From passport issues and shock baggage prices to journey insurance coverage errors, specialists reveal the straightforward checks dad and mom ought to make earlier than heading overseas this October half-term
Some easy ideas can imply a complete lot much less drama if you journey(Picture: Getty)
With October half-term underway for some faculties and quick approaching for others, 1000’s of households are making ready to flee the British climate for a number of days of sunshine.
Whether or not it is a last-minute journey to Spain, a European metropolis break or a household vacation someplace hotter, the college holidays provide a welcome alternative to get away earlier than winter arrives.
And with searches for ‘autumn vacation’ reaching 70,000 between September and October 2026, in keeping with information equipped by Publish Workplace Journey Insurance coverage, loads of Brits seem to have the identical thought.
However whereas reserving a last-minute half-term getaway would possibly look like a great way to economize, overlooking a number of vital particulars might find yourself costing households a whole bunch of kilos or, worse nonetheless, leaving them unable to journey.
From discovering that your kid’s passport is not legitimate to being hit with sudden baggage prices on the airport, there are a number of simple errors that may flip an thrilling household break right into a nerve-racking expertise.
Analysis commissioned by Publish Workplace Journey Insurance coverage additionally discovered that just about one in 4 individuals (24%) travelled with out insurance coverage on their final vacation, doubtlessly leaving themselves uncovered to vital prices if one thing went unsuitable.
With households packing their suitcases for the October faculty holidays, Publish Workplace Journey Insurance coverage has shared 9 easy checks that might assist keep away from pointless expense and disruption.
Not checking the entire household’s passports
One of many greatest errors households could make is assuming everybody’s passport is legitimate just because it hasn’t expired.
For British passport holders travelling to most nations within the Schengen space, together with Spain, France, Italy and Greece, passports usually have to have been issued lower than ten years earlier than arrival and stay legitimate for not less than three months after the meant departure date.
Which means you can arrive on the airport with a passport that hasn’t expired and nonetheless be refused journey. Mother and father ought to pay specific consideration to kids’s passports, that are usually legitimate for 5 years quite than ten.
Earlier than reserving, verify each member of the family’s passport concern and expiry dates, in addition to the entry necessities in your vacation spot.
Forgetting about new European border checks
Households heading to Europe this October half-term might have to permit further time for border checks. The EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES) makes use of digital data and biometric data, together with facial photos and fingerprints, for a lot of non-EU travellers coming into the Schengen space.
Relying on the situation and the way checks are organised, the method might imply further ready instances at airports and border crossings.
Travelling with kids can already make airports nerve-racking sufficient, so it is value checking your airline’s steering and permitting loads of time for connections.
Leaving journey insurance coverage until the final minute
Between reserving flights, discovering lodging and ensuring everybody has packed sufficient garments, journey insurance coverage can simply slip down the listing.
However leaving it till the day earlier than you journey might show an costly mistake. Analysis commissioned by Publish Workplace Journey Insurance coverage discovered that 24% of respondents had travelled uninsured on their final vacation.
Journey insurance coverage is not solely about medical emergencies when you’re away. Relying on the coverage, cancellation cowl may additionally defend in opposition to sure sudden occasions earlier than departure.
For instance, if a toddler turns into critically in poor health earlier than a household vacation, an applicable coverage could cowl eligible cancellation prices, topic to its phrases.
Consultants advocate arranging journey insurance coverage as quickly as a vacation is booked and checking that it meets the wants of everybody travelling.
Assuming your previous EHIC nonetheless covers the household
If you happen to’re travelling to Europe, it is value checking whether or not every member of the family has a legitimate International Well being Insurance coverage Card (GHIC) or one other eligible healthcare card. The older UK-issued EHIC playing cards that predated the GHIC have expired, though some individuals stay eligible for a more recent UK EHIC.
A GHIC can present entry to medically obligatory state healthcare in lots of European locations on the identical foundation as native residents. Nevertheless, that does not imply all therapy is free.
It additionally will not exchange journey insurance coverage or essentially cowl non-public therapy, mountain rescue or the price of being introduced again to the UK. Every member of the family, together with kids, wants their very own card. You’ll be able to apply for a GHIC freed from cost via the NHS.
Getting caught out by airline baggage guidelines
Anybody who has travelled with kids is aware of how shortly baggage can add up. From spare garments and snacks to toys, nappies and all these belongings you pack simply in case, household holidays hardly ever contain travelling gentle.
However finances airways have strict baggage allowances, and assuming your ticket features a cabin suitcase might depart you dealing with further prices on the airport. Verify the bags allowance for each passenger, together with kids and infants, earlier than packing.
It is also value checking whether or not pushchairs, automotive seats and different kids’s tools could be taken freed from cost, as guidelines differ between airways. And remember to verify the necessities in your return flight should you’re travelling with a unique service.
Forgetting important medicine
If you happen to or your kids take common medicine, be sure to have sufficient for the complete vacation earlier than leaving residence.
Enable time to gather repeat prescriptions and verify whether or not any medicine requires supporting paperwork when travelling overseas. Some nations have restrictions on sure medicines, so it is vital to verify the principles in your vacation spot.
Maintain important medicine in your hand baggage, ideally in its unique packaging, and think about taking a little bit further in case of journey delays.
Relying completely in your telephone for bookings
Most households now maintain boarding passes, resort confirmations and journey insurance coverage paperwork on their telephones. However what occurs in case your battery runs out, your telephone stops working or you’ll be able to’t entry your emails overseas?
Earlier than travelling, obtain vital paperwork to allow them to be accessed offline. It is also value protecting copies of lodging particulars, flight data and insurance coverage paperwork someplace one other grownup can entry them.
A bit of preparation might save appreciable stress if you’re travelling with drained kids.
Not having emergency contact particulars prepared
No person desires to consider one thing going unsuitable whereas they’re on vacation, however having vital data available could make a tough state of affairs simpler.
Save your insurer’s emergency help quantity, airline particulars, lodging handle and related native emergency contacts earlier than departure.
If you happen to’re travelling with kids, make certain one other grownup is aware of the place to search out the knowledge. It is also value protecting a document of any vital medical particulars, notably if a member of the family has an current well being situation.
Ignoring climate warnings and journey disruption
Simply since you’re escaping the British autumn doesn’t suggest sunshine is assured. Heavy rain, storms and powerful winds can disrupt flights, ferries and different transport companies, notably presently of yr.
Control climate forecasts and journey alerts within the days main as much as your departure. If disruption is predicted, verify along with your airline or journey supplier earlier than setting off.
Journey insurance coverage insurance policies additionally differ within the safety they provide for weather-related disruption, so it is value understanding precisely what’s and is not coated.
Journey professional shares recommendation for October half-term holidaymakers Adam Edinburgh, Head of Publish Workplace Journey & New Merchandise, says: “Final-minute holidays could be a good way to economize, however additionally they improve the chance you would possibly overlook one thing vital.
“Checking passports, entry necessities, insurance coverage and key journey paperwork early may also help travellers keep away from pointless stress and journey with extra confidence.
“Journey insurance coverage is value arranging as quickly as a visit is booked, as cancellation cowl could start from the coverage begin date, relying on the duvet stage. A easy guidelines may also help travellers keep organised and keep away from last-minute points.”
So, whether or not you are jetting off to Spain for some October sunshine, having fun with a European metropolis break or taking the kids on a last-minute journey, spending a couple of minutes checking the main points earlier than you journey might prevent cash – and stress.
The very last thing any mum or dad desires is to start out the half-term holidays with an issue on the airport.
For extra data, go to Publish Workplace Journey Insurance coverage