5 Essential Steps for Planning Your Next Vacation

Here are a few tips to keep you on track and ensure smooth sailing throughout your vacation.

19:32 22 June 2022

Planning a trip can be stressful. From packing and travel costs to itineraries and sightseeing, it's hard to keep everything straight. Here are a few tips to keep you on track and ensure smooth sailing throughout your vacation.

 

1. Choose Your Destination

This is arguably the most enjoyable part. Once you've decided to get away from the hustle and bustle of daily life, it's hard not to think about it constantly. Odds are you've already figured out where you plan to go, but sometimes life can surprise you and change your direction altogether. Consider your original option, but keep an eye out for suggestions from friends, family, or any other entity.

 

If you're planning a summer vacation, consider going somewhere a little colder to escape the heat, like one of the many places in Alaska or another northern location. Going somewhere with heat, such as Hawaii or Arizona, might be wise if you're organizing a winter trip. Unless, of course, you're planning a ski trip; in this case, choose the perfect snowy location, like Montana, Colorado, or Minnesota.

 

2. Decide How Long You Want To Be There

When considering the duration of your trip, it's important to keep in mind how long you want to be away from home. A long, luxurious vacation sounds nice, but don't forget the necessities that need tending to at home. It's also crucial to factor travel costs into your timeline; if you don't have the money to stay and explore, you shouldn't stay quite so long. Take a day trip nearby if you need to get away but don't have the money to spend on a whole vacation!

 

3. Plan Accommodations and Transportation

Make sure you get your hotel or other living arrangements sorted out ahead of time if you plan to stay for more than a few hours. If you don't foresee yourself staying for another day, it isn't necessary; bear in mind that you may decide to stay, and if that's the case, there will likely be some last-minute options. Do not rely on booking last minute, though.

 

It'll help if you also determine how to get to your destination and how you'll get around once you're there. The destination you choose is going to factor into how you get there. If you're going to Bora Bora, flying is about your only option. However, if you're staying stateside, your options are a little better: plane, train, or car. Sometimes the journey can be better than the destination itself, so choose wisely, and don't forget to factor in the cost.

 

4. Create an Itinerary and Budget

Itineraries are essential for planning a trip. A schedule will keep you organized and keep you from getting bored on your vacation. Itineraries are great for knowing where you need or want to be and when you want to be there. This may take some research ahead of time to find out the hours of specific sites you'd like to visit and how long those visits may take.

 

Plan your budget; this is a vital part of your trip. Something you don't want to do (especially when away from home) is to overspend. Be sure to factor in all costs: transportation, food, activities, and most importantly, emergencies.

 

5. Pack Your Bags

Finally, it's time to start packing. Your destination is going to determine what you should bring. Note that packing "unnecessary" things might actually be what you need to do. Of course, you should pack your everyday toiletries such as a toothbrush, toothpaste, hair brush, deodorant, and shower essentials. In addition, you need to pack your clothing accordingly. Bring shorts, hats, and lighter materials if you're going to a warm destination. If you're going somewhere colder, make sure you pack several sweaters, coats, hats, and heavy socks.

 

It's important to note that no matter where you go, pack a few things out of the ordinary. If you plan a trip to Alaska in the middle of winter, bring a pair of shorts and a teeshirt just in case you find yourself needing one. This also goes for warmer locations; bring sweaters and a pair of close-toed shoes, just in case.