How do I enjoy holidays more?

comeandgo

Are you holidaying using travel agents and staying in their hotels? Try arranging holidays yourself and use booking.com to read about the hotels rather than Trip Advisor. Pan Pacific have amazing hotels.

Pollycat

jack_pott wrote: »

I don't understand your idea of what a holiday is. For me it's about what you see and do, not Goblin Teasmades, trouser presses and room service. This shepherds bothy is a magic place to stay, but the washing facility was an enamel bowl and a jug of water on the table, when my father stayed it was the river 200 yards away. With the door open in hot weather, the sheep walk in and out of the dormitory during the night.

I'd much rather have an idyllic location and an interesting building with history and character like that, than any number of mod cons.

I don't understand what the OP's idea of a holiday is either.

Possibly goes all-inclusive, doesn't leave the hotel so has nothing else to make up for disappointment in the accommodation and what the hotel has to offer.

happyandcontented

I think the key to making sure the hotel/holiday location lives up to expectations is research. I do copious amounts of it. I use various sites to get information, TA, Booking.com, what used to be Slowtravel but is now SlowEurope, Fodors, Oyster, Virtual Tourist, and of course MSE.

I always book myself rather than via travel agent and usually direct with the hotel or via a cancellable online site. If I book a hotel well in advance and then I find out something which I think will affect my stay negatively I cancel and go back to the drawing board. I am rarely disappointed as I generally exactly know what I am getting.

I do want a good hotel, with a location that suits my trip whether that be sightseeing or relaxation. I want a view and I want a terrace or balcony. I also want good food available both in the hotel and close by within walking distance, ditto bars and shops. I want parking and ease of access to other locations either by ferry or rail. I don't want tacky Brits abroad "full English" locations! I want cultural opportunities, interaction with locals, scenery, and if possible, waterfront. I know what I like and I do enough research to almost guarantee that I get it. Holidays are precious!

basill

jackieblack wrote: »

I always pack a 4-gang extension lead whenever I travel anywhere. Weighs next to nothing and avoids any not enough/inconveniently located plug issues

All my stuff charges via USB so for me a multiport USB charger like this takes up much less space in th luggage. It uses a standard figure 8 lead lead so you can get one to suit any destination.

John259

Sorry if this sounds very blunt, but maybe you should try something radically different so as to break away from your destructive and pointless obsession with five star hotels.

For example you could go camping, do a US or Canadian road trip using budget motels, go walking and stay in hostels, or backpacking in Thailand.

In my experience in Britain, the USA and Canada, within reason the cheaper the accommodation the better the service and the experience. FWIW these guys found the same thing to be true in China:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrqa8FDkRs4

Robin9

OP are you holidaying alone?

Why not try a group style holiday ? or a special interest ?

Gloomendoom

happyandcontented wrote: »

I think the key to making sure the hotel/holiday location lives up to expectations is research. I do copious amounts of it. I use various sites to get information, TA, Booking.com, what used to be Slowtravel but is now SlowEurope, Fodors, Oyster, Virtual Tourist, and of course MSE.

I'd agree with all that although I'm at the other end of the scale. I'm not keen on hotels and I'd rather rent a flat or house if I'm staying anywhere for more than a couple of days. An apartment hotel is a reasonable compromise.

I also enjoy a full English and a nice cup of tea. I've cooked them myself in some quite interesting locations

Gloomendoom

basill wrote: »

All my stuff charges via USB so for me a multiport USB charger like this takes up much less space in th luggage. It uses a standard figure 8 lead lead so you can get one to suit any destination.

I do the same with this one. I also do the same with my laptop. A lead with a local plug only cost a few pounds off Ebay. Having said that, it's surprising how many places use the standard UK plug.

sarah69696pink

I think you need to give a bit more information on what sort of holidays you go on OP and what it is you want from a holiday.
I've had many different types of holidays - ranging from 5* maldives all inclusive, villas in USA and backpacking in Asia, a camper van in Australia, to Uk travelodge city breaks and all in between.
I've never had a bad holiday - although have had some less than ideal stops on some of my trips (e.g. the hotel I'd picked did not match my expectations and this has impacted a little on how much I've enjoyed that leg of the trip, but generally I find its important when this happens to get out and about more and try and not spend time where you know you are unhappy).
Like others I thoroughly research trips before booking (I enjoy it!) and tend to book travel myself, very very very very rarely through an agent.
My favourite holidays tend to be busy with several stops (I like to see as much of a country as possible) but I do also like relaxation at times (e.g. I've booked three nights in what I hope is a good hotel in Malta for some RnR over the winter).
I sometimes eat some food in the hotel, but unless all inclusive (which again I rarely book as I like to get out and about and experience stuff) I would generally not eat in the hotel much.
I generally find new experiences, absorbing another culture and trying local foods to be fairly cheap, always exceed expectations, and creates amazing memories.
Perhaps OP if you share some idea of what you want from your hols we can all help you out a bit more.

happyandcontented

Gloomendoom wrote: »

I'd agree with all that although I'm at the other end of the scale. I'm not keen on hotels and I'd rather rent a flat or house if I'm staying anywhere for more than a couple of days. An apartment hotel is a reasonable compromise.

I also enjoy a full English and a nice cup of tea. I've cooked them myself in some quite interesting locations

I agree, we often rent properties too. Again, I do lots of research and I know what I want. I am not averse to the full English either, but just not the cafes that just cater to the tourist trade exclusively. I would rather search out the places where the locals eat. I love my cuppa too!