If you’re going away this summer, there’s lots you can do to make your holiday run smoothly. With a few preparations your break will be a lot more organised, whether you’re jetting abroad or having a summer staycation. Here are our top tips to take on board:
Save and share your photos
You’ll probably be taking lots of pictures to preserve those all-important holiday memories. Cameras or phones can get lost or damaged, so it’s always a good idea to save back-up copies of special photos. In a few easy steps, you can create an Exaactly account before your holiday. Then upload any images to a digital locker – a place for storing all your digital content – while you’re away. You can also make an Exaactly address and share it with friends and family, so they can enjoy viewing your holiday photos too.
Create a travel journal
With Exaactly friends and family can join you (virtually) on your travels! You can share photos of your adventures (see above) or go a step further and create a travel journal. Before you go travelling make an Exaactly address linked to your holiday, e.g., worldtravels@malcolm. Then fill it with photos, plus notes on your travels, such as sights you’ve seen and hostels you’ve stayed at, as you move around. It’ll keep loved ones updated on your adventures when you’re away from home.
Map it out
You’ll likely need help with navigation on holiday, to make getting from A to B smoother. There are plenty of map apps you can download but Google Maps and Sygic are favourites with the Exaactly team. Both can be used offline – handy if you don’t have reliable Wi-Fi or want to save battery power on your phone.
Find the right documents
Make sure you have all the documents you need in good time before you travel. Create a list of the items you’ll require, such as passports, visas and hotel reservations, so none are missed. Check that documents are up to date and valid for the duration of your holiday. Different countries have different rules on this, so do your research.
And keep copies too
Don’t forget to keep copies or take photographs of your important documents as well. They can come in handy if you lose the original documents and will help you to get them replaced more quickly. You can store duplicates in your Exaactly digital locker, where they’ll always be accessible.
Label your luggage
There are few scenarios more horrifying on holiday than lost luggage! Luckily, you can use Exaactly to label your luggage and any other valuables. Once you’ve set up an account and digital locker, you can create an Exaactly address. Add this address to a label and stick it on important items. If someone finds them, they can search for your Exaactly address online and find out details that’ll help reunite you with your belongings, such as your telephone number. It’s an efficient and flexible way of safeguarding your items. You can instantly update information linked to your Exaactly address, changing contact details if you move location. You’ll be quickly reunited with your valuables wherever you are. Keep an eye on our website, as we’ll soon offer the option to add QR codes (linked to your Exaactly address) to your belongings too.
Create a to-do list
If you’re anything like us, you’ll have a million to dos flying round your mind before a holiday. It’s a wise idea to note everything down, so nothing is missed. There’s always a traditional pen and paper but why not use an app instead? Then you can easily amend your to-do list and tick items off as you go. Todoist, To Do List and Tasks are all worth checking out.
Watch the weather
We all hope for non-stop sunshine on holiday – fingers crossed – but the weather in some destinations can be changeable. Download a weather forecast app before your trip, so you can pack for any weather conditions you might encounter. The award-winning Met Office weather app is useful if you’re having a UK staycation, and it also offers forecasts for abroad. AccuWeather is another handy app for worldwide weather predictions.
Keep an eye on the charge
You’ll likely be using your phone a lot on holiday, to take pictures and to navigate, so it’s important to keep it charged. Switch it to airplane mode whenever you’re not using it to conserve battery power. Delete any apps you don’t use – or temporarily don’t need – before your holiday, as they’re also a drain on battery power. It’s worth bringing a portable power bank too, so you can charge your phone, laptop and tablet on the go. Don’t forget to pack a travel adaptor or converter if you’re going abroad as well.
Write an itinerary
If you’re the kind of person who likes to be organised at home, there’s no reason why this can’t continue on holiday. Consider creating an itinerary for what you’d like to do and see each day of your break. Then you can work out which activities you’ll need to book in advance while tickets are still available.
A good call
If you’re going abroad, it’s a good call to check you won’t be caught out by expensive roaming charges from your mobile phone provider. Find out if they offer plans you can use internationally, to avoid higher costs on holiday. Alternatively, you might want to buy a pay as you go sim at your destination.
Money matters
Before your holiday, check if your bank charges you for making purchases or cash withdrawals abroad. If it does, shop around to see if you can open an account with a bank that doesn’t charge you for using your card abroad or offers more reasonable rates. It’s also worth taking a backup bank card with you, should your main card get lost. Consider taking some cash in the local currency too, which can be useful for tips and if you need to make payments somewhere that doesn’t accept cash.
Entertainment options
If you’re going on holiday, you’ll likely have a long journey ahead of you and potentially further journeys while you’re away. Wi-Fi can be unpredictable, so remember to download entertainment to your laptop, tablet or phone before setting off. There may be times on holiday (or travelling there) when you want to be entertained by a TV show, audio book or some tunes.
Now you’ve organised everything, you can sit back, relax and look forward to your summer break. Bon voyage!