Top Tips For Winter Trips!

If you'd rather think about holidays than Christmas, here are a few tips to help you get organised.

The Christmas break is fast approaching; indeed for some of us it may already have started! If you haven't already completed your Christmas shopping, there's still just about enough time to zip to the States and back to hammer that credit card and take advantage of the strong pound -- or to cross the Channel to enjoy the continental Christmas markets. In fact, according to recent research by Sainsbury's bank, nearly 12% of us aren't even planning to spend Christmas in the UK this year, with Spain and France being our top destinations.

What's more, from asking around I've discovered that a fair few people aren't even thinking about Christmas, as they've moved onto planning next year's holiday, instead!

If you're about to book a holiday, or about to take one you've already booked, here are some tips for things to remember for a stress free time:

1. European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)

If your trip is to Europe, do make sure you have a European Health Insurance card (EHIC). It entitles you to free, or reduced cost State medical treatment in any of the EU countries, plus Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland (Switzerland also applies the EHIC arrangement through an agreement with the EU).

The quickest way to apply is online, over the phone (tel. 0845 606 2030) or by filling in an application form at the Post Office. The card should take between 7 and 10 days to arrive. You can also apply for your spouse and any children under 16 at the same time; just make sure you have all dates of birth and any applicable National Insurance numbers.

Remember, carrying the EHIC card is a requirement for UK citizens in many EU countries. And remember, it only entitles you to basic medical care; it won't, for example, pay for repatriation costs or air ambulances should you have an accident skiing. As such it is certainly no substitute for comprehensive travel insurance, so make sure you take out adequate cover before you travel.

2. Insurance

As mentioned, travel insurance is vital. And this doesn't mean having to take out the cover your travel agent tries to sell you; cheaper and better cover can often be obtained online, or from insurance brokers (indeed, travel insurance sold by travel agents has recently been under investigation by the Treasury).

Before you rush out and sign up for a policy, have a think about your travel plans for the year. If you'll be taking a couple of holidays, plus maybe a weekend away, an annual travel insurance policy will probably work out to be most cost effective.

Annual policies can cover European, or worldwide travel for individuals, couples or families -- with kids under 17 often included free. And note: if you're planning a European holiday with the vague possibility of travelling further afield in a few months, it's often worth taking out annual European cover, only, to begin with. You can always add the extra cover later and it usually doesn't cost any more than if you'd simply booked worldwide cover to begin with.

Additionally, ensure you have the right level of cover to suit your needs. For example, if your holiday will involve winter sports, you must make sure this is specified as it's usually an optional extra. However, if it doesn't, make sure you're not paying for the extra cover!

Providers that are consistently highly rated by Defaqto include Debenhams, Marks & Spencer and Sainsbury's bank. For example, a family of four (two adults, two children under 17) can currently get two weeks, European cover from around £36, from Debenhams, with winter sports cover bumping the price to £65. If they were to choose an annual, European policy instead, prices start at around £78, with winter sports increasing this to £104.

Always declare any pre-existing medical conditions, too, or your policy may be rendered invalid, should you try to claim. And make sure you read the small print to check that you and your possessions are adequately covered - especially if you'll be travelling with expensive winter sports equipment. Remember, cheaper is not always better.

And as a final note: if you have a packaged current account i.e. you pay a monthly fee, check your details carefully. Many of these accounts include, amongst their benefits, comprehensive travel insurance, either for you, or your partner/children.

3. Money

Ah, the root of all evil. Well it can be, if you pay too much for it! Hang onto more of your cash by being choosy where you buy your foreign currency.

Top places to exchange that sterling are the Post Office and Marks & Spencer. If you have a maestro card (look for the symbol on your debit card) you can order your currency from Travelex, pick it up at the airport/Eurotunnel/ferry terminal and be guaranteed the best foreign exchange prices in the UK. Changing up £100 today would give you nearly US$190, but beware; using any other card may incur a cash advance fee.

4. Cards

And speaking of cards, if you're fond of using those flexible friends when abroad, watch out. Most credit and debit cards typically incur a 2.75% loading fee, when used outside the UK. Withdraw cash from an ATM and you're stung twice -- once with the loading fee, and once again with a cash withdrawal fee (typically 2%).

So £100 taken out from the hole in the wall actually costs £104.75 (with interest charged too, if a credit card was used). And although that may not sound like a lot, make a few withdrawals/payments over a two week break and it can add up to a lot of commission to line your bank manager's pockets!

Commission free Credit Cards

Don't worry, though, there are ways to bypass these charges. Choose a Nationwide BS credit card, or the Post Office Platinum MasterCard, or the Morgan Stanley ic24 MasterCard, and you can use them abroad, for free. And the Saga and CSMA cards charge nothing for use in Europe. But remember, never withdraw cash with a credit card (that goes for the UK too!) unless you're fond of paying charges and interest.

Debit Cards

And those people with a Nationwide BS current account are in the fortunate position of being able to withdraw cash from any ATM, worldwide, for free.

5. Booking that break

Finally, if all of these tips have inspired you to book a holiday, there is a wealth of travel sites to check out. For example, Teletext Holidays, Cheapflights and Expedia often offer very good deals. And don't forget to check out the High Street Travel agents for potential savings -- just don't take out the travel insurance!

Obviously, if you don't have children (or they're very small) you are free to take advantage of cheaper, off-peak deals. But if you do have kids of school age, check out the Every Lesson Counts campaign - it has signed up a number of well known companies with the aim of offering parents discounted deals on vacations taken during the school holidays.

And remember that you can usually save money by booking ahead for parking at the airport. Check out BAA for on site parking and Parking4Less.

Hopefully these tips will help you get organised for that holiday -- and they may even save you a bit of cash on the way. Have a great trip!