Stepping out of your comfort zone and exploring new places is a great way to relax and rejuvenate. However, planning a holiday can be a daunting task. From choosing the right destination to booking flights and accommodation, there are many things to consider. To help you make the most of your holiday, we have put together a comprehensive guide that covers everything you need to know about planning the perfect holiday.
Challenges of travelling come in different shapes and forms ranging from security, language and culture, religion, geographic, budget and finances, etc. Although daunting, most of these challenges can easily be overcome or limited with good planning and preparations. The purpose of this article is to highlight the general Do's and Don'ts for ensuring a successful travel around the world.
The following are the general guidelines for a successful travel:
- Do your research
- Plan your itinerary
- Pack light
- Stay safe
- Respect the local culture
- Be open-minded
- Have fun
- Be respectful
- Be patient
Do your research
Travelling to another destination without proper preparation can lead to severe accidents and occurrences. It is imperative to do diligent research on the geography, culture, and laws of your destination. Avoid embarking on an adventure just because someone else did or said so without proper research.
Before travelling to a new location, research the following:
- The geography of the location
- The culture of the inhabitants
- The laws of the country
- The language spoken
- The religion of the inhabitants
- The security of the location
- The weather of the location
- The currency of the location
- The mode of transportation
- The accommodation
- The food and drinks
- The tourist attractions
- The history of the location
- The politics of the location
Doing research will help you prepare for your journey and know what to expect. It will also help you avoid legal troubles and understand how to interact with locals. For example, ignorance of laws can result in serious consequences such as the case of Marcus Fakana, a British teenager jailed in Dubai for having sex with a 17-year-old girl.
Start by visiting your home country’s foreign affairs website for travel advisories. For example:
Visit the embassy website of your destination for detailed cultural, legal, security, and practical information.
Plan your itinerary
Planning your itinerary helps you organize your activities, time, and budget effectively.
Consider the following when planning:
- The duration of your holiday
- The activities you want to do
- The places you want to visit
- The people you want to travel with
- Your budget
- Mode of transportation
- Accommodation options
- Food and drink preferences
- Tourist attractions
- History, politics, culture, language, religion
- Security, weather, and currency of the location
Planning helps you stay on track and ensures you enjoy your trip fully without last-minute surprises.
Pack light
Packing light saves you money on luggage fees, reduces hassle, and makes travel easier.
Consider:
- The weather at your destination (pack accordingly)
- The activities you plan to do
- The places you will visit
Stay safe
Staying safe helps you avoid accidents, legal troubles, and conflicts with locals.
Consider:
- Security of the location — avoid war zones or unsafe areas
- Local laws — always stay on the right side of the law
- Local culture — learn enough to avoid offending locals
- Language — know basic phrases or have translation aids
- Religion — respect religious customs and beliefs
- Weather — prepare for local weather conditions
- Currency — have acceptable means of transaction handy
- Transportation — use only recommended and safe options
- Accommodation — research safety, reviews, and neighborhood
- Food and drinks — avoid unknown or potentially harmful items
- Politics — avoid involvement in local political issues
- Culture — be respectful and avoid negative comments
Respect the local culture
Respecting the local culture is one of the most important things to do when planning a holiday. It helps you to avoid offending the locals and it also helps you to avoid getting into trouble with the law. Use the opportunity to learn about the culture and the way of life of the locals instead of being disrespectful. Being respectful to new culture would make people open-up to us and share more about their way of life. On the contrary, people tend to withdraw and hide from you when you are being disrespectful.
Be open-minded
Our world is a beautiful place with different people, cultures, languages, religions, and beliefs. It is important to be open-minded when travelling to a new location. It helps you to understand the locals and it also helps you to avoid getting into trouble with the law. It also helps you to avoid getting into trouble with the locals.
Have fun
People travel for different reasons. Some people travel for business, some people travel for pleasure, and some people travel for adventure. It is important to have fun when travelling to a new location. It helps you to relax and it also helps you to enjoy the holiday. Weather it is for knowledge, adventure, fun etc. you are travelling, one should enjoy while at it and have a good time.
Be respectful
It is important to be respectful of the beliefs, culture and the way of life of the locals at your destination. People respond back in kind when respected and often times with hostility when disrespected. It is important to be respectful to the peoples' way of lives whether you agree with them or not.
Be patient
Travelling can be a stressful experience. It is important to be patient when travelling to a new location. This is especially important when you visit places whose system and infrastructure is not on par with what you are used to. If you are coming from a developed country, the way of life or system of the people in the third world country for example can be daunting and requires patience often times. When you decide to travel to these places, you should be patient with the system to avoid making mistakes while there.