You might like the idea of being completely spontaneous, but the fact is that although that’s fun, you’re usually going to miss out on things, and if you want to ensure your next trip is better than any you’ve ever had in the past, it’s far better to plan ahead so you know exactly what you’re doing and when you’re doing it. In that way, you can book anything that needs to be booked in advance, you’ll know how much to budget for the things you want to do on your trip, and you’ll know that you can fit it all in.
Start by looking at activities and attractions to go to and make sure you have a list of things you want to see, and don’t forget to include some rest days if you can - if you’re being a busy tourist, having some downtime between full-on days is always useful. Plus, don’t forget to see where all the best bars and pubs are so you can organise your evenings as well.
Travel Light
Packing can be stressful as it’s often hard to know what you’re going to need to take with you. A lot of the time, we overpack when we go away anywhere because we want to make sure we’ve got everything we might want, but that usually just means we end up lugging around a heavy bag and we hardly wear anything that’s in it.
If you want to make your next trip even better, the key is to travel light. Only pack precisely what you plan to wear, and if you know there are laundry facilities where you’re going, you can pack even less. A few spare items are fine, but unless you think you’re going to get very messy every day and need a few changes of clothes, there’s really no need to take too much.
Capture Moments Carefully
The great thing about the modern world is that we all have access to cameras all the time, so when we’re away on an adventure, we can easily snap away and create some wonderful memories to take home with us.
That’s great, but it’s not always something that can make the trip better - in fact, sometimes all the photo and video taking can make it worse. After all, if you’re behind a screen all the time and trying to curate the perfect view, the fact is that you’re going to miss things that are happening in real life, and the experiences of your trip will be limited.
That’s why it’s best to find a good balance between living in the moment and documenting your trip. Really think about the photos and videos you’re getting and limit yourself to only the most important shots. In that way, the images will enhance your memories, not obscure them.
