Vacations are those little windowpanes of sunshine in our lives- experiences that for most people consist of a glorious uncheerful nine to five toiling and buckling down and putting the cents off, subjected to extreme deadlines and the notions and fancies of moody chiefs. They are the three weeks of the year when office bodies the world over morph into the independent, free brave person they always ideated themselves to be- a time to kick back, a time to let loose and a time to come up above the mediocrity of average.
Its the little singultus that can laying waste a holiday. We’ve all had them before- they occur very easily, yet have harmful results. You forgot to check the time zones and overlooked the flight by an hour. The reference number for your tour has mysteriously disappeared. You didn’t confirm your booking, the flight is overbooked and because you got there so late you’ve been broken and come out on alternate. You forgot which hotel you booked into. The hotel has no register of you… did you even book at all? Its a planning thing really- a well thought out and well planned holiday will run smoothly nine times out of ten so long as you remember the small particulars.
Of course there are some things that go bad which we have no control over. Lost luggage is the scourge of air travellers everywhere, and is restrict to happen to you at least once in your lifetime. In fact there is a 1 in 150 chance that when you travel internationally your luggage is going to be lost. So try to pack anything precious or sentimental in your hand luggage and keep it on you. Medication is a no brainer, no one wants to be seperated from that. If your luggage does get lost, let the airline experience direct away, but don’t be too hopeful about getting any recompense.
When visiting tougher third world countries the issue of theft rears its awful head. It happens everywhere of course, but is more base in these places. We are all on a budget when we journey, and to have that interrupted by the loss of a wad of cash or a wallet can be fatal to the trip, as can the theft of travel documents like passports. The best way to avoid cutpurses is to try not to look like a tourist, because tourists always have cash. Head Off those dull ‘bum bags,’ choose alternatively for an inconspicuous money belt or large pockets on your trousers with zips on. Carrying cash altogether is a bad idea- this is the new millennium and ATM’s are all over.
The smoothest ticket to a broken vacation is you or someone in your family getting upset.Try to ward off urgently risky looking restaurants, and especially in third world countries stay away from water not served in a bottle. Ask for your soft drinks to be served without ice, as ice can still harbour the germs that was in the water. Do your homework on wherever you are visiting and find out what the popular unwellness there are, and what healing medicine to take. Prevention is better than cure, especially if you are in faraway realms.
Just a bit of concern and care and a lot of planning can go a long way to ensuring your holiday doesn’t pass into a perfect nightmare. Lets look it, you merit to enjoy a prosperous break and so should do everything in your ability to make sure you get one. A gadget like the Travel Planner can help give you peace of mind when you travel, and peace of mind can go a long way to easing travel tensions. If factors out of your control ruining your vacation, dont be too despondent… chances are they wont happen twice in a row, so gear up and get ready for your next.
