Top 5 things I look for in an amazing holiday destination.

Many people dream about their perfect holiday and I do too. I’ve been on many good holidays and each have their own virtues which made them amazing. From having amazing company to great value, here are the top 5 things I look for in an amazing holiday destination. Let’s see if you agree with what I have to say.

5 – Ease

An important part of being on holiday for me is it not feeling like work. I want things to be easy when I’m away from home. This doesn’t mean I don’t want to go for some long walk or on a mystery adventure. I just want don’t want to have to work too hard for anything – holidays are supposed to be relaxing!

Often I find myself leaning towards all-inclusive resorts for this reason. Not having to worry about where I’m going to get my next meal (or indeed paying for it) is a huge boon for me. That being said I more often take city breaks. As long as I know I have plenty of money to afford a good meal each day I’m set. Sometimes when you are staying in a new city part of the fun is trying to discover amazing places to eat whilst not breaking the bank. Last year when I visited the French Riviera everything was crazy expensive! But because we got such a good deal on hotels and flights, it wasn’t the end of the world that meals were considerably more expensive than at home. We even managed to find some more reasonably priced places to when we really looked. That brings us nicely onto the next point…

4 – Value

I was going to call this section cheap or something along those lines, but I don’t think a cheap holiday is important. What actually is important is getting good value for money. This often means finding the best deals available, using those air miles, or finding other ways to save money like staying with friends.

I’m under no illusion that going on holiday is something that doesn’t cost a good sum of money. Indeed, we should consider ourselves fortunate that we can take holidays at all as so many people just can’t afford to. I’m ok with spending the money on a holiday but I want to know I’m getting a good return on my investment. I want to know I’m not paying the standard rates at hotels, that it’s one of the best value hotels in the area for what I get, and that it is in an ideal location. Most importantly, I want to know that when I return home after an amazing holiday there isn’t the massive downside of being suddenly broke. I don’t want to be stressing about money before, during, or after the holiday. That isn’t the point.

3 – Something Different

Experiencing something new is a fun part of any holiday. When I go somewhere I want to know I get to experience something different from the usual fair at home. If I just end up doing all the same things I do at home then I should have just stayed at home and saved myself some money. I don’t necessarily want to be challenged when taking a holiday, but I do want to have fun in different ways to what I am used to.

I’m big on city breaks because the whole experience is new to me almost every time. No two places are really the same and even with the (often comforting) similarities between some places there is always a unique twist on the location. Some places are famous for particular things: New York City for its skyscrapers, Amsterdam for its bikes (and other things), Paris for that feeling of romance. That makes them different from each other despite the fact that underneath they are essentially the same city. But the culture of a place you are not used to is always so vibrant and I love that. Something different can also be doing an activity you wouldn’t usually do like water skiing or snowboarding. I don’t try enough new things when I go away and it’s something I certainly want to do more of when taking a holiday.

2 – Relaxing

It probably goes without saying but any holiday I go on must be relaxing! Ideally I want an entire day devoted to just chilling out. Whether this is by the pool, beach, or in the cocktail lounge on some cruise ship doesn’t matter to me. I just want to relax. Although that cruise ship sounds pretty good to me!

At home we often struggle to find time to relax for long periods of time. Other matters are constantly demanding our attention. Other people, our pets, our jobs, our bills. When you are on holiday none of that, usually, applies and you can just rest. Forget about your troubles and lay with a good book and a glass of wine, or whatever floats your boat. Ensuring a relaxing holiday also means making sure I won’t have to worry about things whilst away. This includes monetary issues, knowing that my cat is being looked after at home, making sure I have enough underwear. In some ways this links back to point 5 – the easier a holiday is the more relaxing a holiday is. Even people who love their adventurous holidays can always appreciate a day to take a rest.

1 – Company

By far the most important thing I look for when travelling is good company. The person you are travelling with, or to, can change everything about your holiday for the better. With some people the destination doesn’t matter at all, only the journey.

Whether travelling with my boyfriend or with a group of friends I always find the most enjoyable parts of the holiday are the social aspects. I am a very social person and when travelling with someone other issues just don’t seem as important. I enjoy the company and that makes the holiday so much better. With everyone out to relax on their holiday as well, everyone just seems to get on better and have a much better time. Going on a holiday to where a friend lives is also great – not only because it could save on the hotel bills! Generally, everything is better when done together. I really believe this and would also look to find someone to come with me on any holiday I go on. A good friend will cure all ills.

So that was the top 5 things I look for in an amazing holiday. Do you agree? What would make your list? Are you more of a thrill seeker? Looking for the next adventure? Let me know in the comments below!

Thanks for reading,

Michael