A well-planned holiday makes for a stress-free holiday and how does one plan for a holiday that is stress free. Friends and family will have lots of advice for you, so will your travel apps and the internet. When all is said and done, there are only a few basic rules to follow to make sure you make the most of your vacation.

The lead up to your holiday should be as stress-free as your holiday itself. The more organized you are during the planning phase, the more likely things will fall into place.  

So what are these simple rules one should follow:

1. Plan Ahead – at least 3 to 6 months, and longer if your vacation involves some exotic place, or if it’s an adventure holiday or safari as peak times will mean earlier planning.  And while you’re planning the holiday, at the same time budget it. Ask people who have been to the destination of your choice and look for good prices on flights and accommodation.

2. Before you book anything, make sure you can take the specific dates off of work and arrange for your home, pets, or whatever else that might need looking after while you are away. 

3. Once you’re sure all the above is in place, book your trip – have everything in order, flight, car rental, hotels and any major sights or attractions that require advance tickets.  Have an outline of your itinerary, and perhaps plan your days if you’re not on a set itinerary.  

4. A week or so before your travel date, check to see what cell phone plan you need.  Speak to your mobile carrier for best options. Keep your itineraries handy – think of keeping a copy on your cell phone and one paper copy.  There is an app called Tripit which collates your itineraries, reservations, maps, frequent flyer numbers and other travel information you need into one place.  Consider keeping a copy of your passport in a secure place, perhaps cloud storage.

5. Last but not the least, pack your luggage.  Lay out all your clothes on the bed and take a photo of it with your smartphone.  If you bag goes missing, at least you can detail exactly what was in them.  Keep all your electronics in your carry-on bags.  Never pack them in checked luggage.

6. Take off and have a stress-free vacation.