9 Ways To Make Your Holiday More Memorable

Updated June 2026

The best ways to make your holiday more memorable are to plan a few meaningful experiences, try something new, spend proper time with the people you are travelling with and leave room for spontaneous moments. A memorable holiday does not have to be expensive. It just needs to feel personal.

Whether you are planning a family holiday, a romantic break, a group trip with friends or a long-awaited bucket-list adventure, the small details often make the biggest difference.

It might be a local food tour, a sunrise swim, a day without phones, a funny photo tradition or finally booking the experience you have talked about for years. These are the moments you remember long after the suitcase has been unpacked.

How Can You Make A Holiday More Memorable?

You can make a holiday more memorable by adding experiences that feel different from everyday life.

Some of the easiest ways include:

• Trying a new activity
• Booking one special experience
• Exploring local food and culture
• Taking plenty of natural photos
• Spending time away from screens
• Planning something for everyone in the group
• Talking to locals for hidden recommendations
• Leaving space for slow mornings and spontaneous plans
• Reflecting on the best moments before you go home

The trick is not to cram every minute with activities. A holiday becomes memorable when it has a good mix of fun, rest, connection and a few “we have to remember this” moments.

1. Choose One Experience You Will Always Remember

You do not need to fill every day with big plans, but choosing one standout experience can make the whole trip feel more special.

This could be:

• A boat trip
• A food tour
• A sunset walk
• A family photoshoot
• A cooking class
• A scenic train journey
• A wildlife tour
• A special meal
• A theme park day
• A guided city tour

For bigger bucket-list trips, it is often the experiences you book that make the holiday unforgettable. If an Alaska cruise is on your dream list, this guide to the best shore excursions in Alaska breaks down the whale watching, glacier trips and scenic rail journeys worth planning around.

A memorable holiday usually has at least one moment where everyone says, “I’m so glad we did that.”

2. Try Something Completely New

A holiday is one of the best times to step slightly outside your comfort zone.

You are already away from normal routines, so it can feel easier to try something different. That does not mean you need to throw yourself out of a plane or suddenly become a surfer if you are more of a “sit with a coffee and observe” person.

Trying something new could be as simple as:

• Taking a dance lesson
• Going snorkelling
• Joining a walking tour
• Trying paddleboarding
• Learning a few words in the local language
• Booking a local cooking class
• Visiting somewhere you would not normally choose
• Trying a new beach, trail or neighbourhood

If you are heading to a beach destination, you could try snorkelling or scuba diving. If you are staying in a city, renting bikes or joining a guided walk can help you uncover corners you might otherwise miss.

If Croatia is on your travel list, visiting the best beaches in Croatia is one of those simple experiences that can turn a regular holiday day into a proper memory.

3. Say Yes To Local Experiences

Tourist attractions have their place, but local experiences often give a trip more personality.

Think food markets, festivals, small museums, local restaurants, independent shops, neighbourhood walks, cultural events and hidden viewpoints. These are the bits that make a destination feel real, rather than like somewhere you only saw from a hotel balcony.

Before you travel, do a little research into:

• Local events happening during your stay
• Food tours or tasting experiences
• Markets and independent shops
• Local beaches, parks or walking routes
• Small museums or galleries
• Cultural festivals
• Family-friendly activities nearby

Food is one of the easiest ways to connect with a destination. If you are a creature of habit, it can be tempting to stick to familiar meals, especially with children in tow. But even trying one local dish can become part of the story of the trip.

For more inspiration, read this guide on why you should try new foods while travelling.

4. Make Group Travel Easier

Travelling with friends or extended family can be brilliant, but the logistics can also be a bit much. Different arrival times, too many cars, parking issues and “where are you now?” messages can quickly take the shine off a day out.

If you are exploring the UK with a group, sorting transport early can make the trip feel much smoother.

Group travel during a UK staycation can be both fun and convenient, especially when you choose minibus hire for your transportation needs. It allows everyone to travel together, whether you are planning day trips to historical landmarks, countryside stops or weekend escapes to the coast.

It also means more time chatting, laughing and enjoying the journey, instead of trying to follow each other through confusing roundabouts.

And yes, someone will still need to be in charge of snacks. That is a very serious role.

When children, parents, grandparents or friends are all travelling together, making a multi-family holiday work comes down to clear plans, shared expectations and enough downtime for everyone. The best group trips feel fun and flexible, not like a military operation with sun cream.

5. Spend More Time Outdoors

Some of the best holiday memories happen outside.

It might be a beach day, a mountain walk, a picnic in the park, a lakeside wander or a slow evening watching the sunset. Fresh air has a way of making everything feel calmer, especially when life at home is usually a blur of work, school, laundry and someone asking what is for tea.

Outdoor holiday ideas include:

• Walking along the beach
• Collecting seashells
• Watching the sunset
• Planning a family hike
• Taking a picnic
• Visiting a lake
• Exploring a national park
• Going for an early morning swim
• Finding a scenic viewpoint

You do not have to plan anything complicated. Sometimes the most memorable moment is sitting together with sandy feet, watching the sky change colour.

6. Visit Museums, Galleries And Cultural Spots

Museums and galleries can add more meaning to a holiday, especially if you want to understand the destination beyond the obvious tourist highlights.

They are also useful for rainy days, city breaks and family trips where you need something slower-paced.

Look for:

• Local history museums
• Art galleries
• Science museums
• Maritime museums
• Castles and heritage sites
• Cultural centres
• Interactive family exhibitions

These places often give you stories to take home. You might learn something about the city, discover a local artist or find out why a place developed the way it did.

If you are travelling with children or teens, choose one museum or gallery that matches their interests. A shorter visit everyone enjoys is far better than dragging them around for three hours while they slowly turn into a Victorian ghost.

7. Ask Locals For Recommendations

Locals often know the places that never make it into standard travel guides.

A quick chat with a hotel receptionist, taxi driver, café owner or tour guide can lead you to brilliant recommendations, from the best bakery nearby to a quiet beach, family-friendly restaurant or shortcut to a viewpoint.

You could ask:

• Where do you go for lunch?
• Is there a quieter beach nearby?
• What should we avoid at busy times?
• Where is good for families?
• What is worth seeing that tourists miss?
• Is there a local event happening this week?

You do not need to turn into an investigative journalist. Just be friendly and curious.

Often, the best tips come from casual conversations.

8. Take Photos, But Do Not Live Through The Camera

Holiday photos matter. They help you remember the trip, share moments with family and look back on the little details you might otherwise forget.

But it is easy to spend so much time trying to capture the perfect photo that you forget to actually enjoy the moment.

Try taking a mix of:

• Natural family photos
• Food photos
• Street scenes
• Funny travel moments
• Beach or countryside views
• Hotel room details
• Group selfies
• Short videos
• Little details, such as tickets, signs or menus

You could also create a simple photo tradition. Take the same type of picture on every trip, such as a family shoe photo, a sunset snap, a silly airport selfie or everyone holding their favourite ice cream.

The imperfect photos are often the ones you love most later.

9. Build In Time To Relax And Reflect

A memorable holiday is not just about doing more. Sometimes it is about slowing down enough to enjoy what you are already doing.

Try not to overpack the itinerary. Leave space for lazy mornings, wandering, unexpected finds and doing absolutely nothing for a while.

Before the trip ends, take a few minutes to reflect on your favourite moments.

You could ask everyone:

• What was your favourite day?
• What made you laugh most?
• What would you do again?
• What surprised you?
• What food did you enjoy most?
• What photo sums up the trip?

This is especially lovely for family holidays because it helps everyone notice the memories they have made together.

If spending proper time together is one of your goals, these ways to strengthen family bonds are a useful reminder that connection often comes from simple shared moments, not perfectly planned activities.

What Makes A Holiday Feel Truly Memorable?

A holiday usually feels memorable when it includes a mix of novelty, connection and emotion.

That might sound a bit deep for a travel post, but it is true.

We remember the things that make us feel something. Laughter, surprise, calm, excitement, awe, pride, relief and even the occasional “well, that did not go to plan” moment.

A memorable holiday often includes:

• Something new
• Something meaningful
• Something funny
• Something beautiful
• Something relaxing
• Something shared

It does not have to look perfect. In fact, the funniest family stories often come from the bits that went slightly sideways.

Simple Ways To Make A Family Holiday More Memorable

Family holidays can be expensive, so it is understandable to want them to feel special.

The good news is that memorable family moments do not always come from the priciest activities.

Try these simple ideas:

• Let each child choose one activity
• Create a holiday playlist
• Keep a family travel journal
• Buy one small souvenir with a story behind it
• Have a screen-free evening
• Take a picnic to a scenic spot
• Create a photo challenge
• Try one local food together
• Start a holiday tradition

If you are still choosing where to go, this guide to the top package holiday destinations for families may help narrow things down.

Planning A Longer Holiday?

Longer holidays can give you more time to settle into a destination, but they also need a little more planning.

You may need to think about laundry, travel insurance, pacing, rest days, medication, documents, budget and how much moving around you actually want to do.

It is easy to get overexcited and plan a packed itinerary, but longer trips work best when there is breathing room.

Before booking, take a look at these things to consider when going on longer vacations so you can plan properly without turning the whole trip into a military operation.

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FAQs About Ways To Make Your Holiday More Memorable

What is the easiest way to make a holiday more memorable?

The easiest way to make a holiday more memorable is to plan one special experience and leave room for relaxed, unplanned moments. You do not need a packed itinerary. A meaningful activity, a local meal or a beautiful sunset can be enough.

How can I make a family holiday more special?

You can make a family holiday more special by letting everyone choose one activity, creating small traditions, taking natural photos and spending time together without too many distractions. Simple shared moments often become the best memories.

How do you make a holiday feel different from normal life?

Make a holiday feel different from normal life by changing the pace. Try new foods, explore local places, spend more time outdoors, reduce screen time and do activities you would not normally do at home.

Should I plan every day of my holiday?

No, you do not need to plan every day of your holiday. It helps to book important activities in advance, but leaving free time gives you space for rest, spontaneous plans and unexpected discoveries.

How can I remember my holiday better?

You can remember your holiday better by taking photos, keeping tickets or small mementoes, writing a few notes each day or asking everyone to share their favourite moment before the trip ends.

Final Thoughts On Ways To Make Your Holiday More Memorable

Finding ways to make your holiday more memorable does not mean spending more money or planning every minute.

The best memories usually come from a mix of thoughtful planning, new experiences, local discoveries and time spent properly enjoying the people you are with.

Try something new. Take the photo. Ask the local for a recommendation. Eat the thing you cannot pronounce. Leave a little room for the unexpected.

Because years later, it is rarely the perfectly planned schedule you remember. It is the moments that made you laugh, pause, connect or say, “I’m so glad we did this.”