I HOPE you are all doing well, especially since the weather has cooled down significantly.
It is also (applause) the season for holidays and I do not know about you, but I am pretty hyped and excited about it.
Many families and couples are taking vacations out of town or out the country and this requires a lot of planning and confidence.
You need loads of confidence because you are stepping out of your comfort zone and planning because you are travelling to a new place.
So here are a few tips for you to handle some of the stress that comes from planning and being at a holiday.
First and most important, research your holiday destination in advance.
Find out if it’s a camping place as then you will need to pack camping attire otherwise you might end up with the wrong attire.
Find out whether the area you are going to is along water that is along a beach, seaside or whether it is a forest, jungle, park or if it’s just a resort.
You need to pack appropriate clothing for the type of regions you are heading to.
If the area is chilly then pack warm clothes so that you are not uncomfortable and also so that you do not catch a cold.
If there are is warm buy all means pack the light clothes and splurge on bikinis, little boxers and all the little clothes you can fit in your bag.
Research what type of plugs a region uses and there are websites for that such as travel-adaptor.com.
How will you take amazing pictures if your gadgets are flat, in this same vein ensure that you gadgets in advance as Airport shops are quite expensive.
Carry a visa card but also have some cash in handy because if you plan on “playing tourist” you will move around and not all joints have visa machines.
If you plan to move around carry a satchel as a hand bag will be too big and heavy to carry around, a satchel is basically moving smart.
Carry sunscreen with an SPF of about 30 so that you do not get sun burnt, this applies to all whether you are male, female, black, white and any other race.
Research what immunisations you need to get because the last thing you need is for you to come down with any serious illnesses abroad especially if you have no travel insurance.
In terms of hair, gentlemen carry a shaving kit as there might not be a barbershop closeby (the likelihood seems low but you never know).
Ladies, be aware that you might have to do your own hair so carry enough a brush, a hair comb, hair ribbons and hair pins.
Hair pins and ribbons are every woman’s godsend as are scarves, pack brightly coloured and patterned ones to wrap around your head when you have a bad hair day.
Carry slippers or sandals in case its hot but also if you need to go out because some nightspots do not allow certain dress clothes.
You know how Zambian clubs for instance refuse men to enter if they are wearing shorts and slippers?  Its unfair yes but some places in other countries are also like that.
If you are going with your children then ensure that you carry clothes appropriate to the weather you are going to and about two of the others.
What I mean is that if its hot then carries two or three items of clothing meant for cold weather as well
So let me end here as I let you get back to you packing.
Enjoy your week and stay beautifully healthy.
Look out for next week’s column where I will be running a Christmas gifts competition.
So to stand a chance to win by liking my social media pages @Arushapot on twitter, Nancy Handabile on Facebook and go read my blog divadiarys.blogspot.com and to forget to email me in divadiarys@gmail.com.