As holiday season hits its peak it's worth sorting out those boring (but important travel essentials) - and no, we're not talking about sorting your holiday wardrobe.
From insurance to foreign currency, making sure you're covered for every eventuality can feel overwhelming, but without these essentials you could be facing holiday hell if things go wrong.
Luckily we've rounded up a handy checklist filled with useful advice - so you can relax and kick back when you get to your exotic locale.
Travel insurance
Despite being an important holiday essential, travel insurance is often overlooked until the very last minute, if at all by holidaymakers.
While picking a policy can feel like a minefield, it's worth doing some research and not just opting for the cheapest without first checking that the cover is right for you. Especially if you have a pre-existing medical condition or are a senior citizen.
That's why the Daily Mirror has teamed up with specialist travel insurance comparison site PayingTooMuch.com to offer a handy comparison tool to help travellers with ongoing medical concerns find a good-value policy that fits their needs.
It’s easy to get a quote online. And if you want a chat there’s a friendly customer care team just a phone call away. So don’t miss out on summer sun – go to Mirror.co.uk/travelinsurance or call 01243 217 461 .
Adequate sun protection
You'd be a fool not to think about sun protection when you're away. Yes we know it's a chore, but just follow these simple tips and you can safeguard your health while enjoying yourself in the sun.
Big price tag doesn't always mean best product. Our feature on cheap sun cream based on research from Which? showed budget brands give better protection than their more expensive rivals. So do your research before investing to avoid getting ripped off.
"SPF is the best 'anti-wrinkle cream' there is" , according to Dr Susan Mayou, consultant dermatologist at the Cadogan Clinic . So using one that is at least SPF30 all over your body and reapplying regularly will help you look more youthful for longer.
Use more of it for better coverage and protection . Most holidaymakers use half or less than half of the amount of sunscreen required for adequate protection. You should apply a generous 2mg per cm2, roughly the equivalent of a tablespoon of product, to your whole body to be on the safe side.
Put it on long before going out in the sun . Sun cream takes at least 30 minutes to bind to the skin and become effective so applying before sun exposure is essential. Otherwise you could leave your skin unprotected from incidental UV exposure, which contributes to up to 50% of sun damage during a lifetime.
An EHIC card
It's worth taking the time to get yourself an EHIC card - and to understand the true benefits of having one .
If you're heading to Europe, the EHIC is one of the most useful bits of plastic you can pack, but that doesn't mean you should forgo sorting out adequate travel insurance .
So what does it offer? Well an EHIC card gives its owner access to medical care - but only at the same level as locals in the EU country they are visiting.
With it some medical care in certain countries may be free, however in most cases you will still have to pay towards any treatment as many countries do not have a free NHS like the UK.
You can find out how to apply and where it is accepted by reading our 'What is an EHIC card' guide .
Prepaid card
There's nothing worse than having to deal with blocked bank cards whilst abroad.
If you're not a fan of taking wads of cash away with you, or don't want to take all your bank cards, a prepaid account like the Quidity Plus Account is a great alternative.
It offers users peace of mind when travelling - just load all the cash you'll need for your trip into your account and start using it.
The prepaid Mastercard® is accepted at 36 million locations worldwide, meaning you won't be caught out and you'll know exactly what you're being charged as the account uses a flat foreign exchange fee of 0.55% on transactions abroad and the daily Mastercard rate to make the currency exchanges.
The added bonus is that there is no overdraft facility, the card is contactless and there's real-time transaction data via the mobile app or online portal - so you can only spend what you’ve got loaded onto it, making it easier to budget along the way.
Issuer Statement: Disclaimer: The Quidity Plus Prepaid Mastercard® is issued by PrePay Solutions Limited pursuant to a licence by Mastercard International. PrePay Technologies Limited is authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority under the Electronic Money Regulations 2011 (FRN: 900010) for the issuing of electronic money and payment instruments. Mastercard is a registered trademark, and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated.