SNAP IT UP
Two pre-holiday photos you should ALWAYS take in case of emergencies – and it could save you £1000s
Failing to plan may be planning to fail when going on holiday
HOLIDAYMAKERS should always take two specific photos ahead of their journeys to avoid costly disasters.
Organising a trip abroad can be a stressful experience at the best of times, but would-be flyers who get their affairs in order before the getaway can avoid pitfalls which cost thousands of pounds.
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One Los Angeles-based traveller, Richard, posted a helpful tip of American travel expert Rick Steves' forum.
The post, uploaded in 2017, was called 'Take a picture of your passport', with Richard writing: "The title pretty much says it."
He added: "Carrying a copy has always been recommended here.
"I have a photocopy in my carry on but a photo stored on my phone as well.
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"We were shopping and asked for our passport number for the VAT paperwork and I don't carry my passport while out and about.
"The store clerk recommended a photo on my phone and I wondered why nobody on the forum ever mentioned it.
"You're welcome."
Many countries in Europe require citizens to carry a valid identity card and present it when requested by authorities.
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If your passport is stolen by pickpockets, you may need to find your way to your nation's embassy.
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Having an image of your passport may go some way to downgrading what could have been a total disaster to simply a less-than-ideal end to a holiday.
The Sun previously reported on another possible event which could ruin your holiday and leave you thousands out of pocket.
Experts earlier suggested that holidaymakers who take a photograph of their suitcase not only have a higher chance of getting it back, but also getting compensation if it is damaged.
Passenger rights website AirHelp stated: "If your bag gets damaged as it travels from A to B, a picture taken just before you handed it over to the airline will prove that you’re not trying to claim for previous damage.
"Because you took a photo of your luggage before handing it over, you have visual proof to back up your claim that your bag was returned in worse condition."
Useful travel tips
'Never do exercise before a long-haul flight'
An expert revealed the surprising reason you shouldn't do exercise before hopping on a long-haul flight.
If you're one of those who love working out before a trip, you might need to think twice.
Many of us might think that exercising before a flight is a smart move.
But turns out we are wrong as laziness may be the best approach to get through a long flight, says sleep expert Rachel Beard.
According to Ms Beard, sleep wellness manager at A.H. Beard's Sleep Wellness Centre, you shouldn't overexert yourself physically right before a trip.
She told Escape: "A long haul flight is stressful for your body, so while some people find a workout before a flight helps to make them tired, it can actually make your body’s repair system work overtime when it should be settling down for sleep and recovering from travel stress."
Viral plane seat ‘hack’
A popular airline 'hack' to secure an entire row of seats for just two people has been sparking conversations online.
The trick is for two people travelling together - for instance, a husband and wife - to book the window and aisle seat of one row, instead of two seats next to each other.
Apparently this is to disincentivise other airline passengers who are travelling solo from selecting a middle seat - popularly viewed as the worst place to sit on a plane - and instead pick another row.
And while people on their own will be discouraged, other couples will also likely want to sit together, meaning the lone middle seat between the two savvy flyers will be overlooked in this instance too.
But while this devious trick has a high reward if it works, it also comes with a high degree of risk, and is far from a fool-proof strategy.
People desperate to get last-minute flights will likely rather sit in a middle seat than not catch their flight at all.
And bargain hunters may also be unbothered by the idea of sitting between two people - especially on shorter flights - because it is often the cheapest seat.
Huge ‘plane faux pas’ that passengers make
Flying can be tedious at the best of times, so frequent travellers may want to avoid the annoying behaviours - which may lead to less than ideal relations with your seat neighbour.
Among the tedious tendencies, listed by travel website Thrillist, is 'keeping the window shade up when it's lights out'.
The publication's editor in chief, Lindsay Schrupp, slammed selfish window seat passengers, writing: "Read the room, buddy.
"We are all on this 7pm plane pretending it’s nighttime together. The lights are dimmed, the blankets are out."
Among the other aeroplane faux pas listed were striking up a conversation with your seatmate, keeping the armrest up, and not helping someone with the overhead bin.
Bailing on your significant other to sit 'wherever you like' was ranked as the most unforgivable faux pas.
Frequent flyer, Sarvakhgyan Santhaunam had previously backed this up on Quora, explaining: "Before every flight journey, just take a photo of your baggage from four different angles on your phone.
"Almost every passenger knows what it contains, but fails to give a clear description of what the baggage looks like.
"For example, if a passenger says he has lost his black case, then airport authorities can never trace it as there are thousands of black cases in the airport.
"A photo gives a very clear description of the baggage and helps airport authorities narrow down their scope of searching.
"Chances of getting your luggage are usually higher if you have a photo."
It's not just the outside you should be taking a picture of, but all of the contents too.
Traveller Ryan Smith previously wrote on The Point's Guy: "Let’s say your bag is lost and you want to file a claim for reimbursement. One of the first steps in this process will be proving what was in your suitcase and its worth.
"Can you name exactly what was in your suitcase the last time you checked a bag, and prove how much each item is worth? I know I wouldn’t be able to off the top of my head.
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"That’s why I plan to take pictures and videos of the contents of my checked bags any time something valuable is inside."
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