You’ve picked your perfect trip, booked it – now, it’s time for the practical stuff. We know this isn’t the most glamorous part of your holiday but at least we can help by getting all the important info in one place for you. Think passport validity, visa applications, travel money and eSIMs. Not sure what’s changed since Brexit? It’s all here…
Have a read to make a note of anything you need to do next, then head to our Holiday Extras page for more info and access some of these services right on our site.
Check your passport
Travel rules have changed since Brexit, which includes how long your passport has to be valid for by the time you’re due to travel. It applies to EU and Schengen-zone countries.
If you have a UK passport, you can use our Passport checker tool. Just input your passport details and some info about when and where you’re going abroad, tap ‘check’, and you can see straight away if it’s valid to travel with. If it’s not valid, you can head to the link to renew your passport.
Brexit travel rules
Check out the key changes below:
- Your passport must have been issued within 10 years before the date you’re due to travel and needs to be valid for at least 3 months after you plan to leave the EU.
- You can travel visa-free to the EU for 90 days in a 180-day period. Your passport will be stamped whenever you enter and leave the EU to calculate this.
- National identity cards are no longer valid for EU travel – you need a passport.
- European Health Insurance Cards (EHIC) are to be replaced with Global Health Insurance Cards (GHIC), which last up to five years. This isn’t a replacement for travel insurance, though, you should have both.
- As a visitor from outside the EU, once you’re back, you’re entitled to a refund of any VAT paid on products while you were away. You’ll need to keep any receipts and present these with the products you bought to customs when you land back in the UK.
Apply for your visa (if you need one)
How to check if you need one
Easy. We’ve partnered with Sherpa, who can tell you if you need a visa for where you’re going and get you started on the application. They’ll even flag if you need to get any vaccinations. No research is required, just pick the passport you have and the country you’re visiting. Then, if you need a visa, you can apply on Sherpa there and then. They’ll even review your application before it’s sent off to make sure you’re all good to go. Start the process here.
How to apply
Sherpa show you the exact application you need to fill out. Plus, they’ve got loads of articles with advice on their website, and you can submit a ticket or chat online to get help. They only offer eVisas, which means the entire process can be completed online. eVisas are an online record of your immigration status, so you don’t need to allow time to visit an embassy or send your passport off.
Once your visa has been approved, you’ll get a PDF copy of your eVisa – it’s always good to print a few copies in case airport technology means it can’t be checked on your phone, or you lose a copy.
If your destination doesn’t issue eVisas, Sherpa can still point you in the right direction of where to apply – you’ll likely need to go to an embassy instead. The government website’s also a good place to start. Go to the entry requirements on your country’s travel advice page for more details.
It’s really important to apply for your visa in the right window. If you apply too early, it can expire while you’re still away but if you apply too late, there could be delays with approval and you might not be able to travel. Make sure you check the terms of your visa so you can apply at the right time, especially if yours requires an appointment at an embassy. Check now, so there’s plenty of time to prep!
Order your travel money
Cash vs card is the question. You might think carrying around loose change is so 90s but cash culture is still huge in a lot of countries and can save you any ATM fees. We offer our own currency exchange service with First Choice Travel Money, which means you can get the local currency you need at a great rate, either delivered straight to your door or you can pick it up in a TUI Store.
To sort your cash, order it online before 2pm and you could be making it rain by the next working day with Royal Mail Special Delivery. Or, the click-and-collect option means you can pick it up whenever it suits you.
A lot of banks don’t necessarily charge for card payments abroad – it’s just withdrawals you want to watch out for – so bringing a bank card with you is also a great shout to avoid being left with spare change you don’t want to convert back at the end of your trip. You can manage the TUI Multi-Currency Travel Money Card on the First Choice Travel Money site and keep topping it up with your chosen currency throughout your trip. Or, if you’re using your usual card, just make sure to select to pay in the local currency for the best rate with each transaction.
What currency to take and how much
A lot of countries accept more than one but, generally, the local currency has the best rate. E.g. Mexico accepts US dollars, but you’ll end up spending more than if you used Mexican pesos.
If you’re travelling somewhere with a closed currency, you can only exchange or withdraw the currency within that country, so you can’t order it before. This might affect how much you want to take out, as there are also restrictions on how much of the currency you can take home with you at the end of your trip. Some closed currencies include the Indian rupee, Sri Lankan rupee and Moroccan dirham.
Classic cases you might need cash for are taking public transport, for small purchases that don’t meet the minimum card transaction, local market shopping and tipping. It’s always useful to have some cash on you in case of emergencies. If you’re taking a card as well, then £100 for a week is a good start. It’ll really depend on where you’re going and how long you’re going for.
If you’re planning on taking a lot of cash, it’s also worth checking the customs rules for wherever you’re travelling. In the UK for example, you have to declare cash of £10,000 or more.
How to keep your cash safe
- Split where you keep your money – if you lose some, at least that’s not all of it gone.
- Only carry what you need – don’t risk losing it all at once and by only taking out a set amount, you can stick to a daily budget, too.
- Bring a money belt – keep your cash close to you. You can wear these under your clothes and zip them shut so nothing falls out.
- Store it in a safe – make use of the safe in your hotel room or a secure place where you can keep the bulk of your money when you don’t need it.
Get an eSIM
An eSIM is an embedded SIM card, so it’s all digital – the data package is downloaded directly to your phone. That means no more paying big prices for very little data on holiday, and you get to keep your normal number. It’s the perfect solution to staying connected abroad and we’ve partnered with Mozio so you can buy one right here.
How it works
You can pick and purchase an eSIM with Mozio here.
You select the destination and data package that works for you, check out and pay, and then you’ll be emailed a QR code and installation instructions to download your eSIM when you arrive in your destination. Once you’ve landed, just scan the QR code, make sure roaming is switched on and get connected. eSIMs are for data use only, so calls and texts can still be charged for, but you can use online messaging services like WhatsApp and FaceTime instead.
You can read our full guide on all things eSIM and visit our eSIM page for more info.
The perks
- Save money – you avoid paying your provider’s roaming charges and international add-ons. By connecting to local networks, the cost of data is cheaper, and you can even get more data than your usual package for less.
- Protect the environment – as a totally digital process, the carbon footprint from manufacturing and shipping physical SIM cards is almost cut in half.
- Quick and easy process – you can buy your eSIM online in seconds and activate it yourself on your phone, so there’s no need to visit a shop and queue to buy one at the airport. Plus, Mozio’s on hand 24/7 if you need any help.
So, time to get the grown-up stuff sorted. You can also look up the other extras we offer like First Choice Experiences and our Weather Guarantee.
Looking for more articles? You’ll find them on the Inspire homepage.
Author: Lily Owen
Last updated: 07/10/2024
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