Phew, it’s been one stressful year, and we could all do with a break right about now, don’t you think? But here at IDEAL, we’re a little worried that after so long on home soil, we’ve rather forgotten exactly how to holiday properly.
This year, you’ll find us quarrelling at the airport about who’s packed the passports, regretting not wearing enough layers for the freezing cold flight, checking our phones relentlessly poolside about the latest government corruption scandals, and being so overwhelmed by all the exotic food on offer that we just end up eating banana bread…
Scrap that. Hold that noise. Let’s start over. Holidays are, of course, meant to be relaxing and calming experiences. But as we all know, holidays can turn out to be surprisingly stressful if you don’t put the right measures in place.
Indeed, according to research published in 2019, Brits say that “they sometimes feel it’s not worth going on holiday because it’s so stressful before they head off, or after they get back and try to settle into their day-to-day lives once again”. And that was before all the bad business of the past 15 months began.
But listen, let’s go full circle and start at the beginning again; we all need a break right now. So, here’s our ideal guide on how to truly relax on holiday.
KEEP YOUR HOME SAFE
First things first, you need to make sure that you don’t have anything to worry about back home while you’re away, and that means arranging your property before setting off so you know it’s going to be well looked after.
If that means getting a neighbour to come and visit regularly, to water plants or make sure you haven’t been burgled, then make those arrangements. Enlisting the help of friendly neighbours to keep their peepers on proceedings in your absence is a good way of achieving a certain serenity while you’re away, as they can keep you posted on goings on. Within reason, of course; ‘house still not burgled’ isn’t a necessary daily update while you’re tanning by the pool.
If you’d rather not hand out a spare, consider upgrading your home security system with a smart lock door. These clever locks allow you to unlock the door remotely, using your smartphone from the comfort of your sun lounger. You can grant temporary access to your neighbours with expiring codes or set access codes for specific days and times.
Or, if you’ll only gain peace of mind by installing a professionally monitored home security system (checked up on by a third party rather than yourself – you want to chill out, remember?), then do it!
That way, you’ll be able to relax more completely and comprehensively while you’re on holiday, which was the whole point of the exercise, after all.
Read: 5 tips for keeping your home safe during summer holidays
IT’S ALL ABOUT THE ANTICIPATION
Some might call it preparation. We, however, like to call it anticipation. A few weeks before your holiday, swap your bedtime book for an Eyewitness or Lonely Planet guide to your chosen destination. Start researching the restaurants you want to go to and the bars which will play host to your dance moves. Read up on the main sites of the city or town you’re visiting and its history, so you’re fully informed and intrigued by what’s to come.
Because, let’s face it; not having a clue about the place you’re visiting can be stressful.
Moreover, holidays are precious, and you don’t want to be wasting time while you’re on them having to research, coordinate, book tours and make reservations. Keep those tough decisions to a minimum when you’re actually on holiday by getting them sorted beforehand.
It’s worth bearing in mind that while an itinerary isn’t set in stone, it’ll help structure your trip and give it a purpose – but feel free to switch activities around if they don’t fit in with your day!
DON’T FEEL PRESSURED BY THE MUST-SEES
Sometimes, being in a particularly famous or revered holiday destination brings with it its own distinctive pressures. We might feel that we have to see the Eiffel Tower in Paris or La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, enduring the queues and the chaos to do so.
If you’d prefer to stroll the banks of the Canal Saint-Martin or while away the hours in the tapas bars of El Raval, then it’s your trip! Don’t feel pressured by the must-sees; you won’t see them properly through the crowds, anyway.
MANAGE YOUR MONEY
Sometimes, we can’t enjoy or relax on holiday because we’re thinking too much about our budget and how much we’re spending. There is always a certain stressful element, financially, to going on holiday, so make sure you budget a little in the weeks preceding your trip so you’ve got extra spending money whilst on it! Doing so will free your mind of those nagging financial worries which can sometimes sadly blight a holiday.
The main thing here is to ensure that you are actually able to afford the trip, and that you have put aside whatever finances might be necessary for that to be the case. As long as you do that, you should find that you’re more relaxed about how much it’s costing, allowing to do whatever you want to without worrying.
Read: 5 IDEAL ways to manage your money while travelling
UNPLUG FROM YOUR WORK & YOUR DEVICES
Relaxing is difficult in our digital world, and sometimes a holiday loses a fair amount of its purpose if it’s simply spent staring at the same old device as you would be on your sofa at home. And don’t get us started on your boss emailing you while you’re away…actually, if you’d like us to, we will start on your boss for you; just send us their details.
Anyway, a recent survey of 2’000 people found that Brits take a whopping 46 hours to truly feel relaxed on holiday, with our ‘always on’ culture the primary culprit in those stress levels carrying through from work into the first days of our trip. So, however hard it might feel, set that Out Of Office automatic reply before you shut down your work computer for the last time before your trip, and stick to it resolutely.
Go further, and relish the time away from your screen, full stop, leaving it at the hotel or your villa while you go on a jaunt or to a restaurant. Yep, we hear you wondering out loud about how you’ll find your way back to the hotel in an unfamiliar city….well, why not embrace that feeling of getting lost!
Read: 4 IDEAL ideas for a stress free holiday
INDULGE IN A BIT OF LUXURY
There really is nothing like a bit of luxury to truly help you relax. Of course, luxury comes in many guises. From five star hotels to everything-arranged experiences tailor made to your wishes, luxurious and indulgent holidays can truly help you relax.
Let’s accept it – whisper it, even – but sometimes, it’s nice to simply be herded, catered for and looked after. Enter those much maligned all inclusive holidays – sometimes not having to think is the most luxurious experience of all.
However, we can’t all afford to stay in those luxurious five star resorts or all-inclusive trips. The trick, we think, is to find a bit of luxury wherever you can.
You don’t have to spend a fortune to find lodges with hot tubs or hotels with private pools. Instead, you can actually dip in and out of luxury in order to suit your budget and timetable. Many luxury hotels now allow non-staying guests to enjoy their fancy breakfasts and access their spa facilities. Known as ‘day stays’, this has become a huge travel trend in recent years, allowing people to enjoy the hotel for up to 70% off the rate you’d pay for an overnight stay and enjoy the hotel’s amenities all the same.
Or, you could simply pretend that you’re staying at the hotel and sneak in to the pool area to spend a “surreptitious afternoon’’ of luxury hotel amenities – champagne taste on a beer budget? Count us in!
Read: 5 IDEAL apps you need to download before your next holiday
IT’S ALL ABOUT THE CUSHION
No, we don’t mean bringing a travel cushion with you for the flight, although it will help you relax on your journey. What we mean is having a little extra time at the end of your holiday when you’re back home to get yourself organised and ready to enter the ‘real world’ again.
In fact, studies suggest that it takes three days for our sleeping patterns to get back to normal after all the late nights and lie-ins that we have on holiday. Indeed, many people struggle post-holiday to get back into the swing of things at work because they don’t grant themselves that ‘cushion’ we mention.
So, perhaps arrange your holiday so you return to the UK on a Friday evening or Saturday morning, granting you the weekend to recover before that dreaded return to work.
Check our our article on 4 IDEAL tips for planning the perfect summer holiday for more tips!