Whether your pandemic hobbies involved you making copious amounts of banana bread or trying to stay active at home, it’s likely that you’ve also spent a lot of time thinking about your next holiday. And, with restrictions gradually lifting across the world, it seems like your next dose of sunshine might be closer than you think. Here are our holiday planning tips for a successful, post-pandemic trip.
With new travel guidelines in place and a world of opportunities available to you, planning the perfect trip can often be harder than it seems. With that in mind, here are some top tips to get you started!
If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?
This is a question that we often ask ourselves when sitting behind our desks on a busy Monday. However, after spending so much time indoors over the past year, why not make now the time you actually travel to your dream destination? After all, the first step towards planning the perfect holiday is deciding where you would like to go!
Decided on your dream destination? It’s time to figure out if there are any legal requirements in place that could stand in the way of your travelling.
For example, if you are heading over to the USA, there are various visa requirements that you must meet before being able to travel. Usually, this means you must obtain an ESTA, which will allow you to spend time in the country as a tourist. Figuring out what is required of you now means that you have plenty of time to put in your application and ensure you have all the paperwork you need for your trip in your hands.
While the regulations vary from country to country, you may also need to take a COVID fit to fly test before heading out on your trip.
While these may be included in the overall cost of your holiday, you are sometimes expected to pay for them yourself. As a result, you should make sure that you arrange to take these tests so that you are not turned away on your arrival at the airport.
Settled on a destination? Ensured that you can meet all of the necessary legal requirements for travel? Then it’s time to put together a holiday budget.
While it’s perfectly acceptable to dip into your savings a little for a holiday, you should ensure that you do not allow it to put you in a difficult financial situation in the future. As a result, the sooner you can put together a budget, the better, as this will help you to reign in your spending when necessary.
Whether you are planning on staying in a cheap and cheerful hostel or a luxury hotel, make sure you are getting the best possible deal before booking.
For example, if you are booking a hotel through a travel company, you may be able to get a much better price for your trip by contacting the hotel directly or vice versa. Furthermore, booking sooner rather than later (even if you do not plan on travelling until 2022) could also help you save a lot of money, as many tourist destinations are offering lower prices as an incentive to reinvigorate tourism.
In the same way in which you should ensure you are getting the best deal for your accommodation, you should also make sure you do not need to spend a single penny more than you need to on travel either.
This is easier than ever, thanks to price comparison sites such as Skyscanner that can help you get the best possible prices for your trip. For example, they can sometimes suggest that you set out a little earlier (or later) than planned – which could save you hundreds of pounds.
If you want to make the most out of your holiday, you must ensure that your time off is actually time off.
For example, this could mean that you should give yourself a break from endless scrolling on social media. Additionally, you should ensure that you turn on your out of office at work and do not respond to any business calls at this time. While this may seem a little rude, this time is for you – and you deserve to focus on yourself for a little bit.
Put together a travel bucket list for your trip.
While you might not want to stick to an itinerary (as this can sometimes feel too strict), having at least some idea of what you want to do during your trip can help you to make the most out of your time. This is especially important if you want to visit any popular attractions, which often require advanced booking. Remember, putting together an itinerary doesn’t mean you have to set yourself a daily alarm or spend hours moving from one attraction to the next – it just means that you can add a bit of structure to your day.
Whether you are planning on travelling for a few weeks or a weekend, you’ve likely been warned about the importance of packing light.
This is due to the simple fact that it makes the entire process much easier for you, as you don’t have to carry too much with you from the airport to your accommodation. However, this can be hard when you aren’t sure exactly what to pack (or need a different pair of shoes for each outfit). Thankfully, there are plenty of tips online that can help ensure that you’re able to pack like a pro (and that you won’t leave anything behind).
Right now, your camera roll is likely a series of lockdown snaps – documenting how you spent your time during the pandemic.
However, this means that your holiday will give you the perfect opportunity to brighten up your camera roll by taking plenty of pictures – be they of sunsets or beaches. Don’t worry, you do not need an expensive camera in order to take professional quality pictures – your phone will often be more than enough. However, you might want to brush up on your photography skills a little ahead of time to ensure you get the perfect shot.
While you may like to be surprised about what your holiday destination has to offer on arrival, doing a little research about the town/city ahead of time will actually ensure that you can make the most out of your trip.
For example, browsing local online groups means that you could uncover some hidden gems – such as delicious restaurants or hidden attractions that you wouldn’t have known about otherwise. Additionally, you may want to ask locals for some advice on what you must see during your time there.
Right now, it’s perfectly acceptable to have a little anxiety or apprehension surrounding the idea of travelling.
As a result, it’s important that you ensure you feel ready to travel ahead of time, as opposed to rushing the process. However, you must also know that so long as you follow all guidelines and adhere to government regulations, you deserve to give yourself a break from the stress of daily life.
Finally, the best piece of advice to give to those setting out on new adventures is to make the most of every moment.
Don’t hold yourself back from trying something new, whether that is an adventurous menu in a restaurant or a thrill-seeking activity on your trip. Instead, simply give yourself the freedom to try something new, let go of your worries, and make sure that you enjoy it.
We hope you find these holiday tips for post-pandemic travel helpful! It can feel completely overwhelming, but I promise is achievable with a little research and planning!
