Going on holiday can be much more stressful than it sounds, whether it’s for 2 weeks or 2 days, we always seem to make it harder for ourselves! From shopping for the all essentials, to getting the kids organised and packing up ready to leave early for the airport (with fingers crossed for no delays), vacationing is a tough job! It should be relaxing right from when you click ‘Book’ and this could be easier than you think. At the Georgian House, we welcome travellers from all around the globe every day; some have flown miles and some have simply hopped on the London Underground to our front door. Regardless, everyone is exhausted and relieved when they arrive to check-in. So how can we make travelling easier and enjoyable for ourselves? Here’s our top tips to help make your holiday or short-break to be a little more stress-free.
We’ll start with our number one top tip that may seem quite an obvious point, but it’s incredibly effective. There are no confirmed studies to prove this, but we’re pretty sure that the sheer amount of luggage we carry around with us significantly impacts our attitude when heading away. Dragging a suitcase that’s as big as you is no fun for anyone, so pack light. Do you really need 5 pairs of shoes and all those swimsuits? Taking less in your luggage means you can travel cheaper, faster and easier… and also means extra room for the duty free!
Our second piece of advice we think is a great way to get around your destination easier. More and more people worldwide are learning the English language, but no matter where we are, we always appreciate it when somebody tries to converse with us in our own language. Learn some of the local lingo and pluck up the courage to use it when in your destination; you will be surprised how far a few words you learnt from a dictionary can go with the locals. Of course, when the local replies to your sentence in a speed ten times faster than your questionable attempt, it’s important to use your body language to get over this language barrier. Remember that shouting ‘train station’ repeatedly in slow motion isn’t helpful to anyone and it just makes you look a bit silly. Body language is the most international language you can use; so try to express what you want to say through movement (whilst with an innocent tourist smile).
Tip 3 is particularly useful for those planning to do some cultural immersion, like sightseeing or dining. Our team at the Georgian House love London and are always happy to advise and give out guides to help our guests get the most out of their city experience and see/do all the things they planned to. A guidebook can open your eyes to so much more than just what you see, giving you some interesting background on a monument or maybe taking you somewhere you didn’t know existed. Or even better, ask your hotel staff for recommendations and you’ll be sure to get a personal insight on where is best for you to go for an activity.
Next up is a short, simple and probably one of the most genius travel hacks we’ve ever seen, perhaps enough to use in your everyday life. We all know the struggle of too many loose cables for phones and other gadgets, so try putting all of them into a spare glasses case. That way they are all kept neatly in one place and not tangled up around your shoelaces!
There’s no better souvenir than great photos of your adventures, especially if you’re travelling to a place you may not come back to in a long time. Keep your memories forever by taking plenty of photos, even if it’s just a snap of daily life passing by. Just remember to enjoy the view away from the lens too!
Finally, our last tip applies to those who without fail, will always forget bring back a gift for their loved one that missed out on the fabulous trip. Easy. A Toblerone is 100% always available from duty free and is the most universal chocolate out there, a simple solution to your problem (if you can resist the temptation as it calls you from your hand luggage).
