The Guide: Plan Holiday Trips Without the Stress

Anna Allan
Aug 1
7 min read

With holiday season in full flow, those people who are going away have probably already booked their travel for this summer.

When do you typically book your holiday?

Are you a last minute booker or do you like an early bird saving?

Is it just me who returns from holiday and immediately starts planning the next one?I have been known to start researching the next holiday on my last day of the one that I’m currently on whilst taking in the last few hours of complete relaxation…

Where do you Start?

What goes in to planning a holiday will depend on the type of holiday you are seeking.

There are a number of non-variables before consideration can go into other factors.

Budget

Unless money is no object, it is important to set a definitive budget that should include everything within the holiday such as transfers, flights (or other transport), food (if not all-inclusive), spending money and of course insurances and other essential items that you will need.

It is all too easy for finances to run away from you if you don’t set these parameters from the start.

The Destination

Deciding on where to go is determined by your budget to a large extent.

It might also depend on how much time you get off work as to whether you want to go on a long-haul holiday or be closer to home so as to maximise the length of downtime.

Your preference as to whether you prefer hotter or cooler climes is likely to be relevant to where in the world you go as well as what time of the year you choose to travel.

It is sensible to check that the country you are planning to travel to is not deemed unsafe by following travel advice from The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) so that you can be reassured that you are likely to remain safes f that your insurance is not invalid.

The Timing

It will be an easy decision for those who don’t have children because you’re not forced to go during the school holidays which is proven to be more expensive by some margin.

For those who want child free holidays, it is best to avoid travelling during the school holidays and, by doing so, you might not necessarily need to go to an adult only resort which also typically charge a premium.

Seasons will have an influence on when to go to certain countries and looking at climates carefully, noting that Mother Nature can throw a curveball or two when She likes, it is best to avoid typhoon, monsoon and tornado seasons.

The Accommodation

Depending on what accommodation you choose, you will be offered a variety of options.

All Inclusive

An all-inclusive holiday within a resort will require a different type of research from a holiday on which you venture out further afield.

The food and facilities are likely to be at the top of your list of what’s important, as well as the services on offer.

Having the knowledge upfront of what you will get and that it is all paid for can lead to a more relaxing holiday for some, knowing the children are welcome in the various clubs and taking part in various activities with drinks and snacks also included within the package.

Airbnb

The privacy that an Airbnb offers could be exactly what you are seeking, together with the personally chosen accommodation being in a suitable location which is close to particular tourist attractions and sites that are suited to you.

Anything in between, which might include a hotel, will vary in price, services, facilities and activities and will often have a variety of food offerings that can be taken up.

Currency

Even though the world is fast becoming cashless, you may wish to take some local currency in case any places you do find yourself in doesn’t accept cards. Any tips you give in cash are also much appreciated.

Researching this well in advance in order to benefit from the best exchange rate can only make good financial sense.

Your bank might provide competitive rates, however, I have (to the date of writing) found the best deals using the Post Office travel money service for those in the UK.

Passports and Visas

Whilst some countries that you choose to travel to have a smaller validity requirement, it’s a good idea to have at least 6 months of validity at the time of your return from a country to avoid any issues.

If travelling to Europe, make sure that your passport has an issue date of at least 10 years before expiry.

The relatively recent rules that have been put in place have caught many people out because they haven’t been able to postdate their passport validity date.

In other words, renewing a passport will no longer add on any remaining time from your previous passport) it has to be 10 years old from the date it was issued, even if it has remaining validity.

Making sure you have a visa, if required, is down to you and if you book through a travel agent whilst they should advise you, it is easy enough to check it out yourself.

For future travel to Europe, an electronic tracking system that is similar to the US ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization [sic] will need to be followed by citizens from 59 countries.

ETIAs (European Travel Information and Authorization [sic] System) will become compulsory in April 2027 and required prior to travel to Europe.

Making sure the correct visas are applied for in plenty of time and allow for any contingencies is likely to be less stressful.

Vaccinations

If you’re visiting a country that requires vaccinations, again, it is worth reading about it well in advance to consider any implications and timescales required.

Some vaccines take up to 8 weeks to develop full immunity, with some medications needing to be staggered, and so it is important to make an appointment to consult with your GP or get advice from a travel health clinic in plenty of time.

Insurance

When getting travel insurance, it is important to declare any pre-existing health conditions you have and any medications you are on so that you don’t unknowingly invalidate your policy.

It is recommended to take out travel ASAB (As soon As You Book) so that it covers you if anything goes wrong before you travel.

Your bank or credit card provider might often you travel benefits so it’s worth checking out what they have to offer.

If you are travelling to Europe or a few other listed countries as a UK citizen, it is worthwhile and easy to apply for a GHIC card (Global Health Insurance card) and replaces the EHIC (European Health Insurance card) and offers free or locally equivalent priced healthcare should you need it while you are away.

Every member of the family requires their own GHIC card which are free and valid for up to 5 years.

Sites and Attractions

There is likely to be at least a few places that each of you and your party want to go and see when you are on holiday so fitting everything in without feeling you need another holiday is key.

Noting down everybody’s ideas and wish lists will help you organise an itinerary that can be quite easily tailored to everybody’s needs.

Tripadvisor is a good independent resource to find out from other travellers their firsthand experiences, together with reviews which may help aid your decision on where to go and what to see.

Tickets that are purchased online are usually more cost-effective than if you wait to get to the place that you are staying.

Some people will believe that having a set routine on holiday is not relaxing and maybe even defeats the purpose of a holiday, however, by organising an itinerary in advance you are guaranteed of thinking less while you are away and can fully lie back because all the organising is done.

Car Hire

If you want to be more independent and less reliant on taxis and other people’s timings, you can hire a car which can often be picked up from the airport, allowing for much easier transfers when you arrive to or depart from the country.

It is always worth checking out what the roads and traffic might be like before you decide to drive in a different country so that you are fully prepared.

Driving on a different side of the road than you are used to together with possible unwritten rules that only the locals know might put you off driving yourself at all.

Driving on holiday assumes you don’t drink alcohol so if you do, it would be wise to rethink whether or not you want to drive in a foreign country while you are on holiday at all.

The Itinerary

Once the research has been completed and the type of holiday is agreed, pricing up the options can lead to more questions.

By going through a professional and credible operator with appropriate protection in place, should they go out of business, you are likely to be protected and your money should be reimbursed.

There may be ways of getting the price down by conducting your own research and reviewing what has been said about what you are looking for.

It is often the case that repeat business occurs when you are happy with what has been delivered in previous experiences and so you may prefer to go with what you know.

Mobile Phone Roaming

To avoid getting a big bill on your return, don’t forget to turn on mobile roaming on your phone and you might consider buying an appropriate bundle package for your needs in advance of the trip.

If you are staying in an all-inclusive resort with wi-fi throughout, the likelihood of needing to pay for an extra bundle over and above your normal mobile phone package is unlikely.

However, if you know that you will be out and about, venturing further afield in the country that you’re visiting, you might feel better equipped if you have no restrictions on mobile communication.

Packing

Leaving your packing to the last minute can lead to forgetting something.

Drawing up a list of things to pack might seem over the top, however, it might avoid accidentally leaving out essential items.

These might include:

travel adapters, medication, phone chargers, belt, camera, the currencies and health cards you went to the trouble of getting for the trip, glasses, or contact lenses.

If you have weight restrictions in your luggage, a luggage weigher is cheap, easy to use and avoids the potential for having to sift through your luggage at the check-in desk to remove any items to make it legal.