for me the real holiday starts when I land, get my bags and I'm in the taxi off to the hotel or apartment.

For me, when the plane has landed and my feet touch the tarmac

Sanjiiiiiiiiiiiii

Me too Sanji. I hate travelling and can't believe that we keep going back to Las Vegas in spite of the long flight. I pray for the day I can say, Beam me up Scotty" and just get there without any travelling!

luci

I don't really enjoy flying but I suppose the holiday starts after we have finished packing ( and rowing! ) the night before and we crack open a bottle of wine and dinner is something that is NOT calorie counted!

Once I finally lock the front door after hubby has checked for the 100th time that all the windows are shut, the cooker's off, the water's off etc. Half the things he does could have been done days earlier. He does my head in !!! Rather than start the holiday with an argument I just stand on the step waiting for him to finish

The very moment I step out of our taxi and into the doors at Manchester Airport..........I love that feeling

As the ferry rounds the headland and Symi Harbour comes into view.

It starts for me when I've finished my last day of work before going away.

Once I arrive at Manchester airport, and check in... then I realise that despite all my fears, I really am going to get on that plane!

Has to start when i get out of the house and heading for the airport. Then i get that holiday feeling and leaving the normal day to day things behind.

When i get to the airport. I get really excited beforehand ,but its the airport that really brings it home that your'e off on your holiday.

For me its when my lips touch the 1st alcoholic drink in the departure lounge... That feeling is golden!!!

as soon as i've booked my holiday ! does'nt matter if its 8 months before ,thats when my holiday starts, so I can be dreaming of things to come.
then it really starts the minuite we have to get up at silly o'clock to get to the airport !
And then, once we get to the apartment, well, hello holiday !

When i arrive at the airport to fly to my destination...
The sound of the planes engines and the hussle and bussle of people ....
Then stepping on the plane then i know i am on my way...

Only 12 days to go! I have several milestones:

Shopping for gorgeous holiday clothes then trying them all on!
Packing toiletries (I decant everything into travel sized bottles - did this last week)
Packing case
Finishing work
Night before beauty regime - always paint my toes etc

But the major ones are
- leaving the house for the airport - Thats when I know we're truly off on holiday
- After we've checked in we always have a really nice meal then a mooch around the shops (i love trying out the duty free perfumes!)

Getting very excited!!

when i look my house up and post my keys through me neighboursd oor and get in the taxie then i know am away lool

Has to be when it's my last day of work. And I only usually start packing 2-3 days before i leave. Then its "hello" to either airport or airport hotel - if i have to stay overnight beforehand.

I've got various stages of holiday excitement.

When the tickets arrive;
When the cases are in the car and we leave home;
When the plane takes off;
When our luggage comes off the carousel;
When we arrive at our accommodation;
When the unpacking is done - I can then totally relax and start enjoying the holiday.
6 weeks today all of the above will have been done, and I'll be relaxing in the Turkish sun with a long cool drink!

To be honest it usually takes me a couple of days of actually being in the destination before I finally relax and realise I'm on holiday...

However, as above I have levels...

level 1 - Working like a robot to pay for it, by this time I have a slight holiday buzz going on where I'm looking online at the destination, finding things out about the food, culture, language and anything else.
Level 2 - Nearer the time, holiday paid for, more talking about it, looking more specifically at the hotel/resort areas.
Level 3 - with in a few weeks, everyone gets talked at and my head is now already there, body is just going to work on autopilot.
Level 4 - day of the flight, this is when I'm on full melt down as now the taxi could be late, might be a mistake with something (even though I've been and checked every document about a million times by now). Taxi ride still not settled down, on plane still not settled but now starting to think about almost being there
Level 5 - Airport at destination done, case in coach and enroute to the resort - Now I can start to enjoy scenery, working out whats there, seeing the difference in the land and such.
Level 6 - At the hotel going in and getting the room.. think I'm here now.
Level 7 - Got room first thing is out on the balcony to survey the area, now I feel like I'm on holiday but still not relaxed.
Level 8 - First time out into the area, looking around, finding shops, bars, cafes etc, getting some idea of what we can and will be doing.
Level 9 - First night out with all the lights, sounds and smells
Level 10 - Day 2 when you know the routine of things, have a good idea of what you are doing and you've seen the sun wasn't just a one off. Finally I can now start to properly unwind and feel like I'm on holiday.

then there is coming back where the last day doesn't count as you can't really do anything, but thats another story... lol

Steve