Making the right travel plans means that you’ll always have a better holiday. It can be stressful to pack everything you need and plan your itinerary, but the more you prepare, the better time you’ll have.
If you’re travelling alone or you’re heading off on a family trip, some essential planning tips might transform your time away from home. If you’re worried about the potential stress involved with any trip, rest easy and know that by following this advice, your holiday will be the best that it can be.
Here’s what you need to know to get the most from your break from the hustle and bustle of daily life.
Read on for tips on how to make travelling easier and more enjoyable.
The Basics to make Travel easier
Your first step is to know what your vacation is going to entail. As with all activities, the more that you know, the more you can prepare. You should start by working out:
- How long: Don’t travel too far if time is short. Stick closer to home if you only have a few days away. If you are heading from the UK to Australia, for example, then you won’t want to be there for any less than three weeks. Any shorter, and jetlag will steal your time.
- Who with: You’ll plan a very different vacation if you’re going alone or heading out on the open road with family and friends. Be sure to explain the trip you are organising so that everyone who is coming with you knows the ins and out of the what the journey entails. If you want to visit all the cultural hotspots, but your friend wants to lie on a beach, make sure your different wants are understood. This means you can either plan another trip later on, or plan activities that do not include one another.
- Your goals: You need to know what kind of travel you want. High adrenaline, relaxation, luxury, shopping, and festival vacations are all very different, and you’ll need to prep in different ways for each. You could also plan a trip that includes more than one type of holiday. For instance, heading to Japan means you get to immerse yourself into a different culture but is also a luxurious location.
Getting there
Whether you’ve decided on a visit to New York or a hike through the Appalachian Trail, you’re going to need to get there. Whether you choose to drive or fly will depend on how far you have to go, but the key thing to remember is packing. Take some tips from professional travellers, and you’ll end up being able to take more of the essentials with you no matter how you’re getting to your vacation spot.
Accommodation Tips
Always organise your place to stay before you leave home. This is still essential, but if you’re going somewhere during a busy season, then it becomes even more so. Don’t head to New Orleans in the hope that you’ll find a vacant room in the middle of Mardi Gras. Do some research on the best hotels for Mardi Gras, and you will find yourself with nowhere to sleep. Whether it’s a San Francisco beach week or a weekend at San Diego Comic-Con, make sure that you get your bed sorted as early as possible.
What To Do
Even if you’re planning on doing nothing more strenuous than ordering another cocktail on the beach, it’s always wise to do some location research beforehand. You don’t want to be stuck in the worst beach bar on the coast when there’s a five-star option a short walk away.
- Speak to those who have been to the destination you are heading to for ideas on how to spend your time. Having an insider’s knowledge means you could witness the best locations and experiences that may not be well-known to other travellers.
- Find out about events, special occasions, the best places to eat and drink, and the sights that your destination is famous for. If you plan on visiting popular attractions, check whether you can book in advance. That way, you might be able to avoid long queues and get more time for relaxing or shopping.
- Remember, though, to leave some spontaneity. You do not want to over-plan so that you cannot be spontaneous. By having a relaxing overview of what you want to see and do, you leave room to swap ideas if the weather changes or you wish to head elsewhere early.
- Plan well, and you’ll have a much more satisfying break. Whether it’s at home or around the world, the key to the best adventures is always preparation. Do your research, and you’ll have the experience of a lifetime without the stress.
No matter where you go and which travel destination you are heading, learning these basic tips will help you make any travel plan simpler and smarter.
