If you're looking for the perfect family holiday, then you might be spending hours studying holiday brochures, looking online for the best prices online, and then deciding when you can go.

Here's what else you need.

1.    Travel insurance is really important, and isn't just in case your luggage gets lost, or you drop your camera.  It will often cover health issues, so that if you or another member of your family needs medical attention, which often isn't free like the NHS is in the UK. Being taken to hospital in an ambulance and undergoing an operation, and the associated care abroad can result in medical bills of hundreds of thousands of pounds

2.    Don't forget that you'll need appropriate luggage.  If your suitcases are a bit old and battered, and the locks aren't that secure, then perhaps it's time for new ones.  You might also benefit from luggage with wheels so that you can easily move your suitcase around without having to carry it.

3.    Don't forget to look at the weather forecast, and average temperatures to make sure that you're taking the appropriate clothes.  Will it be summer where you're going? You don't want to have to buy extra jumpers or coats, or swimwear because it's colder or hotter than you expected.

4.    It goes without saying that you need to make sure that your passports are up to date.  Some countries need a certain amount of time left on a passport, so if yours is due to run out soon, it may be a good idea to renew it before you go.  You might need visas to enter certain countries, so you'll need to get them organised well in advance.

5.    Although you'll probably be using travellers' cheques or your credit card whilst abroad, you'll also need some local currency for when you arrive.  You might need to buy food and drink, pay for a taxi to your hotel, or tip staff, and it may be a while before the banks open. 

6.    Remember that you might need some food in your luggage in case you are delayed, or will arrive in the middle of the night and will be hungry.  You'll also need to remember baby food for the journey too.

7.    It's always a good idea to keep a change of clothes in your hand luggage in case your luggage gets lost or delayed.  This way, you'll have a spare set and won't have to buy new clothes if your luggage turns up the next day.

8.    It's always a good idea to have plenty of entertainment for the children for the journey.  Books, music players, and magazines are always a good idea, as well as any favourite teddies.

9.    You'll be cross if you have to buy guide books, phrase books and maps again, because you've forgotten yours.  Keep them in your hand luggage, and you can read them on the journey.

10.    You may want to create some sort of itinerary, or at least a list of places you want to visit and things you want to see.  You don't want to make a proper timetable, but you might want to divide your time between doing nothing, and doing something.

Now you know more about what sort of things you need for your holiday, perhaps now is the time to make sure you have everything you need for your holiday.