Check and Recheck Your Dates!

Adventure is a State of Mind

What Holidays Do You Celebrate?

Do you live in a country that celebrates Boxing Day? If not, you might be surprised by the fact that many businesses are closed the day after Christmas in countries that observe that holiday. What about Bastille Day in France, Coming-of-Age Day in Japan, Discovery of Two Worlds Day in Chile, or Waitangi Day in New Zealand? Celebrating holidays can be a great deal of fun in another country — often there are activities (parades!) and food to enjoy that are not found during the rest of the year — but unexpected holidays can also throw a wrench into plans when the restaurant or museum you planned to visit is closed on the only day you have available.

An easy way to check holiday closures is to simply do an online search of the city or country you are visiting and the phrase “national holidays.” Then compare those dates to the dates you want to travel.

An internet search may give you information as to whether businesses, in general, close on a holiday. If not, you can usually go to specific websites, such as a restaurant’s or museum’s website, and look for information as to what days they are open. This will often give you their normal operating hours and whether they are closed on any holidays.

Travel Seasons

Another consideration is the time of year you are traveling. During the high tourist season, most museums, parks, restaurants, stores, and tourist attractions operate on a fairly regular schedule. Once you move into “shoulder season” (the two to three months on either side of the high season) and especially during the low season, some of these places may operate on a reduced schedule or even close. Again, a quick internet search will usually give you the information you need regarding whether and when they are open.

Prepare for the Unexpected

Regardless of how well you research operating hours on the internet, there is always the possibility that websites have not been updated or unforeseen events could happen. I was visiting Paris when the Charlie Hebdo terrorist attack occurred, and the mood and security in the city immediately changed. The Eiffel Tower also shut off its lights for a period of remembrance on the night we visited that landmark.

An act of terrorism is an extreme example, but there are other events that can also disrupt plans.

Weather events can unexpectedly impact your trip. Hopefully you won’t be traveling in an area that needs to be evacuated, which only occurs in extreme weather events, but weather can prevent certain events from occurring or can change transportation routes. My husband, Greg, and I were traveling in Ireland once when the remnants of a hurricane passed over the island. We knew it was extreme weather when even the native Irish were complaining about how much rain there was! So it actually wasn’t a huge surprise to us when the road we needed to take home from the pub one evening was flooded.

As we’ve all become quite familiar with in recent years, other uncontrollable events, such as pandemics and illness, also impact travel plans as do transportation and general strikes, which can significantly affect your ability to use certain types of transportation.

Give up the need to know what happens tomorrow. Just be fully present and appreciate all that is in your life right now.

Caroline Myss

Flexibility is the Key

Because so many unlikely but possible events can occasionally occur to throw a wrench in your plans, it’s a good idea to have a backup plan or two. For example, if the museum you want to visit turns out not to be open on Mondays, is there an alternative museum you could visit? Or can you swap the days when you planned two different activities if one of them will be closed on the day you originally chose?

Or just use unexpected disruptions and cancelations as an opportunity to slow down and enjoy people watching or doing something spontaneous, such as taking a walk in a neighborhood or park. A flexible traveler is a happy traveler!

Do you want to experience a local holiday while on your adventure, with or without the inconveniences that it might create, or would you prefer to avoid national and local holidays that could possibly impact your plans? How can you “plan” for the unexpected by building some flexibility into your adventure?