Planning a holiday can often bring a mix of excitement and stress. Once you have made up your mind on the destination or type of holiday you’re going to enjoy, you’ll instantly start to feel excited as you begin to countdown the days.
Whether it’s a city break or relaxing beach holiday, or maybe you’re exploring a new part of the world, you’re sure to be eagerly awaiting the holiday.
Despite this excitement however, there’s often a long list of things to consider before you actually go on your holiday. From buying anything that you need to travel with, through to packing for your trip. There’s a lot to remember and this can sometimes make it a more stressful experience than it needs to be – after all, a holiday should be a time to relax, unwind and de-stress!
To help you remain as calm as possible in the run-up to a holiday, it’s a case of plan, plan, plan. Knowing that you have everything in hand will help to ease your worried mind, meaning you can relax before you leave and as you travel. Here are four things to consider.
1. Do Your Research
The first thing that you need to do before you go on holiday is lots of research. It’s likely you’ll have done some research before booking your holiday, but as your holiday comes closer you’ll start to be more refined in your research.
You need to look for activities happening in your travel destination during your stay, and also take time to explore things like excursions, tours and places to eat and drink in. The closer your holiday is, the more of this information you’ll want to have to hand.
It’s also worth doing your research on any visas of vaccinations that may be required for the destination you are visiting, as well as things like the current political situation. Also consider what travel insurance you may want, and if you’re a UK citizen planning a trip to Europe anytime soon, you may want to see if Brexit will have any impact on your travels.
You can learn more about the impact of Brexit on the travel circumstances of UK citizens by visiting www.gov.uk/visit-europe-brexit.
2. Make A Packing List
You don’t need to pack just yet, but if you think about the outfits that you want to take early on, it saves you worrying closer to the time. You’re on holiday, so why not take your fanciest items?
If you can’t look good on holiday, when can you look good?
You may need to go out and buy some new T-shirts, for example, or some flip-flops. Or perhaps you’ll need a sweater or coat to deal with cooler climates. Going through your outfits early will mean you have ample time to make your shopping list and find anything that you need.
3. Make An Itinerary
An extension of your research, planning an itinerary in advance of your trip will just ensure you are very prepared. In most cases you’ll likely tweak this itinerary when you arrive at your destination, but having an itinerary created is a must as far as we’re concerned.
Knowing what you are going to do when you arrive at your destination can really help you to get the most out of your time while you are there. Check out travel guides from bloggers who have previously visited your travel destination before.
Pick up as many tips as possible about the best places to eat and to visit. Try and find out the best times to go places too. Some cultures have their peak hours at different times than you may be used to.
Plan your days around a map and work out how you are going to get around. It can be helpful to try and find out about public transport in the area that you are staying in. The more information that you set off with, the easier you will find it.
4. Pack Hacks
Pick a suitcase that is lightweight, but durable. You will need to make sure it doesn’t eat up your weight allowance. Make sure it is hard-wearing enough to take a knock by baggage handlers. When you are packing, roll your clothes up instead of folding them. That way, they take up less space and don’t get as creased.
Got Something To Add?
What is on your to-do list when it comes to planning your holiday? Let us know in the comments section below.
Until next time, thanks for reading.
Helen, Nial and Lewis.
Welcome to Pikalily, an award-winning food, travel and lifestyle blog. We are Nial and Helen, a happily married couple from Northern Ireland, who share a passion for food and travel among many things. We became parents to our beautiful boy Lewis in 2017. Follow our adventures through the blog.
