WOW welcome 2014! I cannot believe we are already in a new year. I had a wonderful holiday and I cannot wait to share it with all of you!
As all of you know I mentioned that I am planning on changing the content of my blog a bit in this year. The sooner the better. I hope to introduce it to all of you in next month. Fingers crossed.
But for today I have a Post from Jane Klue, and she is giving all of you a bit of tips on how to plan a nice stress free weekend away. Enjoy it....
A breakaway can do wonders for the soul. In the fast paced
world that we live in, the week’s work can often leave one mentally, physically
and emotionally exhausted. As they say, ‘change is as good as a holiday’, and a
change in setting, even if only for a short period of time, may be just what
the doctor ordered to recover from work and life’s stresses.
Whether planned or impromptu, when going away for a weekend,
with all the help available online from the digital realm that we live in; most
of the planning involved can be taken care of with the click of a button.
When planning a weekend
away, it may be helpful to have a checklist that you are working through as you
go along:
Where to go?
Where you’re based will
have much to do with this decision as you may not wish to spend hours on the
road to your weekend away destination. If you’re based in Cape Town, the Garden
Route is always a winning choice, it’s a scenic route regardless the season and
if you travel by car, there is much to take in visually speaking.
Fear not Gauteng folk we have suggestions for you too. If
you need a quick break, with Sun City a mere estimated two hours and 30 minutes
away, the ‘City of Gold’ awaits you. The Sun International Resort boasts amazing
accommodation and leisurely activities. A change of scenery is definitely on
the cards should you decide to visit. If you've been there before and want to
try something different why not venture out to Magaliesburg. This little
getaway spot has a number of things to do and places to frequent, not
forgetting the wide variety of accommodation and fine dining options to choose
from.
Where to stay?
- Adventurers
You may be brave enough to
venture into a camping site. This is something you would usually consider when
travelling in groups and hiking and biking are on your itinerary. Research on
the type of camp site suitable to your needs, may be very useful. In turn you would
need to ensure that you’re educated on all the rules and regulations for the
camp site, to avoid any unexpected calls from law enforcement. Lastly there are
a number of useful sources which will advise you on how to choose the perfect
stretch of land to pitch your tent on.
- Catering/Self-catering
accommodation
Depending on the amount of money
you have available to spend on this, you should always check when booking
accommodation as to whether it is catering or self-catering. You might find an
amazing place to rent for the weekend and wonder about the relatively
inexpensive cost. This may have something to do with your accommodation being
self-catering, which would mean that you would need to supply and make your own
food.
How are you getting there?
The way I see it… you have two options to choose from. You
could take your own car and if that’s the case please be sure to check that
everything is in good order with your vehicle. The best precaution may be to
have your wheels serviced before taking it on the long road. Ensure that you
have a spare tyre as well as jack on hand, just in case. Should you realise
that you’re not insured at this point, it would be highly recommended to get
the needed car insurance. Check out the coverage options available, and be sure
to get suitable cover before any further travel planning.
The second option would
be to book a flight to your destination of choice, with a number of domestic
flights to choose from, you may decide to travel to Cape Town from Johannesburg,
and vice versa. If this is the case and you have funds available to spare, pick
up a little convertible at the airport and drive top down with the wind blowing
through your hair to your destination. If that does not get you in the spirit
of things, then nothing will.
Lock up and Go?
Not so fast… with all this talk of driving top down, you may
be ready to lock up and go. Though it may be best to hold your horses for a
second; as there are a few additional matters to be taken care of namely:
House & Home
Be sure, to take the necessary precautions to ensure that
your property is safe while you’re away. After all we do live in a country with
one of the highest crime rates, hence the need to do all you can to protect
your precious belongings.
Ensure that you have adequate household insurance
as well as security cover in place and, if possible, get a reliable house
sitter to hold the fort whilst you’re away.
Do you have any pets? If so, do ensure that they’re well
taken care of if you can’t take them with you. Arrange for someone to either
take care of them, or have a reliable person check in at your home, to ensure
that they are well fed and hydrated. Some holiday sites are pet friendly, do look
out for these.
Now that you have the necessities taken care of, envision
the road ahead, while you do your last minute packing and get ready to unwind
and enjoy a well-deserved break.
Written and edited by - Jane Klue
All images thanks to Google
And with this I hope you all start planning a weekend away, we did and we are on our way after work today. I cannot wait. And yes we do like our house, we just missed the bush! :)
Please share all your holiday shenanigans with me! I cannot wait to hear what you guys were up too!
