THE first step to a successful holiday is to pick a suitable destination. Sounds like a no-brainer but there were times when we were bored to tears on a trip or returned home from a vacation feeling unfulfilled.

The problem is often about a wrong choice of holiday destination.

Know yourself

Shopaholics should forget an adventurous and outdoor destination devoid of shopping malls.

Go for cities like Hong Kong, Paris or New York during their summer sales instead. You probably will have a more enjoyable time. Or if you are travelling with young children, Australia is a good choice.

Once the destination is settled, stick to the budget.

Do your research

Account manager Lionel Chua, 36, swears by Frommers, a travel guide site (www.frommers.com) for comprehensive and up-to-date recommendations and reviews on lodgings, eating places and attractions.

"Their recommendations have worked well for me on my visits to Spain, Japan and Australia," he says.

Another similar site is Lonely Planet's www.lonelyplanet.com.

Need help with your itinerary or have questions on your holiday destination? Trip Advisor at www.tripadvisor.com is a good site to consult. Ms F.M. Chan, 33, homemaker, says: "I went to their forum and posted some questions on San Francisco's factory outlets and I received some helpful advice. The reply is speedy too."

At the forum, experienced travellers or helpful locals answer the questions posted. The replies are often insightful and full of useful tips.

Do not forget to pay a visit to a country's tourism website as well.

These sites usually offer a detailed list of events all year round in the country, on top of the usual tourist information.

Bargain hunting

Every year, Natas organises travel fairs in March and September. Besides these two mega events, leading travel agencies also hold pre- Natas road shows a month before each fair. Mark these dates on your calendar to get a headstart in your bargain hunting.

Carry all your credit cards to these events. They will be useful as banks often team up with travel agencies to give further discounts or freebies when paying with the designated card.

There is more. Membership cards such as for Safra, NTUC Link, PAssion (People's Association) and AA (Automobile Association of Singapore) offer attractive rates for package deals, hotel stays, car rental and more for members. Simply pick up the newsletter or check the club's website.

Buying air tickets

Go to the travel fairs early if you want to get discounted air tickets and do not intend changing your travelling dates.

Alternatively, exchange your rewards points on your credit cards for miles with the airline and fly for free. Most credit cards have points exchange programmes with Asia Miles (partner airlines include Cathay Pacific, British Airways, JAL and American Airlines) or KrisFlyer (Singapore Airlines).

Where to stay

To keep the cost of accommodation down, homemaker Mrs Joanna Han, 32, gets the lowest quotation for a hotel room from online travel agencies before calling up the hotel to ask for a better price. She says: "The hotel that I called obliged as they saved on the commission for the agency even with the lower price offered to me."

Why not stay at less central locations if you plan to drive? You will be surprised at the bargains you can get. "We were willing to do so for some of our trips as we rented a car. We ended up staying at bigger, nicer and cheaper places," she adds.

It is great fun travelling in a bigger group and it can be cheaper too if you stay at serviced apartments instead of booking two or more hotel rooms. Also, it comes with the convenience of cooking and washing facilities, which allow you to eat in and save on laundry costs. Most serviced apartments require you to stay for a minimum of two nights.

To find serviced apartments, try Trip Advisor.

Travel insurance

Never leave home without travel insurance. With more players in the market, rates are more competitive now and policies are easier to take up. Both AIG (www.aig.com.sg/ personal/personal_aigassist.html) and NTUC Income (www.income. com.sg/insurance/travel) offer hassle- free online quotations and applications.

Once you have done all the hard work, go ahead and have a good time. Happy holidays!

Illustration: Noel Rosales