Need A Vacation?

You’re up to your ears in work, the kids need to be chauffeured to soccer and ballet, you have no idea how you manage to get a meal on the table every evening – you need a vacation! But what does your getaway look like? Here are a few tips to figuring out what your time off should entail.

Priorities

What kind of person are you? Are you a bachelor looking to meet people on your vacation? Are you a family hoping to engage your sullen teenagers? Are you celebrating your newfound freedom after the last of your kids have gone off to college? Tailor your trip to meet your needs. Just because your best friends went on a vineyard tour of Northern California and can’t stop talking about it, don’t be pressured into giving up your ideal of sitting on your keister for seven days straight reading pulp fiction. Remember that you’re the only one who knows how to recharge your batteries.

Wish List vs. Reality

Do you have a ‘bucket list’ of travel plans in your mind that includes things like running with the bulls in Pamplona, Safari tours in Africa, bicycling through France etc.? If this is what your wish list looks like, that’s great! But consider your current state of mind. Is an action-packed trip what you need? If so, go for it! But also consider the value of less ambitious planning and the importance of coming out of your holiday feeling refreshed.

Don’t Over-plan

Planning well doesn’t mean that you need every last moment accounted for. In fact, it’s the opposite. Pick one activity for each day of your trip, and use that as your basic guideline. Then if you veer off, it won’t be a source of anxiety – it will be fun, interesting and exciting instead. Spontaneous discoveries are part of the joy of a vacation. If you do everything exactly as you planned it, where’s the fun in that? A common mistake with trips to Europe, for example, is the temptation to pack too much into a short amount of time. It’s better to spend a whole day at a couple of galleries and truly explore the artwork than be rushing from one to the next snapping photos to enjoy later rather than focusing on the moment.

Who’s Invited?

We all love our children. But sometimes a little space from your beloved progeny is just what the (vacation) doctor ordered. If you and your spouse are pulling your hair out trying to figure out what to do with the kids for a week in Miami, New York City, or Rome, consider going it alone. Find a great summer camp or set them up with their grandparents for a week and have separate adventures.

If you’re single, who will you choose as your companion? Examine your list of friends before you go off half-cocked with invitations. Some people travel better than others, and it’s usually the low maintenance types that work out best. Better to be with someone who can go with the flow if something goes wrong, than someone who will start panicking at the first sign of deviation from the travel plan.

Budget

Last but certainly not least, establish your budget before you start researching destinations. That way you’ll know what price range to look for on travel websites. There are lots of vacation destinations that don’t break the bank. Look for package deals if your time range is flexible, or get a room with a kitchen so that you can cook meals and not spend money on eating every meal out.

Good planning takes the stress out of a vacation, and the right company makes it even better. Get on-line and see what deals and adventures are out there for you!