Sometimes, daily life can get a little tiring. Maybe you’re thinking about how nice a relaxing vacation would be. Sun, sand, sea… but, before you can relax and recharge, you have to plan.
If you don’t know where to start when it comes to planning a vacation, it can all seem a tad overwhelming. Luckily, we’ve got you covered.
If you’re stressed or confused about how to plan the perfect vacation, we’ve put together our top 11 vacationing tips to ensure you’ll have the perfect trip planned before you set off. That way, once you arrive, all you have to do is kick off your shoes and enjoy!
1. Choose The Best Time to Travel
If you’re looking for a relaxing beach getaway, a tropical destination like the Maldives is the perfect choice. With a tropical climate comes warm weather all-year-round, so you’re sure to enjoy island life no matter when you visit.
November to April will usually be dry and sunny, meaning this period is the peak travel season in the Maldives. The months between May to October can experience some rain, but if you’re looking for fewer crowds and don’t mind a few short showers, the low season is an excellent time to travel.
2. Book Accommodation
The key to a perfect vacation is relaxing, so it’s important to choose a resort that takes care of everything. Consider booking an all-inclusive package so you can sit back and relax knowing all your needs are taken care of, from accommodation to food to entertainment. This way, there’ll be no trekking around town to find something to eat or having to organise your own activities every day. Cross those off your list!
3. Set A Budget
Knowing how much the trip cost is the most important thing when you plan your journey. The last thing you want is to be stressing about money while you’re away. Um, hello – you’re here to DE-stress! While beautiful holiday destinations like the Maldives do have the potential to get expensive, it’s also totally possible to have a great vacation while sticking to a budget.
Take some time to decide how much you’re willing to spend per activity such as food, accommodation, shopping and entertainment. and plan your days accordingly. A great way to make sure you don’t go over budget is to pre-book your meals and activities, or book an all-inclusive resort like Oaga so you can enjoy to the fullest without having to plan everything in advance.
For more tips on travelling on a budget, read here.
4. Make A Packing List
The great news is that if you’ve chosen a tropical beach destination for your holiday, packing should be super easy. You’ll mostly spend your days in bathing suits and flip flops, but making a packing list to ensure you don’t forget any essentials is a great way to feel prepared.
First, make a list of everything you’ll definitely need, including breathable clothing, a hat, comfortable walking shoes, important electronics and toiletries. Then, round out the list with things that would be helpful to have, or things you may need at some point, such as insect repellent, medications or spare prescription glasses. This way, you won’t find yourself on holiday thinking ‘why didn’t I think to pack that?!’ or running around town trying to find blister plasters after a day of hiking.
5. Book Activities And Tours In Advance
While your plan may be spending 100% of your vacation laying by the pool, it’s a good idea to book any activities or excursions you may be interested in ahead of time. This way, you’re guaranteed a spot on your preferred day and time, and don’t have to waste your precious holiday time deciding what you’d like to do and when. Many travel companies also offer discounts for early birds as an incentive to book in advance, which can save you some money.
6. Book Your Flight
Once you’ve picked your destination, dates and have locked in accommodation, it’s time to book that flight! Consider whether you’d like to fly direct, or stop somewhere along the way to break up the journey. Our best tip is to use a website such as Skyscanner or Google Flights to compare all your options to ensure you’re getting the best route and the best deal.
Remember: always browse for flights in incognito mode, as prices can fluctuate based on your search history!
7. Get Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is an absolute must. While we all hope to never have to use it, if you run into a medical emergency or have your luggage stolen, you’ll be glad to have it!
We recommend buying your policy as soon as you start booking flights or accommodation, as you’ll only have cancellation cover from your date of purchase.
8. Get a Travel Credit Card
Another thing to think about in advance is how you plan on paying for everything while you’re away. While cash is a good way to make sure you don’t overspend, it can be a bit of a hassle. Our best tip is to get a credit card specifically designed for travel to avoid foreign transaction fees and earn points as you travel. Some credit card companies even give you free travel insurance if you book your flight using their credit card!
9. Take Care Of Home Admin
The last step in planning the perfect vacation is making sure you’ll have nothing to worry about while you’re away, so we recommend organising anything you’ll need taken care of at home before you head off. These could include things like making sure your pet is taken care of, your plants are watered and your mail is collected. Talk to a friend or family member and see if they’ll help you out while you’re soaking up the sun!
10. Get Inspired
Once the admin is out of the way, you may like to follow influencers or travel pages related to your destination. Planning vacations should be fun, so we love to get inspired by other people’s experiences – especially when it comes to great spots for that perfect Instagram snap!
11. Start A Countdown
So, you’ve planned the ideal vacation – give yourself a pat on the back! Now, all that’s left to do is get excited! We love to start a countdown on our phones or in a physical calendar to build excitement and before you know it, it’ll be time to jet off!