Travel tips

THE PRACTICAL STUFF, EXPLAINED PROPERLY

Honest comparisons and the practical advice nobody tells you until you're already there. No fluff, just what I'd tell you in person.

Skier going down a slope beneath a chairlift

Travel insurance

Most travel insurance doesn't cover skiing: what to check before you go

Only 6% of single trip policies include winter sports cover as standard, and a GHIC card won't fill the gap. Here's exactly what proper ski cover needs to include, and the mistakes that get claims rejected.

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Wat Arun temple on the Chao Phraya river in Bangkok

Entry requirements

Thailand's entry rules just got stricter: what to know before you fly

Thailand has halved its visa free stay to 30 days, the arrival card is still mandatory, and officials say thousands of travellers are being caught out by fake websites charging for something that's free. Here's what's actually changed.

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Facial recognition technology displaying a scanned image

Border rules

UK eGates are changing: what you need to know before you fly home

Children as young as 8 can now use the eGates, and a new contactless system that skips the passport scan has started rolling out across UK airports. Here's exactly what's changed, and where.

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People walking through a busy airport terminal with flight departure boards and signage

Consumer rights

The EU's flight compensation rules are changing: what it actually means for your holiday

The EU has agreed its biggest flight compensation shake up since 2004. The three hour rule and the compensation amounts aren't changing, but plenty else is, and whether it affects you depends on which airport your flight home takes off from.

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A Labrador looking out of a car window on a road trip

Pet travel

Taking your pet to Europe? The rules changed in April 2026

EU pet passports no longer work for UK residents travelling to the EU, an Animal Health Certificate is now the only way in, and the rules on vehicle pet limits changed too. Here's exactly what's required now.

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The Statue of Liberty standing before the Manhattan skyline

Border rules

The ESTA fee for the USA has gone up again, here's how to apply properly

The official ESTA fee for US travel has risen twice this year, now $40.62 (around £30), and copycat websites are still charging UK travellers far more than that. Here's the real cost, who actually needs one, and the one rule that keeps you from being overcharged.

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A family walking through an airport with their luggage

Family travel

Term time holiday fines: what UK parents actually need to know in 2026

More than a third of UK parents plan to take their kids out of school for a holiday this year, and fines have topped £41 million since 2022. Here's exactly what the current rules say in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and how to weigh it up properly.

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Sim cards and their adaptors laid out against a dark background

Phones abroad

Mobile roaming charges in Europe 2026: who actually charges you now

EE, Vodafone, Three and Sky Mobile now charge to use your phone in the EU, while O2 and several others still don't. Exactly who charges what, and how to avoid a surprise bill landing when you're home.

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The seafront at Fuengirola on Spain's Costa del Sol

Booking & payments

Summer 2028 is now on sale with Jet2holidays, and it's already cheaper

Jet2holidays has released Summer 2028. I checked live prices against 2027 for the same hotel, room, board and flights, three real examples below, plus how to book now with zero deposit on a direct debit.

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An open passport with multiple colourful ink stamps on the pages

Border rules

Your passport might not be as valid as you think: the 10 year rule explained

Spain, Greece and Cyprus apply a strict 10 year issue date rule plus 3 months remaining validity, and it still catches people out every year. Turkey and Egypt have completely different rules. Here's exactly what to check before you book.

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Swimming pool at a holiday resort

Consumer rights

Your package holiday didn't match what you booked? Here's what you can claim

An overbooked pool, building work never mentioned, or a downgraded room: package holidays come with real legal protection most people never use. Here's exactly what you're entitled to claim, and how.

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Luggage carousel at an airport baggage claim with a departures screen above it

Baggage & luggage

Lost or delayed luggage? Here's what you're actually entitled to

The real compensation limits under the Montreal Convention, the deadlines that catch people out, and exactly how to claim your money back if your bag doesn't turn up.

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The Matterhorn above Zermatt covered in snow

Ski holidays

The best snow sure ski resorts for December, January, February and March

Altitude and glacier terrain matter far more than luck when it comes to snow. Here's exactly which resorts to book for each month of the season, and why.

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Person using a card payment terminal

Costs & budgeting

Pay in pounds or local currency? The card machine trick that's costing you money abroad

Card machines and cash machines abroad increasingly ask if you'd rather pay in pounds. It sounds helpful, but it almost never is. Here's exactly why, and what to press instead.

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Suitcase full of banknotes representing holiday costs

Costs & budgeting

Tourist tax in Europe 2026: what you'll actually pay, and where

Amsterdam's accommodation costs have jumped, Barcelona has doubled its tax and Edinburgh has launched Scotland's first visitor levy. Exactly what you'll pay across Europe in 2026, region by region, and where you won't pay anything at all.

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Child wearing noise cancelling headphones

Accessibility

Hotels that actually support autism, ADHD and sensory needs

Verified sensory rooms, certified staff training and named accessibility programmes across Spain and Turkey, every hotel bookable through TUI, Jet2holidays or easyJet holidays. Plus why Greece isn't on the list yet.

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Departure board at an airport showing flight information

Financial protection

What happens if your travel company goes bust? ATOL and ABTA explained

Several UK travel firms have stopped trading in 2026 alone. Here's what ATOL and ABTA protection actually cover, how to check yours before you book, and exactly what to do if it ever happens to you.

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People walking through a sunlit airport terminal

Accessibility

Travelling with a hidden disability: the Sunflower lanyard and your rights

Which UK airports actually recognise the Sunflower lanyard, how to book assistance properly with your airline or tour operator, your consumer rights if it goes wrong, and practical tips for booking a holiday around a hidden disability.

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Traveller walking through an airport departure hall with hand luggage

Airport security

The 100ml liquid rule: which UK airports have actually dropped it

Heathrow, Gatwick and a handful of others now let you carry up to 2 litres through security. Manchester, Stansted and several more still don't. Here's exactly where things stand, and the catches nobody mentions.

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Large cruise ship sailing across open ocean

Cruises

Choosing the right cruise line for you

Mainstream, premium or luxury, family or adults-only, ocean or river: the honest guide to matching the right cruise line to the holiday you actually want.

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Traveller looking up at an airport flight information board showing delays

Consumer rights

Flight delayed or cancelled? Here's what you're actually owed

The real UK261 compensation rules, why September's air traffic control failure didn't trigger a payout, and exactly what to do next time your flight lets you down.

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Travellers with luggage walking through an airport terminal

Border rules

EES and ETIAS explained

What each system actually is, when ETIAS is due and what it costs, the EES kiosk process and what happens if you say no, plus how it differs for families, disabilities and special assistance.

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Travellers with cabin bags waiting at an airport gate

Packing

Budget airline hand luggage sizes compared

Ryanair, easyJet, Wizz Air, Vueling, Jet2 and TUI: free bag sizes, paid cabin bag sizes and what actually happens if yours doesn't fit.

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Phone connected to a power bank charger

Flying safely

Power banks on flights: the rules, the bans and buying a safe one

What happened on the easyJet fire, the actual packing rules, which airlines now ban using them onboard, and how to buy one that won't let you down.

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Crowd walking under a large rainbow flag at a Pride parade

LGBTQIA+ travel

LGBTQIA+ friendly holidays: where to go and where to take care

The honest guide to gay scene hotspots, romantic getaways, group trips, Pride events and the countries worth extra caution, legal versus lived reality explained properly.

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Jake on holiday beside a pool

Booking & payments

Booking early vs booking late: what actually matters

It's not really about saving money, it's about choice. Plus a real example of what a direct debit plan looks like on a £5,000 holiday.

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Skier on a snowy mountain slope

Ski holidays

What to actually pack for a ski holiday

The full packing list, on the slopes and off them, including the things people forget every single year.

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Christmas market stalls lit up at night

City breaks

The 3 best Christmas market city breaks for 2026

Budapest, Vienna and Prague compared: what the markets are like, what things cost, flight times and how to get into town.

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Breeze eSIM logo Airalo logo

eSIMs

Breeze eSIM vs Airalo: which one should you actually use?

I compare pricing, coverage, the apps and the small print on both, so you're not gambling on data roaming with no signal on day one.

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Coming soon

More travel tips on the way

Packing lists, airport tricks, and the questions I get asked before every single trip. New tips get added here regularly.

Got a trip in mind?

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