The Bare Minimum of Planning

I know, a lot of you like to “wing it” on your travels -- float where your desire of the moment takes you and to heck with the details. And that’s fine, if that’s the sort of holiday you’re after. But if you want to get the most out of your trip, you have to take at least a few minutes to figure out what you’re after.

First of all, why are you taking this holiday? For rest and relaxation? To get a new cultural insight? To hit all the best night spots? The answer makes a huge difference as to how you’ll spend your time. I’ve seen way too many people hit their holidays with no idea as to why they’re going, and they wind up with a less-than-satisfying experience.

This is true right down to where you’re going. If your main goal is R&R, you might have a fun time in Las Vegas, but you’d probably be better off finding a nice, relaxing beach somewhere. The reverse is true if you’re looking for night life.

Honestly, it’s not even that much work!

1. Decide WHY you’re going on holiday
2. Find a place that matches your holiday goals
3. Book it!

Now, was that so hard?

Jet Lag

Everyone's favorite part of travel: jet lag! You all know the drill: when you collapse in a heap at 3 pm only to wake bright-eyed and bushy-tailed eight hours later? That kind of thing has its benefits, actually, if you want to take in some serious night life: may as well do it before you adjust to the time change! But if you're looking to minimize the disorientation, there are some things to keep in mind:

-Try to force yourself to adapt to the new time zone. If you really can't function without a short nap, set an alarm and keep it to 15 minutes or less. That way you'll be tired enough to actually sleep come nightfall. If you can make it through that first day, everything starts falling into place.

-Your body responds to bright light as morning and darkness as night. So make sure you expose yourself to bright light (open the darn curtains!) when you get up in the AM, and dim the lights before you head to bed.

-Try not to rely too heavily on caffeine to help you adjust. Definitely stick to coffee and avoid those little white pills.

-If you really suffer from jet lag, many people report success using a special type of lamp that simulates sunlight. I don't mean a tanning bed or an ultraviolet light (although those would work). I'm talking about a portable lamp that emits a light your body responds to in the same way it responds to sunlight (without those charming cancer-causing rays). These lamps are often used to treat Seasonal Affective Disorder and depression, too.

At any rate, don't let jet lag spoil your holiday! Whenever you're up and about, make sure you have fun.

It's a New Year!

Wow, 2008 already. Last night we were watching Dick Clark's new year's special, and I thought, there have to be other places to spend New Year's eve. So I hit the net and was surprised how many wild New Year's parties there are around the world. These were some of the best:

1. New Orleans: I guess it shouldn't be a huge surprise, but the home of the world's biggest party is also the home of a massive New Year's eve celebration.

2. Prague: The city of fireworks. Apparently, New Year's eve in Prague is like standing inside a massive firework: the sky is lit up all night long.

3. Las Vegas: Again, no surprise here: Las Vegas is a party town, and on New Year's eve you can have a wild night on the strip or hit the more civilized (but no less wild) downtown party for $60 a ticket.

4. Whistler: Skiing, snow, and parties: what more could you ask for?

5. Japan: If you want a cultural New Year's eve, the general heading of "Japan" is an interesting place to check out: New Year's is an important holiday there, and it can be interesting to visit temples and shrines. Of course, if it's a party you're after, Tokyo is always happy to oblige....

And me? Well, I spent a ridiculously quiet new year's sick in bed. But we can't all be at the parties. Hopefully you all had a lot of fun on my behalf!