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How to plan the perfect holiday?

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Summer is officially here and so are summer holidays, so it’s time to put your travel hat on. But are you all set for your holiday? Well if not here is your guide to plan the perfect holiday. From deciding where to go for a vacation to booking the tickets and choosing the right option for stay are some major things that can make your holiday perfect or a disaster. If any of these go wrong, you might not be able to enjoy your vacations completely. Many times, holidays turns to be a misadventure due to being not planned well.

Do it Right

Travelling is known to enrich and open barriers of the mind. To immerse oneself in the perfect holiday, one needs to consider a few aspects. Planning and research is always helpful, one should have all the travel documents in place to avoid any snags. “But over-planning should be avoided, as a rigid itinerary may devoid the traveler of some unique experiences. Lastly, keeping the spark alive for new adventures and experiences is essential to truly understand and enjoy a destination,” says Jose Ramapuram – Marketing Director, Evolve Back Luxury Resorts. There are a lot of things that go into the making of a perfect holiday. Firstly is of course the choice of location. People have different preferences when it comes to where they want to go for a holiday – beaches, mountains, small towns, bustling cities – the list is endless. “Keeping in mind a good season to visit your desired location is also important. It is crucial to check the weather and geographical conditions to ensure that you don’t face much discomfort. For example, a tour of Rajasthan in the middle of May is a recipe for disaster due to the extreme heat,” says Milind Bhide, Founder, Countryside Adventure Holidays, Mumbai. There are many experiences that are on the bucket list of many a traveller – often people travel so that those are checked off their list. If you are travelling solo, it is best to do your own research about destinations that are solo travel friendly.

The Specifics

The traveler of today is on a constant search for a novel destination which offers a unique curation of experiences. Local flavor and allures are seemingly more attractive to people. “Some of the things that people may consider while deciding on their travel details are picking up a local map and exploring the untraditional route, recommendation from bloggers and online trends and enquiring about quality accommodations from the local people. Even we at Evolve Back usually avoid overcrowded destinations for our resorts and scout for those un-spoilt markets where we sense the potential to grow — not just for us, but also for the destination” adds Ramapuram. The internet is a vast repository of information on virtually all aspects related to planning a holiday. Hence your best bet would be to research online on travel portals to take decisions with regards to the best time to travel, tourist attractions, convenience in terms of distance from the city centre, and other aspects. “If you go in the peak season, be prepared for higher-than-usual flight and accommodation costs, crowds at most places and long queues at tourist attractions. It also depends on your individual budget – home stays are a good choice if you don’t want to spend much on accommodation. For those who want a luxury experience in terms of accommodation, there are many luxury hotels and campsites available,” adds Bhide.

Budget Matters

Individual budget also plays a deciding factor in choosing accommodation. Those with a low budget may prefer home stays while others with a little more money to spare may want modern amenities and comforts even while on holiday – hence choose to stay in hotels. “A properly planned itinerary is also important to save both time and money, and for peace of mind while you are away from home, if you plan to visit many places within the same region,” says Bhide. Remember to set the budget carefully for everything, transportation cost to accommodation charges, entry fees of attractions and events, as well as meals and shopping. “For making your holiday more budget friendly, you can plan it in advance and take as much help of technology as possible. Earlier you book the flight tickets, the cheaper you will get them. Along with tickets, you should also book your hotels on time in order to save yourself from any awkward situation,” says Nishant Pitti, Co-Founder & CEO, EaseMyTrip.com.

Family Matters

Travelling with senior citizens and children is extremely fulfilling, but it requires extra care. To extract the most out of a vacation with your loved ones, planning is the key. Bhide adds, “comfortable accommodation is key, with elevator facilities and ground floor rooms preferable so that not much movement is required. There should not be much travel too, to keep fatigue levels to a minimum. Vehicles must be spacious and comfortable, and drivers and guides as experienced as possible. Kid-friendly food choices also need to be looked at, since all children may not want to have the local cuisine and would like to stick to familiar foods.” The itinerary too must have plenty of free time allotted for rest, rejuvenation and leisure. The destination too needs to have activities available that can keep both children and seniors entertained. “Firstly, travelling at the ‘right time’ of the day is crucial, mid-morning or early-afternoon escapades are more comfortable with senior citizens and children. One should note the weather conditions of the destination. Lastly, one should be cautious of the food as travelling exposes you to new cuisines and people should be wary of any possible allergies especially in the case of senior citizens and children,” opines Ramapuram.

Take Care

One of the things to keep in mind while planning a vacation is the local festivals and celebrations at the destination. One sure shot way to enjoy a location is to immerse oneself in the regional festivities as it truly gives you a taste of the rich local culture and allures. There are certain things that are important but people usually forget to carry during vacations. “Some of these things are emergency snacks for those mid-night craving, copies of important documents for any emergency, medical aids, extra cell for camera and memory card, small lock and a back-up phone. Holidaymakers usually do not find them essential to carry but these may be of great help in case of emergency,” says Pitti. To make your holiday perfect and memorable plan with the whole family and get all of them involved and remember to have fun.

Holiday Checklist

  • Emergency contact numbers
  • Hand sanitizer
  • Sunglasses
  • Extra water bottles
  • Travel games and books for children
  • Adequate stock of personal medication
  • Portable charger (power bank)
  • Rechargeable batteries
  • Extra memory card

This story appeared in the April 2018 issue of Smartlife Magazine here:

Holiday Holiday 1

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