The Ultimate Guide to Planning a Stress-Free Holiday

This is a collaborative post. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

There’s so much to stress about when you travel. Flights get delayed, trains get cancelled and navigating around a new place can be very scary.

I don’t have a lot of experience with travel, so it’s one of those things that sets off my anxiety. So, when I plan a trip, it needs to be as stress-free as possible.

You can’t control the trains, planes or weather, but you can control what you do, where you go and how you handle those stressful moments that might pop up!

How to plan a stress-free holiday: My top tips

So, how can you plan a stress-free holiday that leaves you feeling rested, relaxed and ready for more? I’ve put together the ultimate guide to planning a stress-free holiday, including stories from my relaxing trip to Crete last year!

1. Plan your holiday

Carefully planning your holiday is one of the best ways to ensure everything runs smoothly. Organise your documents, prepare your budget and plan out where you want to stay.

Make sure to find a hotel that looks clean, safe and well-run. This will help you avoid a stressful sleeping situation, even if you’re just using your accommodation as a base.

image of a beach in Crete with part of a beach umbrella to the right — We found a resort in Crete with its own beach, pool and bar

Plan what you can control, and try not to stress about the things you can’t. As with anything in life, there are bound to be little annoyances that pop up along the way, but creating a clear plan can help you avoid stress later down the line.

Check out my post for more tips on how to plan a holiday when you absolutely hate planning!

2. Create a slow itinerary

When you go on holiday, it’s tempting to try and cram everything into your trip. You might want to see and do everything there is to see and do, but that can get very stressful.

I remember when my boyfriend and I went to Paris in 2022. We had an amazing time, but we also tried to do everything. And if you’ve ever been to Paris, that’s a lot of stuff.

image of Margarita Liberaki's Three Summers with a beach in the background — In Crete, I spent the week doing nothing but eating, swimming and reading

We would have benefited from a slow, easy itinerary. That’s why, when we went to Crete last year, we purposefully chose just a few activities to make the most of our trip.

Choose the things you don’t want to miss – and be flexible about the rest. There’s nothing wrong with just soaking up a new culture.

3. Choose all-inclusive accommodation

This was a game-changer for my anxiety! My holiday to Crete was so relaxing, and part of that was down to the all-inclusive resort. We could eat and drink whatever we wanted, whenever we wanted.

swimming pool on a resort — We chose an all-inclusive resort with everything we needed on-site

Now, a beach resort isn’t for everyone, but all-inclusive accommodation makes a great base for holidays across the world. You can explore the local area or stay at the hotel – it’s up to you.

It’s also a fantastic way to reduce stress. Breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks are all handled for you, but you still have the option to get out and find local food spots, too.

4. Try out a cruise

Cruises are a great way to rest and relax – and they’re for people of all ages! I remember a time when cruises were associated with older people, but that’s really not the case anymore.

After my recent trip to Crete, I’d love to embark on a classic Greece cruise to explore more of this incredible country. It was such a beautiful corner of the world, with plenty of fun things to do, from long beach days to local historical adventures.

image of a rocky cliffside with the choppy sea in Crete - also a hill in the background — Even our small resort was packed full of natural beauty – beautiful walks, local nature and stunning seascapes

Going on a cruise gives you the chance to visit new places or try new things without the pressure of organising it all for yourself. You don’t have to worry about accommodation – and many cruises specialise in relaxing, stress-free trips.

5. Give yourself a buffer before going back to work

The best holidays don’t end when you get back on the plane! For the ultimate relaxing trip, give yourself a little buffer when you get home. Come home a few days earlier than you need to, and don’t do anything on those days. Literally nothing.

You can rest, relax, catch up on sleep, eat some healthy food, rehydrate and just generally come down from any travel. Trust me, you’ll thank yourself when you don’t have to think about work for another couple of days.

sunset over the hills in Crete — A beautiful Cretian sunset on our last night at the resort

When we went to Crete, we arrived on Sunday and left on Friday. That meant we had the full weekend to relax. I caught up on life admin, filled the fridge with food and recovered from that long journey back from Manchester airport!

Do you have any tips for planning a stress-free holiday? What are your favourite holiday activities? How do you plan stress-free holidays for you and your loved ones?

Let me know all your thoughts in the comments below 🙂

Happy reading x