How to Plan the Perfect Getaway Abroad

The perfect time to plan your dream holiday is in the winter. When it’s freezing cold outside and it gets dark before you even sit down for dinner, you probably start craving the sun. Also, planning your trip now gives you plenty of time to find the perfect travel destination and to have everything ready by September.

Why September? Well, September is one of the cheaper times of the year to fly, as children are often back in school. But it’s not quite the off-season, so the weather will still be nice enough and you can explore everything you want to.

Here are some tips to help you plan the ideal getaway.

Prepare Your Paperwork

Nobody likes paperwork but, like death and taxes, it’s one of the facts of life. Without filling out the correct forms and having the right documentation ready to go, you won’t be able to leave the country, let alone enjoy a holiday.

The two most important things to have ready are your passport and your visa. Many people fall into the trap of digging out their passport just before they leave, then discovering that it’s two months out of date. This can put a real dampener on your trip and may prevent you from even boarding a plane.

To avoid this situation, dig out your passport when you start planning your holiday. Check the expiry date and, if it needs renewing, send it off as soon as possible so you don’t have to stress about it. If the passport will expire a few months after your holiday, you may still need to get it renewed to enter some countries.

Many countries also require a visa before you can enter, so be sure to look up the visa requirements well in advance so you can get them sorted. Another important consideration is travel insurance.

Good travel insurance, such as over 50’s travel insurance can reduce the stress of your holiday should something go wrong. You can travel with peace of mind, as you don’t need to worry about nasty surprise bills in case you get ill.

Nowadays, you also need to get the paperwork to confirm that you don’t have Covid-19. Different countries have different requirements, but many require you to be vaccinated and to have a recent negative Covid-19 test under your belt.

Do Your Research

Before you go anywhere, you should do your research. The visa and other requirements alone require a certain amount of research, but every aspect of your holiday planning should be steeped in reliable, accurate knowledge.

Research the best time to go away and how much it will cost for you and anyone else going with you. Find out about places to visit and activities, which will help you to narrow down your planned location. Even if you’re planning on something like an RV retreat, you want to know what to expect and what’s in the area.

As well as planning for specific activities and locations around your trip, you should also research the local language and culture. No, you don’t need to learn a whole new language before going away, but it is helpful to learn a few greetings and phrases to help you to get around. If nothing else, many locals appreciate the effort it takes to learn how to say “hello” in their language.

Finally, research how much things are likely to cost. If your holiday bankrupts you, then you may need to change your plans before anything gets booked. Come up with a budget, then plan your holiday around that.

The Fun Part

You’d think that every part of a holiday would be fun but, while it’s exciting to plan your trip, there’s a lot of research and paperwork that needs to be done before you can get your teeth into it. However, once you have a general idea of where you want to go and you’re ready for it, you can start planning your holiday properly.

You likely already have an idea of which country you want to visit and perhaps where in that country you want to stay. Now you get to look for suitable accommodations, and perhaps plan an itinerary.

However, remember that your itinerary doesn’t have to be law. Come up with a few places that you’d like to visit, but leave yourself open for changes of plan. Some people like to spend their holidays relaxing and doing nothing else, but others have an adventurous side to them.

Once the flights and accommodations are booked, and everything is packed and squared away, all you have left to do is to enjoy your holiday.