Whether you are a Julyist or an Aotian, the big start on vacation is coming soon. Before forgetting everything for a few weeks, it is better to prepare and anticipate the inconveniences. Here is a non-exhaustive checklist of the 10 things to do before leaving.
Protect your home
1 – Prevent claims – Coming back from vacation and finding yourself at home, with your feet in the water: it couldn’t be more unpleasant. To avoid this kind of mishap, there is a simple solution, which must be implemented before leaving: shut off the water supply. This is all the more important since in the event of water damage in your absence, you are not sure of being compensated: some home insurance policies provide for restrictions on cover when adequate preventive measures have not been taken. not taken. In general, the insurers will therefore expect you to turn off the water, or even to drain the pipes and appliances such as the hot water tank, as soon as you are absent for more than 3 days.
If, unfortunately, you are the victim of a flood, do not delay declaring it: you havea period of 5 working daysfrom the knowledge of the claim.
Of course, the advice is also worth for gas and, where possible, for electricity. Not always easy, especially if there is food left in your freezer. But it is advisable to unplug everything that can be unpluggedin particular lightning-sensitive devices: television, computer, internet box, etc.
2 – Prevent burglaries – Falling at the height of the health crisis, the number of burglaries increases and returns to its pre-Covid level. It is therefore better to implement a few countermeasures to reduce the risks. The first: simulate a presence at home as much as possible. To do this, you can rely on relatives and ask them to pick up the mail or come and open the shutters or turn on the lights from time to time. Some home automation devices can also simulate this presence. It is on the other hand not recommended to leave the shutters open all the time: here again, this may lead to a restriction of guarantees on the side of your insurer. You can also choose to rent your accommodation during your absence: you will thus limit the risks of visits, while benefiting from a return of money.
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Another tip: avoid as much as possible leaving public traces of your absence. Do not indicate that you have gone on vacation on your answering machine, and if possible wait for your return to post photos on social networks.
Prepare your trip
3 – Check your car insurance – Before leaving on the vacation route, make sure your car is in good condition take it: check the condition and pressure of the tyres, if necessary have it serviced.
However, a breakdown or a collision is always possible. Remember to check that you have assistance in the event of a problem. This coverage is often included in your car insurance, but it can also be optional. Consult your contract before leavingwhich will also allow you to know what exactly the warranty covers – whether it includes, for example, a mileage allowance – and how to trigger it in the event of a problem.
Reminder: if you are going with a caravan or trailer, you must also insure them. If you intend to equip your car with accessories (roof boxes, bicycle mountings), also check that they are covered or, if necessary, have them insured.
Compare car insurance contracts
4 – Train or plane: protect yourself from hazards – Are you going by train or by plane? There too, you can experience alas: delays, cancellations, loss of luggage, etc. Damage whose consequences are generally not covered by your home insurance.
They are, on the other hand, by the insurance packages included with your bank card, provided that it is premium (Visa Premier, Gold Mastercard and beyond). Be careful, however: these guarantees are only triggered if you pay, by this means, all or part – it depends on the banks – of your trip. Thereby, if you have a premium card, use it to pay for your train or plane tickets.
Finally, if you intend to rent a car once there, do not hesitate notify your insurertake stock of the coverage provided by the lessor and, if they are too high, redeem the deductibles to reduce the amount of the remainder charged.
What advice in the face of the Covid?
Unlike the two previous summers, you shouldn’t be under too many Covid-related constraints this year. Including if you leave the national territory, most European countries having lifted the restrictions. Check all the same that this is the case at your resort.
However, the Covid epidemic is on the rise again and could create disruption, especially in airports. Reminder: if your airline cancels your flight, for example due to a lack of staff, it must refund within 7 days and, if the cancellation occurs less than 2 weeks before departure, award you compensation of between 250 and 600 euros.
If you are forced to cancel due to an infection, however, there is no no right to reimbursement, unless your tickets are cancellable and refundable. Check this point in the general conditions of sale of your carrier or your host.
Avoid inconveniences at your vacation spot
5 – Make sure you are covered in case of damage to your rental – Have you opted for a seasonal rental, a professional rental company or a private owner? Your multi-risk home insurance normally covers your liability in the event of a problem: if you break something, for example. However, check this point before leaving. And don’t hesitate bring a certificate from your insurer. Another piece of advice: don’t take the inventory of fixtures lightly, and remember to read the meters.
6 – Check that your credit card limits are sufficient – Whoever says holidays generally says exceptional expenses. Your ability to use your bank card, however, is not unlimited. She is subject to payment limits – over 30 rolling days – and withdrawals – generally over 7 rolling days – the default amounts of which vary from a few hundred euros for entry-level cards to several thousand euros for premium cards. Once these amounts have been reached, your bank card will be blocked, even if you have the necessary money in your account to cover the expense.
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Before leaving, check where you are, on your customer area or your mobile application. And if you fear an overrun, ask a temporary ceiling increase your bank. An option that is generally free and can sometimes be activated, independently and in real time, from your computer or your mobile. By the way, also check the expiry date of your bank card. And remember to collect the news if it arrives lucky.
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If you go abroad
7 – Notify your bank – Among the parameters used by your bank to prevent credit card fraud, the localization of payments figures prominently. To avoid an unnecessary alert and a risk of blocking, it is therefore strongly advised to notify your bank of your departure abroad. Not necessarily if you are going to a neighboring country (Spain, England, Italy, etc.) but imperatively if you are leaving Europe, especially to go to Asia or Africa.
8 – Check that you are covered in the event of damage caused to yourself and others – You are cycling along a beach and you accidentally run over a peak. To avoid having to bear the medical costs caused by the accident – particularly high in a country like the United States – two guarantees are essential: the assumption of your medical costs, and those of the third party involved.
If you are traveling to Europe, consider getting the european health insurance card which will allow you to benefit from support. Outside Europe, it is advisable to equip yourself with a support contract, providing for the reimbursement of medical expenses incurred and, if necessary, medical repatriation. Guarantees that can be included in your credit card insurance: check!
With regard to damage caused to others, it is essential to have cover for your civil liability abroad. It is sometimes included by default in comprehensive home insurance, but is most often optional. Check this point before you leave. Before subscribing, however, check that you are not covered, here too, by your bank card: the Liability abroad is indeed commonly present in the insurance packages of premium cards.
9 – Anticipate the cost of payments and withdrawals in foreign currencies – The euro has greatly facilitated travel in Europe: no more need to exchange money, no more additional charges on card payments or withdrawals. It is different when you leave the euro zone, including for Great Britain and any other country that has not adopted the single currency. There, each payment or each withdrawal, you are likely to pay fees to your bank. Before leaving, check their amounts. And, if so, equip yourself with a card that limits or even eliminates these costs. There are more and more on the market, for example at Fortuneo, Boursorama, Revolut or even Aumax for me. And some are free without conditions.
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10 – Check that you can use your mobile – Never without my mobile! It is becoming more and more difficult to do without your smartphone, including when traveling. To get your bearings, book a hotel or… check the status of your account and contact your bank in the event of a problem. Most packages offered with a smartphone offer a quota of data, calls and SMS abroad at no extra cost. This is the case of Orange, SFR, Free or Bouygues Telecom.
However, check yours, especially at the low cost Sosh, B&You or Red by SFR. In the event of an unpleasant surprise, operators most often offer options for abroad.
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