Hello guys, the festive period is just
around the corner and by now most families are done deciding where and how they
will be celebrating the Christmas and New Year.
Whether you are holidaying in the Bahamas
solo, or off to the Abu Dhabi, or going to spend the time of your lives with
your loved ones in some exotic place in an African country, my big question is
“How Do You Travel?”
Some people just go with the flow but I
think the best way to enjoy your trip is to plan ahead. Plan every single part
of your itinerary. Plan day-to-day. While things may not always go according to
plan, having a plan really helps you to get the best out of your trip, save
time, energy and have some focus.
I recently helped a client draw up a plan
on her last international business trip to an international conference in
Capetown, South Africa; from her day to day outfit, accessories, shoes; to the sets
of activities to focus on, networking angles and contacts – It was so exciting
for me and even more exciting to hear she received tons of praises about her
outfits every single day, that people even looked forward to what she was going
to wear the following day or to the next outing. A top official even told my client that if
he remembered nothing at the conference, he would remember her in particular
for her great sense of style and dressing.
Anyway, I would be sharing my essential
behaviour towards travel. You can learn from mine and share yours too. I would like to know how you prepare or not
prepare for your trip.
1. Whether it is a familiar or regular holiday destination or not, go on Google and RESEARCH. Amongst other things like learning basic language (how to say hello, thank you, et.c), currency, your country embassy’s location, behaviour of locals with visitors, et cetera, also, find out what’s happening currently or presently in that location you are travelling into. You will never know what positives or negatives your being Google proactive can bring forth.
For example, you may
discover numerous business opportunities you could take advantage of at the
same time of your travel, or an impending disaster or epidemic not yet reported
on the big news you may want to stay away from.
I remember planning my
solo getaway to Ghana mid this year, and I discovered an important 3-day
international conference happening just at the time of my trip while I
researched online. Of course I attended.
And being there returned serious profitable value for me, even back home.
2. Plan your outfit and day-to-day activities. I cannot over emphasize this enough. This is so important. From what you intend to wear on the airplane, or just to the front room of the hotel, or your choice swimwear, or even what you would love to wear for a stroll in the evening. Plan your underwear, sleep wear, everything! The worst situation you can be in on a trip that is supposed to relax you is to be frantically looking for what to wear – just because you under packed, over packed or packed nothing of value. It can be draining and could soil a good trip.
Do not forget to pack at
least a dinner dress depending on the length of your stay – for example,
whether I am travelling solo or with friends or family, I always ensure there
is a reason to dine out at the end of my trip and really reflect through that
evening, of course in my perfect evening dress.
3. Be adventurous with food.
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| Afia Beach Resort in Ghana serve the best food ever! You can see from my plate right? |
4. Book a tour. You will be amazed at how little to nothing you know of the tourist attractions of a place you think you ‘regularly’ visit. Can I test that for a minute? Just mentally respond to my questions below; I already answered the first question for you.
Have you
travelled to England before? “Yes. Of course
(regularly. Infact going to London is like going to the back of my
house).” Hmmm, I thought you would say
that.
So what
do you do for fun when you are in England?
Have you
ever heard of Skegness, the seaside town and civil parish in the East Lindsey
district of Lincolnshire, England?
Okay… so you get my
point. Nothing wrong with being
adventurous or touring different historic locations even if you are a regular
in that country and feel offended being called a tourist. Isn’t that the whole
point of going on a holiday?
5. Get a really nice camera. Canon?! Your cliché response might probably be that you have a great phone with amazing camera pixels and qualities. Good for you. But a perfect holiday isn’t complete without a good camera in hand and the attitude to want to capture unique sites, memories and treasure them.
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| My good friend - Dheeraj Pandey |
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