Three tips to help you make the most of your next stay in your home country:

- Stay in a neutral place
Relatives and friends may insist on your staying with them. While this is very kind of them, and may sound tempting if you have not seen them in a long time, this arrangement may actually be less than ideal.

Do not forget that you will be dealing with jetlag and re-entry shock. Having your own space- guest rooms and sofa beds do not count as such- will make it much easier to ease back into the local time zone and lifestyle, on your own terms.

If you are travelling with children, keep in mind that elderly relatives or childless friends may not be used to having young ones around. It will be much easier for everyone involved if you arrange for a hotel room or a rented apartment instead.

- Don’t go to them, make them come to you
The first time I went back to France for a visit, I had a long list of friends I wanted to see in Paris. I made plans in advance so that we could spend quality time together, in small groups.

Instead of the joyous get-togethers I had pictured before leaving, I mostly remember running from one arrondissement to the next, wasting time waiting for people who were running late or had to cancel at the last second, and not finding enough time to visit the friends I most wanted to.

The following year, having learned my lesson, I sent all my friends an email that read: “Will be in Paris between this and that date. So far, all I know is that I am having dinner at my favourite Lebanese restaurant on the Monday. You are all welcome to join me. If that doesn’t work for you, give me a call and we will make other plans.”
That worked like a charm. The few people who could not make it that day met me for tea near my hotel later in the week. No frayed nerves, no exhausting schedule, and plenty of laughs with my friends. Home leave, the way it should be.

If you are renting an apartment, you could also entertain your friends there. A potluck dinner or a simple brunch only requires minimal work on your part and is a great way to spend quality time with your loved ones.

- Get the shopping done early in your stay
Right after arriving, I often find myself in a bit of a jetlag-induced daze and do not feel like doing much anyway, so this is when I get the shopping out of the way. (I must admit that I might be biased here, as I really, really dislike shopping!)

But even if shopping is not a chore for you, it does make sense to get it done early:

We all know that expat shopping sprees can be costly. It’s better to find out just how costly at the beginning of your stay. If the bill turns out to be higher than expected, you can always adjust your spending accordingly to stay within your total budget.

One last perk: you can gauge early on how much space your purchases will take in your suitcase. No more frantically trying to stuff your last-minute shopping into a carry-on bag just before leaving for the airport!

Do you have more tips on how to best retain your sanity and enjoy yourself during home leave? Please share them with us- and happy travels to those of you going on winter leave! Have a lovely holiday season!

Emmanuelle