January is by far the busiest time of the year for holiday bookings and this year more than any other travel agencies are going to want to tempt you into their shop, by hanging great holiday deals in front of your nose – and who can blame them.

I’m no industry expert but in my mind, travel companies are going to want you to spend your money now, because who knows what the economy will be like in six months time with the interest rates jumping up and down.

Research & Shop around

It is worth shopping around and don’t jump for the first deal you find. Do your research; make sure you read reviews of the accommodation and resort. Don’t be afraid to ask questions on travel forums, and social networking sites like WAYN, and Virtual Tourist.

Check the company out

If you are booking a package holiday then make sure you check the company by finding out which association they are a member of and then visit the association website and search for the company. If you cannot find any mention of which association they belong to, ask them.

I am sure someone will correct me if I am wrong but I understand that no travel agency in the UK should be selling package holidays unless they are a member of a travel association. It’s also worth searching for the company in Google to see what people are writing about them and check the companies house website if they are a limited company.

Travel Insurance

It is essential that you buy adequate travel insurance before you travel. Make sure you read the small print, and know what you are entitled to claim. Shop around, and read my travel insurance guide which will help you choose what’s best for you.

Do-It-Yourself holidays

If your going to organise your own holiday, it’s important that you plan well, be organised and expect the unexpected. It’s essential that you buy for insurance that covers you for all eventualities and pay with a credit card so you’re insured.

Booking online

I cannot stress this enough!!! Check the booking information, including the spelling of forename and surname when booking online. So many consumers have contacted me about the charges companies put on ticket changes, so it’s essential that you are sensible and check and double check.

Read the booking terms and conditions and do not book until you have read them.

Think before you Book

No matter if you are booking your holiday on the telephone, internet or in the high street, think before you book! It might sound like a great idea to go to a far-out destination, but make sure you check the FCO website for any security updates.

Visit Travelistic and watch travel videos and read travel guides on WikiTravel – what could be worse than booking a peaceful beach holiday to find it’s the top hotspot for raves and partygoers. If you see a good deal and the company is trying to persuade you to book, take a step back, go home and think about it, do your research.

Passport Expiry

Make sure you check your passport expiry date, and if it’s due to expire within the next 12 months then it’s advisable to get it renewed. Children under the age of 16 now need to have their own passport which is valid for five years and as from 10 December, young people aged 16 or 17 are be able to apply for a passport without parental consent.

Immunisations

I’ve not yet travelled to a destination where I need jabs, or medication to keep away diseases, but it is worth visiting sites like Malaria hotspots, and travel turtle to find the latest information about immunisations and medication. Feel free to also read my guide on Deep Vein Thrombosis.

Before you Travel

If your visiting a non English speaking country that you try and learn the basic, ‘please’, ‘thank you’ ‘good morning’ etc. Read about the local etiquette because there are some countries and religions which could take your actions as offensive.

I hate lunging around big travel guides, so you could use Lonely Planet digital guides, which means you download and print the sections you want. Find the post code of your accommodation, and use Google Maps to find the nearest hospitals, chemists, shops etc.

Check the Weather

Whilst the weather is unpredictable no matter where you go on holiday, its worth finding out if your destination is part of the hurricane, rain seasons etc. A great site for finding weather information is Weather 2 Travel, which I have used loads in the past.

Share your Advice

If you have any advice then please leave it in the comments section so that we can help each other.

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