Before you go
Once you’ve booked your holiday, there are still some important things to organise before you go.
Baby passports
A baby passport is essential to travel to Florida (at the moment, a passport for under 5s costs £45). The main problem here is getting the picture right! You can follow the guidelines set out by the Passport Office and try to do it yourself but, for peace of mind, go to a photographer who’s used to dealing with baby passport photos. Many of the high street photographers offer this service as a sideline to their main portrait businesses. It should set you back around £10, and it’s worth it as, if your picture does not comply with the regulations, the Passport Office will reject your application which will delay the whole process. Ask your photographer to give you a money back guarantee if the photo is rejected.
Another option is to pay a small charge for your application to be checked by the Post Office to ensure everything is fine before it is sent off. This will mean all details, including the photos, are checked and you’ll be told immediately if you need to resubmit or if you’ve missed any details.
Your child passport application should be processed within a month, but it’s always worth leaving more time, especially in the busy Spring months. There are also Fast Track and Premium Services available through the Passport Office which incur extra charges if you suddenly find you’ve left it too late, or if your baby is very young.
For more information about passport applications, visit www.passport.gov.uk
Be aware that there are minimum age limits for children on board airlines without medical certificates. If your baby is very young (weeks rather than months), it’s worth just checking you don’t need any certificates to travel.
The ESTA
Travellers to the US who wish to travel under the Visa Waiver Programme (if you have a British passport, that is probably you) now need to apply in advance via the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). This is a very simple procedure, there is currently no charge, and, once your ESTA number has been issued, your ESTA is valid for two years. All passengers to the States need an ESTA, even non-ticketed infants.
Remember, you will need to get your baby’s (and your) passport organised BEFORE you can apply for an ESTA, but the good news is that you can apply for the ESTA online at any time before you travel, and, assuming there are no problems, applications are approved instantaneously. You don’t need to wait for anything to be sent to you. You don’t even have to show your ESTA documentation at the airport, although we’d recommend you take a print out of the confirmation with you just in case.
There are certain conditions which would be defined as inadmissible under the ESTA scheme. If you have a criminal record or a communicable disease, for example, you may be required to apply for a visa in order to travel to the US. If you are in any doubt, apply for your ESTA well in advance so you will have time to apply for a visa if necessary.
For more information about the ESTA, and to apply online, go to the official site
From 08 September 2010, there will be a charge for the ESTA which will be $14 or around £9 per person. But be careful – there are a few unofficial websites which have been set up by opportunists, attempting to charge you a premium for your ESTA. Do not pay more than you need to!
Book your car hire
If you haven’t already booked your car hire with your holiday package, do it now. Make sure you also book car seats and extras like sat nav. If you leave it too late, you might find there’s a shortage of cars in peak periods, and you’ll end up compromising on the size of vehicle you book. When renting, you will need your valid driver’s licence and both counterparts so locate these as soon as possible.
We advise you to book your car hire either through your tour operator or with a well known rental company in the US. You want to be sure that all your requests are met and the car is well maintained. Click here to read more about Car Rental.
Book your airport hotel
If you are travelling a long way to your UK airport with young children, consider booking an airport hotel for the night before your flight. Most Orlando flights leave in the morning and increased security means you are advised to check in three hours before departure. Add in a drive to the airport and parking the car, and you could be looking at a really early start which can be quite stressful with a young baby.
Airport hotels often take car parking bookings at the hotel for the duration of your holiday. So you won’t have to worry about moving the car on the morning of your flight which is a great benefit.
Should I bother with travel insurance?
Yes! Definitely. In the current economic climate, it can be tempting to neglect travel insurance. In the UK it isn’t a legal requirement however it is highly recommended because you can guarantee the one time you don’t buy it will be the one time you need it. In the USA you may be refused medical care if you don’t have travel insurance and if you are treated you can incur thousands of pounds worth of medical bills. Many travel insurance companies will insure kids for free with paying adults. It’s a small price to pay for peace of mind.
Online check-in
Most airlines now offer you the opportunity to check in online before you get to the airport. When you are travelling with small children, this is worth doing as you’ll be able to choose your seats together. When you get to the airport, you’ll only need to go to the Bag Drop, rather than the check-in desks. You can usually check in online up to 24 hours before your flight is due to depart.
If you have booked a sky cot, although the child won’t have its own seat, a boarding pass still needs to be printed for that child.
Twilight check-in
Virgin Atlantic offers check in the night before your flight, so, if you are staying in an airport hotel, or you live nearby, you could pop over to the airport (you will all have to go) and check in all your bags and pick up your boarding cards. Be aware though that, this does mean you’ll be stuck with your overnight clothes etc as hand luggage, which might not be practical if you’re travelling with a baby. For details about Virgin Atlantic’s Twilight Check-In, visit www.virgin-atlantic.com
