Avoid travel nightmares this Christmas with advice from www.aph.com

Winter's arrived...

It doesn’t matter where you’re going, what the season is, whether there’ll be snow and skis or sand and sea, there are certain basic rules it’s worth heeding. Along with the early skiers, many sunshine-starved families who opted for a UK ‘raincation’ during the summer will be heading for more reliable climates this Christmas break.

As a result, UK airports promise to be busy despite the economic woes. Airport Parking and Hotels (APH), the long-stay airport parking expert is offering travellers a selection of top tips to make sure they have a fuss-free, festive break.

The family-friendly top tips include the following:

• Check that your passports are still valid – for some countries it must be valid for six months after the date of travel, and remember, children’s passports do not last 10 years like adults.

• Make sure you have travel insurance and if travelling in the EU then obtain and take your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).

• Make copies of important documents and take one copy and leave one copy with a close friend or relative, or subscribe to and load them onto the ‘APH Online Safe’ in case bags get stolen or lost.

• Shop around for the best rates on foreign currency or purchase a pre-paid currency card – don’t wait until you get to the airport to buy your currency.

• Heading for the sun at this time of year means you may be travelling to more exotic destinations so check which inoculations are necessary for that country.

• Pack a foreign plug adapter.

• Charge iPod and camera batteries the night before departing

• Check that suitcase weight and dimensions conform to your airline’s rules.

• Check-in online, 24 hours before flying to avoid check-in fees at the airport.

• Print out flight e-tickets.

• Reserve seats on the plane.

• Cancel the milk and papers and make sure your central heating is on the ‘frost protection’ setting.

• If you have a very early start, consider an airport hotel the night before. This year Hotel and Parking packages are even better value and offer great peace of mind.

• If not, set a back up alarm clock to make sure you wake up for early departures.

• Make sure your car is prepared for the journey to the airport – for example, check tyres, battery and screen washer fluid.

• Double check the booking if you have arranged a taxi to take you to the airport and be sure you have a contact number if they fail to show up at the agreed time.
  

  The Mediterranean is beautiful at any time of year - but don't forget to copy your travel documents

APH offers parking at all major UK airports, ports and Eurotunnel terminals plus airport hotels packaged with parking, airport lounges, travel insurance, car hire and holiday taxis. APH is also a carbon-balanced company and has, through the World Land Trust, helped purchase more than 1,000 acres of Belize rainforest.

© Stewart Andersen and Stewart Andersen’s Property Blog, 2009. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Stewart Andersen and Stewart Andersen’s Property Blog with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.