With the holiday season right around the corner, you’ve probably already decided what you want to do for Christmas and New Year’s. Planning everything carefully may sound like a chore. If you’re not thrilled at the prospect of organising everything and being very thorough during this time traditionally associated with festivities and relaxation, you’re not alone. But having a well-devised plan before you set off to enjoy the holidays ensures that you can make some truly special memories during this time.

The small details might escape you, as the season tends to be quite hectic, and you’ll have a lot on your plate. If you’ve been thinking about this time of the year for months, it would be a pity to allow some poor planning to make the whole experience fall short of your expectations. Here are some aspects you must ensure are in order so December 25th doesn’t catch you unprepared.

Prepare for travel

If you’ve decided to travel abroad for the holidays this year, you’re in for a treat. Few things are as relaxing as visiting a different place, as you won’t have to concern yourself with all the preparations that might put a damper on your holidays. However, there are many preparations you need to ensure are in order before setting foot outside your front door.

Make sure all your papers and documents are in order before you leave. Your passport, visa and insurance should be in order. Without the first two, you will be detained at borders, which is a particularly unpleasant situation to experience in general, let alone during the holidays, while insurance is necessary because you never know what may happen during a trip.

If you travel to an area where you require specific inoculations to protect you against endemic health concerns, you must get them in the right window of time. For some vaccines, immunity might not kick in until a couple of weeks after getting the shot, so don’t postpone it to the last days before you leave. And if you have a chronic illness and have to take medication regularly, get your refills before leaving the country.

Transportation is also essential, and it’s likely one of the first things you’ll get in order, as plane tickets tend to become pricier the more you approach the date of your departure. But the transportation you get after you land is equally as important. If you’re not close to the hotel and don’t feel like hauling your heavy luggage all the way to a bus or the underground train, you can reach out to Cancun Airport Transportation. They will help you reach your destination as fast as possible, providing reliable and safe transportation so that you enjoy your trip from the very beginning. The service is private and secure, so you won’t share your ride with others and can completely unwind en route.

Create a holiday budget

The holidays are traditionally a time rife with overspending. It’s easy to get ahead of yourself and buy more than you need. Presents are one of the areas where you’re most likely to become overly indulgent. Since you want the best there is for your loved ones, it’s most likely that you won’t hold back from any expense. And while spending a little more than usual is understandable, you don’t want to break the bank and find yourself struggling financially after the holidays.

If coming up with a budget plan makes you feel guilty that you’re not doing more, remember that the value of a present doesn’t necessarily lie in how expensive it is. If one of your friends or relatives has been talking about a particular item for a while, getting it for them will mean a lot, even if it’s not a luxury product you’re buying. Moreover, when you set a fixed budget in place, you don’t have to worry that you’ll spend too much on a particular present only to be left with too little money for others.

Plan activities ahead

Whether you’ll entertain guests at home or are travelling with your family to a faraway destination, this step is crucial. In the case of the former, you can set the mood with music. Create an extensive playlist containing classic and modern Christmas tunes to keep everyone entertained throughout the evening. There are many options, and Christmas songs are generally a perfect blend of relaxing and festive, meaning they’re enough to put even the most scrooges into a Christmas party mood.

If you feel comfortable doing it, ask your family and friends to help you add the finishing touches to the dinner table. While delegating tasks can make you feel like you’re ordering everyone around, the truth is most people would likely be glad to help. It can also ensure some quality bonding time between all of you. If your budget allows it, you can also create a pile of small party gifts to hand out to your guests.

If you’re travelling, the activities you plan depend on your destination. If you decide to visit a European capital like Vienna, Budapest or Brussels, you’ll have plenty of Christmas markets to see, as well as beautiful architecture and holiday decorations to admire. However, suppose you’re planning to get out of your comfort zone and try something a little more adventurous, like ziplining through a rainforest, going on a safari, or going on a snowmobile trip on forest trails. In that case, you’ll have to do additional research on the best dates and operators to facilitate your journey. You’ll likely also have to consider the weather.

Although the holidays are generally a time to feel relaxed and at ease, you are likely to find yourself struggling with all the preparations you have to get in order. To have a chance to make your bucket list a reality, plan everything in advance. Get ready for the unexpected as well. No matter how carefully you arrange everything, some things may still take you by surprise. Manage them as you encounter them, and don’t let anything spoil your mood.