Vacations should be a fun and memorable for you and your family.
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HELPFUL TIPS FOR PLANNING A STRESS-FREE VACATION​
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1 – Sort your passport, visa and insurance
It sounds obvious but if you miss this step, your entire vacation could hang in the balance. Always start by checking the validity of your passport (some destinations require it to be valid not only for the duration of the trip but also for six months after). Some countries will not accept a passport if it expires within six months of your travel dates. With passport demands at record levels, it is recommended you renew your passport nine months prior to expiration. Depending on your nationality and where you’re travelling to, you may also need to arrange a visa: check your country’s embassy website to find out more. Insurance is a must: you never know what may happen on a trip. Medical costs, in particular, can rack up quickly. Finally, take a picture of the inside ID page of your passport, any visas, your insurance cards, and any credit cards you have with your phone and email to yourself in case they get lost or stolen.
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2 – Cover your medical needs
There’s nothing more stressful than being ill abroad, but a few quick steps will help minimize risk. Check with your country’s embassy or on public health websites to see if vaccinations are required for the country you’re visiting – these usually need to be arranged at least six weeks in advance of travel. You may also need malaria tablets, insect repellant, a mini medical kit and high-SPF sun cream (again, check for country-specific advice). Don’t forget any prescription meds, along with your prescription for each. If you have a medical condition or allergy that requires particular attention, bring along a doctor’s letter that describes the nature of the condition and the treatment needed.
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3 – Budget, budget, budget
It’s all about the money. Set a grand total spend for your trip overall, depending on the health of your bank account. Then take away costs of flights and transfers to work out a daily cash pot for hotels, meals and activities. This figure will govern absolutely everything from where you stay to what you do and how you eat, so it’s important to get it right. Try and leave a little over if you can, to account for unexpected costs. Remember to include any hidden spend such as withdrawal fees or departure taxes.
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4 – Plan ahead for bucket-list activities
Fail to plan, plan to fail. If you’re keen to make one activity the standout highlight of your trip –it’s vital that you organize it well in advance. By doing your homework properly, you stand the best chance of making that bucket-list wish come true.
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5 – Leave some room for spontaneity
A surefire way to generate stress on holiday is by packing too many things into it. Not only will this start to resemble a work schedule rather than a vacation, it also misses the point. Some of the best kind of travel will come from simply wandering around. Instead of being tethered to review sites and a must-see list, pluck up the courage to get lost a little – and ask locals for help along the way. This dreamy, carefree amble time will give your adventure wings.
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6 – Research exactly where you’re staying
It’s all very well going for a great hotel rate, but make sure you research it before booking. There’s no point paying less if you’re going to have to splurge on taxi fees every night. Where is your hotel in relation to nearby restaurants and bars? What neighborhood is it in? Are you going to be able to walk around easily after dark? How will you get from A to B? Google Maps is your best friend.
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7 – Book hotels well in advance
The world’s population is travelling more and faster than ever before, which means you have to be quick to snag that great hotel. If you’ve got somewhere popular in mind, with good views and top reviews, get in quick to nab your spot.
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8 – Avoid popular business and holiday routes
Off-peak flights will always be cheaper and less hassle. When you’re booking your journey, try and avoid popular business and school holiday times. This includes regional holidays, and one-off sporting and cultural events. When it comes to getting a good fare, it’s also worth remembering that two single flights may land you a better deal than one return. Another workaround if you have time is to cut your route up somewhere unexpected. Not only is this cheaper, you also get to max out your travel experience by exploring a new place on the way.
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9– Leave more time than you need for everything
As in life, everything takes longer than you think with travel. To minimize the stress of dashing from place to place, factor in at least an hour more than you need between each transfer and activity. This will allow breathing room for inevitable delays, including traffic and bad weather.
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10 – Accept that not everything will go to plan
Even the best laid plans are liable to go awry, however, the very best adventures rely on it. When you go on vacation, it’s best to leave your expectations at the door and go with the flow when unexpected things come up. If you stick to a pre-planned schedule, you’re likely to be disappointed. Instead, relax and accept that you can’t control everything.
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11 – Don’t be afraid to take time out
If you are planning on travelling with others, remember that you don’t have to spend every minute together. In fact, doing so may bring out your less honorable instincts. Figure out time that can be spent alone if needed: maybe in the form of a few evenings apart, or an extended holiday after one of you has left. This may happen naturally as a result of you wanting to try different activities. It’s not about being antisocial so much as ensuring you all have the space you need.
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12 – Pack as light as you can
The more belongings you bring, the more stressed you’ll feel in trying to keep track of everything. So the gospel of all good travel planning comes in packing as little as you can. There’s a few things to remember here: you can wash your clothes. If you’re travelling in a group, you can arrange to divide things between you. It’s also likely that, wherever you’re heading to, you can buy anything you’ve forgotten on the ground. The bottom line is, overpacking usually comes down to indecision and uncertainty rather than need. So be ruthless, and whittle down your packing list to the absolute essentials.
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13 – Leave valuable jewelry at home
Start your suitcase slimdown by leaving any valuables at home. Expensive watches, precious rings, bracelets that will only cause you more hassle on the move, and you’ll stand out for all the wrong reasons. Some people also choose to leave wedding and engagement rings at home, or use a cheap replacement ring for the duration of travel. This also neatly sidesteps any issues that may come up with insurance.
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14 – Organize your cash and cards
It’s a good idea to always have local currency handy, and you can either order ahead or pick up from an airport ATM. On this note, it may be useful to switch to a no-fee ATM card while you’re travelling, to swerve on fees. Think about bringing a spare credit card, too, and store both this and your cash in a few different (and well-secured) places, in case you lose your wallet. You can also store your cards in an RFID blocking holder, to keep them safe from contactless fraud.
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15 – Store important contact numbers
Email yourself with a list of toll-free international numbers for your credit/debit card and mobile phone providers, in case you need to cancel either from abroad. Also include contact numbers for local emergency services and your in-country embassy, along with your insurance and flight providers. It’s unlikely you’ll need any of this, and a lot of it will be available online or via apps, but it’s still useful to have as a back-up.