Holidays should be blissful periods where you can do exactly what you want – usually involving relaxing and enjoying time with loved ones. However, it’s not uncommon to come back even more tense than ever and feeling like you need another vacation after what should have been a lovely break.
Here are some ways to make sure your well-deserved break is all that you want it to be.
Dealing with disruption
It is more common now to face some level of disruption to holiday plans if you are flying – whether that be long queues at airports, flight cancellations or lost luggage. It’s important to recognise that there may be factors outside your control that impact your plans and deal with them as and when they happen. Keeping your cool, knowing your rights and trying to be constructive when faced with a problem can mean you are more likely to get assistance but there are also measures you can take to reduce the likelihood of problems.
Planning
There is a lot you can do in the way you plan your trip to avoid problems. When travelling consider leaving more than enough time at the airport before boarding and it’s also worthwhile taking earlier flights are they as less subject to being cancelled. Book direct flights where possible and ensure you allow adequate time for layovers in the event of delays.
There is a lot of demand for accommodation and hospitality services at present, so the days of spontaneity are over for now. Arrange accommodation in advance and research restaurants and attractions you’d like to go to and make bookings, so you don’t miss out.
Even the best laid plans do sometimes go astray so try to make the best of less-than-ideal circumstances. Your kid’s best memories of your holiday just might be when you got stuck overnight and had to stay in a funny little hotel in a strange city you had planned to visit only in transit.
Staying safe and well
You don’t want to get sick on holiday so take the basic precautions we all learnt during the pandemic to avoid catching lurgies and stay well.
It’s also quite common for people to let their guard down and take risks they may not take at home when they are on holiday, so think before hopping on that motorbike or crossing that flooded monsoonal river.
Travel insurance can be an important part of holiday planning so decide what may be appropriate for your circumstances and shop around to get the right coverage.
Switch off
Achieving the right headspace to enjoy your holiday can be as challenging as the planning and organisation. As tempting as it may be to check in and respond to work-related queries while you’re away, doing so may make it harder for you to relax and enjoy the moment.
If you are in a role where it’s not possible to completely switch off from work while you’re away, planning to check in for a limited time at the same time every day means you are not constantly ‘on call’ or thinking about work.
Ensure your holiday suits your style
Everyone’s idea of the ideal vacation is quite different. Some people like nothing better than a vacation filled with adventure and frenetic activity and for others the ideal holiday consists of lying around by the pool with a glass of something cold in their hand.
Know yourself and plan for a holiday that ticks the boxes for you, but also consider your travelling companion or companions, and make sure if you aren’t on the same page about how you want to spend your time, you are OK to spend some time apart doing your own thing.
Whatever your holiday style and preferences, a vacation is very much about what you make of it – so don’t sweat the small stuff (or even the big stuff that’s out of your control!) and make yours a happy, relaxing, and safe one.
