Have a holiday the right way

It's the holiday season and everyone is making plans on where to go and what to do. Some have already left, some will leave soon.

What is your ideal holiday like? What should it be like? Do you think you're doing it the right way?

This is a complete personal account on what I would like a holiday to be. Considering I have Toofan and Bijlee, my holiday wishlist is skewed towards holidaying with children.

The planning phase.

I completely love doing this. I can't seem to holiday without it. Also, I seem to plan way too early but it's therapeutic for me to have all the information I need before confirming anything.

I must know where to go, what is there to do, what I am going to do when I get there and what I am definitely going to avoid. I need to know the best options to get there and back. Admittedly, even after planning in advance, I rarely book at the cheapest price. This is probably because I take too long to finalise and am always hopeful for a better deal. I do get good deals most of the time though.

The build up phase.

I love getting the people who are due to travel with me involved in the travel plans. I will show them pics, discuss the good things that are there, play down expectations where required and basically force them into knowing what's in store. I get the kids excited about things they can do there, what they can experience and the buffet table which seems to have become an important part of their holiday breakfasts for some reason. If their friends are joining in, I talk to them about the games they can play, what they can carry to entertain themselves and how late they can sleep.

The packing phase.

This is completely left to the wife and I give her full credit for this. The only thing I do in this phase is make a list.

The day of travel.

Always chaos. Yelling. Get ready, eat breakfast, we'll miss the flight for sure! You can't wear this, it's green and your t-shirt is blue! Wash your face, you've got food all over your chin. Oh no, I've forgotten my glasses. Did you book a cab yet? Why isn't it here? 2 more minutes!!!

Once we've loaded the bags and are sitting in the car, however, everything changes. There is a sudden calm that overtakes us all. It's as if we've finally managed to escape a prison that was holding us against our will. Inadvertent smiles crop up. Goofiness takes over. Everyone is happy. We eat, drink and take trolley rides at the airport until it's time for the security check. The kids are most excited to be screened. They have now been given the responsibility to hold on to their own boarding passes and carry on bags with their art and games. Getting on the flight is great when there is an aerobridge, not so much when they have to take the bus.

On the flight, it's a fight for the window seat or a quarrel to sit with their friends. Out come the colouring books, the playing cards, the reading books and we are at peace till it is time to feed them. This is really messy on the flight and we need to come up with a way to feed kids without dropping things on their clothes.

We're there.

Land at the destination and this is where the fun is supposed to begin. I have a few issues at this stage. I hate my phone and would love for it to be switched off or unreachable. Not so much with other travellers. I don't get how you go for a holiday and then stay close to everything you are getting away from by being on the phone that links you right back. 

I love to get out and explore the place on my feet. I like walking about the local markets and getting a feel of the place. Kids sometimes make this difficult but encourage them from the start and perhaps they will develop the habit. I eat local. Sure, there might be a chance of an infection but that is part of the experience.

I don't believe in the dictum that you must do and see everything the place has to offer. It is a holiday remember. Just relax, take it slow, ease into it and do what you feel like doing. If you don't like sightseeing, forget about it. Take a good book and read. If not, spend a few hours in the pool. If that's not your thing, walk around and do some shopping. Don't break your day trying to reach 5 spots in 24 hours and then just see them for 10 minutes.

I like doing nothing on my holiday. I could sit on a lounge chair and stare into nothingness. I don't need music, I don't need entertainment for me to enjoy my time off because it is my time off. A place where I can do nothing! I can hibernate and am proud of it. A lot of people get upset with me for wanted to do nothing and not participate, but it's ok. I get it. Some people need to be busy to enjoy themselves.

What is your ideal way to holiday? Let me know in the comments below.