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by Jayaram V
It is said that Sigmund Freud, the father of modern psychology,
used to suffer from anxiety before
traveling. Some anxiety before
going on a vacation is normal because travel means we are moving out of the
comfort zone of our homes and daily routine into an unknown
territory about which we have little information. If we are planning to go
to an
entirely unknown place or a foreign country we haven't visited
before we are bound to experience more anxiety.
It is one thing to wish to go
somewhere and another to make a realistic and practical plan to make it
happen. To be able to travel to exotic places and enjoy your
vacations, you need to be an expert in traveling with skills in scheduling, budgeting, time
management, forecasting and event coordination. You have to be
good at adaptation,
improvisation and communication so that you can meet
adequately with the challenges and contingencies during your
travels. If you are traveling with
your family, you have to make sure that you would not be part of
the baggage others have to carry!
When it comes to planning your dream vacation it is important
not to take anything for granted or rely completely upon your memory. It is
necessary to prepare a comprehensive checklist well in advance
and use it to make arrangements for your travel and stay. The purpose of going on
vacation is to relax
and enjoy. No no one would like to see it turning into a negative
experience. A vacation checklist will empower you to keep your
vacation planning under your radar. It will save your time and
effort. You can keep track of travel arrangements and pull off a
memorable and happy vacation.
A checklist can be as detailed as you want it to be. You can
make a simple list or a detailed one depending upon where you are
going and how long you intend to stay. A simple check list will
suffice if you are familiar with the place you are planning. But you may need a detailed one if you have not visited
the places before or if you are traveling with others for whom you
are responsible.
Before you start working on your check list, you have to gather
information about the places you are
planning to visit. You need to know what to expect and
what type of arrangements and planning would be required to make your
vacation comfortable. If you are planning to visit more than one
location, you need to know each place in some detail so that you
can cover all places of interest that need to be covered and
enjoyed. Internet can
be a good source of information in this regard or if you are a
member of agencies such as American Automobile Association or
Travel Clubs you can get assistance with travel and lodging, maps,
visa arrangements from them. The following list is useful in
creating a foolproof travel checklist .
- Destination
- Climate
- Date and duration of travel.
- Clothing (which essentially depends upon what you intend to
do and in which climate.) and other items that are needed on
vacation such as baggage,
shoes, sunglasses,
cameras, binoculars, etc.
- Number of people intending to travel and specific issues
associated with them such as health issues and special needs.
- Available travel options and intended mode of travel. Also
consider whether you need insurance to drive a rental car or
whether your existing insurance covers it. Buying insurance
from a rental car company can be more expensive than the rent
itself.
- Available stay options and intended places of stay. If you
plan to camp outside you may have to have make special
arrangements. If you plan to stay in hotels you may
need to book in advance and look for good deals.
- Amount of money required to travel and how you intend to
carry it. Also you need to know whether you can use your
credit cards at the places you are traveling or you need
special arrangements. If you are planning to visit foreign
countries it is essential to plan this part carefully to avoid
slippage in converting your money into local currencies.
- Local customs and habits, places to visit, hours of
operation, health facilities, security aspects, telephone
facilities, emergency contact numbers etc. If you don't plan
this properly, you may end up standing in long queues or
missing important sites and events altogether.
- The overall objective of your vacation. Is it simple
relaxation you are expecting or a learning opportunity for you
and your children?
- Arrangements needed at home during your vacation. There can
be a myriad things that need attention and care while you are
on vacation such as security, housekeeping and arrangements
for your mail or your pets or your garden.
- Contingency planning to take care of the unexpected and any
emergency situations that may arise.
Also to avoid last minute confusion and stress, you need to take
care of the following.
- Packing your travel bags well in advance.
- Keeping your money ready.
- Paying your pending bills and making arrangements for payments
that may become payable during your vacation.
- If your kids are coming with you, you may have to plan for their
absence and homework assignments.
- Checking your passports and visas for inconsistencies and
expiry dates.
- Doing a Google search to know any known issues with the
hotels
and resorts, travel agencies, car
rental companies and airways you
intend to use during your vacation. Use the keywords "Issues
+ Problems + Complaints" and then type the name of the
agency you want to search.
In conclusion, it is important to have a detailed checklist when you
are intending to go on vacation. There is nothing like having a
detailed plan and implementing that plan with precision. It would save you a lot of
money and effort and help you return from your vacation with positive memories and
pleasant experiences.
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