Free spirit or meticulous planner? Meet three holiday personality types – and read their top tips
The type of holidaymaker you (and your travel companions) are can have a big impact on the kind of getaways you'll enjoy. If you're the type to pore over endless reviews, book everything in advance and use a spreadsheet to tick off every detail, you'll have a very different experience to the fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants type of traveller, who prefers to just grab their passport and see where it takes them, carry-on in hand.
Or perhaps you're more the flexible type, who likes to plan a few things in advance, but leaves space for spontaneous fun? Or maybe you're the one who breathes a sigh of relief as your super organised friend hands out colour-coded itineraries at the airport?
We gathered together some of the holiday heroes that bring getaways to life to find out how they do it – and to discover some of the clever ways Barclays can help your holiday go even further, whichever group you belong to.
'I create a visual itinerary for every trip,' says Sian Downes, 36
Click here to continue the story …
Over the years, I've organised girls' trips, multigenerational family holidays and surprise getaways. As the founder of an events company, I'm a natural organiser. I enjoy finding bargains, and I don't mind taking on the planning. In fact, I love it.
I wasn't always like this, but after a few holidays where nothing was planned and we had a terrible time, I realised it's better to know exactly what you'll be doing in advance. There's nothing worse than traipsing around looking for a restaurant when you're hungry, and when you're busy with work and family, you want to maximise your holiday time. Being organised is the best way to do that.
My holiday organisation can get a bit extreme, but it's always worth it – I love looking things up on maps and working out the most affordable way to get around. I generally pay for as much as possible in advance, from accommodation to drinks packages, and put everything on my Barclaycard Rewards card* so I can take advantage of rewards such as cashback, then ask people to pay me back.
I'll also draw up an illustrated itinerary, so everyone can see our plans at a glance. The first time I presented my husband with one, he didn't know what to make of it. He'd never seen a holiday itinerary before, but I think it makes a trip special, and it's a great souvenir, too. I certainly won't be hanging up my chief holiday officer mantle any time soon!
*Representative 28.9% APR variable. The approval of your application depends on your financial circumstances and borrowing history, so do the terms you may be offered. The interest rates may differ from those shown. T&Cs apply.
'I use word of mouth to guide our getaways,' says Jessica Shaw, 49
Click here to continue the story …
When I was growing up, my mum liked to choose a country, book a place to stay, then see where it would take us. We once went on a package holiday to Egypt, but she still chose to take public transport to the pyramids!
That approach has definitely rubbed off on me. When I go on holiday, I like to let things unfold naturally – I don't pre-book excursions or restaurants. Luckily, my partner is incredibly laid-back, and all the friends I've travelled with have the same spontaneous outlook. Perhaps that's because my travel style reflects my approach to life in general – my creative training business is all about embracing the power of play, and that naturally seeps into other areas of my life.
It's certainly led to some memorable moments. During a recent holiday to Greece, we were asked if we wanted to join a snorkelling trip. If we'd had plans, we would have had to say no – but instead, we had the most incredible day swimming in clear blue waters.
The secret to keeping holidays adventurous is to be prepared for any eventuality. I have annual multi-trip insurance, and make sure I take enough money to cover any emergencies. You should also be ready to chat to locals and fellow travellers and ask for their recommendations. I've discovered some beautiful places that way, from hidden waterfalls to beaches surrounded by snow-capped mountains. When you exchange stories of your adventures, you never know what you might discover.
'I take a 50-50 approach to holiday planning,' says Furrah Syed, 57
Click here to continue the story …
I love travelling – with my friends, my husband, or alone – but as time is limited during each trip, I want the best of both worlds, planning some things but also embracing unexpected adventures. I'll do my research beforehand, and will book tickets in advance if an attraction is very popular. I learned that the hard way, after a visit to Rome – as an artist and educator with a focus on colour, I was desperate to see the Sistine Chapel, but it was impossible as I hadn't booked.
One of the things I always book is a walking tour. Getting a local's perspective uncovers places you won't find online. It also helps you to spot the restaurants filled with locals, which is always a good sign. Another tip is to travel by road wherever possible, as it takes you through so many different landscapes and allows you to see people's day-to-day lives. You don't get that on a plane.
When I'm budgeting for my holiday, I always keep some money aside for spontaneous adventures – the last thing I want is to come home regretting not being able to do something unexpected. I'd say my approach overall is 50% planned and 50% go-with-the-flow, and that works really well for me.
Find out more about Barclays Travel Packs and the Barclaycard Rewards card
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
UK's POSHEST nursery with gourmet chef's tasting menu & kids potty trained on marble loos… but is it worth £150 a DAY?
IT COSTS £150 a day — and comes with marble loos, Mandarin lessons and a gourmet tasting menu. Welcome to Odyssey, the UK's poshest nursery, where toddlers are potty trained in luxury and dine like mini royals. 6 6 6 Based in Marylebone, central London, this lavish early-years setting has just opened in a Grade II-listed former prep school, offering a blend of elite childcare, plush interiors and a 'global' outlook — including marble loos for potty training. The nursery, which hails from Singapore and is built on the Reggio Emilia philosophy of child-led learning, is the first of its kind in the UK. Spread across three pristine, light-filled floors, Odyssey caters to children from infancy up to five years old, offering everything from multilingual education to music lessons in a dedicated 'jam room.' Angela Ang, head of school, explained: 'Our philosophy is 'learning without boundaries', so we believe learning doesn't only take place in the rooms, it takes place anywhere.' For £150 a day — or £690 for a full five-day week — little ones are served three gourmet meals prepared by an in-house chef, all NHS -accredited. But this is no ordinary nursery food. Think free-range pork loin with leek and cauliflower gratin, or spanakopita with tzatziki. One parent reportedly mistook the menu for a high-end restaurant's tasting course. Still, Odyssey isn't just about luxury lunches. Children are introduced to French, Spanish and Mandarin between their story circles and sensory play. Each room is designed with natural materials and educational themes, encouraging hands-on exploration and creativity. There's a bespoke library, a spacious art studio, and even a climbing wall outside. Upstairs, children preparing for primary school learn about science, sustainability, maths and literacy through structured play. Ang said: 'We observe the needs of the children, their interests, and we provide materials based on what they enjoy.' Technology plays a subtle role too. 'We give the children iPads,' she said. What help is available to parents for childcare costs? CHILDCARE can be a costly business. Here is how you can get help. 30 hours of free childcare - Parents of three and four-year-olds can apply for 30 hours of free childcare a week. To qualify you must work at least 16 hours a week at the national living or minimum wage and earn less than £100,000 a year. Tax credits - For children under 20, some families can get help with childcare costs. Tax-free childcare - Available to working families and the self-employed, for every £8 you put in the government will add an extra £2. 'If we're learning about shapes, for example, they might find a circle in their environment, snap a photo, and we project it onto the screen so everyone can see each other's work.' The focus, she insists, is not just on ticking off academic milestones. 'We want them to leave with lifelong learning skills — soft skills, open-mindedness, resilience and a willingness to take risks,' said Ang. The setting reflects a growing appetite in the capital for globally minded early years education. With Singapore's education system topping international rankings, Odyssey hopes to translate its success to a London audience who expect high quality — and are prepared to pay for it. In an age when many nurseries in the capital charge more than £100 per day, often with additional fees for meals or longer hours, Odyssey's all-in model, while eye-watering, is not entirely out of step. Parents across England are entitled to 15 hours of free childcare for children aged three and four, with up to 30 hours for working families, but many London nurseries charge well above the funded hours. Odyssey also prides itself on being inclusive, catering to both mainstream children and those with special educational needs and disabilities. The nursery is yet to be rated by Ofsted but says it's committed to top-tier educational outcomes and pastoral care. 6 6 6
Daily Mail
5 hours ago
- Daily Mail
TSA issues warning over common camping item after man attempted to take it onboard in his carry-on
The TSA has warned travelers about a common camping item they cannot take on board after one clueless passenger put it in his carry-on. The security administration posted the stern note to Facebook after the team at Pensacola International Airport in Florida stopped a man from taking a stove - complete with propane tank - onto the plane. 'Listen, friends, we love watching cooking shows as much as you do, but any top chef has to know that you cannot bring a stove with a propane tank attached through airport security in your carry-on bag,' the post began. 'This one was hard to miss, but great job by our team at Pensacola International Airport (PNS) for discovering this during standard checkpoint screening on Monday, and educating the passenger on the regulations we have around prohibited items. 'The passenger said he was unaware that stoves and propane tanks couldn't be carried on a plane, so let this be a learning moment for everyone… propane tanks cannot and do not belong in either your carry-on or checked bags. 'Camp stoves can be carried on, but *only* if they're empty of all fuel and fully cleaned so no fuel vapors or residue remains.' Many readers took to the comments to mock the passenger and applaud TSA for stopping him. 'A propane tank?!? Someone is sorely lacking in common sense!' someone said. 'This is truly a weird carry-on in the airport. Great catch TSA,' another wrote. 'He knew! If you have to bring travel-size shampoo you know. Good catch by TSA,' a person shared. Recently, the official travel administration shared a post about which popular snack was allowed through security: donuts. In the post, it also linked to all the rules about taking food and drinks on board. Each item was listed alongside the corresponding guidelines as well as whether they were allowed in a carry-on or checked baggage. It addressed a whole host of items - from alcohol and pizza to breast milk and live lobster. It might surprise many to know that taking alcohol with you is actually allowed within specific limits. 'Alcoholic beverages with more than 24 percent but not more than 70 percent alcohol are limited in checked bags to 5 liters (1.3 gallons) per passenger and must be in unopened retail packaging,' it explained. The security administration posted the stern note to Facebook after the team at Pensacola International Airport in Florida stopped a man from taking a stove - complete with propane tank - onto the plane Many readers took to the comments to mock the passenger and applaud TSA for stopping him 'Alcoholic beverages with 24 percent alcohol or less are not subject to limitations in checked bags. 'Mini bottles of alcohol in carry-on must be able to comfortably fit into a single quart-sized bag.' Despite alcohol being allowed, there are still parameters to what you can bring on a plane. Alcoholic beverages with more than 70 percent alcohol (over 140 proof), including grain alcohol and 151 proof rum, are not allowed in either a carry-on or checked bag. Other items are allowed on planes but have special instructions. Baby formula and breast milk, for example, are allowed in a checked bag, but there are a few extra steps to bring it directly on the plane.
BreakingNews.ie
5 hours ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Taxpayer on the hook for €444,412 in claims over collapse of Platinum Travel
The tax-payer is on the hook for claims totalling €444,412 from customers of the collapsed Platinum Travel Ltd. The Dublin based travel agency went out of business on December 19th last and the annual report from the Irish Aviation Authority's Travellers' Protection Fund, Travel Agents' and Tour Operators Bond shows that the Platinum Travel Ltd bond covered only €47,143 of claims made in 2024. Advertisement The total amount of claims from the Clontarf registered Platinum Travel Ltd's customers of flights and package tours totalled €478,112 offset by €13,443 in Claims - Refund Credit Notes resulting in the €444,412 in outstanding claims being met by a Department of Transport fund. A note states that there were insufficient funds within the bond to meet all liabilities without recourse to the Department of Transport fund. The annual report explains that the Traveller Protection Fund's cash levels were insufficient to compensate all claimants for the 2020 to 2024 collapses, and an application was made to the Department of Transport to top up the fund. Between 2020 and 2023 €2.75 million was transferred into the Traveller Protection Fund by the Department of Transport and a further €450,000 was requested from the Department on 19th December 2024 following the collapse of Platinum Travel Ltd. Advertisement The €450,000 contribution by the Department of Transport in 2024 was triple the €150,000 contribution made in 2023. A note states that a claim to recover the amounts met by the Department of Transport Funds has been lodged with the company's liquidator. The Department of Transport funds were received on January 30th of this year and the Irish Aviation Authority 'concludes that the receipt of these additional funds allows the Fund to operate as a going concern'. The most recent accounts for Platinum Travel show that it was loss-making in 2023 where it recorded a loss of €14,271. At the end of 2023, the company had accumulated losses of €68,799. Its shareholder funds totalled €76,201. The company's cash funds at the end of December 2023 amounted to only €2,990. The Irish Aviation Authority's Travellers' Protection Fund, Travel Agents' and Tour Operators Bond report states the requirement for a bond may also be satisfied by a cash sum deposited with the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) and at December 31st last monies deposited in cash for such a purpose amounted to €24.76 million compared to €41.62 million at the end of December 2023.
