Planning a trip can be stressful! Whether it’s a cheeky weekend away or a fun fortnight, having a checklist cuts any travel jitters in half. If you’re planning a trip to the UK for the first or fifteenth time, we’ve compiled a five-step guide for organising your dream vacation.
At Bye By Car, we know how important it is to have a stress-free UK adventure. That’s why our Self-Guided Tours of Scotland include everything from a detailed itinerary and airport transfers to car rentals and activities to ensure you have an exceptional experience.
Whichever part of the UK you choose to explore, why not let us take care of the details? Get in touch and we’ll start compiling the itinerary for your customisable trip to the UK.
In the meantime, check out our five-step guide to start planning your trip to the UK.
1. The Basics – When to Visit the UK (and Budgeting)
So, you’ve picked your destination. Great! But when should you go? As you’ll know from any conversation with people in the UK, we love discussing the weather. If you prefer atmospheric autumn rain or balmy summer days, there’s really never a bad time to visit!
Once you’ve picked the month for your trip, it’s time to start budgeting. Here are our tips to make your money stretch further while you’re away and how to avoid any nasty, costly surprises. Before travelling, and while on holiday, we recommend:
- Checking current exchange rates
- Choosing whether to use a debit/credit card abroad
- Setting a daily budget to curb overspending
- Paying in local currency to avoid foreign transaction fees
- Comparing and buying travel insurance
2. Researching Your UK Destination
When planning a trip to the UK, we advise not only getting to know the history and culture of your chosen destination but also researching any travel requirements for entry. We don’t want you to get caught out at the airport!
Depending on where you’re visiting from, you may need a visa. Check if you need a visa to visit on the UK Government’s website and the Irish Government’s website. At the time of writing, there are no mandatory COVID testing entry requirements when visiting the UK, but we also suggest checking online in case of changes.
3. Booking the Essentials for Your UK Trip
Once you’ve assembled all the necessary travel documents, it’s time to book the essentials. Your future self will thank you for booking flights, hotels, rental cars, and transfers in advance so you’re all set for your UK trip. Plastic wallets are great to help organise physical copies of printed documents.
At Bye By Car, our Self-Drive Holidays in the UK and Ireland include several pre-planned itineraries for week-long holidays. We book all of the big stuff, like hotels, morning meals, and excursions, meaning your trip is as straightforward as possible.
All you need to do is book your flights! When you arrive, you can jump in the car and follow our detailed guide to driving around the UK’s most unique destinations.
4. Planning Your UK Itinerary
Now you’ve got the nuts and bolts of your UK trip sorted, let the fun begin! It’s time to choose all the places you want to squeeze in. We recommend planning ahead and buying tickets for any day trips in advance to avoid disappointment. Especially if they might sell out.
If you’ve always wanted to explore the UK by car, let us use our knowledge of the UK’s landscape to curate the best excursions for your dream road trip. All of our customisable UK self-drive tours include amazing spots you’ll never find in the guidebooks.
Why not take in the breathtaking fortress and cliffs on our epic Game of Thrones Northern Ireland Tour? Or, if you’re looking for a dash of magic on your holiday, try our Harry Potter & The Alnwick Castle Tour of Scotland.
5. Prepare to Enjoy Your UK Trip!
Money? Check. Keys? Check. Phone? Check. Suitcase? Check. And, most importantly, passport? Check!
If you’ve followed the checklist this far, you should be all set to enjoy your fully booked holiday. However you decide to travel to the UK, we hope you have a stress-free experience and enjoy all the wonders it has to offer.
All that’s left is for you to start counting down the days until your trip to the UK. Oh, and don’t forget to pack some sunscreen and an umbrella. Even if you’re travelling around by car, you never know in the UK!
We don’t know about you, but after that list, we’re ready to start planning our next holiday. So fire up the search engines and get researching for your next big adventure to the UK.
If you’re keen to hear more about Bye By Car’s Custom Self-Drive Tours in Scotland and Ireland, we’re on hand to answer any of your questions. Get in touch to tell us what you’d like to see on your trip to the UK and we can start planning a brilliant array of activities.
