Decorating jeans with black lace (think Marc Jacobs for Louis Vuitton), printing a T-shirt yourself, or embellishing a scarf with decorative tassels: customizing is the way to make something your own. It is also the secret behind the ideal vacation. Whether you choose a luxury hotel or the convenience of an apartment, you enjoy it more when the surroundings are right. Even the trendiest hotel often has something eerily anonymous about it. But how do you approach customizing your vacation location?

UPON ARRIVAL

Bring photos of your loved ones. You can place them in one of the picture frames that are undoubtedly hanging on the wall. Usually with rather unexciting images. Also pack your favorite scented candle in your suitcase: place it next to your bed after arrival. Oh, and sprinkle your favorite perfume on your pillow. Of course, you also have your own music with you: almost all hotels nowadays have an amplifier for your iPhone or iPod. Yes, this way you are already well on your way to creating a homey atmosphere.

THE NEXT DAY

The next morning, I always rush to the nearest florist (I’ve had enough of that eternal white orchid by now). I choose a cheerful bouquet, using the ice bucket available in the hotel/cottage as a vase. Then I check the local delicatessen for a tasty snack. Far from home, you often wake up in the middle of the night, and it’s wonderful to grab a real treat. Moreover, you pay a fortune for a Toblerone bar and/or vacuum-packed nuts in a can.

Fijne Feestdagen!