5 Quick Tips for Planning Your Best Vacation Yet!

This is the time of year when the weather finally changes and when those summer day dreams from mid-February get closer to becoming a reality. One of the most exciting parts of summer and a staple for many is the Summer Vacation. At this point in the year, everybody needs a break from their usual routines and what better way to recharge your spirit than to escape to a new location for a while.

Here are 5 tips that will keep you on track for truly enjoying your summer getaway. And as you may have guessed—it’s all in the planning.

1)      Figure Out Your Goals: This may sound silly to have goals for a vacation—DUH- my goal to have fun, right? Yes, but the more you can define your expectations for this trip, the more accurately you’ll be able toselect the best place to achieve this. Are you up for a trip to an exotic location filled with lots of sight-seeing and day trips? Or perhaps you’re already a ‘road warrior’ at work and need a vacation that helps you unwind and unplug for seven days at a resort? And for those traveling with the kids, factor in their patience level (and yours) for a trip filled with historic home tours vs. theme park rides. Balancing what you and your travelers need is the key to a successful trip.

2)      Do Your Homework:Of course the Internet truly makes trip planning SO much easier these days, connecting you with vivid video tours, activities, pricing and booking options and most important– other traveler’s recommendations. Getting online will help you drill down on the important details of your trip such as is it an expensive area, do restaurants close in summer months, where to stay, is there a rainy season, where can we eat, etc.Tip: Can’t decide between two locations? Let the destination experts at tripadvisor.com weigh-in. An absolute must for planning any vacation.

3)      Create A Realistic Budget: Coming home from an amazing getaway is usually a little bit depressing, especially when you see the credit card charges roll in. Planning and pre-booking your trip in advance can help lesson that burden. Depending on how early you plan, you can even setup electronic flight and hotel alerts that will notify you when pricing dips or when special deals are offered. Decide what you can afford to spend on souvenirs, food and activities before you go, leaving some wiggle room for emergencies. Dreading the theme park gift-shop ‘shake down’ from your kids? Tip: Set limits on that before you even enter the park to avoid any meltdowns. Perhaps have your kids tap into their own piggy banks to pick out one reasonably priced item—they are never too young to learn what a budget is.

4)      Be Flexible:Build in time that is completely unscheduled. Sightseeing, touring and theme park activities can be exhilarating, but also require a lot of energy. Schedule some lazy mornings where you sleep in or perhaps eating a few quiet dinners at your rental to let your body & mind relax a bit. You don’t want to return home from your trip feeling more exhausted than when you left.

5)      Plan For The Unexpected: Okay, you’ve planned like a pro and covered every last detail so that every day of your trip will feel like a blissful escape with no worries! And then it rains on the day of your hiking adventure or your spouse wakes up with a head cold. Give a little thought to the ‘worst case scenario’ just in case: have a rainy day plan, pack a board game, locate the nearest urgent care, just to pre-empt reality as best you can. Sometimes it’s the unplanned down time that often creates relaxing vacation moments.