The new term has only just begun, but I’m already starting to muse my future holidays plan. This is partially as a method to avoid thinking about the ever nearer summer exams, looming closer by the hour to determine my future. Of course, you may argue, this is just a form of procrastination which will prevent any revision from taking place. While I must admit to taking a brief break from allowing exams to dominate my mind following the conclusion of mocks, the justification for January holiday browsing lies far deeper.
Put simply, in order to enjoy a holiday (the true purpose surely), planning begins months in advance. Think about it. In depth, you consider a place to visit. The volume of persuasive advertising that trying to tempt individuals to go here, there and everywhere is extraordinary. Last week’s Sunday Times contained dozens of travel deals and idyllic landscapes from all around the world. This is in every publication – print and online – every single day. A rational decision making has to be made from where to go, which is no easy task with images of awe-inspiring exploration. It's worth remembering holidays cost money. Though I don’t like to spend too much, one’s bank balance would hardly be at its best before travelling. Then comes the decisions about what to see, where to explore, is, fundamentally, the proposed country a safe place not purged by conflict where tourists face almost immediate inevitable death. Once the location has been decided, well done. Pat yourself on the back. Then the real fun begins. When I say fun, I course mean the sort of fun one associates with every sports day in history. Or workshop development groups. Hardly the most stimulating form of enjoyment. But it must take place for the real form of fun one expects – during the holidays - to arrive. Involved in this bonanza of planning includes finding a hotel, some YHA or a field to camp in. TripAdvisor may be a helpful review site, but, as I remember hearing once, its existence means there will always be a negative review of every single location in the world. Remembering to book your tickets with the appropriate form of transport along with the hunt for what exactly to do in the location must be undertaken. For someone who quite likes to experience settings for the first time in reality, browsing around on Google Images to work out my directions slightly ruins the sense of awe and anticipation. Every country is different. Even within a nation-state, the customs, manners of speaking and behaviour vary massively. From the simple things of burping or farting at meals to what individuals can wear in public, tourists should, in most circumstances, seek to comply with the conventions of the visiting nation. That does not make it a simple task. Far from just swanning up in a nation, sun cream at the ready, purchasing a copy of a Lonely Planet guide has become inevitable. When travelling with other individuals, it can, of course, be great fun. There are many personal and social rewards from engaging with others to try and enjoy the holiday. This doesn’t make it fool proof however. If the holiday is long term, individuals may begin to fall out, wish to visit different places and eventually get to the point where each member is driven mad. Company can be possible, but it is probably best in moderation. Once the location has been sorted, who knew one had to pack luggage to take for the occasion. With all the restrictions on weight and what is allowed in the plane, it becomes impossible to know what to take. I suppose this would be the case regardless of a weight limit, with the knowledge of prohibited items only assisting in ruling out certain options. To be on the safe side, that requires at least one month of planning. Timing is of the essence for travelling. For myself, this is an easier part of holidaying, my parents raising me to be punctual without fail. But sometimes, especially with transport, there are forces determining events outside the control of passengers. How was I supposed to know this was the last bus? Why an Earth did you decide to cancel the train three minutes before its departure? Will this plane ever be saved from the evil of the invisible drone? If you’re anything like me, you will have an irrational fondness and admiration for trains and a complete loathing towards planes. Even when you have all your luggage and have successfully passed through security, permanently free from A-level exam, the fear I feel about flying, however many times I do it, never goes away. Indeed, there is always a sinking feeling about the worst possible scenario, as I fail to consider the number of successful flights every single day. Upon safe arrival in a nation (usually), the faff of having to prove your identity commences. Sure, I see the value of passports for crossing borders. But the suspicious look of a border guard – almost always an old male – starring at my passport, checking the photo matches who I am and that my purposes within the nation are not malicious, are anything but comforting. Finally, I can pass through ‘nothing to declare’, having, hopefully, collected my luggage, ready to enjoy the holiday ahead. Of course, the misery of dealing with transport within the location then entails, but at least I am there. It is all the stages beforehand that make holidays, the time for relaxation, a far more stressful experience that people give it credit for. I haven’t even begun to mention changing currency, attaining correct insurance, speaking the language, knowledge of the country’s version of 999 and actually enjoying one’s self. Maybe people feel liberated by the different form of stress, who knows? Oh, and not forgetting that holidaying on the continent is going to become just a tad more difficult after March 29th, as some miniscule event kicks into force which will, if I recall, put up trade and border barriers. Cheers to a stress-free holiday!
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