A majority of people find it difficult to put aside the time and money to get away on vacation, so it’s not something that we often get to experience. That makes it much more important to make the most out of the overall experience, as you don’t know when you’ll get that opportunity again! It helps a lot to know what you want to get from your holiday before you go, but it’s also important that you’re open to trying new things as they come. Take on new opportunities and don’t be afraid to leave your comfort zone!
Try different accommodation
It’s pretty common to look for a hotel when you’re planning a holiday, as it provides you with everything that you’re going to need when you’re away. You get your privacy, somewhere to sleep and leave your things, and also somewhere to eat! While those things are great, it’s also very expensive to stay there for extended periods of time and can reduce your vacation affordability! Something that’s great to try if you’re traveling alone is a hostel! Hostels are an inexpensive form of accommodation and offer you the opportunity to meet new people who are also traveling!
Move around a lot
For many people, the idea of a vacation is booking a hotel and spending your time around the local area to experience the tourist attractions, but for some, that isn’t enough! To be tied to a hotel room that you have to keep going back to can limit how far you can go, and removing that tie can make your holiday a lot more liberating.
Look for new experiences
There’s nothing wrong with staying in your comfort zone, especially when you’re in a country that you’re not familiar with, but some would argue that’s the best time to try out things that you usually wouldn’t! There’s nothing stopping you from going against things that you had already planned to try out something completely different, and you never know what you might enjoy! You could try hiking, sailing, exploring! There’s a lot you could be doing to experience a different country to the fullest, and a lot of the time there are services to make that easier for you! Take these Austin boat rentals for example; you don’t have to make a big investment to try something new, nor are you taking on a huge responsibility!
Working abroad
The main issue with going to another country is the amount of money it’s going to cost to stay out there, and the job that you need to return to at some point. Well, some people play with the idea of working abroad instead. If you can communicate well enough with the people there, and have skills to offer, you could work there temporarily to make the experience all the more memorable! Some volunteer work opportunities offer you shelter and food while you work with them, meaning that you don’t have to worry about those expenses the whole time you’re there! Not only that but giving back in the form of volunteer work can be rewarding enough in itself.
Consider packing light
It can be all too tempting to bring a lot of baggage with you when you’re away, and it can be hard to determine what you’re actually going to need if you’re planning to be gone for a while. The main issue with bringing a lot of luggage with you is that you’re going to either have to carry it around everywhere, or find somewhere you can leave it without having to worry about it. If you plan to be moving around a lot, then you don’t really want the responsibility of all of those things. More belongings mean more things to worry about! Learn to pack only what you need while you’re away, consider buying more clothes abroad if you find you don’t have enough and don’t over-prioritize things that aren’t essential!
Take part in the culture
You must have heard the phrase “when in Rome..”, and it’s generally used as a means of enjoying the surroundings by taking part in them. The same can apply to when you’re going away, and it can be great fun to get yourself involved in other cultures! Whether it’s trying out the local dishes, or taking part in cultural events that have been traditional to the people who live there. A lot of people love to share their culture with others, and you’ll likely get the opportunity to experience it if you take the time to meet people!
Take pictures
This one should be a given. While you don’t want to be spending all of your time on a device, it’s great to take a picture here and there to give yourself something to remember it by. When you’re home and sorting through them, they can help you relive the times you had while you were away. Photos are a timeless reminder of the things you’ve done, and taking them only adds to the experience!
Take extra funds
There are many reasons you should be taking extra money when you go away to another country, the main reason is for emergencies. You don’t want to get stuck in a position where you’re hit by unexpected costs that leave you stranded, and that extra money can give you a little more peace of mind. Other than that though, the extra money can mean extra enjoyment, whether you’re being more indulgent than you usually would with your meals, or paying for new opportunities. Now is the time you should be enjoying and spoiling yourself, not overthinking about how you should be spending.
If a vacation is something that’s rare for you, you shouldn’t let this opportunity go to waste! You have so many different ways to make your time away from more memorable and enjoyable, and you should absolutely jump on any opportunity to do so! It’s healthy to get out of your comfort zone every now and then.
