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!