If you haven’t been on a vacation for a long time, then it’s highly likely that you have forgotten how stressful they can actually be. If you don’t meticulously plan your vacation, then you could end up spending most of it flustered and annoyed. COVID entry requirements and vaccination mandates have complicated international travel even further, significantly increasing the stress that you are going to feel.
Thankfully, this post has you covered. If you implement the guidance and suggestions outlined here, you will be able to minimize your vacation’s stress factors. Here are some tips you can use to make your vacation less stressful:
Baggage Shipping
One of the most stressful parts about going abroad is handling one’s luggage. It’s quite common for airlines to lose their passengers’ luggage. If you don’t pay for costly luggage insurance, then you might not even receive compensation for your lost property. A fantastic alternative to relying on the airline to look after your luggage is to ship it privately. A specialist luggage shipping company will be able to make sure that your belongings arrive at the same time that you do, although you might have to send them a few days before you travel. The best part about using these companies is that more often than not, your belongings are insured.
COVID Requirements
COVID entry requirements regularly change. If you don’t meet the entry requirements of the country that you are travelling to, then you could be turned away. The best way to find out what the country’s entry requirements are is to speak directly to their embassy or check out their online tourism site. Most countries require either full vaccination or a negative COVID test, although some still won’t admit unvaccinated tourists, regardless of test status.
Entry Documents
In addition to meeting the country’s entry requirements, you also must have the necessary entry documents. This could include a passenger locator form, which has become standard protocol since COVID first began. You must make sure that you have your passport and a visa, if necessary. If you try to get into another country with an expired passport or without a visa if one is needed, then you will get turned away. This could result in you having to pay for a flight home on the spot, which could be very expensive.
Health Insurance
Health insurance is always recommended when you are travelling abroad. If you don’t have health insurance, then you might not be able to get medical treatment if you become sick or get injured. Most airlines offer health insurance along with flights, for an additional fee. The amount that airlines charge for health insurance varies, but it is not usually a lot of money. Before you book health insurance, make sure that you check out the policy’s coverage. Ideally, you want to be covered for accidents and intentional harm, in addition to sickness and disease.
Careful Budgeting
If you don’t carefully budget, then you could end up overspending. If you do end up overspending, then your holiday could be cut short, depending on your available funds. In addition to drawing up a budget, you should also withdraw money prior to travelling, and exchange it. This is so that you do not have to pay heavy exchange fees at a foreign ATM. Remember: if you are visiting a major European city, then you get charged extra to sit outside on the terrace. This is a very common tactic used by restaurateurs and café owners to trick tourists into spending more money.
Bucket-list Activities
Before you leave, compile a full list of activities that you want to do. If you are travelling to somewhere that you have wanted to visit for a long time, then make sure that the list is filled with bucket-list activities. If you don’t create a list of places that you want to go before travelling, then you could end up arriving at your destination without any idea about what you’re going to do. This will inevitably lead to you frantically planning on the spot and missing out on things that you wanted to do. By planning out an itinerary before travelling, you can carefully organize your trip and fit in everything that you want to do.
Book Accommodation
Book your accommodation long in advance. If you don’t book your accommodation in advance, then you could end up paying a lot more money than you need to. If you wait until you arrive at the hotel to book a room, then you could end up having to pay a large premium. By booking in advance, you save money. Another tip for saving money on accommodation is to travel during the destination’s off-season. When you travel during the off-season, you can stay in luxury hotels that have slashed their prices because of a reduction in tourism.
Transportation
How are you going to get around after you arrive? This is something that a lot of people overlook until it’s too late. If you don’t think about transportation, then you will either have to get taxis everywhere or rely on public transport. The most effective way of getting around if you are staying in a rural area is to lease a car. Leasing a car isn’t a practical option if you are staying in a city, however. If you are staying in a city, it’s best to use public transport, which you should research before travelling.
Switch Off
In order to make your vacation as enjoyable as possible, switch it off when you arrive. Try to forget about your problems back at home and focus on your vacation. It probably isn’t a very good idea to turn your phone off in case there are any emergencies at home, but it’s a good idea to delete your social media accounts temporarily and turn your email notifications off. If you have any close friends or loved ones, then tell them that you are temporarily switching off. Don’t just disappear, because you could unnecessarily cause them to worry.
If you are going on vacation, then you should do your best to minimize the stress that you are exposed to. Stress can ruin your vacation. Incorporate this post’s guidance into your vacation-planning strategy, so that you can have the best time possible.
