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Recently, Martin Lewis, who founded MoneySavingExpert.com, shared his advice for booking a trip away. Mr Lewis gave the top tips on his podcast, and they cover everything from passports and overseas debit cards. We’ve outlined his advice below to help you plan your next trip.
1 – Arrange Travel Insurance as soon as you book your holiday
It’s advice that he has given before, but Martin Lewis’ top tip is to buy Travel Insurance as soon as you book your trip! If you delay purchasing your travel insurance with medical conditions, you could be unable to claim if unforeseen events mean you can’t travel and have to cancel.
2 – You may need to update your passport, even if it’s in date
Be sure you check your passport expiry date when booking your holiday. Many countries now require that your documents be valid for at least 6 months after your return date. If you need to apply for a new passport, give yourself plenty of time to order it. A recent increase in applications means they could take up to 10 weeks to be processed.
3 – Find the best credit or debit card to use abroad
Making sure you pick the right credit or debit card for your trip can help your money go further. Martin Lewis advised that holidaymakers looking to avoid non-sterling transaction fees should look into pre-pay cards and specialist overseas credit and debit cards.
4 – You need a GHIC when travelling in Europe after Brexit
Since Brexit, the Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) has replaced the EHIC for most travellers. The GHIC is free, and you should avoid using sites which charge a fee to apply for one. Both the GHIC and EHIC reduce emergency medical treatment costs in Europe. If you already have an EHIC and it is in date, you can continue to use it until it expires.
5 – Look into a separate cover for car hire excess
If you’re hiring a car on holiday, another of Martin Lewis’ travel tips is to consider buying separate car hire excess cover. Specialist companies which offer this are often cheaper than the insurance provided by the car hire company, and can save you a small fortune if your hire car gets scratched. All of this advice is worth bearing in mind the next time you book a holiday, especially the importance of getting travel insurance for medical conditions as soon as you buy your trip.
