With the excitement involved in getting away and the rush of trying to get everything and everyone in order before you leave, there often isn’t a spare moment to write out and work through a checklist. Make time to create one for your winter trip, however, and you’ll reap the benefits of your extra planning.
A checklist helps you remember all the little details you might otherwise forget: passport and travel documents, medication, your child’s favourite cuddly toy, airport parking arrangements and so on. And by taking advantage of services such as Thomas Cook Extras Airport Parking, you’ll see you can save 60 per cent on pre-booking. It’s not just airport parking where you can make tangible savings, as many other services also offer discounts if you make the smart choice and book ahead.
Making a list
It’s important to put together your pre-travel checklist as early as you can, while you’re still in a calm and unhurried frame of mind; that all-important clarity will ensure that you don’t forget any of the essentials. And make sure that you keep your list somewhere you won’t lose it — on your phone or tablet, perhaps.
Work your way through each part of your winter holiday, from getting to the airport, travelling to the destination, booking into your accommodation and enjoying whatever activities you have planned, whether it’s relaxing on the beach or skiing on the slopes. If you’re travelling with other people – such as family – it’s worth making separate lists for each person, as well as a joint one.
What to include
We’ve already mentioned discounts you can get with pre booked airport parking and there are plenty more out there too: your checklist should include pre-bookings for as much of your trip as possible. Think about accommodation, meals, outdoor activities, shows and concerts, car rental, equipment hire and children’s groups.
Then there’s everything you need to pack. It’s a good idea to start making a list as early as possible, so that you can jot down items as you think about them. Clothes, toys, medication, equipment, chargers, books (and other entertainment), toiletries, food for the journey and anything else you can think of can all be included.
You can also include reminders on your checklist, entries that don’t relate to a particular item or task. This might be the name of the taxi firm you’ve booked a car with, a query you need to raise at the airport, or the name of a place you don’t want to forget.
Checklist benefits
Making a checklist for your winter getaway is probably the furthest thing from the forefront of your mind. There are plenty of other exciting things to think about, like which ski runs you’re going to hit and where you’re going to unwind with a few cocktails for a bit of après ski.
The thing is, however, investing a few hours putting together your pre-travel checklist now will certainly pay huge dividends later. So, while other holidaymakers are running around panicking at the last minute, you can relax, put your feet up and spend your time away making the most of wherever in the world you find yourself.
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