We have good news for everyone in Singapore – there will be seven long weekends in the coming year.
These exclude the three public holidays in 2018 that’ll fall either on a Wednesday, Thursday or Saturday. If you add a day or three of annual leave into the mix, you can walk away with a total of 10 long weekends! How’s that for some motivation to plan your trips and Singapore weekends holidays early? With that being said, planning long weekends isn’t easy. Transport and accommodation costs are bound to go up and travel buddies may pull out at the last minute. Thus, we at LightTheMinds are dishing out 10 golden tips that’ll make planning that much easier.
List of Singapore public holidays 2023:
- New Year’s Day – 1 Jan (Thes)
- Chinese New Year – 5 & 6 February (Tues & Wed)
- Good Friday – 19 April (Fri)
- Labour Day – 1 May (Wed)
- Vesak Day – 18 May (Sat)
- Hari Raya – 5 June (Wed)
- National Day – 19 August (Fri)
- Hari Raya Haji – 10 August (Sat)
- Deepavali – 27 October (Sun)
- Christmas – 25 December (Wed)
1. Decide on a type of holiday
Are you having certain food cravings, dreaming of lazing on a beach or feeling a dire need to update your wardrobe? List down the various kinds of vacations you’d like to take so that you won’t end up going on five consecutive foodie trips when all you really wanted was a glowing tan.
2. Read up on intended destinations
Make sure you know which the sunny months are for beach trips and equip yourself with knowledge of big events or festivals coming up in places you hope to visit. It will be a major bummer shopping in a city which just ended a great sale a week before your arrival!
3. Shortlist travel buddies
Are there friends or family members you hope to travel with? Are there important anniversaries, birthdays or other significant occasions coming up that you’d like to celebrate by means of a short getaway? Start thinking of your potential travel buddies.
4. Round up the suspects
Once you’ve determined who you want to travel with and where you want to go, gather your loved ones, let them know what you have in mind and gauge their reactions. If they are jumping up and down with excitement, you know you can start booking the trip. If they are hesitant, find out if it’s the tentative travel dates, cost of travel or intended destination that they’re unsure about. Most people love traveling for short breaks, so it’s just a matter of agreeing on the best place to head to.
5. Check prices
Airfares, accommodations, tours, admission fees… the list just goes on. It’s always a good idea to plan your budget before making any financial commitments and make sure your friends do the same. You don’t want anyone pulling out later under the guise of being broke.
6. Apply for leave
Check with bosses early on if they’re all right with you taking leave, especially when there’s a possibility that you’ll have to work on weekends. Most bosses will grant leave on a first-come, first served basis, so make it known that you’ll be away. Don’t be the one who has everything planned out only to hear your superior say: “But three of your teammates are going away then, so you’ll have to stay.”
7. Make your bookings
Don’t commit the amateur mistake of confirming a booking without being sure you can actually get away. Often, there are hefty penalty fees for booking cancellations. Only after you and your travel pal(s) have confirmed your availability can you go ahead and book your tickets and hotels.
8. Start saving
Depending on the budget you’ve set for the trip and whether you’re looking for a luxurious, backpacker-style or free-and-easy type of trip, start putting aside a small sum of money every month. This will ensure that you don’t head to your travel destination feeling broke or come back worrying about finances for the rest of the month.
9. Countdown
Download a countdown app, circle the dates on your calendar, discuss the trip with your friends periodically, and simply enjoy the anticipation before your travel date!
10. Enjoy yourself
Even if you travel during all seven long weekends, each trip will be a unique, eye-opening experience. Whether you’re traveling to someplace familiar or completely new, make the most out of it and have fun!
If you are looking for a good destination to explore and want to get full experience of the place, it is best to book for a tour package. A tour package in India is a good example.
