you check in online?

I've spent time in Glasgow airport and it's very small so after about 1/2 hour you'll be well bored!!

Can you not cancel your hotel and travel later?

Lucie_2

To add to the very good advice you've already received:

I always take a small travel pack of baby wipes in hand luggage, useful for freshening up before you land, sticky fingers or minor mishaps!

Which airline are you flying with? You can generally check their website to find out what films etc will be shown during the flight.

Also, where are you landing? If it is Orlando-Sanford, then they will only let one person go through into the car hire section - everyone else has to wait outside with the luggage.

I agree with blindman - can you look into cancelling your hotel & travel during the day instead? Hanging around all day with frantic going-on-holiday children will not be fun. Even though you don't have to check out until 11am, I bet eveyone will be up & awake by 7!

deva

just an extra tip- if you've not had information overload!

i email myself with all important numbers, refences etc so that i anything is lost it can be found with minimal fuss.

insurance, passport, drivers license and visa numbers along with car rental and accom should cover it!

cpu

Some really good advice there, thank you. I've got my notebook out jotting it all down, lol. Some things I wouldn't have thought of. (Although I've got my moneybelt .)

We're flying to Orlando Sanford with Flyglobespan. (Haven't seen anything about films but will go look again ). We booked our seats as soon as the online seat booking facility showed up online for our particular flight, in fact we were first in the cabin (virtually of course, lol) so we could choose anywhere. I have no idea what seats were good and what were bad but we chose seats right at the front of the premium economy cabin as we figured at least then no-one would recline their seat onto us. We'll soon find out if that was a bad move or not. :rolleyes: As far as I know we can't check in online.

We can't cancel the hotel as it was a stay and park thing and we got a good price because we booked it so early. Unfortunately this good price also meant it was non-refundable if we cancelled, which is why we decided to still go the night before even although it means hanging around. That's why we wondered if the lounges in the airport would be an idea, as they are supposed to have coffee machines/tv's/playstation type game things?

I need to ask this....sorry......since we will be flying during the night, do they dim the cabin lights so kids etc can sleep or will it just be normal brightness?

Also, will Sanford still be busy at 11pm ish at night? I can just visualise my group looking lost whilst I go find the hire car place.

Thanks again all, you've been vey helpful.

vikash

Yes, they do normally dim the cabin lights at night to allow for rest.

Best wishes for your trip