Many people take their main holiday in summer, others in winter and although some people choose a last-minute break, others plan their holiday months in advance.
The beginning of the year is a good time for people to
start looking at holiday brochures.
Tour operators (companies
that organise holidays) as well as travel
agents (the people that sell holidays) give lots of information
about holiday destinations
and types of holiday. Apart from the traditional two-week beach holiday, you can choose from a
range of holidays: a cruise
, an activity holiday
(a holiday that involves walking, cycling, climbing or other sports), a city break (a weekend or a few days
in a different city) and so on. A lot of people choose a package holiday, where flights and
accommodation are included in the price. But many people prefer an independent
holiday, where they make their own travel
arrangements.
If you travel independently, you will need to book your flights or train tickets. Unless
you have an onward destination,
you will probably book a return journey.
Then you will need to make a
reservation at a hotel, or another place to stay, such as a
campsite (if you are camping in a tent), or a caravan site (if you are staying
in a caravan), or a B&B
(a bed and breakfast).
For all types of foreign holidays, it is essential
that you check you have all your travel
documents. Make sure your passport hasn’t expired, and that you have a visa if necessary. If you are
travelling to some countries, you also need to make sure that all your vaccinations (protection against
illness) are up to date. For some countries you might need a vaccination
against hepatitis, or yellow fever, for example.
As your departure
date gets nearer, you can start to plan the details of your
journey. Perhaps it will be a good idea to buy a guide book, or a phrase book, if you don't speak much
of the local language. Some people like to read up on (get lots of background
information) on where they are going, and find out about the places of interest and
"must-see" sights.
It's also fun to make a packing list,
so you don't forget any vital clothes or toiletries.
It's also a good idea to buy local currency in advance, if your flight gets in in the middle of the night, when no banks are open. Most airlines also advise you to take out, get travel insurance just in case your flight is delayed or cancelled, or if you get ill and need to be repatriated.
