Ask Away: Beating the post-holiday blues

Returning to normal life after a holiday can be hard. Photo / Getty Images

Eli Orzessek finds the answers to your travel questions.

Whenever I return home from a holiday, I find myself in a really bad mood, especially when I have to return to work. In comparison, everything feels really boring and I get really irritable. In some ways it can be a real downer on my travels that I start anticipating on the last few days. Do you have any suggestions for lessening this unfortunate effect?
Samantha

Ah, the old post-holiday blues. It's definitely a thing and it's easy to fall into.

Returning from some relaxing — or exciting — time off work makes the return to real life that much harder. Add some jetlag into the mix and it's a recipe for a bad mood.

My main suggestion is to ensure you have a day off before you return to work. It's a real shock to the system to return home on a Sunday and then have to get straight back to everyday responsibilities the next morning. It might seem like a bit of a waste of annual leave or a weekend day, but it really is invaluable for a more chilled-out transition.

If I have a day off before work, I like to spend it reminding myself what I actually like about my home city, which is Auckland. I might visit the beach, go for a nice walk or treat myself at my favourite cafe. I'm also always happy to see my cats again, so if you have pets, I'm sure they'd appreciate a bit of extra love.

If you've been in a different time zone, it's always a good idea to start readjusting your sleep schedule towards the end of the trip. Start going to bed earlier or later, depending on which direction you've come from. Once you're back, it should help you have more restful nights — rather than sitting up awake resenting the fact you're no longer on holiday!

You might also try bringing back a few things from your trip that you can enjoy at home — be it local food, recipes from a cooking class, or a nice souvenir to display.

Another good thing to do is start planning your next trip — even if it's just a pipe dream! Thinking about future travel is a great way to get you through the humdrum routines of the work day.

I'm travelling to Croatia next month but cannot find where to buy kuna before I travel. I'm told, even while some hotels quote prices in euros, bills must be paid in kuna. I also read that many establishments and taxis do not take electronic payment. Should I take euros and convert then on arrival?
John

I would suggest starting out with some euros, which you can convert when you get there.

It's generally recommended you convert your money over there anyway, as the exchange rates are more favourable and there are banks and exchange bureaus competing with each other.

Rather than taking loads of euros, you can get money out from an ATM with your New Zealand bank card. This may incur a small fee, so it's a good idea to plan ahead and get as much cash out as you'll need. Keep in mind if you're travelling to smaller locations, appropriate ATM facilities may not be available. In hotels, larger shops and established restaurants, you should be fine to pay with credit or debit card — but otherwise, it can be a bit hit and miss.