Holiday season is here, and not a moment too soon. After a stressful past year, this holiday season seems sweeter than ever – but there’s still something between you and the splendour of a good, long getaway. In order to go on holiday, you need to plan it first! How should you go about it, for the perfect escape?
Budgeting and Finances
Unfortunately, before you start planning the fun parts of your eventual trip away, you have to engage with the financial aspect. Holidays cost money – and, in many cases, more money than ever. Budgeting for your trip is essential for you to maximise your enjoyment of it! But where should you start?
If money is tight, you might consider moderating your expectations as to where you travel. Domestic retreats are eminently more affordable than international jaunts. But if your holiday destination of choice is non-negotiable, you might consider seeking alternative means of funding. Loans are useful ways to cover major costs like flights, but aren’t accessible to everyone; those who don’t have good enough credit for a standard loan, though, can still find their way to funding a trip with purpose-built lending programmes.
Researching Your Destination
With the boring finances generally sorted, you can start turning your attention to the fun stuff – starting with your destination. You might already have a strong idea on where you’d like to go, but a little more research can go a long way. For example, you might not be sure exactly what to get up to during your stay, or you might be a little rusty on your local geography. A cursory glance at local maps and what’s-on guides can make all the difference here, making it easier for you to find all sorts of interesting activities, from guided tours to poseidontci.com sailing trips and so on.
Accommodation
Next up, accommodation. You’ll want to stay somewhere comfortable and well-connected, in order to make the most of your travels and cut down on time in transit. Generally speaking, accommodation gets more expensive the closer it is to an urban centre; it also gets more expensive towards the middle of the region’s tourist season.
Cutting costs might involve taking a suburban route, or even finding budget alternatives like camping. Whatever you choose should reflect your ideal approach to the holiday overall. Nights camping out won’t gel well with evenings at high-profile restaurants!
Travel
The last piece of the puzzle is making your travel arrangements. If you’re travelling internationally, air travel will likely factor in (unless you’re plumping for a hyper-luxury cruise experience, that is). Flights can be costly if not planned properly; there are independent comparison sites like Skyscanner that can be used to help you find cheaper flights, or last-minute deals that can be otherwise difficult to notice.
If flights prove too expensive, though, there are alternative means of travel. If your trip is taking you to mainland Europe, for example, you could drive! Ferries or the Eurostar can get you across into Europe, and you can make your own way on your own budget.
