Editorials

What Not to do on Holiday

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26 July 2016

By Lauren H

It’s the summer holidays, and the chances are you’re probably going away on holiday at some point in the next few months. While it is extremely exciting to get away and do something different, it’s important to remember that, if you’re going abroad, there will be many things that differ from England and some you may not be prepared for. Whether it’s the weather, the medical care, or just the little things like certain types of food, it’s likely that you may experience a few difficulties along the way. So, here are a few things not to do on holiday, to help you avoid this problem.

DO NOT think that you’ll get an amazing tan without wearing sun cream. There has always been an assumption that sun cream prevents you from getting a tan, but that is in fact incorrect. While it does help to protect you from the sun, this merely means that it will stop any burning or damaging of your skin. So, it’s actually better to wear sun cream.

DO NOT assume that you won’t get unwell on holiday, and that if you do you’ll easily be able to receive medical care. Just because you’re abroad in a hot country does not mean that you won’t come down with something simple, like a cold or a viral infection – it’s still very much possible! In fact, due to the vast change in temperature that your body won’t be used to, you’re actually more likely to notice a few problems with your body, whether that’s a sore tummy, headaches, or something a bit more serious. However, most importantly, if you do come down with something, you must remember that the medical care is completely different outside of the UK. You may have to pay to be seen by a doctor, or for a prescription, and the medicines may even be in a different language. It’s best to be as prepared as possible before you go, such as ordering an EHIC card and ensuring you have medical insurance, as well as taking common medicines with you (paracetamol, ibuprofen, etc.).

DO NOT spend all of your money in the first few days. When you arrive abroad, you may instantly want to head down to the beach and purchase a sun lounger for the day, with a cocktail in your hand. That’ll probably lead on to checking out the local shops, before realising just how hungry you are and visiting the nearest restaurant regardless of the price. Don’t do it! Spend your first day having a look around the area and seeing which places have better deals, or where is nicer. Usually, different shops tend to sell very similar items at varying prices, so make sure you find out as much information as possible before you get spending everything at once!

DO NOT spend all of your time in bed hungover. Chances are, you’re going to want to go out and have a few drinks at some point, and this might possibly turn into staying out until stupid o’clock in the morning and wanting to sleep forever the next day. But, this is never a good idea. Holidays are expensive and you don’t get the opportunity to go on them all of the time, so make the most out of the time you have there and trade in a couple of hours of extra sleep for taking in the culture around you. You’ll not regret it!

Most importantly, have fun! Although going abroad can be a little bit scary, as a lot of things will be different to what you’re used to, you will still undoubtedly have a great time. So, just be careful and enjoy yourself!

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