How to Have the Best Time on Your Holiday

People enjoy going on holidays and travelling in general. However, they often come back from the most beautiful destinations dissatisfied or exhausted. It seems like the terms “going on holiday” and “having the best time” should be connected with an equal sign, but oftentimes, it’s not the case. The magic of a truly exceptional vacation lies not in following the well-worn path, but in forging your unique journey. It’s about embracing the unexpected, savouring the moments that resonate with your soul, and returning home with a heart brimming with stories whispered in the language of experience.

So, how can you enjoy your holidays to the fullest? Is there a secret to the ultimate travel experience? Well, it’s not really a secret, but there are some things you can do to have the best vacation of your life—and then repeat it all over again on your next trip. Read on!

Pick the Best Attractions

Make the most of your holiday by spending time going to the places and attractions that you want to visit the most. You should do your research beforehand to see whether there are any entrance fees if you need to book something in advance, or if you have to organise transport to get to a certain location. While you’re there, you should also decide which activities you want to do first, but be flexible; if you don’t need to make reservations, you can spend time sightseeing at your own pace. On the other hand, if you know there are specific things you want to do or places you want to go, look for discount codes and coupons.

You may be into sports and adventure, or you may prefer more traditional bucket-list activities, and there’s nothing wrong with that! If you travel with children, a visit to a theme park might be a great idea, and you can also find some time to enjoy attractions for adults. There are so many offers available on the market that you’re bound to find something for yourself and your family.

Take Your Time

The biggest downside of organised trips is the fact that you need to stick to a schedule and follow a certain programme. Still, even people who decide to travel on their own tend to forget what really matters during the holidays. They are often caught up in a mindset that forces them to see as much as possible before their vacation days are over. As such, they fail to create meaningful memories and develop quality experiences. All they can remember from their holiday is probably a hotel and the rush they were in all the time.

It’s better to pick a handful of locations and attractions that interest you the most and devote as much time to them as you want.

Do things you enjoy and don’t rush. If you decide to do something at your own pace, you never waste time. If you want to sleep in, do it; it’s your opportunity to relax and get some rest. You don’t have to see all the places just for the sake of taking a picture and showing everyone that you were there.

Embrace the Unplanned

Don’t expect your vacation to be picture-perfect! Excitement is great, but if you imagine everything going a certain way, you’ll be let down when it doesn’t. The hotel room might be smaller, the beautiful view might be crowded, and things might not always go according to plan. Instead of stressing about little stuff, think about what you really want from your trip: adventure, new connections, or just time to chill. These are the kinds of goals that won’t disappear, even if things change a bit along the way. So, relax, go with the flow, and enjoy your time!

Relax, breathe in the unfamiliar, and savour the moments, perfectly imperfect as they may be. And when you return home, you’ll carry more than souvenirs, you’ll carry a heart brimming with stories and a soul brimming with the knowledge that the best vacations are not about getting it right, but about truly experiencing the world, open and free

Behave

Some tips, like this one, may seem counterintuitive to you. After all, you have the freedom to choose how you’re going to relax during your holiday. However, you should also keep in mind that you’re not the only one on vacation, and other people are living in the city of your choice daily. As such, try not to wear out your welcome, and, more importantly, you should treat other people with respect.

While you’re on holiday, you’re likely to stay in a hotel or some other similar accommodation. This means you share responsibility for the experience other guests and staff will have at that location. Since not everyone is familiar with hotel savoir-vivre, here’s a short run-down of hotel do’s and don’ts.

Do’s	Don’ts
Treat staff and other guests with respect.	Don’t steal food from the dining hall or hotel canteen.
Reuse your towels and cleaning supplies – it’s more eco-friendly.	Don’t steal items from your hotel room.
Be considerate of other guests.	Don’t be rude.
Ask the hotel staff to empty your minibar – this way, you’ll avoid temptations and an unnecessarily high bill.	Don’t try to eat and drink from the minibar and replace it with cheaper products bought at local stores.
Use the “do not disturb” sign when necessary.	Don’t leave a mess.
Respect the other’s right to privacy.	Don’t be loud and obnoxious.
Treat other guests and staff like you’d want to be treated.	Don’t yell and berate staff and other guests.
	Don’t smoke.
	Don’t let your kids run around unsupervised.

Wear Appropriate Clothing

It might seem like a no-brainer, but this tip is crucial to having the best time on your holiday. You need to pack weather-appropriate clothing and check the forecast before you leave. This way, you’ll be prepared for all kinds of weather conditions that can happen at your destination. Obviously, you don’t have to bring a winter coat and snow boots if you’re going to Rome in July. However, you should always pack weather-appropriate clothing and warm apparel as well, including light sweaters and hoodies, an umbrella, comfortable walking shoes, and a raincoat. It will give you comfort during rainy days or colder evenings, making your vacation time even more enjoyable.

Additionally, remember to wear clothing that’s comfortable for you but also respectful of the culture of the country you decide to visit. Always match your apparel to the occasion; it’s not wise to hike in the mountains in high heels or go to an official institution in worn-out clothes. A good rule of thumb is to use your common sense; you can do it without compromising your style.

Choose Your Company Well

One of the fastest ways to ruin your vacation is by letting the wrong people come with you. Maybe you’ve been forced to go on a family getaway and hated it from start to finish due to personal tensions and constant bickering. You may also have had bad experiences with a group of friends who turned out not to be the best people after all. Almost everyone has their fair share of horror stories like these, and it’s clear to see why—people can make or break your entire holiday experience. For this reason, you should choose your company well and only travel with people with whom you feel comfortable and get along well.

Remember that “no” is a complete sentence, and you have the right to choose how to spend your free time and with whom you want (or don’t want) to spend it. Ultimately, you can always try solo travel; maybe it will become your preferred way of exploring the world. Who knows

Unplug From Work

Dealing with work during your annual leave is a surefire way to ruin your holiday. You’ll probably receive business emails while lying on a beach, or someone may call you with a work-related question while you’re thousands of miles away from your hometown. You have the right to ignore all that; it’s your time to relax, unwind, and return to work refreshed. Take your mind off work and the reality that’s waiting for you at home.

Switch off your phone if you feel it would help, update your status to “out of office,” uninstall all work-related apps, leave your laptop at home, and simply go out, explore, and have fun during your small break from your usual routine. Focus on the present and enjoy the moment. Thinking about work-related issues won’t help you with that; it will only make you stressed and exhausted.

Don’t Do It For the ‘Gram

Regardless of your age, you might be tempted to go on a vacation that everyone else seems to be having. You probably see countless social media feeds, commercials, and movies that promote a certain holiday style, including recommended activities, tourist attractions, cuisine, and souvenirs. However, these media representations can be completely different from what you want to experience during your time off.

The best thing you can do is plan your holidays according to what you will enjoy the most. Your opinion matters the most, even if it means going off the beaten track. Do you want to go to Paris but couldn’t care less about the Eiffel Tower? Pay no attention and observe it from a distance because it’s hard to miss anyway. Are you going to Italy but hate pizza? Find something else to eat, and you’ll have plenty of other tasty options. Do what works best for you and what you’ll enjoy the most. You don’t even have to post pictures anywhere if that’s not your style.

Final Thoughts

Even though having fun on vacations seems like an obvious scenario, it’s not always the case. Sometimes, people get carried away in their attempts to live up to the expectations of others, lack organisation skills, pick terrible travel companions, or can’t put their minds off work even during their annual leave. It’s a recipe for a disaster, and it often ends that way.

So, let’s break free from the shackles of comparison and expectation. Rethink your approach and rewrite your travel narrative. Choose travel companions who ignite your spirit, not dampen it. Prioritise experiences that resonate with your soul, not itineraries dictated by trends. Let go of the need to document every moment for others, and instead, relish the fleeting beauty of a sunset, the warmth of a stranger’s smile, and the intoxicating tang of a new cuisine.

Fortunately, you now know what it takes to have the best time during your holiday. Maybe you’ll have to change your approach and rewire your mind. However, you’ll see it’s a change for the better, and your choices will help you enjoy your time off to the fullest. Remember that you’re the one making decisions, and nobody can live through your experiences as you do.

Sources

https://www.wishesmsg.com/enjoy-vacation-messages-quotes/

https://www.tourradar.com/days-to-come/how-to-enjoy-a-vacation-6-ways-to-make-the-most-of-your-holidays/

https://www.masterfile.com/search/en/person+relaxing+under+palm+tree