You booked the leave, saved the money and told everyone about your trip. Then the flight is cancelled, a friend can’t come anymore, or you realise you can’t afford it. It’s disappointing, and it’s okay to feel upset about it.
Lots of us have been there. Here’s how to make the best of it.
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Give yourself a moment
Before you try to fix anything, let yourself feel disappointed. Talk to a friend, have a bad day, eat something comforting. Forcing yourself to be cheerful straight away usually makes you feel worse. Once the first feeling has passed, you’ll be able to think more clearly.
Find out what money you can get back
Before you give up on the trip, check your options:
- Ask the airline, hotel or guesthouse about refunds, credits or changing your dates.
- Check your travel insurance, if you have it. Many policies cover cancellations.
- Ask your bank or credit card company if they cover bookings.
Even if you only get some of your money back, it will help you plan something else.
Turn it into a staycation
A holiday doesn’t have to mean going far. Turn off your work emails, put on your out-of-office and treat your time off like a proper break.
Do the things you never have time for. Visit the beach or nature reserve near you, book a long lunch at the restaurant you always walk past, or spend a day at a spa. Be a tourist in your own city. Most of us have never done half the things visitors come to see.
Plan a smaller trip
If you still want to get away, think smaller. A weekend in a nearby town, a night at a guesthouse or a drive along a road you’ve never taken can feel just as refreshing as a big trip. Smaller trips cost less, so they’re easier to rebook if something goes wrong again.
Make your home feel like a getaway
Sometimes you need rest more than a new place. Put fresh sheets on your bed, light a candle and switch off your phone for a few hours. Read the book that’s been sitting by your bed for months. Cook something new, or have a long bath with a face mask on.
Use the time for something you’ve been putting off
A cancelled holiday can leave you with free days and a bit of spare money. That’s a good chance to sort out your wardrobe, start a hobby or finally do that short course you keep talking about. You’ll feel good afterwards, and the time won’t feel wasted.
Spend time with your people
If your plans changed because friends or family couldn’t come, don’t leave it there. Meet up for a picnic, a braai or a movie night. Being together matters more than where you are.
Remember, it’s only delayed
The trip hasn’t gone away. It’s just on hold. Choose a new date, even a rough one, and start looking forward to it again. Having something to look forward to can lift your mood straight away.
Holidays don’t always go the way we want, but your time off doesn’t have to be wasted. Sometimes the break you didn’t plan turns out to be the one you needed most.
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