Holidays are something we all need. Thinking about how to plan an unforgettable holiday can seem daunting. Let’s break it down into steps so you have some great tips to plan the perfect holiday
The beauty of traveling is that you will hopefully have fun no matter which country you visit! Whether you’re immersing yourself in local culture, lying by the beach, or trying traditional cuisine, every second can be turned into something memorable.
With a bit of careful planning and following a few tips you can bring your dream holiday to life – even if you prefer to travel as spontaneously as possible.
With that in mind, here are some top tips that you can use to plan an unforgettable trip!
1. Give yourself plenty of time to plan.
The more time you give yourself to plan out your holiday, the better. After all, not only will this give you the opportunity to save money, but it also means you can book things such as flights and accommodation far in advance, often for a much better price than if you were to wait until closer to your travel date.
This also means you can carry out plenty of research into your holiday destination so that you can put together the best possible itinerary of the things that excite you. For example, you can read reviews of popular tourist destinations, historical landmarks, and other hotspots to determine whether or not they’re worth your time and money. You don’t have to visit historical or landmark places if you aren’t interested in them just because you feel you should.
Take the time to find what you love through websites, reviews, TripAdvisor, Facebook pages, travel magazines or country-based tourist sites.
2. Save, save, save.
While there are plenty of ways in which you can cut down the costs of traveling, such as by flying low holiday seasons, or staying in hostels, it’s also crucial that you save up as much money as possible before traveling. This way, you don’t feel confined by your budget, especially when new opportunities arise when traveling. For example, you may stumble across a restaurant you’d love to dine at or an activity you’d love to try out, and having access to a little bit of those extra savings will ensure this is always possible.
On the other hand, you may have booked the “perfect” Air b and b and find out it’s not up to scratch. You will need a bit of spare cash to get you out of trouble.
It’s great to be free but if you are keen on seeing or doing something specific it’s probably best to pre-book activities or entrance to museums and shows. This is because you can often get cheaper prices in advance, especially when you book online. Many things sell out fast. You may also want to see if you can find any useful coupons or discount codes to make the most of your money.
Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to begin to save money for traveling, whether you begin budgeting or learn how to curb your negative spending habits. Alternatively, you may want to set up a separate bank account for traveling that you put a small amount of money into each week.
3. Tick off a bucket list activity.
Whether you’re traveling for a handful of days or a few weeks, try to tick off at least one bucket list activity when traveling. This will often become the most memorable part of the entire trip, as you’re participating in a once-in-a-lifetime activity, and so much of life’s excitement is in the anticipation of doing. These are what you will remember for years to come.
For example, if you’re in the “Land Down Under,” you might want to look into a boating trip that will allow you to go Deep Sea Reef Fishing Australia. During this time, you’ll be able to discover exactly what these tropical waters offer, and you’ll even get to keep some of your catches! This means it becomes both an adventurous activity and an unforgettable dining opportunity.
4. Make some restaurant reservations.
When traveling, you should also try to enjoy local food or national dishes. If you aren’t the kind of person who enjoys trying new foods, concentrate on trying restaurants that have a unique aspect. To be honest even for the most timid eater some experiences dabbling in local street food or even local pastries can fuel new and exciting memories.
As such, you may want to make a few restaurant reservations ahead of time to ensure that you can visit the most popular (or highly rated) restaurants around. Usually, you can figure out this information ahead of time by researching online or on social media to see which restaurants appeal to you the most.
5. Ask locals for recommendations.
Whether you’re trying to explore the road less traveled in Fiji or looking for something unusual to do in Sydney, Visiting Queenstown, New Zealand you should always enjoy that you ask local residents for recommendations for things to see and do when traveling. This will help you avoid tourist hotspots that are often overpriced and overcrowded, meaning you’ll be able to make the most out of your trip. For example, they may be able to direct you toward areas of natural beauty or restaurants serving delicious local cuisine.
If you want this advice and guidance before you travel so that you’re able to plan your itinerary accordingly, try joining online groups for local residents on platforms such as Facebook.
6. Unplug.
According to a recent study, 60% of 18- to 34-year-olds admit to using their phones too much, even when doing something fun, such as traveling. And while your phone can be a great navigational tool during this time, it’s vital that you spend more time living in the moment and less on social media. As such, you should aim to unplug while traveling, at least for a few hours each day.
If you find it too tempting to start scrolling on social media, consider uninstalling the apps or putting a timer on them. This way, you can still use your phone for more practical purposes, such as accessing your maps or checking booking confirmations.
Furthermore, while you may want to take plenty of pictures when traveling, you should also ensure you aren’t seeing your entire vacation through your phone screen.
7. Be flexible where possible.
Putting together a travel itinerary is a great way to make the most of your time abroad, as it reduces the chances of wasting time each morning deciding what you’d like to do. Planning ahead also allows you to save money. However, it’s also important that your schedule is flexible, too. For example, you don’t want to feel bound to a specific schedule, especially if your day-to-day life is bound to your routine.
One way in which you can be organized and flexible is by making a list of things you’d like to do each day without determining specific timings for each activity. This way, there’s nothing stopping you from sleeping in late or spending more time at a specific attraction. Where possible, you should also leave a few days entirely free from plans to allow for spontaneity to take hold!
Final Thoughts.
In short, planning an unforgettable vacation does not have to be a stressful task; you simply need to:
- Give yourself plenty of time to plan
- Save money ahead of time and set yourself a budget
- Tick off some activities from your travel bucket list
- Make reservations at local restaurants and eateries
- Ask locals for recommendations for things to see/do
- Unplug from your phone and other forms of technology
- Be flexible where possible
However, perhaps the best piece of advice that you should take when heading out on a holiday is to live in the moment. Really breathe it in and stop to wonder often. While it may be difficult to leave the stress of everyday life behind, the more you’re able to do so, the better. After all, this means you’re more likely to embrace every opportunity, every twist and turn every signpost you can’t read, and the smile of every local and make the kind of memories that will last a lifetime.
It also means that when you do return from your trip, you’ll feel suitably rested and rejuvenated – though it may also leave you with an undeniable hunger to travel again right away. After all, why stop with just one unforgettable trip when you can just as easily plan more?
Leave a Reply