| I don't know about you, but I have trouble even | | | | is not going to endear you to her. Take it from |
| watching a kissing scene on TV if my dad is in | | | | me (yes, I fell over every time) you are just |
| the room. | | | | going to embarrass her and ensure that your first |
| I also wouldn't eat ribs on a first date, get drunk | | | | holiday away is your last. |
| in front of my mother-in-law, wear a short halter | | | | The alternative: If you are looking for something |
| dress to a meeting with the CEO or ugly | | | | different to do to impress a girl, why not try a |
| underwear to the gynecologist. | | | | cruise? It can almost be guaranteed that this is |
| There are just certain things that we don't do | | | | something she hasn't done meaning you score |
| around certain people and for very good reasons. | | | | ingenuity points and there are lots of fun activities |
| So, why then do people forget to apply this logic | | | | on board that all come with lifeboat and trained |
| to their holidays? | | | | staff safety. |
| How much fun would it be to go on a girls cruise | | | | Trips to avoid... with your new boyfriend |
| with Chippendale entertainment, special toys | | | | A weekend away with a new girlfriend usually |
| parties and raucous truth or dare games... with | | | | means one thing... (please don't make me say it). |
| your future mother-in-law? | | | | So as long as there is a bed involved, new |
| Chances are that her finding out about that night, | | | | boyfriends are usually happy. |
| with that many shooters and that certain Sharks | | | | But there are some trips that can put a |
| player is just not a good idea. | | | | dampener on your lust, I mean love. |
| Most of us use a holiday as a way to escape the | | | | There are things that women (no stereotypes |
| family or the mother-in-law, so we are pretty | | | | here) find incredibly romantic, but can leave a |
| clued up on this subject. But it never hurts to | | | | newly captured man trembling. While you might |
| take a quick refresher course on the art of | | | | find an overnight train trip across South Africa |
| avoiding a mini drama on our hard-earned | | | | incredibly Mills & Boon and dreamy, in reality |
| vacations. | | | | it means being stuck in one small cabin with the |
| Trips to avoid... with your mom | | | | same person for a very long time. |
| I asked one of my friends what type of trip he | | | | While you could envision cuddling all day while the |
| would avoid taking with his mother and the | | | | rain patters on the windows, he probably sees a |
| answer was simple - any holiday during which you | | | | cage with nowhere for him to go to the loo out |
| intend to relax. | | | | of earshot. |
| Another friend asked to take the money instead. | | | | Another gem of a trip to avoid (I had no idea |
| Someone else commented that you should never | | | | people actually do this) is a themed tour. You |
| go on holiday with her mom if you intend to sleep | | | | might be an avid Shakespeare lover and adore |
| past 7am and are not a fan of the "wakey | | | | the idea of dressing up in the garb, talking all |
| wakey song". | | | | fancy and taking a boat trip around Cape Town |
| If it was my mom, I would have to avoid any trip | | | | harbour. Chances are that your new boyfriend |
| to a town that has been around for more than a | | | | doesn't. Remember, Shakespeare involved tights |
| day. Otherwise I would be subjected to every | | | | and wigs. There are better ways to share your |
| museum, gallery and stately home there was. | | | | interests with your new partner without |
| (What is a stately home anyway?) | | | | subjecting them to something that will probably |
| So apparently what to avoid depends completely | | | | embarrass them, make you look a little odd and |
| on your particular mom. | | | | put them amongst, um, interesting company. |
| The alternative: Instead of worrying what kind of | | | | The alternative: The best way to get a romantic |
| holiday would be testing with your mom, why not | | | | weekend with your new man is to compromise a |
| plan a trip that you know would be a hit with you | | | | tad (just a tad, relax). Try a city break |
| both? Heading to a new place like Zambia or | | | | somewhere there is something cool and manly |
| Mauritius is exciting and new for you both, | | | | happening at the time. Think Sharks vs Stormers |
| meaning you can explore together. | | | | or A1 Grand Prix. Once you have wowed him |
| Each GoTravel24 package to these destinations | | | | with how cool you are, spending the rest of the |
| also ensures that you are slap bang in the middle | | | | weekend in bed is guaranteed. Throw a cool city |
| of the action. So if you need to sleep in, there will | | | | hotel into the mix and you are both happy. |
| be plenty for your mom to do until the sun rises | | | | Trips to avoid... with your in-laws |
| sufficiently to get you out of bed. | | | | This entirely depends on your in-laws of course. I |
| Trips to avoid... with your dad | | | | have a friend who laughed at this question and |
| I think avoiding the red light district in Amsterdam | | | | called her mom-in-law "an awesome party animal". |
| with your dad pretty much goes without saying | | | | So, I'll close my eyes while you all maim her and |
| here (or at least we hope so). So we'll take a | | | | offer some advice anyway. |
| more local angle and suggest that you think about | | | | Remember how it irks you when you partner |
| what your dad is like before you trek across | | | | back seat drives? Well, imagine how super |
| South Africa. | | | | annoying it would be coming from your in-laws? |
| Think about it, if your dad is outdoorsy and | | | | Taking a self-drive family safari trip is one holiday |
| believes that starting a fire with matches is | | | | I would not recommend to take with your |
| cheating, then he is probably not going to be | | | | extended family. It involves long days spent in the |
| thrilled with a trip to Sun City. | | | | car, arguments over the air con and awkward |
| If your dad is anything like mine, then a holiday | | | | moments when you run out of conversation. No |
| where the main attraction is a shopping mall is | | | | matter how good your relationship is with your |
| also not going to go down well. There is nothing | | | | in-laws, being stuck in a car together is testing. |
| worse than having a sulky man in tow and | | | | Before you know it you are arguing over that |
| nothings brings out that side in a dad like a | | | | being an eland or a kudu, whether or not her son |
| changing room. | | | | really likes broccoli, whatever happened to that |
| The alternative: Whether it's screaming from the | | | | lovely Shelley girl he dated in high school and how |
| sidelines of a rugby field or practicing pirouettes, | | | | you wear too much make up for a safari. |
| dads love to get involved with their kids. | | | | The alternative: Rather opt for a safari package |
| Dads will jump at the chance to be able to teach | | | | from GoTravel24 that includes flights, car hire, |
| you something again or hold your hand when you | | | | accommodation and meals. No mother-in-law can |
| get scared. And who cares if you chicken out or | | | | critique your cooking, driving or bed-making skill |
| fall over? It's just your daddy after all. | | | | when everything is expertly taken care of for |
| Trips to avoid... with your new girlfriend | | | | you. |
| There are so many options for romantic | | | | Trips to avoid... with your siblings |
| getaways and holidays for couples that it can be | | | | Once again, this will depend on your siblings and |
| easy to get carried away and for things to go | | | | whether or not they have procreated yet. If they |
| wrong. For many reasons, couples often decide to | | | | have multiplied already, then you should really just |
| go on adventure holidays together. You could | | | | avoid all trips. |
| want to share your interests with a new partner | | | | While you love your nieces and nephews, I very |
| or simply be trying to impress with your bravery. | | | | much doubt you envisioned your holiday to include |
| But broken bones, flying off a mountain bike, sky | | | | tropical sunsets, massages, room service and |
| diving to your death are never usually a good | | | | dirty nappies. |
| look. The kind of bonding you are looking to do is | | | | Most child friendly holiday resorts mean that, |
| not usually done best from twin hospital beds. | | | | shockingly, there will be lots of children around. |
| Besides the chance at irreparably damaging your | | | | Screaming kids can hinder relaxation and you will |
| partner and your chances at a second date, | | | | be surprised by how much your siblings will |
| adventure trips can backfire in another way. The | | | | expect you to help out. And believe me, "I'm |
| way to impress a girl is not by showing off on a | | | | re-hydrating under a face mask in a hammock" |
| mountain bike and crashing into a tree that just | | | | will not be classified as a good enough excuse for |
| "appeared out of nowhere". | | | | you to be "too busy for bath time". |
| Honestly, we'd just think you're being stupid. | | | | The alternative: If traveling with toddlers and kids |
| Or what happens if you get all hooked up to the | | | | is unavoidable, try a safari in a malaria free area |
| bungee jumping equipment and then you chicken | | | | of South Africa. This means that kids will be safe |
| out? That is not exactly impressive either. | | | | and free of revolting malaria medication. |
| You also have no idea how she is going to react | | | | Many game lodges also have childcare facilities, so |
| in certain situations. Chances are that she didn't | | | | by doing some research and choosing one of |
| disclose her comical lack of coordination and | | | | these you will even be able to spend some adult |
| balance on your first date. So tying her up behind | | | | time together. |
| a boat with a wooden plank attached to her feet | | | | |