Getting ready for a late vacation abroad

Hubby and I are in the process of getting ready for a late vacation. We actually booked the holiday at the beginning of the year as it is for a special birthday. Having waited impatiently all year it is now zooming around. Sadly it will soon be a thing of the past. Once a vacation arrives all too soon it is over and done with.

Still that's life. Hopefully it will be a great break but travelling later in the year or out of season requires a little more preparation.

What to pack.

When you travel in high summer it can be so easy to pack. A few skimpy shorts and T shirts, one or two evening outfits, swimwear, sandals and not much else. Travel in Autumn, early Spring or Winter though and you may need to take a whole range of items.

With the tight restrictions on baggage allowances for flights these days it as well to travel light. Include an umbrella, light raincoat, woollen jumper, pair of shoes and warmer trousers. If your vacation is actually in winter you will need to increase the heavy wear and reduce the light wear.

Why waste space on shower gel, shampoo and sun cream?. It will be cheap enough to buy on vacation. Liquids can be a pain getting through passport control anyway. You probably will not need the amount of creams you do in high summer.

Baggage allowance.

The UK has reduced its free baggage allowance. Well, I mean that travel firms have. Make sure that you know exactly how much you can take. Hand luggage restrictions are also tight these days. It will be cheaper to increase your baggage allowance at time of booking rather than if you are overloaded at the airport. Currently an extra 5kgs will cost you £17.50 from most travel companies in the UK.

Remember it is out off season.

Although it is often lovely to vacation out of the busy season you may find that not everything is open or available. The bus timetables for instance will probably be reduced or offer a limited service. Museums and art galleries may open less frequently. If there are places you long to visit or activities you want to enjoy do your research before booking your holiday.

Bag a bargain.

One of the perks of late travel is that you can often get a good deal. Remember to cost in extras such as insurance, flight meals, seat bookings and the like. Bear in mind that if it will be winter when you are flying your flight could be affected by bad weather and delayed.

The weather.

Remember that even places such as the Greek Islands and Spain can have bad weather during some seasons. Check long range weather forecasts before you book.

Destination.

You may have to think outside of the box, as with regards to your destination. If it is going to be cold weather a beach will not suffice. Ensure that there are activities available and other places, such as monuments and museums, to visit.

The perfect holiday for you.

Make sure that your vacation suits your requirements. It is up to you. We are all different. Are you looking for peace and quiet or nightlife? Do you love beaches, a rural setting or a busy city? Want to walk or ski? Is this late vacation the only one you have had this year or even longer or is it an extra break?

Now we are back home.

It is now early November and we are back home. The vacation was just what the doctor ordered so to speak. We did find that as usual we took too much baggage with us. Yes we needed heavier jeans some evenings but not as many as we packed.

In general it is good advice to pack what you think you will need and then re-pack aiming to reduce the amount by at least 10%.