You’re headed out on the ‘tiyul’ (journey) you’ve been dreaming about for ages – with a million things to do, but hardly a weekend to do them all. Here are our ten tips to help you balance the desire to see the sites and enjoy the nights within a pressured time frame, to make your vacation dreams come true.
1. Recognize FOMO as a part of life
The sooner you learn that the unshakable feeling of missing out on something is an inseparable part of the trip – even if you're only heading to Mt. Hermon – the easier it will be to overcome it. "Fear Of Missing Out" (aka FOMO) is like that dorky hand-me-down money belt your older brother so readily 'donated' to you; no matter how hard you try, you can't ignore that itchy Velcro rubbing against your bare skin at all times. Even though the possibilities are endless, you've only got a limited amount of energy, money, and facilities to experience them all. Focus on the experiences you manage to have. Enjoy them to the fullest. If you allow FOMO to take charge, your trip will become exhausting instead of the enjoyable experience it was meant to be.
2. Narrow in on one area
Israelis love to say, “We tackled Central Europe in two days,” which really does evoke admiration (with a touch of jealousy) from friends & family. However, in order to squeeze the full potential out of a destination, especially on a short hop abroad, it is desirable to stick to one area and enjoy what it has to offer in a leisurely, but efficient manner. What isn't so worthwhile: spreading yourself thin jumping from one place to another, not only because it takes away time that you could have spent marveling at art or wandering through the flea market, but because hysterically dashing from one landmark to another leads to feelings of emptiness and unfulfillment.
3. Plan ahead!
Sadly, we have said our goodbyes to the era of lugging around Lonely Planet Bibles and frantically ripping sections out of Rick Steves guidebooks. Today, we live in a world run by the Internet and social media, both of which make it super simple to plan trips quietly and confidently in the comfort of your own home. If you're worried about missing activities or attractions, you can determine a destination that interests you beforehand, and concentrate on the experiences you want to have in the short time available to you. Choose sites, attractions, restaurants, museums, plays, even specific food stands in Sarona Market. Naturally, you can ask your coworkers, friends, acquaintances, and strangers at the Shuk if they've been there, what they recommend, and what to be careful about.
4. Rest & digest
And now, a mini psychology lesson: short vacations are designed to remove us from the pressures of routine studies/children/work/chores. For exactly that reason, there is no need to squeeze too much of an itinerary into one short holiday. Let yourselves rest – sleep in late, pamper yourselves with a long breakfast, tour by foot. Go on holiday with the intention of clearing your head, not filling it with more clutter. From personal experience, this kind of matter-of-fact, nonchalant approach guarantees an enjoyable holiday, allowing you to return to your routine with a level head and a sense of renewed energy.
5. Accept the good, the bad, and the ugly
Went to an overrated restaurant? Didn't take to the Broadway play? The adventure promised to you wasn't anything special? No worries, that is just a part of every holiday. It's a rare occurrence, indeed, to come back from a trip where everything went absolutely swimmingly. Let the disappointing experiences flow over you, don't spiral into denial. You're disappointed and that's really terrible. However, the disappointment will vanish within ten minutes, and you'll be ready for more unpredictable adventures.
6. Remember: it's not a competition
We intend to be in control of situations and accomplish our goals, or in short, to win. Many times along the way, though, we forget to enjoy. Short trips abroad aren't a contest. In fact, the opposite is true. We don't have to prove anything to anybody, so just go with the flow and cherish the spontaneity and healthy lack of certainty that accompanies it.
7. Don't scrimp
Pretty strange advice, right? Sometimes there are things you really want to do, but that cost lots of money. To use a personal example, I taking a half-hour course on flying an antique model aircraft with a propeller at the Imperial War Museum in Duxford, England. It cost 100 sterling, which at the time added up to around NIS 600. Those NIS 600 weren't going to make or break a financial situation, and holidays are supposed to be for pleasure. So, if there's something that you really want to do, go for it. You won't regret it.
8. Stay as far away from screens as you can
It's a really tough decision – like finally ditching a childhood friend – but one that's worthwhile. The cell phone steals your attention, reconnects you with routine, friends, social networks, and work, spoils the experience, pushes you to photograph and film endlessly...in short, a thorn in the behind. Leave it at home or, if you must, in the hotel when you go out, and see the magical improvement in affect. We’re pretty certain that your friends will manage, even without knowing what you ate for dinner or exactly which mountain you rode up in a cable car.
9. Look back
Look back on things that you did miss out on during past trips. You remember them, for sure. How much of a big deal do they seem like today? Reflection on missed opportunities – something that happens to everyone – provides a nice sense of proportion. It didn't really influence your life, did it? Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened.
10. Explore the unknown
This bit of advice is exactly the opposite of tip #3, and it's here for the adventurous among us – those ready and willing to experience unpredictable things, who aren't afraid of fleeting FOMO. Open a map, close your eyes, and point. The place you point to is the one you're flying to on your next short holiday, with zero plans and zero anxieties. You can be certain that the unexpected adventures will be well worth the free-spirited spontaneity.
Time for a tiyul! But where to? Check out our complete area guide of places to visit in Israel from north to south.