Hi
Im posting this here as in 3 weeks time, my 7 year old and I are off on our first DIY holiday to Turkey. Although we have been there before, I guess I am just getting a bit worried of the fact that everythings been booked separately and also the fact that it is just him and me, what would happen if something happened to us? We have no rep or anything . . .so, a little panicked thoughts are creeping in.
Are there any "must remembers" or things that I MUST do ahead of travelling, or even things to remember while Im away?
We booked the flights with Aegean for £70 each (for 2 weeks 29th July-12th August)
Room via sunshine.co.uk for £276.00 for 14 nights b and b 4 star
Upgraded the room to a super kingsize suite with jacuzzi for an extra £15 night (decided to treat myself LOL)
and private taxi transfer for £60.
Am pleased with the price I paid, for 2 weeks to a beautiful place in the school summer holidays which is costing less than a week in ibiza did last october, but Im just getting concerned about the DIY aspect. If anyone has any hints/tips that may help, they would be most appreciated
Many thanks
Karen x
double check all dates/times for flights, transfers and hotels.
ensure you have contact details ie phone numbers etc for everyone you have booked part of your holiday with just in case the flight is late or any other problem occurs.
ensure you have travel insurance-take a copy of policy and contact details.
check passports are current.
get something new to keep your kid amused at the airport and on the plane
on morning of travel ensure you have tickets, passports, credit card and money(including entry money to turkey as i think you have to have nice crispy £10 notes)and any other paperwork you will need at hand and check you have these before you close your front door.
relax and enjoy yourself.
ensure you have contact details ie phone numbers etc for everyone you have booked part of your holiday with just in case the flight is late or any other problem occurs.
ensure you have travel insurance-take a copy of policy and contact details.
check passports are current.
get something new to keep your kid amused at the airport and on the plane
on morning of travel ensure you have tickets, passports, credit card and money(including entry money to turkey as i think you have to have nice crispy £10 notes)and any other paperwork you will need at hand and check you have these before you close your front door.
relax and enjoy yourself.
I always take copies of any confirmations I get via email. I know that I can easily access a computer to download if need be, but it just saves any hassle.
Reconfirm your flight 24 hours before you go. If you dont need to reconfirm then still make sure that there are not any last minute flight time changes.
Download a copy of our Safe and Sound booklet and take the parts relevant to you.
It is straightforward but obviously you do worry when its the first time you've done DIY. Have a great holiday
Reconfirm your flight 24 hours before you go. If you dont need to reconfirm then still make sure that there are not any last minute flight time changes.
Download a copy of our Safe and Sound booklet and take the parts relevant to you.
It is straightforward but obviously you do worry when its the first time you've done DIY. Have a great holiday
Great advise there jim . I think I will use your checklist too. 
It is probably a good idea to also reconfirm your flight details for your return journey the day or morning before . I know its a hassle phoning while on holiday but as you are flying with a turkish airline (as I am too) there should be a turkish number to confirm with.
Also I know this isnt DIY related and applies to all holidays abroad but if you intend using your credit/debit cards while in turkey do let your card companies know as we have been caught out a couple of times now where the card companies dont authorise payment . Really annoying and costly if you have to phone them from a mobile in turkey and wait in a queue for 10 minutes to sort it out .
And have a fabulous time Karen . I cant believe your next visit has come around so quickly . I remember well your postings when you returned last year.
lyn
It is probably a good idea to also reconfirm your flight details for your return journey the day or morning before . I know its a hassle phoning while on holiday but as you are flying with a turkish airline (as I am too) there should be a turkish number to confirm with.
Also I know this isnt DIY related and applies to all holidays abroad but if you intend using your credit/debit cards while in turkey do let your card companies know as we have been caught out a couple of times now where the card companies dont authorise payment . Really annoying and costly if you have to phone them from a mobile in turkey and wait in a queue for 10 minutes to sort it out .
And have a fabulous time Karen . I cant believe your next visit has come around so quickly . I remember well your postings when you returned last year.
lyn
double check all dates/times for flights, transfers and hotels.
And in addition to everything everybody else has mentioned, if I've booked the hotel through a booking agent rather than direct, I always contact the hotel in advance by email just to check that they are expecting me! I've never had a problem but you do hear of people who arrive to find that for some reason or other the hotel doesn't hve a reservation for them. If that's going to happen I want to know about it before I leave home and have a chance to do something about it immediately, not when I arrive tired and irritable after the journey! It's also a good opportunity to make any special requests too - for example, in your case the booking agent mightn't have made it clear that you are being accompanied by a 7 yr old and some rooms might be more suited for young child than others.
SM
I also take coppies of passports in case anything happens to them, and keep separately. You have no help from a rep if anything goes amiss, so you do need to be as organised as you can in caase of any problems. I also leave my flight details, and accommodation details (itinerary if I'm travelling round) with my sister. I also keep a few important numbers written down, not in my 'phone. E.g. family numbers I can't remember, and numbers to report lost/stolen credit cards. Oh, and the number and address of the nearest embassy too (have been in places where I wouldn't manage the language if in serious trouble of any kind).
Have a great time
Have a great time
Thank you for the hints everyone, there are some which I hadnt thought of.
Have already contacted the hotel, cos altho I booked the room online through sunshine.co.uk I have upgraded to a suite with the hotel direct
But will definitely do these, I think its just a worry that cos Im a single parent, what would happen if anything happened to me, my son would be on his own. . . BIG worry! :j
Have already contacted the hotel, cos altho I booked the room online through sunshine.co.uk I have upgraded to a suite with the hotel direct
But will definitely do these, I think its just a worry that cos Im a single parent, what would happen if anything happened to me, my son would be on his own. . . BIG worry! :j
Karen, If you've booked return taxi transfers, it's always a good idea to phone the taxi firm the day before you're due to return to the airport, to make sure that they've got your return journey booked down.
I think its just a worry that cos Im a single parent, what would happen if anything happened to me, my son would be on his own. . . BIG worry!
You might find it partially re-assuring then to forearm yourself with the contact details for the nearest British Consulate for where you will be staying. You could then leave a copy with the hotel reception (along with details of a 'next of kin' contact) and request that in the event of something happening to you that they firstly contact the Consulate and let them know that your son, as a British national is in need of assistance, and secondly that they also pass on the NOK details to the Consulate or else contact your NOK direct. I can't help you with the specifics re the Consulate service in Turkey as I've never been but a post on the Turkey forum will attract the attention of the Turkey experts.
SM
might be worthing registering with the Foreign Office at https://www.locate.fco.gov.uk/locateportal/ so that local consulate staff will have access to your family and friends details, that way the hotel or hospital would only have to tell them you need help, the rest would be on the system ready.
Even easier than what I was suggesting! There would no harm in us all doing what Steve suggests but it could help put your mind at rest, Karen.
SM
SM
Whenever we have done DIY to Turkey, I have always found that any of the reps of English travel agents eg First Choice or Thomas Cook, have always been happy to give us advice if needed. I think all the other posters have given all the advice you need. All that remains is to wish you a lovely holiday. ...
Denny
Denny
Post a Reply
Please sign in or register an account to reply to this post.
Similar Topics
-
who remembers menorca in the 70s ??
Posted by marknlez in Spain - Balearics - Menorca Discussion Forum
- Comprehensive Travel Guide/ Travel Blog on Bhutan Tourism
- Comprehensve Travel Guide/ Travel Blog on AmritsarTourism
-
A1 Travel - WORST TRAVEL AGENT EXPERIENCE
Posted by a1travelcustomer in Holiday Complaints
-
best@travel.co uk (Moved to Travel Agents - Glynis)
Posted by fionamcdonald in Tour Operators and Travel Agents