As you unpack your bags the smell of coconut suntan lotion mixed with mosquito repellent escapes and the last grains of sand fall to the floor while you take out your swimsuit. Suddenly the phone rings. It’s your boss reminding you of the 8am meeting tomorrow. At that moment you realise the holiday's over and it’s time to go back to the usual routine...
After returning from holiday most of us forget to exchange leftover foreign currency, get a bad case of post-holiday blues or arrive late to work because we’re too jet lagged to hear the alarm. But follow the Cheapflights guide for all those things to do once you’re back and your post-holiday glow will shine just that little bit longer.
Exchanging foreign currency
It’s estimated that 33 million British holidaymakers return home each year with more than £920 million in leftover holiday money. That’s probably because most of us end up saving it for the next time we travel. But instead of stashing it in your biscuit tin why not give to a worthy cause instead?
Most charities collect foreign currency - particularly EU currency which in turn makes you eligible for tax relief under Gift Aid. It’s easy. Simply gather together your unwanted foreign change and the charity will convert it into currency which will then go directly to the cause.
Marie Curie Cancer Care is just one charity that provides this service. Visit the Marie Curie website to find out more.
And for information on claiming tax relief you can go to the HM Revenue and Customs website.
Other options
- You may think it’s not worth exchanging leftover currency into local currency because of high buy-back rates but most independent high street providers will exchange money back with 0 per cent commission.
- Another good option is to take a pre-paid currency card with you the next time you travel. Simply load the card with the country’s currency and use it at any ATM or shop.
- Some airlines hand out envelopes onboard for you to put your leftover change in. British Airways offer this service through their charity programme Change for Good.
- Most airports have a box where you can drop any currency you have left before or after a trip.
Developing your holiday photos
- Holidays are all about taking loads of pictures, but developing them can be costly. Depending on where you’re travelling to sometimes it’s cheaper to develop your pictures in the country you’re visiting.
- Why not invest in a digital photo printer? They start as low as £27.99 and offer a cheaper alternative to developing your photos at a vendor.
- There are many websites where you can share your pictures online, develop them in different sizes and have them delivered to you anywhere in the world. Some good ones are: Shutterfly, Snapfish, and Kodak
- If you’re hesitant about ordering your pictures online, you can visit any high street retailer and have them developed or printed in-house. Boots and Jessops both offer these services at competitive prices.
Writing Travel Blogs
- The best way to share your travel experiences with others is to write a travel blog which can include journal entries and photos. There are many websites that offer this service and most are free of charge.
A few good ones are: www.travelblog.org, www.travelpod.com and RealTravel.
Beating jet lag
It’s your first night back and you can’t sleep. You try everything: camomile tea, reading a book, even counting sheep but nothing seems to work. Jet lag can be very frustrating especially if you’re back to work after your trip, but there are many things you can do to avoid it:
- As soon as you get on the flight, change your watch. This will help you adapt quicker to the time zone you're travelling to.
- If possible, make sure you arrive home during the day and spend a little time outside in the fresh air, this will help get rid of that lethargic feeling.
- Adjust your bedtime and meal times to the country you’re in.
- When you arrive home try to go out for a walk or do some light stretches, this will help you feel refreshed.
- Drink plenty of water when you arrive to counteract the dehydration while on the plane.
For more information see our Top Tips to Beat Jet Lag.
Extending your tan
So you’re back from holiday and sporting your well-earned tan. Strangers stare enviously at you while you’re on the tube to work and admirers compliment you on the perfect shade of bronze that you’ve achieved. But as we all know tans quickly fade. If you want your tan to last longer follow these easy tips:
- Exfoliate: Scrubbing off dead skin cells is important to maintaining even skin tone. You can do this in the shower with either a gentle body scrub that contains granules or a natural loofah.
- Moisturise: Most people forget or are too lazy to moisturise but scorched skin needs all the hydration it can get. Choose a moisturiser with Vitamin A, Vitamin E and aloe vera in it or try adding a few drops of almond oil to any body moisturiser you have handy.
- Fake-it: Sadly your tan will disappear over time but if you start using a self-tanner while you still have some colour left it’ll look much more believable. And remember to always exfoliate before you apply the product.
Post-Holiday Blues
Yesterday you were lying on the beach sipping pina coladas and today you’re back to a cold office with the phone ringing off the hook and a pile of mail waiting to be opened. Suddenly the stress starts to build and the excitement of the vacation slowly disappears.
The adjustment from holiday to work can be difficult leaving many people with post-holiday blues. Here are a few suggestions that will help ease you back into your regular routine and fight the blues after your trip:
- Try to stay in the holiday mood when you return to work. Whether it means leaving on time or taking short breaks throughout the day, just try to do something to break the monotony.
- Don’t try to overwhelm yourself with piles of work or stay late because you feel guilty for going on holiday while your colleagues were in the office.
- Plan your next trip. This will give you something to look forward to and elevate your mood. To give you a bit of inspiration, and make sure you don’t miss out on the best deals available, sign up to our newsletter or keep an eye on Cheap Flight News, our travel news blog.
- Share your travel experiences and tips with others. Two good travel community sites are: www.thebackpacker.net/ and www.world66.com/
- Read our travel expert's advice on the Returning Home travel tip.
Food imports
Food and drinks are a big part of experiencing a new culture and it’s very easy to get tempted into buying some ethnic goods to take home with you. The UK has strict guidelines about which items are permitted in your personal luggage to bring into the UK, otherwise you could risk having them confiscated if they’re prohibited.
- As a general rule, meat, milk, eggs egg products, honey, fish and fish products are permitted from all EU member states or Andorra, the Canary Islands, the Channel Islands, Isle of Man, Norway and San Marino.
- Meat and milk products must not exceed a combined total weight of 5kg per person are permitted from The Faroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland.
- You cannot bring back meat or meat products from any other European country. And when travelling from the US you are not allowed to bring back any milk or milk products.
- The laws can change at short notice so please make sure you check before you leave for your trip. For more information check the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) website.
Seema Salaam
© Cheapflights Ltd
Updated September 2008
