Planning your Summer Holiday

1. Disconnect from work

To really feel like you’re truly on holiday, you need to break with your usual habits—starting with work. You can’t enjoy the sun if you’re replying instantly to every email or bringing your work along to the beach! Of course, it’s normal to have trouble disengaging from your job for the first few days, but pretty soon you’ll have forgotten all about it.

And if that sense of guilt is really too strong, set aside limited periods of time to respond to the most urgent requests.

2. Organize your holiday in advance

I can already hear you complaining at the thought of having to plan everything ahead of time, even your holiday. But managing this particular project can actually be very simple, especially when you’ve got the right tools.

So to make up for lost leisure time the rest of the year and make the most of your few weeks of relaxation, you’ll need to do a bit of planning: Do research of what activities are on offer in the area and surrounds, what hidden gems are there to explore, what restaurants are available. Make a list of all the activities you wish to do and get in touch with each of them to get clarity regarding pricing and booking requirements. This will also help you get a better idea when working on your entertainment budget.

Follow up with your accommodation to confirm that your bookings are in order, find out what you need to know before your arrival, what services you need to pre-book and what balance is outstanding. Remember to ask for a Booking Confirmation to print and take with you.

If you are staying over the Christmas period, be sure to pre-book your Christmas Lunch at the desired restaurant to avoid long ques and the disappointment of being shown away.

Finalize your holiday budget including accommodation, fuel / transport costs, entertainment, food, etc.

3. Think of everything, prepare your to-do list

Accommodation bookings: Check. Activities planned: Check. But before you leave, make sure you haven’t forgotten anything! For total peace of mind as you take off on holiday, make your own checklist with all the essential items you need to take care of and pack before you leave.

Check with your accommodation what is provided and what not so that you know exactly what else to pack, like pool and beach towels, etc

Before you leave, make sure to give your accommodation contact details to a relative or close friend in case of emergencies. Remember to have your vehicles checked and that major services have been completed to ensure your safety on the busy roads. Check your spare tyres too!

Add your holiday destination to your loadshedding schedule to make sure you are always in the know when the power is scheduled to go off. Ask your accommodation provider about back-up and if you need to take any essentials with you like emergency lights or a portable power station if you do have one.

Arrange someone reliable like a relative or family member to look after your home and pets while you are on holiday.

Leave enough time on your return for preparations for the new school year in terms of buying stationary, school uniforms & books.

4. Don't over plan

Planning is good, but be careful not to overdo it. People often tend to over plan their holidays and quickly forget what their getaway should really be all about: relaxing and letting go. Planning exactly what to do on which dates in advance could be tricky in terms of weather, especially when planning lots of outdoor activities.

After all, you’re often very busy during the rest of the year, so your holiday is the perfect time to slow things down a bit. Rather than scheduling activities every single day, leave some of your time free and make room for spontaneous family fun. You’ll feel much more relaxed that way, and even doing nothing can be good for you once in a while! 

Include your family members in your planning and remember to keep it fun and enjoyable for everyone, instead of forcing on a tight and packed schedule on everyone.

5. Be selfish—take care of yourself

You spend the whole year managing projects and taking care of friends and family. But who takes care of you? a coupe of days or a weeks is the ideal opportunity to reconnect with yourself and the closest to you and give yourself a break.

Take the time to decide what you’d really enjoy doing: a unplanned nap, a good book to peruse, a walk on the beach, etc. To get the most out of your summer, it’s important to slow down and savor the present moment.

We look forward to welcoming you to Diaz Beach soon! Happy planning!