Collaborative Contributed Post
Although travel is not something that many people can do yet, or even feel comfortable doing, it can still be fun to pass some time by thinking about and planning some travel for when Covid-19 is under control. This could be exploring new places in your own country or finding amazing spots that you would like to visit abroad. Having this time to plan will give you the chance to find out more about the place you want to go to, to discover plenty of activities for you and your family to do, and to start organising trips to tick off your bucket list.
Decide where you want to go
If you always go to the same places on holiday with your family, this could be your chance to research new destinations to find somewhere else to go. When you have children, it can be easy to get into the routine of going back to a place you know and love because it can help you feel more comfortable and at ease.
Once you have picked a country or city that you want to go to, make it more specific. Find the area that you would like to stay, and discover things that you want to do. When you get more specific with your plan, it changes from an idea to something that you are more likely to book when it is safe to do so.
Consider staying closer to home
If you want to get away for a bit of a break, but don’t want to risk going abroad, you could visit somewhere a bit closer to home. There are a lot of great places to visit in the UK, many of them rural, so easier to distance yourself from others, and full of beautiful places to explore. A trip within the UK would be much easier to plan as you won’t have to learn about the rules and restrictions elsewhere. You will also be able to drive to your destination, making it simpler and less stressful to travel.
Choose your accommodation
You don’t need to book it straight away, but it can be helpful to know what kind of accommodation options are available. If you are going away with your family and children, you may prefer to choose a holiday rental than a hotel, so that you have enough space to distance yourself from others if need be. There may be a properties for sale portal, or to a website that shows you properties for rent so that you can get an idea of the kinds of places you will be able to find in the area.
If you do decide to book your accommodation for some time in the future, make sure that you can cancel your booking without penalty in case there are suddenly increased lockdown measures that stop you from being able to go.
Plan things that you can do
There is no need to plan a full jam-packed itinerary of things to do, but it is worth making a list of some of these things so that you are not left working out what to do when you get there. You could find out about those touristy spots that you have to see like the Eiffel Tower in Paris or Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, but there could also be other things that will be fun for you and your family, such as amusement parks or museums.
To find out more about what there is to do in the place you want to visit you can look at the country’s tourism board website, travel blogs, travel guides, and ask family and friends for recommendations. There are plenty of resources online for you to use, so you will never be at a loss for what to do.
Research places to eat and drink
Although it is nice to discover new places to eat or drink when you get to your destination, it can also be a good idea to find out about some of your options before you get there. This is especially important if you have fussy eaters, or if some of your family members have allergies or intolerances. Trying new things is meant to be fun, but for some people, it can be stressful, so having those options that you can fall back on will help to make everyone much more relaxed.
Researching beforehand will also give you the chance to find out about local delicacies so that you don’t miss out on trying these foods when you are there.
Find out how much things will cost
Once you have chosen where you want to go, and have worked the kind of places that you want to stay, you can start to try and price up the trip as a whole. The task will include working out approximate travel costs, accommodation costs, attraction costs, daily costs for food and anything else that you may want to do. While you can’t travel, you can use the extra time as an opportunity to save.
The best thing about having a plan for future travels is that you will feel more motivated to save for them. When you have a vague idea of going on holiday, you might still put money away, but you could be easily swayed to spend it on something else. The plan will help you to save, as you will have a goal amount that you need to reach so that you can have a great holiday.
The best thing about travelling is that you can do it whenever you want. That means that if you don’t feel comfortable doing it just yet, or want to wait to see how things play out before you book anything, that is fine. Planning and dreaming can be just as fun, and it will mean that when everything is looking more positive, you will have ideas of where you want to stay and what you want to do, all you will have to do is pick a day and book it.
This is a collaborative contributed post.