| Working 9 - 5, raising a family, worrying about the | | | | in the hotel that you can access? Do you need to |
| mortgage and trying to make time for all the | | | | carry an iron, a hair dryer, a carry cot or even a |
| people, pressures and demands in your life can | | | | child's car seat with you or will your hotel and hire |
| take its toll. You need a break from time to time | | | | car company be able to supply you with all the |
| and because it is so essential that you use your | | | | bulky items you need? Ask, don't assume! |
| holiday time for completely unwinding and | | | | 6) Amenities - if you want to keep fit when |
| de-stressing it is absolutely critical that you pick | | | | away is there a hotel gym, what about a spa so |
| out the best holiday destination each time and | | | | that you can make the most of your time away? |
| avoid wasting your days away, your hard earned | | | | Is there an onsite bar and restaurant, what about |
| cash and your quality time with loved ones. | | | | gift shops and a mini market? Think about all the |
| This guide to choosing the best holiday destination | | | | amenities you would like to have access to |
| for you covers the top ten points you should | | | | before you begin your research and then when |
| consider when planning that next getaway. | | | | you find an attractive destination tick off your list |
| 1) The Time Of The Year - when are you | | | | of desirable amenities against what it offers. |
| planning on taking your next holiday? Certain | | | | 7) Entertainment - when it comes to your idea of |
| destinations are only attractive to holidaymakers | | | | a good time does that include wild night life or |
| at a given time of the year because of climatic | | | | easy access to sites of historic or cultural |
| conditions. Think carefully about when you'll be | | | | interest? Are you after pubs, clubs, bars and |
| travelling and then examine the rainfall and | | | | restaurants for a 24 hour party or would you like |
| temperature charts for your shortlist of | | | | to be able to drive to a stunning castle, take a |
| destinations and make sure it will be neither | | | | boat trip out to sea, wander away from the |
| extremely too hot or cold or wet or windy when | | | | crowds and find entertainment in tranquillity? You |
| you plan to holiday. | | | | will have a good idea of the entertainment |
| 2) Your Budget - your budget will have a major | | | | requirements you and travelling companions |
| bearing on where you travel to and also when | | | | require - just make sure you pick a resort that |
| you can travel. Travelling out of season on a last | | | | fits in with those requirements! |
| minute package holiday will of course save you | | | | 8) Beach Flop Or Activity Holiday - are you happy |
| lots of money, but there are other ways to | | | | to flop on the sand and soak up the sun or would |
| make your money go further. Travel agents | | | | you be happier hiking in the Himalayas? Think |
| nowadays offer early bird booking discounts for | | | | carefully about what exactly would bring you the |
| example, alternatively you could book each stage | | | | most pleasure from your time away. Don't go |
| of the holiday separately and possibly save more | | | | with the flow and copy the crowds if your idea of |
| by calling airlines, hotels and hire car companies | | | | a nice time is simply relaxing in your garden at |
| direct and asking about any special offers or | | | | home for two weeks then do that! Your holiday |
| discounts they offer and maybe you could even | | | | time is your own so make of it what you can and |
| consider a house swap to save on | | | | what you want. |
| accommodation costs. | | | | 9) Health Requirements - if you or your family |
| 3) Distance - long haul flights are no fun unless | | | | have any particular health issues from asthma to |
| you can travel business class! And what's more, | | | | diabetes, from a physical handicap to even a fear |
| having to travel to your ideal destination over a | | | | of flying you should take all of these factors into |
| 12 or even 24 hour period and then suffering | | | | the planning. Certain destinations are less |
| jetlag when you arrive and upon your return will | | | | sophisticated in terms of medical facilities available |
| maybe eat up as much as half of your holiday in | | | | and even in terms of access to prescription |
| real terms. Think about the distance you would | | | | drugs, some are more inaccessible in terms of |
| like to travel in terms of hours sat on a plane, in | | | | travelling to or even getting around than others. |
| departures, on a bus, in the car or even on a | | | | Also, some destinations carry disease warnings |
| train...and then research destinations accordingly. | | | | and require you to have inoculations before you |
| 4) Travelling Parents - if you have children and | | | | travel or to take malaria drugs when on the |
| you're planning a family holiday a whole load of | | | | ground for example. Consider your preferred |
| new criteria come into the planning. If you have | | | | destination in terms of the health aspects for |
| young pre-school children you may be able to | | | | your whole family. |
| travel out of the peak school holiday times and | | | | 10) Take Recommendations - listen to family, |
| thus save yourself thousands...but you will have | | | | friends and colleagues when they tell you about |
| the added hassle of having to travel with half a | | | | where they've been that was good and where |
| tonne of baby paraphernalia! Research your airline | | | | they've been that was terrible; learn from their |
| and resort in terms of the facilities they offer | | | | experiences and disaster stories and take any |
| parents. Also, you must consider the heat, sun | | | | recommendations from trusted and like minded |
| and humidity factors when travelling as children | | | | sources. Such recommendations can be a great |
| suffer more and also tend to vocalise more than | | | | place to begin your research and if you find that |
| us when uncomfortable for long periods of time! | | | | the destination likely suits you to a tee you will be |
| 5) Facilities - what facilities are in or around the | | | | able to find out about the best places to eat, the |
| resorts you're considering and what facilities to | | | | must see sights and the friendliest staff before |
| you require? If you can't be more than a day | | | | you head out which will give you an extra |
| away from the internet make sure there's access | | | | confidence boost and get your holiday off to a |
| from your hotel, if you're travelling with children is | | | | flying start. |
| there a laundry service offered - or better still if | | | | Have fun! |
| you're on a budget, do they have a laundry room | | | | |