Planning a holiday that’s within budget, keeps all family members happy and caters for the unexpected can seem like a mammoth task.
“As the modern world’s become smaller, our personal world has also become more complicated because of the sheer number of elements we need to consider when travelling,” says clinical psychologist, Dr Sherona Rawat. “Often, even with the huge amount of time and energy that we put into the planning, we still end up with unexpected hiccups. Planning a family holiday can therefore become extremely stressful.”
Preparing as thoroughly as possible and keeping the bigger picture in mind can help you ensure that your year-end break is an unforgettable one – for all the right reasons.
Dr Rawat offers the following tips:
1. Documents:
Check passports and ensure that all documents are in order and up to date before you book anything.
2. Destination:
When choosing a holiday destination, consider the temperament of each family member. Try to choose a good fit that keeps everyone happy.
3. Do your homework:
- Conduct online research about your destination, including places of interest, the weather and the best times to visit.
- Use sites such as Travelstart.co.za to get details and information about flights and to gauge availability, schedules, numbers of stops and flight routes.
- Use Google Maps to familiarise yourself with roads, facilities and shops to help determine the distance from your accommodation to any amenities you may need. For example, locate the nearest supermarket or hospital, in case of an emergency, and print or save to your device for easy access.
4. Accommodation:
- Visit Booking.com which offers a multitude of possibilities when you’re researching accommodation at your chosen destination.
- Consider your needs with regards to accommodation: do you need free wifi for work access, a pool for the kids, or a shuttle service if you’re not renting a car, etc?
- Think about the difficulties you usually experience with individual family members. For example, a child that gets crabby when tired or a spouse that needs a cool, quiet room to get a good night's sleep and factor this into your choice of accommodation.
- Make sure you have a fridge, kitchenette or restaurants nearby if breakfast isn’t included.
5. Luggage:
Plan hand luggage and travel paraphernalia carefully so that everyone, including the kids, is self-sufficient with as many hands free as possible. Tell your children that “what you choose to take, you choose to carry”.
6. Schedule:
Plan your days ahead of time, including tours and free days to shop or relax on the beach.
7. Pack wisely:
If you’re using a variety of different modes of transport, or you’re flying internationally and then travelling via domestic airlines at your destination, keep in mind any baggage restrictions to avoid excess baggage fees or hold-ups at check in.
8. Plan for the unexpected:
- Make sure that your travel insurance is comprehensive and up-do-date and that insurers have been notified of your trip.
- Carry currency cards, which have codes rather than actual cash. For local travel, cards are also safer than cash.
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