When it comes to taking your well-deserved summer holiday, planning will be the component that makes it or breaks it. If you don’t take some time to research and plan your summer vacation, you may find yourself stressed, overwhelmed, and ill-prepared. When you make a detailed plan for your travels, you will be able to relax and enjoy your time, as well as maximize every minute of it. A plan will remove stress and procrastination, so you can truly immerse yourself in your summer holiday.
Whether you want to do watersports in the clear seas of Greece, go trekking in Peru, or camp with your family in the mountains, a plan is vital for the best summer holiday possible. Here are some top tips to help you put together the most appropriate plan.
#1 Decide what kind of holiday you would like
Before you can make a plan, you need to decide what kind of holiday you want to make a plan for. When you set an intention for your vacation, you will provide your plan with meaning and focus.
You might not know the specific location just yet. You can start by deciding what kind of trip you would like to take, for example, would you like a relaxing holiday where you can spend time doing nothing or would you prefer a holiday filled with watersports, hiking or swimming? Do you want to disconnect and switch off, or do you want to spend quality time with friends and family? When you know what you want to achieve from your holiday, you can start planning one that will exceed all of your expectations.
#2 Decide who you want to go with
Who you choose to go on holiday with, will impact the success of your trip. Keep in mind your intentions for your holiday, and make sure you choose suitable companions to go with. You want to make sure they will match your level of calm or adventure, so you can plan the best holiday to suit your needs. If you want an active holiday, maybe having fun with friends and your family will be a great way to enjoy it. Alternatively, you might consider going alone or with one close friend if you want a more relaxing holiday.
#3 Set your budget
When planning a holiday, your budget is vital to reduce stress and make sure you can do everything you need. You should start by reviewing your financial situation, your savings, and the dates you want to go on holiday. When you have considered these factors, you will be able to set yourself a budget and a deadline to save for the holiday. Make a plan to put away the money you will need, and write a timeline. This will enable you to see how much money you have to spend on the trip, when you can start making bookings, and how much money you will have when you are there. A budget will ensure you can cover the costs of everything you need, including accommodation, transport, food, and activities. You should always budget for an emergency fund.
When setting your budget, you must do some research so you can understand what kind of costs are involved when planning a holiday. You should always look for good deals and vouchers that will help you save the most money on your trip, so you can squeeze more out of your budget. A good website to visit is NetVoucherCodes.co.uk
You can update your budget later in your planning when you know where you are going and what kind of activities you will be doing. Keep the budget open and flexible.
#4 Choose your destination
Now you know what kind of holiday you want to have, who you are taking with you, and what your budget is going to be, you can start to research the perfect destinations for your holiday. When it comes to planning the country you want to visit, make sure you conduct a thorough research first. You want to make sure it is cost-effective, safe, and has everything that you want and need. Think about whether you want to push yourself out of your comfort zone and visit a new destination, or whether you want to play it safe and visit somewhere you have been before, but you know will be good.
When deciding on the destination for your trip, think about how busy the place is going to be. Summer is a peak time for many holiday-goers. If you don’t mind busy places, then the world is your oyster. However, if you prefer quiet spots, you will need to avoid popular tourist attractions and stereotypical locations. There are a plethora of places all around the world that you can visit that will match your budget and your intentions. If you want to avoid the crowds, you will need to do a little more research so you can find the hidden gems.
#5 Set a date
If you can be flexible on dates, then you can maximize your budget by finding good holiday deals and go during off-peak times. This will enable you to get more value for your money, and squeeze more out of your budget.
If you cannot be flexible, you should set a date that suits your work schedule, your companion’s schedule, and your budget. You will need to set a date that is good for you. If you book in advance, you will need to make sure you can hit your savings goals and book the time off work. Remember, that booking a holiday is not an assignment, if it doesn’t work for you to set a date to work towards, you can always book your holiday closer to the time. You can set an approximate deadline for you to save your money that you can work towards. Make sure you choose the least stressful route that works for you.
#6 Choose your transport
Choosing your transport for your holiday is really important. While it might seem minor, it can cause a lot of stress and be very expensive if you don’t plan it in advance. Different places require you to use different modes of transport, so you should understand what the rules are and what modes of transport are available at your holiday destination. This will enable you to plan your holiday in advance, as it will impact how much money you spend on your holiday, how much time you need to spend on public transport, how you will travel to and from the airport and your chosen activities, and much more. For example, a taxi will be more expensive than a bus, but it will be much quicker and more personal. Make sure you consider the time and the money involved with taking your preferred method of transport, and update your budget and itinerary where necessary.
#7 Plan experiences
Taking into consideration your budget and your intentions, you should choose and schedule the activities that you want to do. Planning these in advance will help you decide how many excursions you can do that fit within your budget, and you will be able to make sure you do them. More often than not, people will avoid planning their excursions and wait until they get there. If you do this, you will waste time procrastinating on what to do, spend more money on last-minute prices, and not do as much as you would like.
If you can plan your activities, you can make the most of your trip, and guarantee amazing experiences to enjoy. You don’t have to plan every activity, but you should make sure you have at least one or two planned. You can then have a balance between your plan, and being more flexible and spontaneous.
#8 Check out reviews
When planning your holiday, you should always check out the reviews that people have left. This should be on everything that you book, for example, the accommodation, the transport company, the restaurants you want to eat at, the companies running the activities, and much more. This will ensure you are only booking onto safe, and high-quality places while you are away. The last thing you want to do is spend your money and your valuable time on bad experiences.
#9 Equip yourself to stay safe in the sun
One of the most important parts of planning a summer holiday is planning how you can equip yourself to stay safe in the sun. Whether you live in a hot climate or the heat is new to you, you should purchase in advance suitable items, such as breathable clothing, sunhats, sunglasses, and suncream. This will ensure you are fully prepared to enjoy your summer holiday.
#10 Let go and enjoy the process
Planning is vital but is not something you should obsess over. Take some time to plan in detail your holiday. You should then let go of your planning, and enjoy the process. Get excited for your upcoming holiday, and relax knowing you have planned the best trip.
Planning your summer holiday will make sure you have the most enjoyable trip possible.
