I’ve done kit. Woolly hats, socks all sorts of stuff which if you’re any way sensible you aren’t going to need as you’re going somewhere warm.
Internal flights you know that bit about turning up for an internal flight in the UK with no ID. Try it from Belfast. If you happen to be nice and polite and well dressed. You might get away with a licence or photo ID.
They like a passport. Anywhere from the UK to continental Europe and elsewhere you need a passport.
Theresa Mays massive Brexit victory in stopping Freedom of Movement it works both ways. We’ve just lost the right to live work and retire in any Eu country we like the look of.
So you need a passport. Not one coming to the end of its term. The word is that theres going to have to be a reasonable period left before it expires or you aren’t getting in. (I’ll bet no one bats an eyelid when you leave the country with a fortnight or so left on your passport)
Other good news. paying for Visas, the word is £7 or so. Its nothing if you’re Billy no mates. But if you take the family with you. That’ll add up. I wouldn’t be one bit surprised if we are going to be looking at extra payments as befits our new status as a buccaneering third country.
Then theres the EHIC card which is the one which gets you health treatment in foreign lands. Possibly not any more after Brexit. But that will have to have an eye kept on it.
Theres the other killer. Travel insurance. I get mine, it’s just something I’ve always done as a matter of course. Ive never needed it, never used it, it’s enough to know its there.But an annual policy although not cheap is cheaper than two trips a year. And it covers everything, I told them about my condition and they didn’t blink an eyelid. So I’m covered.
Im looking forward to that getting massively increased after March. And the wheeled stuff, scooters and wheelchairs are covered for holiday travel on the house insurance. It took me a while to work that one out and wouldn’t have liked to have to replaced any of those in a hurry.
Most of us have a smartphone so the advice has always been. Copy your travel docs, passport, tickets on to your phone.
But for years all the travel docs, passports tickets and access tags went into an admin pack, (Big zip up wallet) everything could be found in one place which has been useful in dealing with jobsworths in uniform.
Photograph your hotel (I do that) and also upload your travel docs and passport to the cloud, along with credit and debit cards. In case you lose your wallet or have it lost for you.
Be careful where you photograph where you park the car. Back in pre digital days, the name of the street was written on an arm and waved at bemused Berlin police officer. After the car was lost. ‘One way street’. in Berlin.
Take your pick.
Photographing where you’ve parked the car is usually pretty hot poop at some local car parks, one in particular having two levels people have found themselves wandering around in despair, on the wrong level.
Photocopies of this lot stashed in your admin pack back at the hotel room. It’s only overkill when you don’t need it. See the bit about Budapest airport and the art of getting a scooter on a plane. Having the details to hand was a lifesaver at dark o clock.
The place is well named, Orbanistan. By those who dislike the way things are going
Drugs. Check beforehand. One of my everyday ones is illegal in a country in the Middle East and people have been jailed for bringing them in. (Stupid people. ‘Its for my boyfriend, who’s got a bad back. The ‘boyfriend’ was also married with kids and claimed no knowledge of back trouble)
I’m not looking forward to the conversation in arrivals, with Ahmed Jobsworth. ‘No mate they’re mine. Keep the original packaging and take spares, or a spare prescription. Thats going to be another beaut after Brexit on the way forward on this. My docs pretty good about stuff like this. I’m sure she will keep me informed as to how things progress.
I have to be honest I really am not expecting anything good to come out of Brexit, certainly not for us as we renegotiate our way across the wet stuff. The good news being we wont be waving a dark blue passport.
ironside Travel 