I'm not a reluctant traveller far from it, I thrive on the planning , the anticipation and arrival of the event , where as Mr T is happier when he's just got there . I think the planning of a holiday adds to the ambiance and overall happiness of a holiday ,planning a holiday really doesn't have to be a stressful affair. If you take simple practical steps then in no time you can be having your own adventures of a life time , now I think I've been to far flung places but when I look at friends and families lectures there are adventures yet to be taken and tales yet to told.
The first steps you need to take are :
Perhaps I saw one to many adventure films as a child , my adventuring as a child was limited to Europe and anyone going to the U S A back in the 80s at my school was basically a travelling god , think the brat pack 'Breakfast club' and you've got it.
I hasten to add my adventuring I suppose started as a baby flying backwards and forwards to the Outer Hebrides where I'm from ( I'm Scottish with no accent and I don't even have my own tartan)
The trick is to figure out where you want to go first say New York perhaps ?
The first steps you need to take are :
2. The next question being is how far do you want to travel is long haul for you ? or do you want to start off with short haul and built up ? etc.
3. Don't just rely on a holiday brochure to describe or think about your destination - As such descriptions can short on detail? Research the country before you book! ask friends and family, research , research !
4. Does your chosen country suffer with weather that is extreme , such as hurricanes? Do not rely on the brochure; check out their weather information sites before you book your holiday - will the weather problems exist around the time you want to travel? ( this can be a given in Florida at times but don't let that stop you going )
5.. Check out if the country has political problems ? We have been to Egypt before the troubles erupted again and whilst Mr T was nervous it was an experience I am glad that we took when else am I going to see the pyramids again !? Also does the country have a poor record on human rights how do they treat their citizens that live and work in tourist areas . Check out information sites and local newspapers online! Also is there any festivals etc on , perhaps there is a religious occasion I know that when we went to Dubai it was Ramadan so eating and drinking out in public is frowned upon .
6. When you know where you want to go , do check that the resort will met your expectations - for example, is there lot of building work - check out reviews, gazetteers or visit Google Earth and ' stroll' round the resort , I expect in a few years we will be able to immerse ourselves in 3D an look !
7. Is the hotel what you really want? - check out reviews from other holidaymakers - is there a constant pattern of problems at a hotel or resort? I have down this with every hotel I have ever gone to , so I know what to expect when we get there, I even do this with UK accommodation . The last time we went on holiday and it wasn't me that booked it , I knew that even though the holiday cottage was beautiful , it only had one shower for 4 adults and 3 children. it did however have 3 toilets and a bath so I need that we would have to have the sofa on a rota or escape to the bath and hide from the children !
8. Check the airline that is suggested you fly on , do they offer a lounge like the V lounge from Virgin for instance a relaxed start to the holiday makes all the difference before you fly. And if there is food,drinks and entertainment for the children and adults it makes the wait go quicker, the only problem you will have is tearing them away from all the new found fun ! Also if you in the lounge of the airline you are flying with you can sort out any last minute requests, book trips etc they are there to help after all and a happy traveller will come back time after time.
9. If you are in doubt about anything check , check check and please do ask your tour operator and get them to confirm their responses in writing ( then you have it and black and white)
10. Travel insurance is a given ( make sure you take it out and do shop around) - Make sure always declare any preexisting medical problems to your insurers, also once at your resort if you become aware of any problems let someone know. If you are travelling in Europe, please carry your European Health Insurance Card! but also get travel issuance as well. Also check if you need a Visa before you visit your intended country.
Some great advice and tips in this post. Excellent.
ReplyDeleteThanks , I have travelled quite a bit but I want more ,more more !
DeleteGreat tips. I think good planning is the way to go especially if you've got little ones in tow too!
ReplyDeleteOOh gosh yes , planning ,planning planning hopefully means a smooth and restful holiday.
DeleteLots of great holiday advice there, I will have to refer back to it when we're heading off on our next holiday.
ReplyDeleteThank you , happy travelling !
DeleteI can never plan enough when it comes to holidays! Great tips!
ReplyDeleteThank you . I get a right planning demon !
DeleteSome great trips! Obviously I am all about the going away so I would also add that it's good to follow a good travel with kids blog ;) Where's your next trip? Happy travels!
ReplyDeleteI am going to Ibiza ! my partying days are behind me but the island I have heard is so much more than that.
DeleteFabulous tips holidays are expensive you want to make sure you are prepared so you can relax and enjoy your time away! Enjoy yourselves in Ibiza, I love it there but never been with kids would love to though xx
ReplyDeleteDo you want to be my official holiday planner? I love going but hate all of the planning beforehand!
ReplyDeleteSounds like you have it all sussed out, great tips!
ReplyDeleteEveryone should read this post before thinking to travel , you have listed all the points so well.
ReplyDeletefabulous tips! i'd love to do more traveling
ReplyDeleteSome great holiday tips thank you .x
ReplyDeleteGreat tips and advice, thanks very much for sharing x
ReplyDeleteIt's been a while since we have been abroad, in fact since we had kids! We do love travelling though and hopefully will get another trip before too long! We went to egypt too and its great, would love to go to dubai
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of travelling - exploring the world :) thank you for the tips :) x
ReplyDeletewell thought out tips i want to go on hols again
ReplyDeleteSome great tips, thanks for sharing! I went to the US in the 90's but there was no brat pack 'Breakfast Club' excitement for me, despite hair the same colour as Molly Ringwold :-)
ReplyDeleteGreat tips! I am awful on the build up to travelling anywhere. But once we are on our way I stop stressing! We haven't got a holiday until Center Parcs in August but I cannot wait :-) hope to go abroad again when the twins are bigger x
ReplyDeleteThis is a fantastic post with many great tips. Thank you I have tweeted :)
ReplyDeleteGreat tips and advice
ReplyDeletesome great tips! I'd love to go to New York! x
ReplyDeleteGreat tips. I am traveling to France by car next month and I'm so nervous!! I've been abroad many times before but never driven! x
ReplyDeleteSome great advice and I so agree with you about the USA travel and Breakfast club! x
ReplyDeleteThanks for these tips. I particularly ike your reocmmendation to research the country before booking. I went to Russia in 2000, but didn't research it (I was only fourteen and didn't have an iNterent connection). Thankfully I went iwth a utch organization that had a counterpart in Russia.
ReplyDeleteSome fantastic tips and advice!
ReplyDeleteSome great tips and advice there. So many people don't think to get travel insurance on top of their EHIC and personally I wouldn't have thought about checking out Google Earth, will definitely be a must for any future trips for us.
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