Go on holidays

Firstly, you’ll need to choose where and when you want to go! Choosing a destination gives you a definite goal to work towards.

Some things to consider are:

• Weather – choose the best season for the destination. If you want warm weather and lots of swimming don’t go in monsoon season.
• Time – if you don’t have many days off work it might be better to look into a destination that doesn’t take up all your time getting there.
• School holidays – it can be more expensive travelling in school holidays but if you have kids that may be the best time for you.
• Type of holiday – choose what sort of a holiday you want. Relaxing by the pool, shopping, theme parks, lots of sight-seeing.

After you’ve decided where you want to go and when, the next fun part is planning what you want to do while you’re there. Look into what tours and activities are available early as there may be some discounts if you book in advance.

Check out tripadvisor.com - it has heaps of helpful hints and feedback from people who have been there, done that and rated it all. It can also help you find great deals for hotels and travel packages.

Your next task is to research the cost of things at your chosen destination. How much are hotels, restaurants and attractions? It also helps to choose the style of holiday you want. Are you going luxury or backpacking? Knowing this will help you estimate how much your trip will cost. Don’t forget to factor in flights, visas, transport and so on.

Keep in mind the exchange rate will affect how much you need to save and how much things may cost!

If you’re planning your holiday well in advance why not open a separate saving account and put some money aside for your trip. View our Saving Accounts

It’s also a good idea to make sure that you have extra money just in case of an emergency. An Overdraft connected to your Visa Debit card may be the most suitable way to ensure you have backup funds, whilst not getting charged interest if you do not use it. It’s like your very own financial safety net. Alternatively you can apply for a Visa Credit Card if you want a backup card that is not connected to your everyday account. Another option is to apply for a personal loan.

Travelling? Need some help in sorting out the money side of things? Whatever you need, we can help.

Why not order your foreign currency ahead of time before leaving Australia and take the hassle out of queues at the airport. We have the ability to offer you Australia’s largest range of currencies and denominations. Major currencies such as US Dollars, British Pounds, Euro and New Zealand Dollars can be made available for pick up usually the next working day***.

Don’t forget, we also repurchase your unused foreign currency when you return from your overseas trip.

We can sell and repurchase over 30 currencies in a variety of denominations:

_{*These countries can ONLY be sold
**These currencies can ONLY be bought}

_{***When ordered prior to 12:00 midday}

_{Please note that the above list is subject to change based on the availability of the currency and Travelex reserves the right to suspend or cease trading in certain currencies from time to time.}

For holiday peace of mind, when you finalise your holiday, finalise your travel insurance too.

CGU Travel Insurance gives you access to a wide range of benefits which will make your travel experience even better and with a 24 hour Worldwide Emergency Hotline available, you will be in safe hands.

• Pre-trip assistance - visa and vaccination, weather or tipping advice
• Access to an Australian based doctor (24/7)
• Names and addresses of suitable doctors, dentists and hospitals
• Advice on the nearest embassy
• Assistance to find the nearest ATM
• Access cash if you become hospitalised while overseas

If you're planning on using a Horizon card while you're away it’s a good idea to let Horizon know about your trip. We’ll expect foreign transactions on your account and we can also keep an eye out for any unusual activity.

Copy your travel documents including your passport and leave them with family or friends at home. This is so that should the worst happen and you lose them you have copies to help you get the details you need.

Register on smartraveller.gov.au – the Australia Government is able to contact you and your family in the event of an emergency. You can also use this website to see how safe the areas you are travelling to are and what you should avoid.