If you've ever found yourself at the airport without your passport, in a hot country without your swimsuit, or been saddled with a huge medical bill after being ill abroad - you need our pre-holiday printable checklists!

Covering everything from clothing to airport security, these lists will help ensure that you're holiday goes smoothly, wherever you're off to.

Simply click on your chosen list below to download a word.

Travel Tips
Holiday Checklist

Travel Insurance
Buy good quality travel insurance
Travel Insurance Top Tips:

• Take out insurance as soon as you book to ensure that you are covered if your trip is cancelled.
• Check what your insurance does and does not cover. Ideally it should cover:
  all medical bills
  an air ambulance in case you need to be flown home
  any dangerous activities (such as bungee jumping) you might be planning
  if your family is with you, getting them home in the event of your illness or injury
  replacing or bringing your car home if you are taking it on holiday
   
• If possible, leave valuables at home. If you need to take them with you, abide by the terms of your cover.
• If your travel insurance comes from your Credit card, make sure you're covered for all of the above.

Holiday Money and Travellers Cheques
Be financially prepared
Holiday Money Top Tips:

• Have enough cash to cover emergencies
• Keep a record of your traveller cheque numbers in a different place to your travellers cheques
• Don't rely on one payment method - take a mixture of travellers cheques, currency, and credit cards.
• Don't carry large amounts of cash/cheques around with you - use your hotel safe.
• Make sure you've got the right currency (dollars for the US, euros for most European countries etc).

Health and Safety
Prepare to stay healthy while you travel
Holiday Health Top Tips:

• Check with your Doctor if you need vaccinations at least 6 weeks before you travel.
• If you're travelling within the EU, get an E11 form from the Post Office and have it stamped.
• Pack any essential medication in your hand luggage.
• Carry a prescription for your glasses or contact lenses.
• Carry a spare doctor's prescription for any essential medication.
• If needed, do not forget your contraception

Passports and Travel Documents
Prepare your important papers
Travel Documents Top Tips

• Always carry your passport, even when visiting EU countries. It may not be checked, but some authorities ask for it as proof of ID. You do not need a passport to visit Ireland.
• Ensure that your passport will be valid for the whole trip. Remember that some countries also require that your passport is valid for at least another 6 months.
• Take a photocopy of your passport, visas and any other important documents. Make a note of passport numbers, dates and where they were issued. Also take a note of your travel insurance policy number.
• Check if you need any visas and how long the visa is valid for.
• When you reach your destination, keep your travel documents in the hotel safe. Don't carry them around with you.

Before you leave home
Ensure you won't be worrying about your home on holiday.
Leaving Home Top Tips

• Let neighbours know you're going away and ask them to keep an eye on your property.
• Set lights and - if possible - a radio on timer switches. Unplug any electrical equipment that does not need to be left on.
• Make sure you know what your airline check-in requirements are.

Airport security
Since the tragic events of 9/11, airport security has been become more stringent.
With regard to security, please bear the following in mind:

• Check-in times are now longer. Ensure that you check in at the time requested by your airline.
• Airlines are particularly strict about hand luggage - please check with your airline regarding the amount of hand luggage you are allowed to take.
• Sharp items are not allowed in hand luggage - pack them in your checked-in luggage.
• Do not pack any of the following in your hand luggage - toy / replica guns (metal or plastic), catapults, sporting bats, billiards or pool cues, tools, scissors, tweezers, razor blades, knives with blades of any length, household cutlery, knitting needles, darts, hypodermic needles (unless required for medical reasons).