42 days to plan a trip? Here's how

We think so. Planning your trip 42 days in advance is the perfect combo of spontaneity and preparedness.

It means you've got time to plan things like vaccinations if you need them, and renew your passport. And it doesn't leave you staring wistfully out the window for months while you wish you were stretched out on a glorious sun-kissed beach. Or half-way up the side of a mountain if that's more your vibe.

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6 weeks to go

You've probably already got an idea of where you want to go and how much you want to spend. That in mind, this is when you start researching flights and hotels, or looking for packages.

But before you get to booking, you need to make sure you've got the time off work – get your annual leave signed off before you book anything. Otherwise you might end up having to pay some hefty cancellation fees or taking some *cough* conveniently timed *cough* sick days.

Once that's done, book your flights and accomodation. Around 42 days is the sweet spot for saving on flights. Then, importantly, book your travel insurance. You should be covered as soon as you book your trip.

Check your passport's still valid – most countries need at least 6 months left so if you need to renew, now's the time. You'll also want to apply for any visas you may need as these can take weeks to process.

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5 weeks to go

The holiday countdown has officially started. Why not bring it to life and make all your friends jealous using our nifty Holiday Countdown App?

Book all the holiday extras you might need to make your trip as hassle-free as possible. Do you know how you're getting to your accommodation from the airport? Need parking while you're away? If you've got an early flight think about booking an airport hotel. Luckily, we can help you out with all that.

Research the local area and decide if there's anywhere special you'd like to visit or restaurants you want to try. Are there any organised excursions you want to go on? Book those and you can start putting together a rough itinerary for your trip.

If you're more about independent exploration, now's the time to look into local transport or think about hiring a car.

If you need any vaccinations, get them booked in now as they'll need a couple of weeks to be effective and you might not get an appointment straight away.

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4 weeks to go

If you need prescription medication, order it now. Most GPs will let you order early if you tell them you're going away. While you're at it, this is the best time to get those vaccinations which (hopefully) you booked last week.

If you haven't already, download your airline's app. If check-in is open, do it online now so you don't have to worry about it later. Plus you can add any cabin bags or hold luggage you need and pick your seats if you want to sit with your bestie.

With all that done, you can start organising all the documents you need, like your ABTA certificate, boarding passes and insurance details, together in one place. Either on your phone or device, or neatly in a travel wallet like the olden days.

Towards the end of this week you might want to start tracking the weather, just in case you need to fine-tune your packing list.

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3 weeks to go

"Get in, holidaymaker. We're going shopping!"

Rifle through your holiday wardrobe and get shopping for any gaps. Any excuse to hit the high street and pick up some new fits for your getaway. Or, if you're feeling more environmentally conscious, check places like Vinted or your local charity shop for some pre-loved gems – you'll be surprised what you can find.

While in shopping mode, check if you need any adaptors and add those to your list along with toiletries and sun protection. Or get some reusable 100ml bottles to fill up with the stuff you already have.

Did you decide to hire a car? If so check whether you need an international driving permit or IDP. Chase up any visa applications and put them with the rest of your travel documents.

Now's a good time to book a pet-sitter and/or plant-waterer – either butter up a parent or sibling or book an actual professional.

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2 weeks to go

Get holiday ready.

Book in a hair cut and anything else you want – nails, eyebrows, tan?

Start digging out your travel gadgets and make sure they work, and charge your power bank if you're taking one.

Have you checked the roaming charges for your destination? If roaming isn't included with your network provider, think about adding a travel package or buying an eSIM so you don't get hit with any unexpected charges.

Relax and look forward to your trip. This is the last week before you go, and next week is probably going to feel a bit hectic.

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1 week to go

Plan what you want to pack and do a load of washing if you need to. Give yourself enough time for everything to dry before you pack it in your suitcase.

Charge all your devices (camera, kindle) and put together a travel playlist because why not? Or use ours.

Start downloading films, TV shows, podcasts, anything you want for the flight. And download more than you think you'll need – it's always good to have options, especially if it's a long flight.

Start to pack. It's the worst part, but getting the bulk of it done can make the last couple of days before go much more stress-free.

And make sure your trip to the airport is sorted. If you're driving, fuel or charge up the car so it's ready to go when you are. Taking the train? Book your tickets now if you haven't already.

Check through all your travel documents to make sure you have everything you need and you know exactly where to find it. This includes your passport. If you haven't seen it for a while, make sure you find it a couple of days before you leave and put it somewhere safe. Passport panic is real. If you couldn't check in for your flight before, do it now.

Drink some water, relax, and get some sleep so you're prepared for your journey to the airport – make sure you get there 2 to 3 hours before departure. And finally…

…Relax and enjoy your perfect, stress-free holiday!