Stress-free travel: nine common travel problems solved | Imodium travel tips
How can I ensure I get my hand luggage through security quickly and easily?
Getting your hand luggage through airport security is often cited as one of the most stressful aspects of flying. Ease the anxiety by ensuring that you’re clear on the latest rules and regulations.
It’s common knowledge that liquids are not allowed in hand luggage, except in containers of no more than 100ml, placed in a resealable transparent plastic bag holding no more than a litre. Exceptions to the rule are breast milk (containers of up to 2 litres are allowed) and medicine, if supported by a doctor’s letter or prescription.
Other restrictions are less obvious. You can take a cigarette lighter, but only one, and only if carried on your person rather than in hand luggage. The ban on sharp objects prohibits large scissors and corkscrews, as well as knives, but small nail scissors and even knitting needles are allowed. Certain sports items, such as bats, racquets, pool cues and fishing rods are forbidden.
When it comes to electronic devices, make sure that they’re charged before you travel. If your device doesn’t switch on when requested, you won’t be allowed to take it on to the aircraft. There are size restrictions on tech when returning to the UK from (currently) Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Tunisia and Saudi Arabia, which means any electronic item larger than a smartphone must be checked in the hold. It has been reported that the US may soon extend its own laptop ban to travellers from the UK; check before you travel.
My flight is overbooked
Flights are routinely overbooked in case of no-shows: make sure you check in early if time is of the essence. If not, and the airline offers compensation to any passengers volunteering to wait for the next flight, stick your hand up. It could pay for the cost of your holiday.
My flight was cancelled
Under European law, you are entitled to up to €600 in compensation if your flight is cancelled or delayed by more than three hours. Airlines are exempt in cases of extreme weather, but since a landmark legal battle in 2014 they do have to pay out in the case of technical faults.
Simply write to the airline with the details of your delay, including receipts for reasonable expenses incurred as a result. Airlines should also provide vouchers for food and accommodation in the case of lengthy holdups.
I missed my flight
If you miss your flight, you will likely lose the cost of your flight and have to buy another. Surprisingly, some of the cheaper airlines offer a lifeline: Ryanair, for instance, will let you board the next available flight for a £100 surcharge, and easyJet charges £80 if you report to its desk within two hours of the missed flight. If you have travel insurance and can prove circumstances beyond your control (not just “I oversleptâ€), most policies will pay out.
The airline lost my luggage
Prevention is better than cure: the airline can’t lose your checked luggage if you don’t have any. Try to fit everything into your carry-on (make sure it’s the right size, which varies according to the airline). You’ll save time on arrival, too.
If your check-in luggage is lost altogether, it may be easier to claim through your travel insurance than from the airline. The airline should still pay your replacement costs if not, although it will typically want receipts for everything in your claim, which may prove impracticable, and the sum claimable is usually capped â€" at anything up to £1,000.
Be sure to notify the airline as soon as possible. The deadlines for claiming are seven days for damaged luggage or contents, and 21 days for delayed or missing luggage.
If your luggage is mislaid, report it to the airline and it will deliver it to your holiday address as soon as possible. You can also claim for basic expenses in the meantime â€" replacement toiletries and underwear, for instance â€" if you keep receipts.
How can I stop my holiday budget spiralling out of control?
Once you’ve paid in advance for flights and accommodation, it’s tempting to think that’s your holiday paid for. But unless you keep track of all the extras, from food and drink to transport and museums, you can find yourself with an unpleasant credit card bill at the end of the month.
Before travelling, give yourself a daily budget that seems appropriate to the country you’re visiting. Then add 20%, since there will always be unforeseen costs, or a natural desire to splash out on a special treat “because we’re on holidayâ€.
Keep a note of everything you spend. If you’re more the creative type than a natural record-keeper, keep a travel diary and jot the expenses down along with your lyrical descriptions of the restaurant or art gallery. If you’re more tech-minded, use an app such as Mint, Trabee Pocket or XpenseTracker.
Tot it up at the end of each day: if you’ve spent too much, economise the next day. Treat it like a challenge!
What are the most common travel health complaints, and how can I avoid them
Trying out different food is one of the best parts of going abroad, but it sometimes pays to be cautious, especially when it comes to eating salad, which is often washed in bulk, and pre-sliced fruit. Dr Jane Wilson-Howarth, author of The Essential Guide to Travel Health, says the key rule for food is: “Peel it, boil it, cook it, or forget it.â€
If you’re concerned, steer clear of street vendors and uncooked meat and seafood. If you’re in a place where bottled water is advisable, make sure it’s delivered with a sealed lid, and don’t ask for ice in your drinks: it’s unlikely to be frozen from mineral water. Try not to swallow any water while swimming. And take some Imodium with you in case your precautions fail; it can help treat your diarrhoea.
The stress of travelling can also cause diarrhoea, so try and plan: make a list of things to do before you go; read up about your destination; and start packing at least a week in advance.
Aside from “holiday tummyâ€, the most common complaints for travellers are sunburn and sunstroke. “Mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun,†sang Noël Coward. If you intend to do that, wear a hat and apply sunscreen.
I’m travelling in a big group and worried we won’t get along. How do I avoid conflict?
Everyone has their own travel style. Some are planners, others enjoy serendipity and spontaneity. Some want to cram in as many sights as possible, while others want to relax in the sun. If you’re travelling in a group or with extended family, get together to discuss your different wants and needs before you fly.
Decision-making is particularly hard in a group, but try to decide jointly on an itinerary before setting out, and a timetable for everyone to stick to. Or appoint a leader for the day: everyone can chip in an opinion, but unless one person has the ultimate decision you can waste precious holiday time arguing where to go next.
Budget is another potential minefield. The cost-conscious traveller may seethe with resentment if one member of the group orders the most expensive item on the menu. Agree in advance to split meal bills according to what each person eats and drinks, rather than equally, and have a kitty for communal expenses, such as taxis or rounds of drinks.
Finally, accept that it’s OK to do your own thing. If one or more people want to split from the group for part of the day, no one should be offended.
My accommodation is disappointing. How do I get an upgrade on my hotel room
Fancy an upgrade but don’t think you “deserve†one? Look at it from the hotel’s point of view: especially in the age of customer reviews on the internet, it’s good business to make you happy. If you ask politely for an upgrade, and it has a better room available, they may well give it to you.
How do you maximise your chances? Latedeals.co.uk recommends arriving after 6pm, when the hotel has a better idea of what rooms will remain empty. It will help if you’ve booked for a single night: it won’t want to risk giving you a more expensive room that may get booked the next day.
Travelzoo.com recommends booking at a new hotel, which may have more rooms available and will be keener to create customer loyalty. Be friendly and polite, of course, but also discreet: the receptionist won’t want a whole queue of people asking for the same treatment.
Other tips include booking directly with the hotel, rather than through a deals website, and joining their loyalty programme: it is more likely to do you a favour if it thinks you may become a repeat customer. If you are travelling on a special occasion, such as a birthday or wedding anniversary, mention it when you book, and you may find yourself upgraded on check-in without having to ask.
If you have a genuine complaint about your assigned room â€" if something is broken, or there is a loud noise or a bad smell â€" go back to reception and ask politely if there is a “better†room. They will often upgrade you by way of apology.
If all the above fails, ask how much an upgrade would cost. If better rooms are available on the day, they will often give you one for a small charge.
Imodium Instants for diarrhoea relief contain loperamide. Always read the label. If you have severe diarrhoea, blood in your stools, a high temperature, or if symptoms persist for more than 48 hours, then consult your doctor.
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