Posted by Maria Dimitrova

Read this if: You want a holiday that will really do you good

Gain: Wonderful experiences that match your interests and current needs

The summer has a special atmosphere. You feel it in the air – the “holiday scent” is an alluring burst of optimism, adventure, expectation and delicious notes of freedom. The vacation is a much needed break from the daily stress and routine after which you should be fresh, rested and filled with energy.  Unfortunately, this doesn’t always happen if your choice of holiday location doesn’t match your needs.

To make sure that your hard earned money and precious, loaded with expectations holiday time are not wasted, you have to consider some factors before deciding on a holiday location:

• What kind of person you are – adventurous or sedate, extrovert or introvert? What are your hobbies and interests– dancing in clubs, snorkeling, scuba-diving, having fun in amusement parks or having a guided tour to historic sites?
• Who you are going with – alone, with a loved one, with friends or your spouse and children? When you are on your own you take into account only your wishes but when you are with other people, you have to find a place that offers something for everyone.
• What demands your job involves – intense communication with people or the lack of it? Vacations are an opportunity to catch up with something you are missing in your everyday life. For example, a sales representative might enjoy a peaceful atmosphere far away from crowds and noise. An accountant might recharge with energy by mixing with new people and squeezing as much emotion as possible from the vacation.
• What is your current mindset – are you looking for a change in your life or the comfort of the familiar? Sometimes a holiday might prove to be a milestone of a life transition when doing something adventurous, untypical of you and a bit out of your comfort zone during the holiday can boost your self-determination and confidence to take the plunge and make changes in other areas of your life too.
• Do you really want to travel somewhere or you would prefer to stay at home and just have a nice rest without being disturbed by anyone? Do not go somewhere just because everyone around you is doing it. Believe me, it’s easy to ignore people’s questions of the type “How come you spent the holiday at home?” when you know you’ve done the right thing for you. Don’t be afraid to be different. I once decided to stay in a mountain resort instead of walking a whole day with my friends to famous mountain lakes. They kept saying to me afterwards:”You don’t know how much you’ve missed”. I didn’t regret my decision at all as I got what I needed most at that time – being on my own on a luscious meadow under the shade of a tree, reading a book. I might see the lakes some other time when I am in the mood for long mountain trekking. Doing something you don’t feel like doing just to put a tick next to an item in a to-do list may drain your energy further. Holidays are not tasks to be done. They are the best time to be spontaneous and do whatever you feel like doing.
• What’s your budget? I know a person who spends all his money on traveling abroad ( at the age of 30 he has been to 30 countries) but this is his main source of fun and happiness and giving up on other things because of journeys doesn’t bother him at all. He is this type of person they call “a citizen of the world”. Unless you are a traveler by nature, try not to spend your savings on a vacation as you are likely to regret it. Also, it’s not worth following popular trends or going on a luxury vacation just to show off with photos in front of your contacts on facebook or another social media if you can’t afford it or you need something else to relax.
• Do you like traveling long distances? Some people like being in new places but hate the traveling part since it means being stuck in a narrow space for a long time. This often makes them sullen and not the best company for the people around them. If this is your case, avoid long-distance trips if possible. When you have to make a compromise and set off for a distant destination, make sure you have something interesting to distract you from the discomfort you’ll feel (fun companions to talk to, a fascinating book or film to enjoy on the go).

After you’ve answered these questions, you have a detailed enough concept about the vacation you are looking for. It’s time to find a place to match your concept.

Adventure holiday locations:

* The Carribean – enjoy the exotic culture and cuisine of these islands and take part in yacht racing, snorkeling, scuba-diving and submarine boat rides.  When at Puerto Rico, make sure you visit the rain forest of El Junque and while at Dominica, visit Champagne for sighting some volcanic fissures. The famous actor Gerard Butler is one of the many celebrities who enjoyed the beaches of Barbados.

* Australia – sign up for a memorable experience in this one of a kind place where you will see some unique wild fauna in their natural habitat and you can go on a cruise near the Great Barrier Reef. It is an altogether different experience to snorkel among these huge reefs. You will also be able to visit the second oldest park in the world called the Royal National Park.

* Alaska, US – watch the spectacular northern lights, feel the thrill of dogsledding and see incredible wildlife in chilling climate. Numerous shore excursions full of fun and adventure are awaiting you on the tour of Alaska.

* Kenya –embark on a  6-day tour that shows off the very best that Kenya has to offer, with a perfect blend of small-scale eco tourism and big hitting safaris

* Nepal – a 12-day safari to see the Chitwan National Park, and the less visited Bardia National Park. These are beautiful regions full of varied, colourful wildlife. The jungle and river landscapes are home to many birds and animals including the majestic Indian elephant, endangered one-horned rhino, and the ever-elusive Bengal tiger.

* Iceland - explore the hidden world of the lava field between Pingvellir and Laugarvatn. Walking into caves and discovering the marvels that fire and ice created in the past is a trip that everyone can undertake.*

* La Libertad, Central America – combine surfing and immersing in a new culture for an active and fascinating holiday. Other exotic surfing destinations include Mexico, New Zealand, Indonesia, Maldives, Brazil, Portugal, Sri Lanka, etc.

For more information and ideas about adventure holidays visit http://www.adventuresportsholidays.com/

Spa holiday locations

If you are looking for a peaceful, healthy and body-pampering holiday combined with cultural enriching experiences you can go to:

* Hua Hin, Thailand – achieve weight loss, stress reduction and total relaxation benefits from your holiday in the capital of spa procedures by indulging in treatments such as Thai massage, Body Wraps, cleansing, firming and relaxing facials and Oriental foot rituals, fitness activities with Tai Chi, Qi Kong and Pilates. If you choose to go to a lively resort, you might encounter famous people as Thailand is a very popular tourist destination. Naomi Campbell is one of the many celebrities that was spotted enjoying the sun in a luxury resort in Thailand.

* Dubai – In the “Pearl of the Persian Gulf”, recognized as one of the most modern, innovative and cosmopolitan cities in the world you can also find sheltered spa oases, protecting their inner beauty with a rich landscape of fountains, walkways and lush gardens and dramatic architecture creating symmetry, crafted in the spirit of the Orient.

* Ananda in the Himalayas, India – you can choose from  an extensive menu of over 79 body and beauty treatments, integrating the traditional Indian systems of Ayurveda with the more contemporary Western spa approach.  Benefit from the activities connected with the traditional Indian sciences of Yoga and Ayurveda (de-stress, detoxification and cleansing, deep relaxation, anti-aging, toning and weight loss as well as guidance in the areas of nutrition and exercise) in the country they originate from. Those of you who would like their vacation to be a blend of spa and adventure can take advantage of rafting, trekking or wildlife safari. The idyll will be complete with Ananda’s art and culture program which takes place in the evenings before dinner when guests can enjoy music and dance as a glimpse into Indian heritage, a living tradition that dates back to antiquity.

For more information on spa locations as exotic as the mentioned ones or closer to your home place, visit: http://www.bodyandsoulholidays.info/spa-details.aspx?qs=productid_e_107814

Holiday locations for singles:

* Amsterdam, Netherlands – Most singles just run off to the free-spirited Amsterdam to have some amazing life experiences. The city just follows one mantra and that is “Live and Let Live”. There’s also a high chance that you will meet some singles and interesting people on the amazing romantic bridges and canals which are huge in number.

* Miami, Florida – enjoy the beaches at daytime and indulge in lively nightlife in the strings of dance clubs where there’s a chance that you will encounter your favorite celebrity.

* Las Vegas, Nevada – if you’re looking for the exhilarating experience of luxury, abundance of fun activities and wild nightlife, you should go to the capital of entertainment whose motto “What Happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas” speaks for itself.

* Rhodes Island, Greece – known as one of the best places for single men and women because of its nude beaches, wild beach parties and various clubs.

Romantic holiday locations

If you are in love and you want a romantic holiday with your beloved one, you can choose an adventure location or any other type of location that suits your interests and turn it into a romantic one. How romantic you will feel the holiday depends much more on your mindset and the state of your relationship than on the location.

When being in love even the most ordinary surroundings seem special so the location should match your mutual interests rather than the common view on what’s romantic. But if you like the traditional romantic sites, you can pick from places like Rome, Paris, Sicily (Italy), Sardinia (Italy), Cyprus (Cyprus), St Tropez (France), Majorca (Spain), Rhodes (Greece), Ibiza (Spain) and Tenedos (Turkey), Egypt, Hawaii, Manali (India), Amelia Island (considered one of the most romantic locations in Florida), Istanbul (Turkey), Maldives and Ireland.

Bear in mind that sometimes being in a romantic place, trying to rekindle the spark with someone you’ve lost your passion with, might actually enhance the feeling of alienation between the two of you and make you realize the size of the gap due to the contrast between your relationship and the genuinely happy and in love couples you’ll see there.

Family holiday locations

These locations should provide all the necessary facilities for the comfort and safety of your children as well as entertainment suitable for their age. Most children enjoy amusement parks so you can choose one of these places:

* Orlando, Florida – there are a lot of fun things to do in Orlando – from the Disneyland to Sea World, Wakulla Springs, Discovery Cove, Busch Gardens and Universal Studios

* Arizona, US- go to the awesome Monument valley, Lake Powell, whitewater rafting down the Colorado River and Grand Canyon. In Arizona you’ll find stunning ranches and cozy family resorts.

* Hershey PA- visit this Chocolate Town of USA, the Hersheypark, Dutch Wonderland Family Amusement Park, kid’s club and Hershey Lodge.

* Yellowstone National Park – see nature’s amazing creations – geysers, burbling mudholes and hot springs as well as abundant wildlife, including elk, moose, bison, bear, etc.

* Turkey’s Aegean Coast- enjoy the delicious Turkish cuisine and combine a relaxing beach holiday with active ways of having fun like diving and windsurfing. See a review of the location written by a child from the UK:

“I soon realised why Dad had booked this expensive holiday on Turkey’s Aegean Coast. There was every activity you could want: windsurfing, sailing, kayaking, swimming, diving, squash and tennis and about 1000 more! It was a brilliant week. My little brother Dan learnt to swim and dive and my older brother Patrick became hooked on catamarans. And I think I am definitely going to suffer watersports withdrawal back in the UK – and miss the gorgeous weather too.”

* Sardinia, Italy- For 12 years Forte Village Resort has held the title of the World’s Leading Resort. Maximum care and attention is dedicated to children of all ages and their enjoyment.  See a review by a person who’s already had a vacation in Sardinia:

“Food is excellent, great choice of restaurants, beach is superb (very like the Caribbean) wide choice of rooms (although you won’t spend much time in the rooms) and incredible facilities for children – 3 huge pools, one with water slides – world renowed childrens club, football and rugby coaching where they are coached by true stars, and to top it all off one of the best spas I’ve been to. They even have bikes you can hire with a baby seat, and also ones with stabilisers for the toddlers- they’ve thought of everything”

The Jolie-Pitts are representatives of the celebrities who enjoyed a family holiday in the Italian city of Venice.

You’ll find plenty of other ideas for family holiday locations here: http://www.takethefamily.com

Cheap holiday locations

If you want to go on a holiday and save money, choose a place near your home town or travel to a country where prices are much more affordable but you can still enjoy sandy beaches, spa procedures, exciting nightlife and historic sites with interesting architecture. The countries in Eastern Europe – Hungary, Croatia, Bulgaria (pictured here), some resorts in Turkey and Greece) are a good choice for a cheap holiday location.

The celebrity singer Beyoncé chose Croatia for a holiday location last year where she took a wild ride off the coast on a blow-up boat.

Here are some suggestions for cheap locations in the US:

• Vancouver, British Columbia
• Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
• Grand Canyon, Arizona
• South Padre Island, Texas
• Orange Beach, Alabama
• Atlantic City, New Jersey
• Dover, Delaware
• Paradise Island, Bahamas
• Tybee Island, Georgia
• Harpers Ferry, West Virginia
• Lake Tahoe, California
• Napa Valley, California
• Cape Ann, Massachusetts
• Cannon Beach, Oregon

There’s a wide variety of choice for holiday locations where you can recharge your batteries and explore new things and territories or just relax. You can ask friends and acquaintances or people in forums if you want to gather more personal opinions before you set off for a chosen location.