If you’ve been to exotic tropical locations, you’re bound to have heard about island hopping before. It’s a great way to explore different destinations on a beach break, so I’ve come up with some tips on the best way to visit lots of islands on your next trip.
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First things first – you need to pick somewhere that will really allow you to head to lots of different destinations. There are many places you can choose visit, from Greece to Thailand, both of which have an abundance of isles to visit.
- island hop like a pro© Ahmed Amir / Foter / CC BY
Once you have chosen an appropriate destination to book a holiday in, I always think it is a good idea to start planning what day trips to go on. If you arrive having done your homework, you will be in a much better position to decide what you’re going to do during your holiday.
Plus, it will allow you to organise your excursions as soon as you arrive, so you don’t waste any valuable holiday time waiting to sort this out.
Get packing
The next thing you need to consider is what you’ll pack for your island hopping trip. This might sound like an odd thing to think about ahead of your excursion, but there are a few necessary items that you shouldn’t hop aboard the boat without. Here are some of the essential things I take:
• Sunhat, sunglasses and sun cream – You don’t want to come back from your excursion red and burnt!
• Travel sickness tablets – If, like me, you suffer from motion-related nausea, these are must-haves to enable you to cope with your boat trip.
• Entertainment – Your journey time may take just a few minutes or, in the case of Thailand, it might be several hours. That’s why I think a book, magazine and music are essential things to bring with you so you can chill out on the deck – or on the beach when you arrive at the island.
• Snorkelling equipment – These types of boat trips often incorporate a snorkelling activity. So, if you fancy discovering the local marine life, it is worth bringing your own mask, breathing tube and flippers.
• Underwater camera – If you do plan to delve deep under the water, I recommend taking a waterproof camera so you can take snaps of the colourful fish and coral close up.
• Notepad – I love to write down my memories of my holidays, which is why a notepad is necessary so I can jot down everything I am seeing and doing during my getaway. If you’re the same, always keep some paper and a pen close at hand.
You should pack all your items in a waterproof bag. Boat trips often – in my experience – result in much of what you’re wearing or carrying becoming soaking wet, as the water splashes over the sides. That’s why I always bring my waterproof diver’s bag and put these belongings inside; I won’t necessarily bring it into the sea with me, but at least I can be confident that my camera, MP3 player, e-book or novel won’t end up getting ruined by being wet.
Get booking
You shouldn’t delay when it comes to booking your island hopping tours. Whether you want to go on lots of trips or just one or two, it’s best if you try to do this as soon as possible. This is because there have been many a time when I’ve left it too late to go on a boat tour.
Travel operators tend to only go ahead with the trip when they have filled their seats, so while you may have booked on to the excursion, these can often be cancelled if there hasn’t been a lot of demand for it. If it’s still early on in your holiday, you can just delay it until there are more people who want to go (or you can try to invite any friends you make during your getaway). However, if you leave booking until the last minute, you may find that you have no time left to go on the trips if they are cancelled at the final hour.
[box type=”tick”]You might find that some boat excursions are included in your hotel package. So, if you’ve booked an all inclusive holiday in a tropical country, such as trip with Wanderforth, it is worth checking whether island hopping excursions come as part of the deal.[/box]
