It doesn’t just happen in your darkest imagination. The reality is every vacation has a potential to become a full-blown disaster! From canceled flights to filthy hotel rooms, stomach bug due to contaminated food, children problems, adult problems (talk about checking your work email while your feet are soaked in the sand), booking problems, long queues at recreation hubs, overspending – the list is endless. For several months, you stopped buying new clothes, going to restaurants, and spending your cash like the way you used to just so you can save up for this dream vacation of yours. You spent sleepless nights trying to find cheap rates for your plane tickets, browsing Airbnb for the best accommodation, and doing a lot of research about your destination. You definitely don’t want to ruin this trip. All you want are good memories. Not horrible nightmares.
Well, the good news is you can lessen the risk of your ideal trip gone wrong by planning ahead and taking extra precaution at all times. Follow these tips for a fun, memorable trip of a lifetime. Hopefully, these can save you money, time, and your sanity!
Plan your trip accordingly
The best trips are those that are well-planned. If you only have a week or two of vacation time per year, don’t waste your time on very long travels. You might just end up stressed out than refreshed when you get back home. If you have 2-4 weeks or over a month, go ahead and plan your vacation overseas.
Do your homework
Take time researching about the place and planning your activities. The last thing you want to happen is getting stuck in the car or your hotel room because you can’t decide where to visit first. When you do the planning, consider who you’re traveling with. Are you going solo, as a couple? Or are you taking a family vacation? If you have kids, the more you should plan and prepare. You need not take all the burden. Sit down with your traveling companions and discuss their ideas and interests. Their input is very helpful in making sure that you’re going to have a wonderful vacation. Everybody happy.
Set the date right
Once you’ve chosen your destination and the kind of vacation you want, the next important step is to book your flights. Knowing WHEN you are taking your vacation is critical if you want to experience the best. The best of weather, best of rates, best of accommodation, etc. Consider traveling during low peak season to avoid exhausting crowds and long queues. If you’re traveling abroad, make sure to research about the weather or season by the time you have your vacation. Again, you don’t want to be stuck in your hotel room because there’s typhoon coming or it is extremely hot.
Choose the best accommodation
You need not book at a five-start hotel and spend all your money on a first-class suite just so you could experience the best accommodation. The key is to choose wisely. Take time to research about hotels that offer quality service without being too costly. If you’re traveling with your whole family, you might consider staying at an apartment with full access to a kitchen, separate bedrooms, and a living room to make your trip more comfortable for you and your kids. Apps like Airbnb lets you choose from various types of accommodation, from houses to cottages, and even spare bedrooms for people traveling solo.
Guard your health
One of the worst nightmares that could happen during your travel is you getting sick. To have the best of your trip, you have to stay healthy and active. Practice personal hygiene for your own sake. Don’t forget to pack plenty of disinfecting wipes, as well as hand sanitizer and soap especially if it’s a long flight as your risk of becoming ill while in an enclosed area like a plane is pretty high. Check if the hotel you’re booking uses commercial air movers and pay attention to the humidity level so you could relax. If you’re attending an outdoor event, bring lightweight tarps or anything that can be used as a shed to protect yourself from sunlight or rain. Lastly, don’t forget to bring vitamins and supplements to keep your immune system strong.
Your ideal trip lies on your hand. Hopefully, these tips have helped you plan for an exciting and enjoyable vacation.