THE HIS & HERS TEAM IS COUNTING DOWN TO TAKING A HARD EARNED BREAK FROM THE DESK AND RELAXING POOLSIDE THIS SUMMER. IN THE MEANTIME, WE DON’T MIND ADMITTING THAT WE GET ALMOST AS EXCITED ABOUT ASSEMBLING THE ULTIMATE HOLIDAY WARDROBE AND THE BUILD-UP TO GOING AWAY AS WE DO ABOUT THE MAIN EVENT!
If you’re setting off on holiday soon, our Editor, Emma Hill, has compiled her top travel prep tips to save you hassle in the build-up to your break and also while you’re away.
Make a list of the essentials
One of my good friends has been known to go all-out and create an Excel spreadsheet to list every single suitcase essential she’ll be taking away with her. While I secretly kind of admire her thoroughness, for mere mortals like myself, simply listing the absolute essentials which you’d really be lost without (like your passport, currency, chargers, plug adapters and any medications you may need) then ticking them off as you pack them will give you one less thing to worry about as you set off to the airport.
Take out travel insurance
You may be entitled to medical care at reduced cost or sometimes for free depending on whether you’re going to a European Economic Area country (EEA) or elsewhere in the world. However, it’s well worth thinking seriously about whether you’ll be covered for all eventualities. Bupa Global offers travel insurance all over the world and even if you’re arranging activities that can be considered risky, such as scuba diving, snorkelling, or even bungee jumping, they’ll cover this, taking care of one big worry for a lot of holidaymakers. They’re experts in global medical cover, and offer tailored plans to cover different concerns – they even have a specific plan to give you peace of mind if you’re travelling while pregnant. My own experience of taking out travel insurance is that it generally costs far less than I’d expected and stops me worrying about what would happen if I needed to see a doctor while abroad.
Use shampoo for hand-washing on-the-go
Ever since I read a feature in Vogue in my youth explaining how a basic shampoo will double up as a surprisingly good fabric detergent to wash your bikinis on-the-go, I’ve been making use of this advice. It’s perfect for those times when you really don’t have enough washing to warrant using the hotel’s laundry service, but would like to wear your favourite bikini more than once!
Make suitcase space for a good quality sun block and sunglasses
I know this one’s pretty obvious, but avoiding sunburn will help you enjoy your holiday to the fullest and protect your health. Also, with opticians increasingly warning that our eyes, just like our skin, can be damaged by excessive sun exposure, there’s never been a better time to treat yourself to a stylish pair of sunglasses! Look for sunblock with a good UVA and UVB star rating and a high SPF and throw it away after a year.
The His & Hers team is very proud to bring you this feature in association with Bupa Global. We’d love to hear about how you’ve been preparing for your holidays. Please share your tips, tricks and travel hacks in the comments below!
For related features, please pay a visit to our lifestyle page.
