Planning a trip: budget, booking and itinerary

A good trip is planned twice: once on paper and once on the day. Planning ahead saves money, avoids nasty surprises at the border and leaves you free to enjoy where you are.

Start with the essentials

• Check official travel advice for your destination first. The UK government's travel checklist suggests reading its country advice for entry rules, safety, health risks and local laws; your own government may publish similar advice.
• Check your passport. Many countries require it to be valid for a set time after your trip. For example, the UK's advice for the UAE says your passport must generally be valid for at least 6 months from your arrival date.
• Find out if you need a visa or an electronic authorisation. For example, many visitors to the UK now need an ETA, which costs GBP 20 on GOV.UK. It is not a visa, and GOV.UK warns that other websites may charge more.
• Only apply for visas and authorisations on official government websites. Look-alike sites charge extra fees or steal your data.

Building a budget

• List every cost: transport there and back, local transport, accommodation, food, activities, insurance, visa fees, phone data, and a buffer for surprises.
• Worked example: a 3-night trip. Flights AED 900, hostel AED 150 x 3 nights = AED 450, food AED 100 x 4 days = AED 400, transport and activities AED 300, insurance AED 60. Total AED 2,110. Add a 10% buffer (about AED 210) and aim for about AED 2,320.
• The UK travel checklist advises making sure you can access enough money for unexpected costs if your main card stops working. Carry two payment methods and keep them in different places.
• Tell your bank before you travel if they ask, and check foreign transaction fees on your card.
• Track spending each evening against your daily budget so small overspends do not add up.

Booking smartly

• Compare prices, but book through the airline, hotel or a well-known booking site. Read the cancellation and change rules before you pay.
• Check what is included: cabin bag, hold bag, seat choice, breakfast, airport transfers. A cheap fare can become expensive with extras.
• If you book from the UK, the Civil Aviation Authority's ATOL scheme protects travellers when a travel company fails. You can check online whether a business holds an ATOL.
• Buy travel insurance as soon as you book. GOV.UK says to buy it as soon as possible after booking, and the Money module explains how insurance works.
• If you are under 18, check the accommodation's own rules on guest ages before booking.

Writing an itinerary

• Plan each day around one or two main things, not ten. Leave time for travel, meals, rest and getting lost.
• Write down addresses, opening hours, how you will get there and the cost, and check whether you need to book tickets in advance.
• Have a rainy-day (or very hot day) plan with indoor options.
• Share your itinerary, flight details and accommodation address with family. GOV.UK suggests keeping secure online backups of your passport, flight and accommodation details.
• Fill in the emergency contact page in your passport if it has one.