There is a common type of pre-holiday stress that can typically kick in about three days before you travel, when you suddenly remember all the things you meant to do weeks ago. To help ease this anxiety and ensure you remember what to sort and plan for, here is a simple checklist from booking to boarding.

When You Book

• Check your passport expiry date. Many countries need at least six months validity beyond your return date.
• Research whether you need a visa. Some applications take weeks, and some destinations require you to apply before you can even book travel insurance.
• Book your travel insurance at the same time as your holiday, not the week before you fly.
• Check if any vaccinations are needed. Some courses start four to six weeks before travel, so this is one that cannot be left until later.
• Create a dedicated digital folder for all booking confirmations, receipts and reference numbers.

One to Two Months Before

• Book airport parking, transfers or public transport to get you there.
• Arrange pet care or house-sitting if you need it, availability goes quickly in summer and other popular travel periods.
• Book a hire car at your destination if you need one. It will almost always be cheaper than arranging it on arrival.
• Sort out any tickets or experiences that require advance booking: tours, restaurants, major attractions.
• Check the luggage allowance for your airline and make sure your bags are up to the job[1] .

Two to Three Weeks Before

• Make sure you have enough prescription medication to cover the trip, plus a buffer of a few days in case of delays.
• Order or pick up any travel accessories you need, whether that is a universal adapter, a travel pillow or a decent dry bag.
• Check the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) travel advice for your destination at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice and note the local emergency number.
• Currency: get local cash or arrange a fee-free travel card. Notify your bank to prevent cards from being declined.

Three to Four Days Before

• Save digital copies of key documents to your phone: passport, travel insurance certificate, hotel and flight confirmations. Email them to yourself as a backup too.
• Check that all your devices and headphones are working and fully charged. Download anything you want offline: maps, playlists, shows for the flight.
• Go through your carry-on for anything security will flag such as sharp objects and restricted items. Check the rules for liquids for both your UK departure airport and when you fly back home. At most airports, you cannot take liquids in containers larger than 100ml through security, however some major airports (such as Heathrow, Gatwick, Birmingham, Bristol, and Dublin) feature next-generation 3D scanners where you can bring containers up to 2 litres in size.
• Let a friend or family member know your itinerary and accommodation details.

The Night Before

• Pack. Do not leave it until the last minute!
• Set two alarms if you have an early start.
• Put your most important items somewhere obvious: passport, wallet, phone, charger, keys.

The Morning You Leave

• Check travel news and your route to the airport before you leave the house.
• Do a sweep of plugs, windows and doors. Empty anything in the fridge that will not last.
• Do the final four-item check at the door: passport, phone, wallet, charger.
• Then go and enjoy yourself!