fun and utility
Holiday Countdown
Set the departure and watch it come. The countdown also tells you what should be sorted at this distance from the flight, so the excitement stays useful.
Your trip
counting down to
your next trip
29
Days
18
Hours
12
Mins
11
Secs
Turning excitement into preparation
The weeks before a trip are the cheapest time to solve problems. Passport validity, visa rules, vaccinations and flexible flight dates all cost nothing to sort at eight weeks and cost a great deal at eight days. The stage prompt above tracks that timeline so the countdown does something more useful than tick.
Use the wait well. Read one long piece about where you are going, learn ten words of the language, and write down three things you actually want to do rather than the full list of sights. Then let the itinerary generator arrange them, and pack from the packing list generator.
Questions people ask
+How far ahead should I book a trip?
Six to ten weeks ahead is the sweet spot for most European flights, and three to five months for long haul. Beyond that you rarely save, and inside three weeks the price climbs fast.
+When should I buy travel insurance?
On the day you book the flights. Cancellation cover only works if the policy exists before the reason to cancel does.
+What should be done in the last week?
Check in online, download offline maps and tickets, take a photo of your passport, arrange a small amount of local cash and confirm how you get from the airport to the first bed.
+Does the countdown keep running if I close the page?
The countdown recalculates every time you open it, so it is always right. Nothing is stored, so save the link with your dates or bookmark the page.