Regardless of whether you have been waiting all year for your annual holiday, booked a last minute getaway or are preparing for a short break and a little time out, we all know that preparing for a trip can be timely stressful and somewhat expensive.
It is worth taking a little extra time to really make sure you have everything covered before you depart on your jollies, so take a look at the tips below and start ticking off your pre-travel checklist.

Holiday Destination © flickr/M_Eriksson
1) Get to know your destination
With the holiday booked, you should already be a little knowledgeable about your destination, after all something must have attracted you to visit in the first place. Look into the resort and surrounding areas before you go and no doubt you will discover there are lots of places you want to visit asides from the hotel pool or bar. Local villages, deserted beaches and off road restaurants will provide a taste of culture, often housing weekly markets, unspoiled views and traditional food and drink so be sure to note down some of these before you go. Take a look at reviews online to get unbiased, honest recommendations from previous visitors as these will give you a good indication as to where will be worth spending time and which places to avoid whilst you are away.
2) Prepare your holiday extras in advance
So the fun part of looking into which local haunts you are going to check out is done. But do you really want to be climbing an ancient rock or swimming in unmanned waters without your travel insurance? Thought not. Make sure you pre-book this online before you go. There are so many deals out there and with such a competitive market, companies are offering comprehensive packages from as little as the cost of lunch by the beach. This also goes hand in hand with making sure that if you are travelling further afield you have had the correct vaccinations and applied for a visiting visa. Finally, if you are leaving your car at the airport, pre-book your airport parking in advance and you could save up to 60% on prices at the gate. Not only is it more convenient to do this, but it will save you stress, time and money when arriving at the airport before departure. Take East Midlands Airport Parking in the UK for example, prices start from as little as £2.50 per day, so for under £20.00 your car can be parked up, secure and close to the terminal, leaving you more time to spend what you have saved in the duty free.

Don't forget your toiletries © flickr/Pip Johnson
3) Pack for all eventualities
Arriving at your destination and discovering the weather is not as you expected during the height of the summer can be disappointing. No sunny resort is guaranteed glorious weather, just as snow is not always guaranteed on a skiing holiday, so packing a few extra clothes in preparation is often a good idea. Thats not to say you should take wellies to the caribbean or flip flops to the Alps, however an extra cardigan might be valuable on those chillier evenings out. Toiletries and medicines should also be included in this list: extra suncream, waterproof mascara for the ladies, insect repellent and any medicines should be at the top of every traveller’s list as essentials, as often these in particular are expensive to buy abroad.
4) Keep all important documents together
This does not just apply whilst checking through customs. It is easy to forget about your important documents the minute you step off the plane, arrive at the hotel or start sipping on sangria in the sun. However it is recommended that you spend a little extra on a safe for your hotel room to store such things as your currency, passports, travel insurance policy and claim numbers or any valuables you might be taking away with you. Once this is done, you can relax and enjoy the holiday.

Sunrise © flickr/joiseyshowaa
5) Ring ahead
Although this may not appear on the top of your pre holiday agenda but ringing ahead can often save you from those last minute worries before you set foot on your travels. This can be anything from contacting your travel service provider to check flight times are going ahead, speaking to the hotel reception to confirm your booking or even ringing the local club to reserve your place on the VIP guest list! With confirmation and reassurance firmly planted before you go, the holiday can start hassle free.