Travel, or bust..

        Travel, ahh the feeling engendered is excitement, mostly. I mean, unless you are travelling for emergency reasons, family drama, or maybe an illness. Then of course, you still have all of the below to deal with, just with no real time for relaxation or other enjoyments. In which case, I feel for you. Although we have all been there at some time, or stand a good chance of being so in the future. Families being scattered about as they are. Few live in the same street, or even the same town anymore.

        Usually, for me, the original psychic gypsy, the word travel conjures thoughts of new places, exciting adventures, or meeting new, and interesting people. More than that, of discovering new facts. I am an avowed information junkie. Most of us, I suppose, may imagine part of that as we plan. Primarily though, but we would look for a holiday, relaxation, and very often, sun. OK let's face it, for many of us, it's the thought of the sun, which is the driving force. Especially those of us who hail from the Northern   hemispheres. Well, all I can say is, inevitably it is a search for the sun, when I go away, anywhere.

        There we are then, thinking, planning, dreaming...a bit, we hope. As that's enjoyable too, isn't it. Doing all the things planning travel  involves. Perhaps primarily deciding if it's domestic, or international travel. Both depending on what we can afford, and for how long, we are able to get away. Then, looking at brochures, or online, perhaps even talking to a travel agent. You know those uniformed persons, often ladies, the aging, air hostes lookalikes. Who sit in small offices on the main shopping streets, surrounded by colourful posters. These being of exotic beaches, or buildings, designed to instil envy. Hopefully, these agents,project their professionalismn, and wealth of knowledge towards us. Or, at least, we hope they know more than we do. Making it all as simple as possible, is always my aim.

         During this section, comes the final, financial consideration. Have you saved for it, had a cash windfall (fat chance!) or, is it going on the credit card. Of course, I am assuming you are all as strapped for cash as myself. You may be the sort of person who just has the money available. No big deal for you!  In which case, good luck to you, and how do you do it? It may be, it's a deposit now, then stress for the next few months until it's paid. Always difficult I find, attempting to keep a big chunk of money aside for a debt. As it is invariably a fair chunk to pay for a holiday, isn't it. As holidays are not cheap, are they. You need to take more than a few days, a week at least to know you can fully relax.

         Ahhhh, but the fun of anticipation, the trip, we'll say flight. The destination, by the sea, or the mountains. Perhaps doing the shops, or a city break, even theme parks, and that sort of thing. Of course, you may be one of these action heroes. Trekking up wild trials, persuing ancient history, or sking with the rich and famous. (You wish!) It's more likely groups of blokes, or those couples there for the 'apri ski' hoping to knock back lots of gluvine, along with the 'up market' local snacks. Yes, anticipation is an important part of any holiday.

          Back to reality now, for a few minutes. You must also consider the drawbacks. The delays, the hidden costs, the things that drive me crazy every time. You know, you have made your decisions, sorted the finances, booked the dates, then comes the rest! 

          First, you must get to the airport, do you take your car, or a bus, taxi, or get a friend, or relative to take you? Not so easy if you have gone for a cheap flight, leaving at the crack of dawn. You can't ask someone to get up at 3, or 4 a.m. I won't do it, it's just too antisocial. If you take a bus, it usually works out leaving even earlier, and changing, waiting, dragging suitcases about. This is before you are meant to be awake at all, for at least two changes, off, and on busses, up, and down stairs. If you take your car, there are parking charges. Which, for a week, are not cheap. You can be up to nearly two hundred dollars, for an outside parking space. In the sun, in the rain, open to vandalising, the choice is yours. After all, it's all about money. The more you pay, the more secure your car will be.

          Then, come departure taxes. It wasn't so long ago that these cost the grand total of about twenty dollars each person. Now, they tell you a whole list of inexplicable charges, amounting to another two hundred dollars plus. Of course, having to be at the airport, the best part of three hours early, you may involve yourself in more expenditure. Newspapers, magazines, books, sleep masks, air pillows, coffee, perhaps breakfast to help wake you up. Another sum going into the hundred, or more, as prices are hiked right up for its captive consumer.    

           Once on the plane, if it's a really cheap flight, you either do without food, take your own, or pay for what you want. As another extra cost of course. Your arrival can include booze, or cigarettes, or some other goodie you think you cannot resist. Another few hundred dollars, or pounds, or whatever currency you have to be in. Off the plane, luggage collected, how do you get to the hotel? Are you hiring a car, that's not cheap, hundreds again...Or, same old story, unless you paid up front when you booked your hotel, it's either a shuttle, or a taxi, costs apply. Yes, extra costs again there. If you arrive at your destination, too early to check into the hotel. Exhausted, eager to lie down, you may be charged an extra day, so be careful what you ask for. Otherwise, you have several hours to hang around until your hotel takes you. What do you do? Mostly, spend again. Coffee, or a an alcoholic drink, which you could desperately need by now. Or, more food, which you don't need, but which gives you an energy boost.

          What's happened to your restful, exotic holiday? You have arrived, barely. Been knocked out with an early morning start, too little sleep, too much food, and coffee...as well as stressed? Probably squashed into seats barely wide enough, with not enough leg room, and surrounded by endless children, or chatty grown ups.  On top of that, you are quite a few hundreds poorer in cash. The old spending money dribbling away befor you arrive. My last trip, the extras, just topped the thousand. That's almost another whole hotel cost, with endless agrevation thrown in.

           I suggest, instead of toning the body ready for the swimsuit, you take up yoga, or meditation. Better yet, both, because you had better find a way to survive the gamut of, 'how much money can we take off them next?'. What with all the extras coming at you hard, and fast as Everyman, and his dog duns you for money.

         Oh yes, enjoy your holiday.....if you can. Relaxation is what you came for...remember?