Hopefully; if you are like me you have a holiday booked this year then you will no doubt be counting down the days until you leave. What you probably haven’t done (if you are like me!) is booked all the extras and firmed up on the arrangements – they tend to get down in the panic stages prior to departing.  Even if you aren’t counting down the days, but instead shopping around for a break – then don’t forget the extras. Things like travel insurance, airport parking suitcase and other accessories.

So why not take a few moments and get them ticked off now:

Airport Parking

If you are planning on driving to the airport; then always leave you car in the hands of someone that is reputable. After seeing various programs on TV about smaller companies abusing your precious cars after leaving them in their hands – I always head for the large companies to leave me car with. With all the times that I have travelled aboard I have never had any issues.

• One of my favorite companies has to be Holiday Extras who is the UK market leader for airport parking, airport hotels and airport lounges.
• BCP is another inexpensive, convenient and there is a package to suit all needs.
• My final recommendation for Airport Parking is Purple Parking who also cover 50 airports across the UK.

Start your Holiday a day earlier and more relaxed.

• Holiday Extras also do great deals on Airport Hotels - essentially starting you holiday a day early by staying in a hotel close to the airport. Prices also include the cost of leaving your car at the hotel for the duration of the stay and free travel to and from the hotel.

Travelling to and from your destination

Sometimes driving to and from the airport of your destination is not always the most appropriate or wanted trip. Certainly if you spend your whole life driving up and down the country the last way you want to start you holiday is by getting up at the crack of dawn and hitting the motorway! Also many people these days like creating their own holiday package and sometimes forget how they are going to get from their resort airport to their destination. Well here are a few companies that can help.

• Transferstore.com offers taxi, minibus, coach, and limousine transfers between airports and accommodation at low rates and our system is quick and easy to use- just click on the map to get started! You can book return trips or one way going in either direction, up until 3 days before you travel. With rates in the Algarve from £4 and transfers in the Canaries from as little as £3.50 we often have the cheapest rates on the market!
• Holiday Taxis is the UK’s leading provider of pre-bookable airport transfers to 2,000+ resorts and cities worldwide, and now offers a UK transfer service. Private airport taxis, group minibuses, low cost shuttles and limousines are available on our user friendly, secure website.
• A2Btransfers.com provides you with a comprehensive range of international transfers (from Airport Transfers, Harbor Transfers and Resort Transfers) via Taxi, Minibus, Coach and Shuttle Services.
• For those that are travelling by ferry ferrycheap.com offer fantastic fares from all of the UK’s major ports using the top ferry operators like PO Ferries, Eurotunnel, SeaFrance, Speedferries and many more.

Travel Essentials

Lastly; do not forget the essentials that you might need. Have you checked your luggage recently? The last thing you want is to get your case out of the loft the day before travelling and discover only then the rip it developed on the last trip, or the broken latch which may result in your clean underwear being spread across the runway!

• If you are travelling with your kids, and would like a novel (and practical) way to keep them help and quiet on the journey then take a look at www.trunki.com for some great ideas and novel luggage and accessory ideas for kids.
• If you are looking for travel essentials then essentials4travel.com has been providing tasteful travel gear—luggage, laptop cases, travel accessories and travel gadgets—to UK consumers since 2002. Free delivery in the UK from stock on all orders over £19.

Travel Insurance

An obvious one not to forget – and one that needs regular checking is the good-old travel insurance. Just make sure that your trip, activities, wellbeing and possessions are all fully protected and covered.

• Flexicover Ltd are one of the leading online providers of travel insurance in the UK so it would be worth you checking their policies and prices.
• JS Insurance offer the full range of products from single trip travel insurance, annual multi trip travel insurance, ski and snowboard travel insurance as well as travel insurance for European Residents. They also sell other insurance products, such as Computer/PDA Insurance, Mobile Phone Insurance and Car Breakdown Insurance.