Planning A Truly Great Holiday

Image thanks to burnin_dog

We are now in April, and to me this always signals the start of warmer weather and holidays! Unless your thinking of going somewhere below the equator, you can be sure that by now it's starting to heat up elsewhere and so can plan that perfect holiday and enjoy it in the sun.


Just thinking about all the things we do on holiday is the start to planning the best holiday yet. There's the beaches, white sand between your toes, the exotic food, the little cobbled streets to explore, the new interesting shops, the galleries and museums and so on. I could go on forever thnking about this!


So the first step is to decide on where to go, what kind of holiday will it be, who to go with, and what you want to do whilst you're there. If you're not sure where you want to go, take a look at late deals which gives you an idea of where is cheap at the moment (if price is important to you). The best time to get the best prices is either way in advance, or very late. For the UK, I would definitely recommend Teletext Holidays as a great place to pick up a bargain. Many a time have I used this website for my holidays and I can honestly say there have been no problems at all. This is for the people who love organising it themselves right to the very last detail. But for the others, like me, you can decide how much is organised for you through them. Last Minute.com are another good website for picking up late deals, although you have to search to find a good deal! You could also check out Holidays-Uncovered.co.uk, which offer user reviews for holidays and places.


So where do you want to stay? I find that hostels are amazing for saving money and are generally good value for money, although you have to be careful with some. Hostels are good if you plan on moving around a bit rather than staying in one place, and also for city breaks as many are located in the centre of where everything happens. Hostelbookers.com provides a great list to search through to help you pick the one you want, with photos and reviews. Also includes some hotels in the mix too so all in all a good website to use. 


Next thing to think about it currency. Shopping around for the best exchange rate is really important as there can be much competition out there. Some even offer to beat the best quotes you've been offered before. Also, it's worth researching on the internet as sometimes the place your going to can have better exchange rates, and some can be bought over the internet for cheaper than you would find in the shops. Once you have your currency, it's a good idea to plan out how much you want to spend per day, so you don't blow it all in the first few days, especially if you're going for a long period. For example, after your first day you know approximately how much food is going to cost (if you meals are not included), so plan it around that. Check out How to Create a Simple Vacation Budget for more ideas on budgeting whilst abroad.


So what do you fancy doing whilst on holiday? I find that researching on the internet is a great way to find reviews and ideas of what to do. Print a map off and mark down all the things you want to do and where they are! OMG and, you may even be able to do Google Street, which I did for Spain and it was absolutely lovely. It made me want to go even more. So it's worth trying that as it gives you an idea of what the place looks like in real terms and shows things you may not see on a map. You can't beat shopping in a new place. This, mixed with the new scenery and weather makes for a magical experience and I absolutely love it.

Image thanks to emsago

The next step is what to pack. This is the most challenging thing for me as I either pack too little (trying to save space) or I pack too much, thinking I will need everything! So I've put a little list together of the absolute essentials for you, without using up the whole weight limit so you can't bring anything back!


Here is the very basic list which I would recommend taking, although feel free to include extras or remove some of these if you feel they aren't needed, especially depending upon the season:

 A few vest tops for layering

 A nice dress for the evening

 A pair of linen trousers

 Comfortable shoes for the day time - ballerina style maybe

 Your favourite bikini

 A cardigan (as I've noticed it can be quite chilly in the evenings in hot places)

Toiletries: 

 Small containers and clear bottles in case you are travelling with hand luggage only

 Shampoo and conditioner

 Make up - only the bare essentials like tinted moisturiser or foundation, and concealer (preferably with SPF), a couple of eye liners, waterproof mascara, a few eye shadows, etc. Only the bare essentials.

 Moisturiser, primer, toner for your skin

 Finally, deodorant and some perfume.

Extras:

 Passport holders to keep all your documentation together

 Camera + extra batteries

 Notebook/journal to write down all your adventures

 Mac/laptop to keep in contact with friends and family whilst you are away (optional)

 Universal plugs for your electricals + chargers

 First aid kit with all the tablets and things you may need

 Magazines, books or newspapers to keep you occupied during the flight, or any travel

 Sweets/chocolate also for the flight or whilst waiting to board

 Towels for the beach and your room (I don't really like using hotel laundry) 

Accessories!

 If you don't want to go mad on these I would probably just go for a few bangles, earrings and necklaces which match a lot of the clothing you're taking with you.

 Sunglasses, neck scarves and head scarves to ad a little glamour to your look.

And finally, enjoy yourself + eat lots + drinks lots + take lots of photos!

Let me know how your wild adventure goes as I'd love to hear your stories!