Travel Tips

Passport & Visas

1. Check the passport and visa requirements for the countries you are visiting / transiting in on your planned journey - make sure you apply for them well in advance of your date of travel.
2. Check the validity of your Passport and Visas.
3. Don't forget your passport and visa on the day of travel.
4. If you lose your passport or visa please contact the embassy or consulate immediately in the country you are traveling in.

Security

1. Put a luggage strap around your case for easy identification and extra security
2. If you lose your passport or visa please contact the embassy or consulate immediately in the country you are traveling in.
3. Never carry packages on behalf of anyone else, however genuine they seem to be.
4. Never leave luggage unattended at airports, this creates a high security risk
   

Health

1. Check the inoculation and health requirements for all of the countries you are visiting on your journey. Please be aware some vaccinations need to be administered 4-6 weeks before travel.
2. If you are carrying medicines or medications with you please keep a note of your condition and the medication you require somewhere handy e.g. a piece of paper in side the cover of your passport, where it can be easily found in an emergency.
3. Ensure you take extra supplies of medication in case you get delayed abroad.

Tickets

1. Check the ticket for Flight(s) details & accuracy as soon as you recieve it.
2. Keep your tickets with your passport and visas and do not forget them on the day you travel
   

Packing

1. Pack the night before you travel, to save rushing and being late for your flight.
2. Check the weather forecast at your destination before travel to avoid taking unnecessary luggage.
3. Roll clothes instead of folding them, it creates less creases. Honest!
4. Pack travel sizes of all of the lotions and potions you require to save space.

Baggage

1. Check with the airline you are traveling with on the stipulated baggage allowances
2. Ensure that your hand baggage allowance does not exceed the level enforced by the airline you are traveling with. This ensures unnecessary embarrassment at the check-in desk, having to move luggage from your hand baggage to your suitcase.

Getting To & From The Airport

1. Check timetables for public transport in advance to ensure you arrive at the airport in plenty of time
2. If taking your car pre-book parking wherever possible or get someone to give you a lift in order to save time
3. Wherever possible use only metered taxis around the airport

   How to save money on travel in the economic crisis

   Cheapflights always looks for the best ways for you to save money on flights and travel. But with the country officially in a recession, advice on ways to tighten your travel purse strings has never been more essential. The good news is that you don't have to stop travelling altogether. There are many ways to spend small but still travel big. Follow these tips to make sure you can still enjoy a great holiday in 2009...

   1. Compare, compare, compare

   Comparison is the raison d'etre of the Cheapflights site.  It has never been more crucial to ensure you are getting the very best deal on every aspect of your holiday. The best way to do this is to compare prices from a huge range of providers. No single carrier always has the best offers, so make sure you check all prices before committing the cash

4. Airline Food

   Chicken or beef? Kosher or gluten-free?

   The range of food available on airlines has improved vastly in recent years, no longer is the option just "meat or veg?" But which airlines cater to a kosher diet or which offer a gluten-free meal? Cheapflights' handy table shows you which meals you can request on which airlines. Check it out before you fly, and remember, for almost all special meals, requests must be made 24 hours in advance of travel.

5. KLM	Muslim : Kosher : Hindu : Vegetarian : Hindu vegetarian : Strict vegetarian : Fruit : Diabetes : Low fat : No added salt : Gluten intolerant: Lactose intolerant : Child : Baby	Must be ordered at least 36 hrs prior to departure, via "Manage My Booking".
   Lufthansa	Hindu : Muslim : Kosher : Diabetic : Gluten-free : Low cholesterol : Low purine : Low protein : Low sodium : Lactose-free : Low calorie: Vegetarian : Lacto ovo vegetarian : Indian vegetarian : Wholefood : Light wholefood : Fish : Fruit	Available on all long-haul and selected short-haul flights. Must be ordered at least 24 hrs before departure, by calling ticket office

   
   

Money

1. Make sure you have enough foreign currency for your immediate arrival into a foreign country, particularly if your flight arrives at an odd hour.
2. Always make a list of the Credit / Debit Card numbers and travelers cheques you are carrying along with the suppliers contact numbers in case they get lost.

Special Requests

1. Give airlines plenty of notice for special meal requirements or seating requests.

General

1. Try to leave plenty of time for checking in at the airport.
2. Always reconfirm your flights before setting out for the airport (do this about 24 hours before time of travel)
3. Check Duty Free allowances carefully particularly on EU destinations.
4. Try to book your flights outside of peak hours, in order to avoid busy commuter routes and congestion at the airport.
5. Do not drink too much before boarding the aircraft, as alcohol and cabin pressure cause enhanced dehydration. You are also unable to use the toilets until the aircraft is airborne and at a safe altitude for the seat belt sign to be taken off.
6. Check with the airline you are traveling with, as to the availability of telephone and laptop power points on board.
7. Leave contact details for yourself either with someone at home or somebody in the office in case they need to reach you in an emergency.
8. A phrase book is always handy - remember, not everyone speaks English.
   

Jetlag

1. Try to drink plenty of water whilst on the aircraft as this helps to counter dehydration.
2. Check in flight magazines, for gentle exercises to do whilst on board to stop stiffness and tiredness of joints.
3. Cleanse and moisturize skin regularly whilst on board again to counter dehydration.
4. Eat a light meal onboard as easier to digest, avoid excessive carbohydrates and fats

1. Airport	Transfer service	Single fare
   London Heathrow	London Underground train1	£2.20 – £4 from central London
   	National Express coach	£5 from Victoria
   	Heathrow Connect train	£7.40 from Paddington
   	Heathrow Express train	£16.50 from Paddington
   	Dot2Dot hotel shuttle bus	£21.50 from central London
   	Just Airports taxi2	Prices vary, £30 from EC1
   London City	London bus 473, 474	£1 – £2 from central London
   	London Underground DLR train	£1.60 – £4 from central London
   	Black cab3	Prices vary, £30 from Victoria
   London Gatwick	easyBus	£2 – £7.50 from Fulham
   	Southern train	£3 – £11.90 from Victoria
   	National Express coach	£7.30 from Victoria
   	First Capital Connect train	£8.90 from King's Cross St Pancras
   	South West Trains	£11 from Victoria
   	Gatwick Express train	£16.90 from Victoria