The anticipation of a new holiday is exciting, but also a bit nerve-wracking. You’ve got no idea where you are going, or how long you will be gone. The great news? Usually, it’s obvious what needs to be done in advance of your trip so as soon as you leave, your home and well-being aren’t waiting for you at home. It’s only once you get there that things can start to go downhill. Here are some tips that may help alleviate some of the stress before your holiday.
Organize Your Finances.
It is vitally important that you make sure you have access to cash whilst you are away. While there may be ATMs in your destination, this may be limited at certain hours during the day and you may have to wait in line. Also, ATMs have a habit of breaking down and so if you have a trip coming up at short notice, you may be unable to access your money.
Having enough cash in your bank account means you can avoid this problem. You should organize your finances for at least a month before you go on holiday.
Book Your Flight and Accommodation.
Unless you are planning to stay with friends and family, you will require somewhere to stay whilst you are away. Book your flight and accommodation at least 6 months before your trip.
Holding onto your flight tickets and hotel contracts can be difficult, especially in the lead-up to your trip. If you have to hold onto them for a while, you will have a little more peace of mind and won’t be worried if something goes wrong. If you have to keep them for a while, you can search for a safe place to store them.
The last thing you want is to be looking for your tickets a few weeks before your trip.
Plan your Itinerary.
Before you leave, sit down and map out what you want to see and do while you are away. It may sound obvious, but having this in writing can help you avoid missing out on something important.
It can also help you to identify potential issues with your trip, such as missing out on a sight that is only open from May to September or finding yourself in a dangerous situation with no way out. It can also help you identify things that are not necessary for your trip and make sure you don’t miss out on them back home.
Get Your Vaccinations in Order.
You cannot take basic precautions against illness whilst travelling, so it is essential that you are vaccinated against the illnesses that are prevalent in your destination. Make sure you are up to date with your tetanus vaccination and Hepatitis A and B vaccinations. There is also a chance that you will come into contact with a disease that is uncommon in your home country. If you are likely to be in a high-risk area, such as visiting a developing country or travelling to a country that borders a disease-ridden area, vaccination is highly recommended.
Eat a Healthy Diet When You are Away.
It may sound obvious, but it’s so easy to fall off the healthy eating wagon whilst travelling. You may find yourself spending all your money on exotic food that you have never tried before and then find yourself feeling under the weather.
It’s easy to get caught up in the local culture and forget what is good for you. Make sure you get your 5 a day, including lots of fruit and vegetables and water.
If you are going to be in a place where the water is not drinkable, you may want to stock up before you go.
Try to stay away from processed food as much as possible, and avoid spending all your money on food you won’t enjoy.
Pack a lunch that you can eat at your desk and that you don’t feel bad about eating. Also, make sure you are getting enough sleep so that you are not too exhausted during your trip.
Stay Hydrated – Lots of water!
You may think that dehydration is a very remote danger, but it is actually one of the biggest dangers you face whilst travelling. Unless you are visiting a desert, the climate you are travelling in is likely to be humid. This means you are almost guaranteed to get dehydrated. It is essential that you drink lots of water when you are travelling so that you are not dehydrated.
It is surprisingly easy to forget to drink water whilst you are out and about, so make sure you have a bottle with you at all times. Be sure to drink plenty of water, even when you are not thirsty.
If you are going somewhere hot, avoid drinking water that has been boiled as this will be too hot to drink. Instead, drink ice water to cool down the water and avoid getting dehydrated.
Don’t forget the most important thing – your loved ones
It is always important to remember that you are travelling with your loved ones. In some ways, you are more vulnerable because you don’t know what will happen next and how you will get yourself out of it.
Make sure that you are always on good terms with your loved ones back home, and let them know that you love them and are safe. It may sound obvious, but try not to show off when you are away.
You don’t want to attract any unwanted attention so make sure you walk in a relaxed manner so that you don’t draw any unwanted attention.
Stay safe when you are travelling, and you won’t have to worry about missing out on much because you will be having a great time!
