From deciding where to go in the first place to discovering a quaint little hotel’s five stars were from another galaxy, holidays can be a headache.
1. Know your goals: When you sit down to plan your holiday, the first step is to make sure you’re very clear about what you want to get out of it. Do you want an immersion in culture, or do you wan to simply recharge your body batteries? Do you want to read a sack of novels or tango till dawn? Do you want extensive family bonding time or time for every member of the family to try things on their own?
2. Tailor your trip to fit those goals: If you want culture, you don’t want to head for a one-shack- only South Pacific Island. But if you want to relax, that might be the perfect place. If you want a lot of family togetherness, an all-inclusive resort might be just the ticket; but if you want to explore in smaller groups by day and meet up en famille at night, you may want to try an intimate urban hotel.
3. Read up before you go: Get a good guide book or two and read up on the culture, history and attractions of the destination. Surf the Internet for more information; read local publications online. The more you know, the better you’ll be able to appreciate the place and choose from the many options it presents. And the better you’ll understand all the new things- sights, issues, people, rituals – you encounter.
4. Pack light and right: Take clothes that are adaptable and cram everything you need into a carry-on bag if you can. Your heart will soar when you get to skip a line at check-in and when you arrive and breeze by your fellow passengers waiting for their bags.
5. Macro Planning: Don’t try to fit too much into your trip; you’ll be amazed how quickly the days go by. Slow down and savour a few places rather than squeezing many into a superficial blur.
6. Micro Planning: Everything takes longer than you think it will. In a city, don’t try to do more than three things per day. IN the country, leave extra time for bus breakdowns, missed connections and other delays. Be patient. If your daily schedule is flexible, you won’t have to simmer when things go awry.
7. Leave time for serendipity: Remember that the best moments of just about any trip are the unexpected ones. Leave plenty of time to visit an irresistible shop, have a long chat with an old-timer at a café or go on an impromptu day trip with new-found friends to a secret local spot.
8. Reserve the first night: My personal rule of thumb is to always have a place to stay the night I arrive somewhere. When I’m tired and jet lagged I don’t want to have to deal with the two dozen touts who shout at me and pluck at my bags as I step outside the terminal. You can always move to a more suitable place the next day.
9. When you’ve got a lemon, make lemonade: Disasters happen. They’re part of travel. And you can fuss and fume or you can enjoy them. If the train inexplicably stops in the middle of nowhere, break out your bread and cheese and notice the poppies and traditional farmhouses in the far-off field. If you get lost, follow your instinct and ask someone who looks trustworthy for help. If you can’t read the menu, look at what fellow diners are eating and point to what looks good. If you’re stuck in an interminable line, observe what the people around you are doing, saying, wearing – there are lessons everywhere.
10. Go Local: Eat where the locals eat; shop at where they shop. Ask the hotel clerk for recommendations. Open your self up to the locals and you’ll find your most precious souvenirs.
HAVE A GREAT TRIP
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