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Security tips, packing tips, baggage and luggage allowances at Manchester Airport - you'll find our comprehensive guide extremely helpful before you go away. Leaving you to sit back, relax and enjoy your trip. |
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Travel Dos and Don'ts ... |
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For a truly stress free journey you need to be 100% prepared for your trip. Whether that's what you can and can't put in your suitcase, the correct luggage allowance and very importantly, leaving your home protected. Use this guide to be well on your way to achieving all of these things.
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Here we provide general tips, help and advice on all things you should think about before leaving for Manchester Airport.
The last thing you want when you return home is a mountain of post on your doorstep, milk that's weeks old in your fridge. Not to even mention your home - your biggest possession - burgled.
In the frenzy that can be preparing for our holidays, we can all be forgiven for forgetting about securing our homes. Take note of these simple, yet hugely effective, tips and avoid coming back to any unwelcome surprises.
Would you think about doing these? Well if not, do!:
- Avoid ordering anything that's going to be sent Recorded Deliver. If it's not signed for within one week the post office will return it to the sender.
- Cancel any deliveries, i.e. milk and newspapers
- Ask a member of your family, a friend or a trusted neighbour to pop into your home from time to time to move post from the doorstep and water your plants
- Re-schedule any appointments that you might have had in your diary whilst you are away
- Bin any perishable items in your fridge, or ideally, use them up
- Switch off all plug sockets, especially those sockets powering electrical items such as your television, computer, etc. as a safety precaution
- If your pets are being looked after by someone who's staying in your home make sure they have spent time together before you leave. Should your pets are going to a kennel or cattery, don't forget their basket, toys and favourite treats
- Turn off your central heating and hot water so you are not wasting energy. If you are travelling over the winter it is wise to reduce your central heating time, rather than turning it off altogether, as this could affect your plumbing.
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Effective Security Tips ... |
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Just by applying some of these security tips you are helping to protect your home whilst you are away.
We all can be forgiven for forgetting to turn on the alarm when we pop to the shops. Yet, if you are going away for any length of time you need to make sure your home is properly secured and protected.
Our home, and its contents, are our most valuable asset. And of course holds our most sentimental assets and memories too.
Do take precautions to protect it. After all, almost half of all break-ins happen when a flat or house is left empty.
Below are our top 10 home security tips, aiming to give you peace of mind - many of which are worth using even when you aren't away on holiday.
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Top Ten Security Tips |
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1. Automatic Lighting |
Make your home look lived in. Baffle potential burglars by making your lights go on and off at different times of the day with timers. |
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2. Post |
Arrange for a good friend or neighbour to take away post on your doorstep (and any milk or newspaper deliveries you may have forgotten to cancel). As you'd imagine - these are a perfect giveaway to burglars that you aren't home.
Or you can arrange to set up Royal Mail's Keepsafe service. Your personal and/or business mail will be held for up to two months while you are away. |
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3. Deliveries |
We've said it before, we'll say it again - cancel any milk or newspaper deliveries!!!! |
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4. Baggage Tags: |
Don't advertise you are away by writing your return address on your luggage label. Only write minimal details on the label - for identification purposes - when you are checking in for your return flight. |
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5. House Checking: |
There's no better way to make your house looked lived in when it's not than by having people popping in - pulling curtains, turning on and off lights etc. - at different times of the day. If you ask a trusted neighbour, maybe they could be kind enough to park one of their spare cars on your driveway from time to time?
And don't forget to leave your contact details with either friends, family or neighbours. |
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6. Neighbourhood Watch: |
Join your local Neighbourhood Watch Scheme if there is one operated in your area. Visit their website at www.neighbourhoodwatch.net to find out more. |
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7. Valuable Items: |
If you have valuable items, important documentation and such like left at home you might consider leaving these with friends or family. Alternatively you could ask your bank to hold in their safes.
Don't tempt any passers-by. Keep desirable items such as televisions, stereos and DVD players out of view.
Do you have suitable and adequate home insurance? Check your contents insurance too. |
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8. Alarm: |
As you will be away ask someone else to take responsibility of being a key holder if you have an alarm system.
And of course make sure your alarm is set when you leave your property. |
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9. Outdoor Storage: |
Many of us have valuable items in our sheds, for example, expensive power tools, bikes etc. If so, consider moving them indoors. |
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10. Locks: |
It's easy to shut the front door when you leave and think everything is locked up tight. What about your windows - are they all locked shut. And your back door and gate? |
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Why not ask your local police force if they offer a security check - many forces do. They will offer you plenty of advice for leaving your home unoccupied. Once you have packed your bags, you've secured your home, you can...
...enjoy your holiday! |
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When you are packing your suitcase do think about the weight restrictions applied by airlines, and the security issues of your contents in both your main luggage and hand luggage.
Listed here are details on baggage allowance along with items that are prohibited or restricted. Information on unusual luggage can also be found.
With baggage allowances varying from Airline to Airline it's best to check. You should be able to find this unofficial information on your ticket. If not, contact your carrier or travel agent. Consider this especially if you are needing to take extra luggage onto the plane as there are strict policies relating to both hand and main luggage.
You'll find the maximum weight of an individual bag is usually 32kg (70lbs) or less. If your bag weighs more than this, you will need to re-pack your luggage into smaller bags so that the weight is distributed more evenly. If you need to do this do check with the airline the total number of bags you need to take and any penalties they may enforce.
By checking, and adhering to, your allowances and weight of your luggage before you arrive at the airport can help save you time and minimise inconvenience.
Ground hostesses will ask you a series of questions relating to your luggage when checking in (as directed by the British Government). The number of questions you'll be asked, and the level of detail, is dependant on which Airline you are flying with.
Further unofficial information on restricted and prohibited items in your hand luggage or main luggage can be found by visiting the Security section of this website
Inform the airline you are flying with if you are taking any unusual or outsized items of baggage with you. Alternatively, ask your travel agent for advice. |
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