There is a strange habit people have when they go on holiday. They spend months looking forward to a few days away, only to fill those days with so many activities that they barely get a chance to sit down. Breakfast becomes something to squeeze in before the next attraction, lunch happens wherever there is a convenient table, and by the evening everyone is too tired to decide where to have dinner.
It is understandable, of course. Nobody wants to travel all the way somewhere and feel they haven’t seen enough. There may be famous places to visit, museums to explore and restaurants that have been on the list for months. But trying to fit everything into one trip can take away some of the enjoyment.
And not every destination needs to be explored at the same pace. A city like Paris or Rome might have enough attractions to keep someone occupied for weeks, while a beach town may be better enjoyed with a much slower routine. Even within the same holiday, some days will naturally be busier than others. There is no reason to make every day equally packed.
Then there is the question of who you are travelling with. A couple may be happy spending an entire afternoon walking around a neighbourhood, while a family with young children might need more breaks and a little more structure. Friends travelling together can have different ideas too. One person wants to visit every landmark, another would rather spend the afternoon shopping, and someone else just wants to find a nice café.
Trying to keep everyone happy by adding more activities rarely works. Sometimes it is better to agree on one or two things everyone wants to do and leave the remaining time open. People can then make their own plans without the entire group feeling that it has to move together.
Of course, this does not mean leaving everything unplanned. Popular attractions may need advance tickets, and then some restaurants are difficult to get into without a reservation. It makes sense to book those things beforehand, particularly if the trip is short. But there is a difference between arranging a few important activities and planning every hour of the day.
Even the choice of destination can make a difference. Skyscanner’s Everywhere search can be useful when you know you want a break but haven’t decided where to go. Looking at different destinations may help you find somewhere that suits the kind of holiday you actually want, rather than choosing a busy city simply because it is popular.
A holiday should not feel like a work schedule with a different view. There will always be another attraction to visit or another restaurant someone recommends. And if a particular afternoon ends up being spent doing very little, that doesn’t mean the trip has gone to waste.
Sometimes the best part of travelling is having nowhere to be for a few hours. There is no need to feel guilty about that.
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