5 useful travel tips for the June holidays

It was just last month that airports in the UK went on a blitz, cancelling flights to reduce the load on its terminals and leaving stranded travellers all around. In June, with rising tourism, ever-changing Covid-19 regulations and more, expect more flight changes, cancellations and delays. Not to mention having to extend your holiday if you can't leave the country because you contracted Covid-19. 

These are all more than frustrating when you're just trying to enjoy your vacation – but having good travel insurance can help smooth that over with some compensation. So, don't neglect to get yourself covered. Some useful and fuss-free services you can use include Chubb and FWD which cover basic travel insurance with the option of Covid coverage – if you, unfortunately, pick it up during your trip.

On the way back to Singapore from Schiphol Airport, I waited a modest 20 minutes to check-in (I was three hours early), but went on to endure more than an hour in the security line. Around me, many were forced to cut the queues or run frantically for their gates, with some reduced to tears after missing their flights. 

Straining under staff shortages and skyrocketing travel demand, many airports in Europe and around the world are seeing insane queues. Arriving two hours before flight departure used to be quite sufficient – but no more. Read up on the airport situation wherever you are and if need be, arrive for check-in at least three hours before departure for a smooth and stress-free airport experience. 

Another tip would be to download the airline app and you can handle checking in 24 hours before your flight and even choosing your inflight menu beforehand. Checking in early allows you to do a quick baggage drop at the airport and then you're free to roam the terminal or relax and prep mentally for your flight ahead. 

You can thank the Covid-19 pandemic for the extra documentation that you have to show at immigration checkpoints. What's really handy is a digital vaccination certificate, which you can save to your Apple Wallet or equivalent through Notarise. This will help you to breeze through immigration wherever you are, and you can keep it on you at all times in case you're ever asked for it at any point during your trip. While you're at it, save your boarding passes, travel insurance and other documents either printed or in digital form too. 

Do check if the city or country you're flying into requires any sort of visa application or digital passenger declaration that needs to be submitted early as well. Countries like Australia and Singapore have passenger declarations that you need to submit before landing. 

Covid-19 rules and regulations vary from country to country. Some still require a PCR or ART test upon entry, while others – like the UK and Australia – have dropped the requirement completely. Same goes for mask mandates, with much of US and Europe going mask-free, while places like Australia and South Korea still mandate it in some settings. Same goes for proof of vaccinations.

The point is – stay aware of what's required in each place by visiting official government websites and checking out news sites before departure. You wouldn't want to deal with fines or pesky disciplinary action while on your long-awaited holiday. 

And of course, triple-vaccinated as most of us are, the risk of becoming infected with Covid-19 is still there. Keep yourself as safe as possible by packing a bottle of hand sanitiser, extra masks, ART kits, and medicine to help with the symptoms of Covid-19. 

If you're extra kiasu, you can also look into nearby clinics where you can get an official Covid-19 test, and whether you need to report your case to local health authorities. It might also be helpful to have contingency plans in place in case you or any of your travel companions need to self-isolate. And again, opt for Covid-19 coverage when buying travel insurance!