Trips don't always look like those in the movies. Whether you are going home to visit family or taking your family away from it all, your holiday travels need to be precious and memorable. Make it a point to feel relaxed once you leave the house and have reached your destination.
Just announced by AA Travel is that Sept. 25 - Oct. 27 is the best time to get reasonable fares on Thanksgiving and Christmas airfares.
1. Determine your budget.
Figure out how the holiday is going to cost you right from the start. Stay realistic when it comes to your finances.
This is to avoid a massive blowout. List the destinations you'd like to visit then check their websites and social media handles for admission prices and discounted rates.
A simple spreadsheet would do: a row for each type of expense and a column each for your budget, actual spend and difference. List down: transport, flights, car hire, rail/bus, transfers, public transport, tours, accomodation, sights and activities, food and drink, shopping and other expenses.
2. Arrive early.
This only sounds easy. Some people complain when they are in the parking lot waiting for their shuttle because their flight is already leaving.
Get up early to get to the airport before your flight to avoid chaotic thinking. Have an allowance of 3 hours before going on board.
Take in everything; the sights, sounds and smells. Basically, be mindful of the experience of before reaching the destination too.
You can utilize a valet service for your parking for more ease and convenience.
3. Consider holiday packages.
You might find some great deals on hotel and flight packages. Book in advance based on your research about destination. Book only to-fro and stay packages. Don't prebook guided tours and city walks.
4. Check in online.
Avoid airline counters as much as possible. Checking in online and printing off your ticket doesn't always work though because American Airlines is pretty bad at this. Therefore, you must research beforehand.
5. Make sure your phone is always ready.
Your phone is much of a holiday essential as a swimsuit.
Make sure your phone is charged. You don't want to be asking strangers if they have chargers with them. It must have all the relevant phone numbers, itineraries, apps and a mobile wallet must be set up. Back up your phone and download Google Translate.
5. Reflect.
People have incredible international travel experiences, but they forget to do one essential thing: reflect. Take note of our highlights, the lows of your experience, the challenges you overcome, and the things you learn along the way.
Reflect in solitude. Curve out your quiet time. They key to happiness is stillness. You can do this by a walk down by the beach and catching the sun rise or going to your hotel balcony.
6. Have a celebratory attitude.
Have some joie de vivre or enthusiasm or zest for life. Celebrate with your family on the smallest of achievements or even over what you had for breakfast. This will keep the momentum of the holiday going.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
