Holidays are often more stressful than we’d like them to be, with booking mishaps and frantic dashes to the airport. Last-minute disasters and poor planning can quickly overshadow your holiday excursion if you’re not careful.
The good news is that by taking a few thoughtful steps before your holiday, you can make it a smooth, relaxing experience for the whole family.
While you can uncover great deals with last-minute holidays, the earlier you start planning, the more control you’ll have over the key decisions. Booking flights and accommodation well in advance usually means better availability and lower prices. It also gives you the time to research your destination for restaurants and access to home comforts abroad, like a pool hall or tennis courts.
Flexibility is just as important as travel disruptions, and bad weather can impact any itinerary. Build room in your plan to accommodate an extra free day or a flexible cancellation policy. Combining an itinerary with plenty of free time is easy on ski holidays, with the option to explore the town or spend a day on the slopes before heading to a lively après-ski. Many of these holidays also run the benefit of being package deals, so many of the decisions or planning are done for you, which can relieve a huge amount of the stress.
A rush, disorganised suitcase, or backpack often leads to forgotten essentials like wallets and phone chargers. To avoid unnecessary purchases at the airport, make a packing list on your phone with all your must-haves and clothes you’ll need, whether you’re hiking or lounging on the beach.
Start with the non-negotiables, including your passport, medication, chargers, and visas, and build from there. When packing, try rolling your clothes rather than folding them. They’ll take up less space and be less prone to creasing, so you won’t need to worry about finding an iron in your accommodation.
Use Technology to Your Advantage
Travel apps can significantly lighten your load when travelling, keeping you informed and helping you navigate from the airport to your accommodation. Google Trips and TripIt are great for itinerary management, while your airline’s app provides real-time flight updates to inform you about any delays.
Google Translate and iTranslate make reading a menu and knowing how to ask the waiter for your dish simple. Try spending 10 minutes a day brushing up on your language skills for a month or two before you go to get the basics down and impress locals with your knowledge.
Prepare Your Home Before You Go
Knowing things are safe at home can provide peace of mind and let you truly relax while on holiday. If you have an automatic timer on your overhead lights or lamps, ensure that you set it to turn on and off at set times in the evenings to make it appear as if you’re home.
Unplug your electronics to prevent fire risks, and turn the water off at the mains. Holidaymakers often return to disastrous water leaks that cost a small fortune to repair, so look for the stopcock in the cupboard under the kitchen sink.
