Researching a holiday destination used to be where I either did absolutely nothing and arrived completely unprepared, or went the opposite direction and ended up with a spreadsheet of restaurants, beach clubs and day trips that made the holiday feel like a schedule I had to follow rather than something I was meant to enjoy.
Now I’ve found a middle ground.
I still do research, but it’s loose, flexible and focused on giving me options rather than a strict itinerary I feel guilty for not sticking to.
Think of it as building a map of ideas, not a timetable.
The mindset shift: I stopped trying to plan the perfect holiday
The biggest change in how I research holidays is accepting that I don’t need to know everything in advance.
I used to think I needed:
A fully planned itinerary
Every meal booked
Every activity scheduled
Every day mapped out
But the truth is, the best parts of holidays are usually the things you didn’t plan.
Now I aim for something much simpler: I just want to arrive with a shortlist of places I might like to visit.
That’s it.
Step one: I start with Google Maps, not blogs
The first thing I do is open Google Maps and drop pins everywhere that looks interesting.
I look for:
Beaches
Restaurants
Cafés
Beach clubs
Bars
Pretty streets or viewpoints
This is the least stressful part because it’s purely visual and instinctive. If something looks good, I save it.
I don’t worry about order or planning at this stage. It’s just collecting options.
Step two: I check a few trusted sources (not everything)
I used to go down a deep internet rabbit hole reading every blog, review and travel forum possible.
Now I keep it limited.
I’ll usually check:
A few recent blog posts
Instagram location tags
TikTok searches for the destination
A couple of honest reviews on key places
That’s it.
If I overconsume information, I end up second-guessing everything. So I deliberately stop before I reach that point.
Step three: I build a loose “must-visit” list
Once I’ve saved enough places, I narrow it down into a simple list.
I usually split it into:
Restaurants I really want to try
Not ten options. Usually three or four that stand out.
One or two beaches
I don’t try to visit every beach in the area. I pick the ones that look the most appealing and leave room to discover others once I’m there.
A few activities or day trips
Anything that feels interesting, but not essential.
This becomes my loose plan, not my strict schedule.
Step four: I accept I will discover things while I’m there
This is the part I used to forget.
No matter how much research you do, you will still:
Walk past places you didn’t see online
Get recommendations from locals
Find cafés and restaurants by accident
Change your plans because of weather or mood
So now I intentionally leave space in my planning for spontaneity.
If something looks good in the moment, I go there. Simple as that.
What I no longer do (and it changed everything)
I don’t over-plan daily itineraries
I don’t assign activities to specific days anymore. It removes pressure and makes everything feel more relaxed.
I don’t save hundreds of places
Too many options becomes overwhelming. I now focus on a small curated list.
I don’t try to “do everything”
Holidays are not competitions. I don’t need to see every attraction or eat at every recommended restaurant.
My simple research system now
If I had to sum it up, it’s this:
Save places that genuinely appeal to me
Keep the list short and flexible
Focus on food, beaches and a few key experiences
Leave space for spontaneity
That’s it.
It’s not complicated, but it works.
Why this approach actually makes holidays better
The biggest difference I’ve noticed is that I enjoy my holidays more when I’m not trying to stick to a plan.
Instead of thinking:
“I need to fit everything in,”
I now think:
“We’ll see what we feel like doing today.”
And somehow, I still end up doing all the best things, just without the pressure.
Final thoughts
Researching a holiday destination should make you excited, not overwhelmed.
A bit of preparation is useful. It helps you avoid missing out on things you genuinely want to do.
But overplanning takes away the spontaneity that makes travel feel like a break in the first place.
Now I go in with ideas, not obligations.
And honestly, that balance has made travelling a lot more enjoyable.
That’s the end of this mini series on holiday preparation. I’m now just a few weeks away from flying off on holiday, and the planning is officially shifting from preparation mode into anticipation mode.
When I am back, I’ll be sharing all the restaurants, beaches, cafés and little hidden places that I would recommend!
Molly
Post a Comment