Easy Preparation for Your Winter Holiday

Whether your winter getaway involves snow and skis or you’re escaping the UK chill for somewhere sunny and hot, early preparation is the way to go for a stress-free, relaxing break.

Leaving things until the very last minute puts you under pressure that’s hard to relax from when you finally set off.

Here are some ideas for a checklist and where to start:

Securing the Home Front

It’s often overlooked as being part of holiday preparation, but securing your belongings and property should be as high a priority as packing your case when you’re going away. This aspect of preparation may need a longer lead time, so it’s first on the list of things to do. A few points to think about include:

• Let neighbours know you’ll be away. Ask them to keep an eye out for trespassers or intruders, and let them know no one has the authority to be on your property.
• Remove valuables from plain sight. You could pack them away into a loft, or hire a self-storage unit or locker for even safer keeping. Self storage in London is extremely easy to find.
• Rig up a timer for your lights so they come on at dusk giving the impression you’re home.
• Make sure your home insurance covers periods when the property is empty. Most do, but there may be time limits so it’s worth checking for peace of mind.

Know Your Destination

Be prepared for any eventuality by researching potential needs for visas or other travel permits such as driving licences and insurance. Rules and regulations can change quite quickly so it’s always best to keep your knowledge as up-to-date as possible. Don’t forget to check up on what you’re allowed to import, especially if flying. Many destinations are strict about types of food you can bring in, extending to small packets intended for personal use.

Check Your Airline’s Regulations

In a similar vein, assume your airline might have changed its regulations about what you can carry since your last flight. Take nothing for granted, and follow directions on hand luggage restrictions to the letter. This way, you won’t be tripped up by small changes that put you outside current regs, and you hopefully won’t have any stuff confiscated or have to put up with extra baggage searches.

Pack for Climate and Planned Activities

It sounds obvious, but considering what type of clothes you’ll wear and which you won’t can help you travel lighter. In the dark, chilly winter months, it’s hard to imagine being too hot, just as it’s hard to put yourself in a cold environment when it’s sunny at home.

If you’re going to a cold climate, pack layers of thermal base clothing along with bulkier items of outerwear. Several thinner layers can be more insulating than one heavy layer and also provide the option to peel layers back when it’s warm indoors.

How will you spend your evenings? Do you need dressy clothes for fancy restaurants, or will you pop along to local pubs? Pack more of what you need, and leave out what you don’t. Try to avoid ‘just in case’ packing.

Practical Packing Tips

Whether you’re taking a backpack or a traditional suitcase, figuring out how to pack as much as possible into a small area means you make the most of the space you have.

• Make a list so you know what you need to pack.
• Put shoes in first. Fill up shoes with small items like socks, underwear or chargers and cables. Include a few spare plastic bags to put shoes in if they get dirty.
• Fold clothes that tend to wrinkle easily or are bulky, and roll the rest. Rolled items are easy to slot in around the edges of a case. Folded items go on top of everything else.
• Use external or side pockets for docs you’ll need along the way, plus stuff for your first night such as toiletries and sleepwear.
• Sometimes airlines ask you to put luggage in the hold despite your intention to keep it with you in the cabin. Keep valuables or breakables on top so they’re quickly accessible. You can then easily retrieve them if necessary.
• Double-check weights and dimensions before you leave home.
• Keep important items in your personal possession all the time, just in case the luggage goes missing. This includes keys, cameras, medications, jewellery, and don’t forget contact details for family, your insurance company and your self storage facilities etc.

Taking a break away from home is a great way to decompress from the strains of everyday life, especially if you take time to plan carefully so you don’t accidentally create even more stress.

Take your time, start early, and have a wonderful winter holiday.