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Holiday countdown - what to do before you go

Here's your pre-holiday to do list.

The essentials
Keep your home ticking over
Prepare now to stay safe on holiday

We've done all you're holiday organising for you! Check the list and make sure you've got everything sorted for your summer holiday.

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Travel insurance

Travel insurance can be really cheap and save you a lot of money if something goes wrong when you're away. As with all insurance there's lots of competition so always shop around for the best deal. There are all kinds of policies to choose from - single trip insurance, annual multi-trip and family insurance - so read the cover details and pick the policy that best suits your needs. Look at our full article on travel insurance to find out what should be covered and which policy is best for you.

Documents

Make photocopies of your passport, ticket/flight details and insurance policy (don't forget the all-important 24-hour emergency number) and leave a copy with family or friends. Check your passport expiry date and make sure that it's valid for the whole trip - oh and try to store it somewhere you'll remember so there's no last minute panic when you're about to leave for the airport!

Health card

If you're travelling within the EU, get a European Health Insurance Card for free or reduced emergency medical care. You can apply for one online here. This card will only entitle you to state-provided healthcare and you may have to make a contribution to the cost of your care e.g. for medicine and the bed. It's NOT a substitute for travel insurance - you'll still need insurance to cover any contribution which cannot be reimbursed and other eventualities not covered by the EHIC.

Packing tips

Check the exact baggage allowance details (for both hand and checked baggage) with your airline.

Label your bags on the inside and outside - write your name, email address and mobile number.

Wrap shoes in plastic bags to stop them marking clothes. Put any toiletries into a separate bag with a good seal - you don’t want to have to deal with shampoo all over your clothes on the first day of your holiday!

Try to get the smallest of everything - if you're taking it as hand luggage you'll need to. Remove any sharp objects - even nail clippers could be confiscated.

The EU liquid policy states that any liquids, gels or pastes taken as hand luggage must be put in separate containers with a maximum capacity of 100ml. This means that anything like face cream, perfume, toothpaste and mascara that you want to take on board must be put into small containers or they'll be confiscated. You've also got to carry these products in a separate clear plastic, resealable bag - which can only be 20cm by 20cm. You can get these at the airport.

If you can't bear the thought of being without your make-up or hand cream you can buy travel-sized beauty products from The Body Shop and Superdrug. We like this selection of Mini Treats from The Body Shop which are the perfect size for your hand luggage.

Buy all your other holiday gear at bargain prices now with our Holiday Shopping List.

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The plants

Don't let your precious plants wither and die whilst your away - if you can't give them to a friend to look after head down to B&Q. Indoor plants can be saved with the Plantminder which you can buy from B&Q. This handy gadget is a self-watering irrigation system that keeps plants watered for up to three weeks. These mini cones are perfect for small pots on your window sills and desks - get a pack of three for £9.98. For larger pots and hanging baskets you can get a standard cone for £4.98.

The pets

If you have fish they can be fed with a slow release food block but for other animals that need more care there are a couple of options. Lots of people use kennels but they do tend to be quite expensive and you may not like the idea of moving your pet away from home to an unfamiliar environment.

Getting a house sitter instead is a brilliant way to keep your pets at home and make sure your home is safe too. You can pay a house sitter to stay at your house during your holiday and look after your pets and water the pants. Homesitters is one company that offers a pet sitting service or look on Jobsgrapevine for posts made by potential house and pet sitters. Another option is to post an add on Gumtree - just click here to put your message on the site and wait for housesitters to contact you.

Don't forget that if you’re travelling within the EU you can take certain pets with you - take a look at The Pet Travel Scheme for all the details and advice.

The mail

A huge pile of unopened mail on your doormat is a big giveaway to any thieves that you're not at home, so give a friend or neighbour a spare key and ask them to collect them from your house every couple of days.

Another option is to use the Royal Mail Keepsafe service. This service costs £8.50 per household, for 17 days. All you need to do is give them a week's notice, with the names and signatures of anyone whose mail you want to hold back and they will keep your mail back then deliver it when you return. Click here for more information.

Safety

First things first make sure everything's locked and turn all appliances off (except the fridge and freezer) if you have your heating on a timer turn that off too - there's no point paying to heat an empty house.

Get timer switches for selected plugs and time them so that a few lights go on in the evening to trick any thieves into thinking someone is home.

Get strong locks for all your windows and doors. Wickes has a wide selection of locks for doors and windows. You can buy different locks specifically designed for certain kinds of doors and windows so always look at the product details to check its suitable. This lock is ideal for garden sheds or external gates and costs £10.59, this Auto Deadlocking nightlatch can be used for added security on glass panelled doors and costs £41.99.

Consider setting up a Neighbourhood Watch scheme. Contact 0207 035 4848 or go to this Neighbourhood Watch website.

If you do get someone to look after the house whilst you're away show them where to find the gas mains and fuse box are.

Cancel any orders for things like milk or newspapers.

NEVER leave a message on your answer machine saying that you're on holiday - it's a big invitation to burglars.

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Check the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's travel advice section to keep up to date on any security issues. They give some great tips on ways to keep safe, local laws and customs and entry requirements - so read up on your holiday destination before you go.

Get hold of a good guidebook so you can get to know a bit about your destination. Go to Amazon for a bargain but check that it's a recent edition. Click here for a selection of bargain travel guides. A good guide book will tell you everything you need to know - from the best bars, to any local customs you need to be aware of.

Health

Make an appointment with your GP about six weeks before you go if you need any vaccinations or extra health precautions. If you’re on medication pack some in both your hand and main luggage. Also, carry a spare prescription for your medication in a separate bag.

Protect your money

Put any valuables in your hand luggage so that you’ve always got them on you.

Take enough money or travellers cheques to cover any emergencies. It's also a good idea to take a mixture of cash, travellers cheques and cards just in case. Make sure you don’t carry them all around with you in case they’re stolen.

Make a note of the emergency numbers of your debit/credit card company.

Check your the expiry dates on all your cards and if necessary call the bank for a new one if any are due to run out when your on your holiday.

If you’re planning a big spend on your holiday give your card issuer a ring to let them know - they may presume any unusual spending is fraudulent and put a stop on your card!

Check that your card is accepted in the country you’re going to visit. Use these ATM locators for Visa and MasterCard to check there are cash machines you can use.