| posted on October 26, 2017
FEEL free to disagree with me here, but I think one of the best parts about going on holiday is the hour before leaving.
You’re at work, you’re watching the clock, and the butterflies start to kick in.
You’re speedily typing final emails, tidying your desk and finishing that last sip of coffee.
The building anticipation of leaving routine life behind gnaws at you, because freedom is finally within your reach.
The snowy-capped mountains of France, the sun-soaked streets of the Gold Coast, the pristine oceans and exotic allure of Greece or simply the shopping centres of Perth are calling your name.
I love holidays.
The satisfaction of submitting an approved leave form and smirking goodbye to your colleagues when you knock off is unbeatable.
The moment you leave the office, get in your car, grab the usual chocky milk at the servo, and head off with suitcases in tow is a moment I would like to re-live more often.
Unfortunately, life costs money and we need to work for money, so holidays are often more irregular then we’d like.
So, make every moment count when you’re away.
Some people prefer to have every day of a holiday meticulously organised, right down to what meal they will eat at a particular restaurant and the order of paintings they want to see at a museum.
Others have a more blasé approach, and would rather wake up whenever and choose the next part of the holiday depending on their mood.
I am in the middle of these two planning techniques.
I like to have a bit of plan, because I hate umm-ing and ahh-ing about what to do next, as I get bored very easily.
But, I don’t like being rushed, because you have to rush around in normal everyday life and holidays are (supposedly) about relaxing.
Having a general idea of what you’ll do on each day is helpful, especially if you have children or are on a short break.
Your travel destination will determine your activities, but if all else fails and you are completely lost about choosing what to do, go the safe option.
Go full tourist.
Get out your camera and take heaps of happy snaps; in front of a cool building, by a weird shop sign, in a fountain or eating a colourful snack.
But, don’t get so carried away taking photos that you don’t appreciate where you are.
Get out in the new air, walk around or cycle around and just enjoy being where you are.
Taking photos can be a good launching point to finding cool things to see and do.
When you start seeking good photo opportunities, you will open your eyes wider and see things you probably missed when your eyes were down googling on your phone.
That’s half the fun of a holiday; finding stuff you wouldn’t have thought to search online.
One of the most enjoyable moments on my last holiday was simply sitting on a jetty and taking in a new view of the ocean.
Sometimes it’s the little things on a holiday that make it one to remember.
So, keep this in mind: the idea of a holiday is to experience something new, enjoy accommodation that’s a bit different to home, and to come back to reality refreshed.
Take the time to find something fun, something interesting and something different for your next holiday, and I am certain you will have the time of your life.
(Unless you’re heading to volcano territory, then I suggest your ‘something interesting’ is not trying to take a selfie with lava).
