Holidays, Life and Other Enjoyable Things
January is certainly the time when my thoughts turn to summer holidays at the beach. I also tend to use this time of the year to plan my future vacations.
Among my most memorable trips, was one Penny and I took to the UK. The aim being for me to show Penny where I grew up. I was born in Yorkshire, which at that time made you eligible to play cricket for that famous county (sadly this quaint tradition no longer applies)!! Unfortunately, whilst eligible I lacked all necessary cricketing talent or ability!
The photo shows Penny and I being quite jubilant having circumnavigated the city of York by walking along the ancient city wall.
There are however some issues that should be covered as part of those holiday plans. Here are 8 that come to my mind: –
Estate Planning
You should have a will, and if you have one you should consider whether it needs to be updated. There are a series of articles on our website that discuss estate planning.
Enduring Powers of Attorney
My view is that everyone over the age of 18 should have an Enduring Power of Attorney. If you are injured or disabled whilst travelling (or even when back home!) it proves an invaluable document! There are several articles on Enduring Powers of Attorney on our website here.
Being a Smart (and Safe) Traveller Overseas.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has a web site “smarttraveller.gov.au”. This site gives practical advice for Australians travelling overseas. Importantly it details concerns or issues to be aware of in particular countries.
Travel Insurance
If you are travelling overseas, this is, of course, a must. A few suggestions: –
(a) Read your policy!
(b) Take a copy of the policy with you,
(c) Make sure you have the required details if you need to make a claim including all receipts, and
(d) Ensure that you have disclosed in writing to the insurer all and any relevant pre-existing medical conditions.
I usually rely on the travel insurance offered by my credit card and take with me a paper copy of the policy and proof of purchase using that credit card so I can prove my eligibility if I ever need to make a claim. I also have this material available electronically so I can access it from any computer.
Great care needs to be taken however in using “credit card insurance” to ensure you qualify for cover and have the appropriate level of insurance. You should also be aware that not all cards offer coverage and the level of cover can vary depending on the type (or colour!) of the card you have.
Copies of Passports and Travel Documents
It is a good idea to have a paper and electronic copy of your passport and other travel documents just in case they are lost. I also take a spare passport photo with me.
Consolidate Travel Itineraries
On longer trips I find that I have booked some parts of my travel through a travel agent, some parts on the internet and yet other parts by phone. Putting together a consolidated itinerary can be a great help. If you are looking for a simple way to do that I strongly recommend a free program/application called “TRIPIT” which you can access from your computer, tablet, or smart phone. It provides a simple and convenient way to consolidate your travel plans. It is also free! – tripit.com.
Don’t Forget an Extra Camera Battery (or Two)
Have you positioned yourself at that epic sunset photo spot and realized your camera battery is dead and you don’t have a backup? Being an avid photographer I take at least one extra camera battery on my trips so that I don’t miss out on that magic shot. I also suggest you take a spare memory card (or 3!) so that you don’t run out of space.
Alert Your Bank and Credit Card Company of Your Travel Plans
This is a great habit to get into if you don’t want your credit card company or bank to put a hold on your card while you are overseas
To update your Will and Enduring Power of Attorney, please get in contact with Emma Bragg or myself on 6140 3263.