It’s hard to imagine going travelling without a camera. Despite the huge volume of photos online covering virtually every inch of the planet a million times over, you’d still be considered crazy if you went on a trip and didn’t take some pictures of your own. Some people will say what’s the point when everything has been photographed to death but in the end, it’s your trip and you need to capture it as you see it, not to add more photos to Google images.

So what makes the right camera for travelling? For some it might be the same old one they’ve always used – why mess with perfection, right? Others might decide a new trip deserves a new camera and go for something with all the bells and whistles… and there are a lot of bells and whistles. Here are a few pointers if you are looking at getting a new camera for your upcoming adventures that will last you well beyond your return.

Size

While size isn’t the most important option for quality pictures, it is something that factors hugely into travelling. Do you want it to be something you can slip into your front pocket or lug around your neck/in a carrying case? You might be amazed at how great the pictures are from a small digital camera as opposed to an enormous SLR, but if you’re moving at a slower pace you might not mind the extra baggage.

Battery Life

Many cameras these days use relatively the same lithium battery but depending on the camera’s features and how often you use it, you could have it drained in less than a day. It’s never a bad idea to have a spare battery on hand, but see how many of your camera’s features can be turned off or put on power saver mode to really maximize your battery life.

So many to choose from!

Lens

After lighting, the lens really is the most important factor in taking good pictures but that’s not to say you can’t get remarkable shots with your camera phone, providing you’re not going to blow them up to poster size or anything like that. If you’re a professional or someone who knows what they are doing and likes taking pictures, there is no substitute for the right lens, but 95% of the population out there will be just fine with the one that’s included.

Extras

Red eye reduction, video mode, geo-tagging, wifi – there are an uncanny number of options open to you with a new camera, many of which you may never use but sound really fancy in the store. If you’re someone who knows the difference between macro and micro, you might scoff at any of these ‘extras’, especially if all you really want is good lighting, but hey, to each their own! Personally, I love being able to take little videos on the fly, even if their quality isn’t the best, and would never get a camera that didn’t let me do so.

When it comes to choosing where to go on holiday, the options are endless. How do you decide?

My friend chopped her choice down quite effectively recently, by deciding land versus sea.

She basically narrowed her options down (rather broadly, if you ask me) between a beach holiday or a cruise. She went for the cruise in the end, purely because she’d never been on one before and wanted to experience many different places in a short space of time.

I don’t think cruises are for everyone, especially if you’re someone who likes to explore and spend time in a destination, as a cruise doesn’t allow you the precious gift of time, just a short taste. I think I’m in that camp too, because I like to really experience somewhere, and to really do that you need to spend at least week there, becoming familiar with your surroundings, but even saying that, I can appreciate the perks of a cruise, and would like to try it, maybe a Caribbean one, sometime in the future.

Despite my friend deciding on her dry or wet holiday, there are many other types of holiday out there too, which doesn’t help in narrowing down your choices!

Education holidays, photography holidays, dance holidays, yoga retreats, city breaks, theatre breaks, you name it, you’ll find a holiday specialising in it. It all boils down what interests you, what you dream of discovering and how you want to spend your time. The best advice I can give is to open your mind, get on the internet and search, but remember only to book with reputable companies and always ensure you book adequate travel insurance.

Once you’ve decided on how you’re going to spend your annual holiday, it’s time to turn your attention the more practical aspects of the whole shebang, i.e. your travel plans. This doesn’t have to be the boring part, because I believe travel should be just as enjoyable as the in-between bit!

For most, accommodation is a huge part of the travel experience. If you have to sleep and shower somewhere that you don’t enjoy, you end up having a negative experience of that destination. Be sure to pick your hotel or apartment wisely. Another aspect of choosing your vacation living space is the price. You can find affordable hotels in Malta, Paris and all over the world if you do your research!

I try and enjoy the airport experience as much as possible, with duty free and restaurants to enjoy. Make sure you think about how you’re going to get to the airport, so you’re there in plenty of time, and you won’t have to worry. There are many extras to add onto your travel plans, available at all airports nationwide, including those to add onto Heathrow, where you might be lucky and find a cheaper flight. I sometimes find travelling a little further, to a different airport, means you save money on flight prices, as it’s usually the case that regional flights cost a little more. I often search for departure information before I fly, just to ensure I’ve got all my details with me. You can also find some good last minute deals flying around – check out this break-down of Gatwick departures from Holiday Extras. Let me know if you grab a bargain, or if you find it useful.

As you can see, holidays are full of decisions! From where you go, how you get there, how long you stay, and what you do when you’re there – decisions, decisions indeed!