Amongst all the excitement surrounding going away on holiday, including planning your accommodation, buying new clothes and making sure you have all the accessories you need ahead of your break, it’s easy to forget the smaller considerations you need to make regarding what to do once you’ve arrived at the airport.
In today’s post, we’re discussing some of the considerations you need to make before touching down in an overseas airport. From transfer services to and from the airport to making sure you follow the rules and regulations of local customs and culture, we’re discussing it all.
Photo by Belinda Fewings on Unsplash
Travelling to and from the airport
You’ve just landed in your chosen destination, stepped off the plane and the wave of heat has hit you. Before you leave the airport, you still have customs and baggage reclaim to get through and we all know how long that can take! By the time you’ve gone through all the various airport protocols and security procedures, there’s nothing better than knowing you and your luggage are able to jump into a secure, planned mode of transport once you exit the airport – allowing you to start enjoying your holiday.
Shuttle Direct provide a safe and reliable service where you can pre-book your transfer to your final destination, ensuring your journey is hassle-free, quick and easy. Depending on your budget, you can choose to ride in luxury with your party only, or for those of you looking for a more pocket-friendly alternative, you can opt to book a transfer in a larger vehicle with other holidaymakers.
Make sure you arrive early
If you’re a frequent flyer who’s used to flying out from your local airport, you’ll be accustomed to its layout and know exactly where you need to go in advance of your trip. You’ll also be familiar with the size of it and how long it can take to get through check-in and security. When you’re travelling from a foreign airport however, you don’t know the set-out, so will naturally be unsure of how long it takes to make your way around. As a result, make sure you arrive early to give yourself enough time to navigate through customs and security with time to spare before your flight.
Unless you’re travelling to one of the major airports which are home to various connecting flights, then you might be departing from an airport that has only a small security section – meaning it could be extremely busy around the time you’re departing. Not only this, but it’s likely that you’ll be departing from an airport that primary language isn’t the same as yours, which is even more of a reason to make sure you arrive early.
Travel with the appropriate items
When you’re travelling from one country to another, it’s likely that you’ll arrive in a completely different climate to the one that you left behind. If you’re leaving the UK from a European destination in the height of it’s winter season for example, then you’ll be wearing appropriate clothing for the weather. However, if you’re travelling to sunny Australia from your wintery British city, you might be a little warm in your layers of clothing.
As a result, make sure you have a bag with you that allows for a quick change of clothing at the airport, so you can slip into your sandals and shorts and don’t overheat on your journey from the airport to your final destination.
Photo by Keith Chan on Unsplash
To smoke or not to smoke?
While smoking is a health hazard, it’s a habit that many people across the world are yet to ditch. Different countries have different laws on smoking, some having heavy regulations on where you can and can’t smoke, while others are more laidback. If you’re a smoker and you’re on a long haul flight, it’s worth doing your homework before you jet off to see which airports have a smoking lounge or dedicated areas.
If you’ve decided to kick the cigarettes but take up vaping instead, then check out which countries you can vape in. For example, countries such as Brazil and Singapore have made vaping illegal, in which case you won’t be able to use one or get it through customs on your arrival at the airport. There are some countries in which vaping is legal yet restricted. For example, if you’re travelling to Japan, you can take up to 120ml of nicotine liquid with you, but you won’t be able to buy any in the country.
Additionally, it’s worth considering the areas in and around the airport that allow you to use your vape. While some airports strictly prohibit smoking within airport premises, this isn’t to say that vaping within the same area is banned too. Check this out before you travel to ensure you’re not breaking any laws and don’t miss your transfer because of an incident that you could’ve prevented had you have done your research before your visit.
We hope that with these helpful tips, you’re ready for your travels and fully prepared for arriving at an airport that you’re not used to.
