Be prepared: visiting overseas friends and family

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by: bythesea
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Word Count: 455
Date: Sat, 9 Apr 2011 Time: 5:59 PM
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For those of us with close friends or family living abroad it's a big undertaking to make a visit - but on the flipside, it's always a good opportunity to turn the trip into a full holiday. Staying with someone you're friendly with will save you a significant amount that you would otherwise have spent on accommodation, leaving you more to spend on entertainment while you're away.

Although visiting friends or family can seem less like a holiday and more like visiting a home from home, it's important to treat it as you would any other trip away and make all necessary arrangements before you travel. Most importantly, make sure you have comprehensive travel insurance in place and be sure to disclose all relevant information when applying for your policy. Look around online before committing to one particular provider as there are plenty of cheap travel insurance deals to be had if you do your research.

If you require a visa to visit the particular country you'll be travelling to then be sure to get it arranged as far in advance of your trip as you can manage. The paperwork can take a long time to be processed so it's best to avoid a nervy last few weeks before your holiday and get it sorted out as early as you can. For obvious reasons, don't overstay the time period stipulated by your visa; you could run into serious problems otherwise.

Similarly, be sure that your passport will be valid for your holiday dates way before you set off as getting it renewed can be a lengthy process unless you want to pay extra for the express service. Some countries require you to have a passport that will be valid for at least another six months after your entry, so be sure to read up on the requirements as soon as you can.

If your trip will take you to Europe then be sure to apply for a European Health Insurance Card - it's free and entitles you to cheap or free state-provided healthcare should you need it while you're away.

It's always nice to take a gift with you if you're visiting friends or family members, but be aware that certain countries have restrictions on plant or animal products. Make sure you've double-checked before splashing out on an extravagant present!

So long as you spend a little time doing your research and making the necessary arrangements prior to your trip, you can be safe in the knowledge that no unexpected problems will pop up and take you unawares, leaving you free to enjoy a relaxing holiday.

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Are you going on holiday soon? Look into cheap travel insurance before you go.