aware

IF you’re jetting off to any beautiful Red Sea resorts this summer check your passport before travelling.

Unlike countries in the EU, Egypt requires more time left on your passport and it’s catching Brits out with some missing out on their holidays altogether.

There are two very important requirements to get into Egypt for Brits.

The first is that your passport must have an ‘expiry date’ at least six months after the date you arrive.

The second is that it must have at least one blank page to be stamped.

Most countries only require three months left on a passport after the date of arrival, so it’s not surprising that some Brits are being caught out.

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One woman recently missed out on a £6,500 holiday to Egypt.

Victoria Vigors was headed on a two-week ‘holiday of a lifetime’ with her family but was stopped before boarding.

Her nine-year-old daughter Roxie’s passport was being scanned and is was then they discovered Roxie’s passport did not have the required period of validity remaining for travel to Egypt.

Roxie’s passport technically expired on January 4, 2027, but with Egypt requiring at least six months left on them, it meant it wasn’t valid.

Talking to creatorzine.com, Victoria said: “I wasn’t aware of the rules. For people like me who don’t always travel and it’s the first time with my children, I didn’t know.

“I would have thought when I put her passport details in to check in that would tell me it wasn’t valid.”

Victoria added: “That would be a simple system to install so save this agony and heartbreak.”

The family are now trying to get an emergency passport to try and enjoy the last few days of the trip they’ve paid for, as they were unable to get a refund.

Also check visa requirements into the country as they vary depending on the location.

For example if you are staying for less than 15 days at a resort in Sharm El Sheikh, you don’t need a visa.

However, if you’re heading to Hurghada you’ll need a visa which you can apply for online or on arrival.

If you apply online, e-visa applications must be submitted a minimum of seven days.

Another country to be aware of the entry rules is Turkey which needs at least 150 days left on passports from the date of arrival.

If you find your passport is technically out of date shortly before your holidays, then you can look at getting a fast-track renewal.

Before travelling this summer, here are all the new rules you need to be aware of, from eGates and passports to visas and power banks.

With the summer holidays set to be one of the busiest travel periods, everyone needs to be aware of the different rules when it comes to taking a nifty gadget on board flights

Before jetting off abroad this summer, it’s vital to understand the little-known gadget rule that varies by airline.

For most of us, packing a power bank for our holiday is top of the list, whether it’s to use at the airport or while exploring a new city. But there are strict rules for carrying the nifty gadget onboard.

Earlier this year, the International Civil Aviation Organisation amended its rules on passengers carrying power banks, along with lithium cells or batteries, onboard any aircraft. The changes came into effect on 27 March, limiting how travellers pack and use their power banks, with a cap on the number that can be taken on board.

The amended rules from the ICAO stated that power banks:

• Must be carried in carry‑on baggage
• Must be individually protected when not in use
• Must not be recharged on board the aircraft
• Should not be used to charge other portable electronic devices on board the aircraft
• Maximum of two power banks per person

There have been various reports of power banks causing hazardous issues onboard, with safety experts at the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) explaining that lithium batteries found in power banks can be dangerous on planes, primarily because they can enter “thermal runaway.” This is a process in which a battery experiences a rapid, uncontrollable temperature surge, potentially leading to fires, explosions, and the release of toxic fumes.

In accordance with International Civil Aviation Organisation rules, most airlines allow passengers to carry two power banks per person on board. However, they cannot be used during the flight and must be taken on board in their hand luggage.

What airlines allow two power banks?

• Asiana Airlime
• British Airways
• Cathay Pacific
• China Airlines
• easyJet
• EVA Air
• Jet2
• Lufthansa
• Korean Air
• Loganair
• Qantas
• Ryanair
• Singapore Airlines
• Starlux Airlines
• TUI Airways
• United
• Vietnam Airlines
• Wizz Air

While these airlines allow two power banks on board, they also outline their own additional rules, including the permitted watt-hours and the required device condition. So it’s vital to check your airline’s specific power bank rules before jetting off abroad.

What airlines only allow one power bank?

While most airlines allow travellers to take two power banks on board, Emirates restricts customers to just one power bank per person. They state that it must be under 100 watt-hours, carried in hand luggage, and cannot be used to charge devices on board.

The airline also outlines that the power bank should not be placed in the overhead lockers, but must be placed in the seat pocket or in a bag underneath the seat in front. For full details on Emirates’ power bank rules, visit their website.

What airlines allow more than two power banks?

Meanwhile, Virgin Atlantic permits passengers to carry up to five power banks or spare batteries per person. However, it depends significantly on their watt-hour (Wh) rating.

They also need to be stored in hand luggage and cannot be used during the flight. For full details on Virgin Atlantic’s power bank restrictions, visit their website.

Do you have a travel story to share? Email webtravel@reachplc.com

HEADING abroad can be stressful, from packing all the essentials to leaving for the airport at the crack of dawn.

To make it as easy as possible, take a look at all of the new rules for a smooth-sailing holiday this summer.

EES

The Entry/Exit System (EES) is a new system that has been implemented across 29 European countries in the Schengen Area.

These include holiday hotspots like Spain, France, Italy, Greece, Portugal and Germany.

EES tracks when you enter and leave European countries by using biometrics and eventually it will replace passport stamping.

Essentially Brits will have to register at a machine and scan their passport – the good news is that you then you don’t have to do it again for another three years.

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If you want to find out more on the step-by-step process – head here.

Something else to be aware of about EES is that it has resulted in long queues, so it’s wise to leave extra time when heading abroad.

There have been reports of up to six- hour delays outside of peak travel time at border control at multiple airports.

During the summer, you might experience queues in the arrivals hall, but there have also been travellers who have missed flights on their way home too.

eGates

There are new rules at UK airports for children which is actually good news for families.

Now, children aged eight and over can now use eGates when accompanied by an adult – they also need to be at least 120cm tall.

The height restriction is in place as kids need to be able to see and be captured by the biometric screens at the eGates.

The rule change impacts 13 airports across the UK that currently use eGates, including:

• London Heathrow
• London Gatwick
• London City
• London Luton
• London Stansted
• Manchester
• Birmingham
• Bristol
• East Midlands
• Newcastle
• Cardiff
• Edinburgh
• Glasgow

Passports

Brits heading on holiday are STILL being caught out by passport rules, so it’s worth reminding yourself beforehand.

Passports must be only be valid for 10 years, with any months rolled over from previous passports no longer allowed.

Figures have shown up to 100,000 holidaymakers a year face being turned away at airports if their passport is more than a decade old.

Before you travel, check the start date, not the expiry.

For example, if a passport has June 2016 start date but a November 2026 expiry, it has technically expired.

Alongside the requirement to have between three to six months left on it, enforced by a number of countries, it is still causing confusion for travellers.

Most places in Europe only want three months left on a passport, but places like the UAE, Egypt, and Chile require six months in total.

Another passport rule to be aware of only affects those with dual nationality.

A rule that came into effect at the beginning of 2026 means that you can no longer use your foreign passport to enter the UK.

Instead, you have to use a valid British passport.

If you don’t have this, you can apply for a certificate of entitlement, which costs £589.

Visas and travel requirements

Luckily for Brits, citizens can visit more than 170 countries in the world without a visa.

When heading on holiday, families can enter with just their passport to the Schengen Area and most European countries.

In most destinations, you can travel for up to 90 days within any 180-day period – so if you’re going to the likes of Spain for a two-week break, you’re covered.

But there are certain countries where an additional entry requirement is needed.

Be sure to check the entry requirements in advance as some take a few weeks to come through – although most holiday visas are approved quicker.

For example, if you’re headed to Florida for a theme park getaway to Orlando, then you’ll need to apply for an ESTA.

It costs around £30 per application and can be approved in as little as 72 hours.

Countries where you’ll need a visa or other travel requirement include India, Australia and parts of Egypt.

Until December 31, 2026, UK passport holders can visit China for up to 30 days without a visa.

This year, Sri Lanka has scrapped visa fees – but you will need to still apply for an ETA in advance.

ETIAS is a new system being brought in for Brits, but it won’t be in use until 2027 – so you won’t need one to travel this summer.

Power banks

While power banks are handy for travellers, they have caused several issues across a number of flights.

As the school summer holidays approach, holidaymakers must remember to adhere to strict rule.

When an incident regarding a lithium battery occurs in the cabin, cabin crew can handle it more easily.

However, if the issue is in the hold, then it’s a trickier problem to solve quickly and can cause delays or even the cancellation of flights.

The rules on carrying power banks vary from airline to airline.

Most airlines allow two power banks onboard per passenger as long as they are in hand luggage and cannot be used during the flight – these include:

• Asiana Airlime
• British Airways
• Cathay Pacific
• China Airlines
• easyJet
• EVA Air
• Jet2
• Lufthansa
• Korean Air
• Loganair
• Qantas
• Ryanair
• Singapore Airlines
• Starlux Airlines
• TUI Airways
• United
• Vietnam Airlines
• Wizz Air

Emirates allows passengers to carry just one power bank onboard and it cannot be used during the flight.

However, Virgin Atlantic allows up to five power banks or spare batteries per passenger depending on their watt-hour rating.

Again, these cannot be used inflight and must be in hand luggage.

If you want to read more on power bank rules by the individual airline, head here.

Millions of Brits are due to pack up the budgie smugglers and inflatable doughnuts and head abroad – but there are plenty of sneaky charges and questionable practices that can easily ruin a holiday

Are you due to travel abroad for a holiday in the coming months? You’re not alone.

Despite dire warnings of cancelled flights, raising prices and stifling heatwaves, millions of Brits are due to pack up the budgie smugglers and inflatable doughnuts and head abroad.

However, there are lots of extra charges, shoddy practices and other travel traumas that can catch out the unwary traveller. So here’s my guide to some of the holiday horrors that you might not be aware of, so you can get away without a care in the world.

Don’t get caught out by a non-compliant cabin bag

So you’re travelling with just a cabin bag, but it’s looking a bit overstuffed. Beware…

It’s been reported that Ryanair has been paying bonuses to staff for every oversize cabin bag they spot – and are considering increasing this incentive. Meanwhile, other airlines are allegedly paying £1.20 to airline staff who do the same.

Airlines all have specific rules around the size of your cabin bag (the bigger one) and your hand luggage (the smaller one). Despite what it may say on your suitcase, there is no definitive size for cabin bags, though as a general rule the standard is 56 x 45 x 25cm for the cabin bag and 40cm x 30cm x 15cm for an under-seat (hand)bag. There are also weight restrictions too, with most cabin bags limited to a maximum of 7kg to 10kg.

Standard sizes are all well and good, but airlines can set their own, more restrictive rules around the size of both types of carry-on luggage. So before you travel, it’s vital that you understand their rules – and the consequences of not meeting them.

You’ll need to measure the height, depth and width of your carry-on bags. Missing off the wheels when you check the height is one of the more common mistakes.

But the biggie is over-stuffed bags. Having a bag that meets the criteria when empty doesn’t mean it does when you’ve jammed it full of holiday items. Remember that the bag must fit in to that metal box at the boarding gates if you want to get on your flight without paying extra.

Cheeky add-on charges on your flights

Chances are you’ve already booked your luggage costs as part of your flight booking. But make sure you pack your bags a few days before you travel so you know if you need to add on a hold bag, or are at risk of being caught out by those cabin bag rules.

The closer you get to travel, the higher the price you pay for your bags. So if you’ve not paid for your luggage yet, do it now.

So how much extra will you pay for essential add-on charges? By my calculations, the average prices hover around:

• £40 to £50 if you want to take a 23kg hold bag one way.
• £30 to £50 for an overhead cabin bag (this has almost doubled since last year – it might be cheaper to share a hold bag for two people).
• £6 to £25 for the most basic seat reservation

That’s £76 to £125 each way or £152 to £250 for a return. However, you’ll pay more the closer you are to your flight date.

In addition, watch out for charges to book a specific seat. I was charged over £320 for two return flight seat reservations alone through British Airways recently, just so I could sit with my partner! For shorter haul, the seat prices aren’t as high, but are still outrageous.

In fact, Ryanair has U-turned on charging £8 for families to sit with kids after the the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) announced an investigation.

You can usually book a specific seat 24 to 48 hours before check in opens. But watch out! There’s usually a massive rush to book and you may miss out. I tested the BA website after I’d paid for my shocking seat prices and the website and app went down on both occasions when check in opened.

Apartment traps and questionable locations

Using online travel marketplaces and apartment rental websites can be a great way to find a fabulous place to stay for your big holiday. But you do have to be a bit cautious about what’s on offer and you’ll need to check to see if the places you like are as good as they seem.

You may already be aware of the warnings about ‘tickers’ – those on-screen alerts that say there are only two rooms left in the hotel, or things are ‘booking fast’. Despite numerous warnings and fines, the industry is still finding sneaky ways to panic us in to buying without checking things thoroughly.

But there are other things to watch out for. Many websites offer hotels and aparthotels alongside private lets. There’s nothing wrong with a private let in theory, but with a hotel, you can complain to the reception if things aren’t as advertised, whereas a private let might limit your options if the host is a bit rubbish.

Check photos thoroughly to see if the advertised facilities are all there, ask questions before booking and look at the reviews – focus on recent ones. Watch out for things like extra bedrooms that turn out to be a sofa bed in the living room. I always look for a personal handover and return of keys too as this is a guide to how good your host is.

The latest thing to watch out for is the location of the property. Many sites list properties as being ‘500 metres from the centre’.

Yet, some of the sites I checked don’t specify which centre. You may find that you’re not 500 meters from the centre of Barcelona, but 500 meters from the centre of a suburb nearby. Check out a map online so you know where the main tourist areas are for your destination and cross reference with the details on the booking website.

• Martyn James is a leading consumer rights campaigner, TV and radio broadcaster and journalist

IT’S NO lie that Brits love a European break but behaving badly could turn your trip into a holiday nightmare.

Across Europe, countries have their own rules relating to tourists – from banned beach items to strict curfews.

And if you want to avoid a hefty fine this summer, you’ll want to know what the rules are for each country.

France

A number of major cities in France and holiday hotspots ban drinking alcohol between 4pm and 8pm, including along the Paris riverbanks and the French Riviera.

When it comes to heading to the beach, make sure to not take any of it home with you as a souvenir.

Taking shells for example, is considered environmental theft and you could be fined €250 (£216.60) for doing this.

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Swimming is always a fun activity, but men heading to the pool need to make sure you leave the swimming shorts at home.

Due to health and hygiene laws in the country, men in France must wear Speedos.

Spain

Most cities in Spain have banned drinking alcohol on the streets, such as Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia.

Also don’t jump from your hotel balcony into a pool – you can get kicked out of the hotel and fined.

Across Spain, make sure to not smoke or vape on the terraces of bars or restaurants or at pools.

But in Barcelona and popular Balearic and Canary Islands spots, smoking and vaping are banned across all beaches.

Fines for this range from €30 (£25.99) to €2,000 (£1,732.79).

In Barcelona, Malaga and Majorca, make sure not to walk through the streets in a bikini or swimming trunks. If you do, you could face a fine of up to €300 (£259.92).

Also when you are at the beach in Cullera, Calpe or Tenerife, don’t reserve a spot with a towel as you could have your belongings confiscated and be fined up to €3,000 (£2,599.18)

Portugal

In Portugal, there are some rules to be aware of when visiting.

Portable speakers are not allowed to be loud on beaches or you could be fined or it could be confiscated from you.

Fines vary between €200 (£173.28) and €4,000 (£3,465.58) for this.

Also in Albufeira, a Code of Conduct introduced last year is still in place for tourists this year.

The rules basically reinforce that visitors must act respectfully, with public nudity and drinking alcohol on the street banned.

Italy

There are a number of different rules across Italy you’ll need to follow.

In Florence, there are a number of streets where you can’t sit and eat outdoors.

The rule has been introduced to ease congestion.

Also in Florence, e-scooters are banned in the city centre.

In Liguria, Portofino, over the summer, travellers who walk the cobbled streets either barefoot, in swimwear or topless can be fined.

You could also get fined between €50 (£43.32) to €2,500 (£2,165.99) if you are caught hiking Cinque Terre in flip flops.

Drinking alcohol in the streets is also banned with fines up to £2,568.

And make sure not to sit or lie down on a path, wall or park as this can also get you fined. Fines range from £22 to £433.

Over in Milan, you cannot smoke outdoors unless you are 10 metres away from other people. If caught breaking the rule, you could be fined between €40 (£34.66) to €240 (£207.93).

In Rome, you cannot drink out of a glass bottle on the streets after 10pm and all outdoor drinking is banned after midnight.

While in the city it is also worth being aware that when you visit the famous Spanish Steps, not to sit, eat or drink on them.

This is to protect the 18th century marble from damage and stains and if you are caught doing this, you could get a fine between €250 (£216.60) and €400 (£346.56).

And if you are visiting the Italian island of Sardinia, make sure you don’t dig a hole, build a sandcastle or take sand or shells from the beach as you could be fined up to €3,000 (£2,599.18).

Heading to Venice? Make sure you don’t feed the pigeons – it is illegal and you can be fined between €25 and €500.

Greece

In Greece, there are some different rules compared to other countries.

For example, at archaeological sites like the Acropolis and the Parthenon you cannot wear high heels.

If you are caught with high heels, you could be fined up to £760.

Drinking on the streets is also not allowed.

And if you are caught topless in public you could face a fine of up to £250.

Even though it may be tempting, make sure you don’t take pebbles from Greek beaches either as you could be slapped with a £771 fine.

It is also worth knowing that across Greece, sunbeds and umbrellas have been banned on 251 beaches and the beaches that do have sunbeds allowed, at least 70 per cent of the sand must be without sunbeds.