Whether you’re travelling for business or pleasure, there’s a lot to think about when planning a trip abroad. We’ve got some tips for what to consider before booking, before going away and during your trip.
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Here are some important steps to remember when planning and booking your trip abroad.
Planning a holiday can be exciting. When deciding where and when you’ll go, you might want to think about things that could affect your trip, including:
Each trip abroad is different but in general, you may want to get:
You should make sure that by the time you leave for your trip you can get the right travel documents (such as an up-to-date passport or national identity card and a visa) and public health measures (such as vaccinations or passenger locator forms).
Processing times for UK passports have been longer recently. For the latest estimates, check the HM Passport Office website.
You can search online for different providers for whatever you need for your trip. There are many price comparison websites that could help you choose.
Price is an important factor for everyone but remember to also consider:
There’s a lot of choice and it can be hard to know who to trust. You should try to avoid some vendors, such as:
To find trustworthy vendors, you could use vendors recommended to you by people you trust and search for reviews for vendors on websites such as TripAdvisor and TrustPilot. You can also search online for more information about vendors.
Some forms of payment will protect you if anything goes wrong with a service you’ve booked. Purchases with a credit card between £100 and £30,000 could be covered under section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974. This makes the credit card provider jointly responsible with the retailer or supplier if you don’t get the service you were promised or the retailer or supplier breach their contract with you. In some circumstances a credit card provider will try to fix the situation for you or will give you a refund if they can’t. Read more about section 75 protection.
It’s great to get away and see different cultures. Different countries have different customs and requirements, so it’s a good idea to check the travel advice for your destination and make sure you have the right:
Some banks ask that you let them know if you’re planning to use your debit or credit card abroad.
Read about how to let us know you’re travelling outside of the EU or Turkey.
If you use your debit or credit card abroad, check whether there are any extra fees or charges. How much you’ll have to pay will vary depending on how you use your card and your provider.
Read about using your Co-operative Bank card abroad.
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