Want to take a break, but not sure where to go? With a little soul (and Internet) searching, you can quickly investigate a variety of vacation destinations and find one that is perfect for your lifestyle. Follow these steps and you’ll be planning your best vacation ever.
Explore your interests
Before you start booking flights and hotels, take a look at your interests. Make a list of your top 5 or 10 things to do, and look for similarities between these activities. Do your favorites take place outdoors? Do they revolve around history and education? Do they include quieter highlights like reading? Does a common setting come up, such as the mountains, the beach or the city?
Once you narrow down your top interests, you can set off in search of a vacation that features those activities. If you like reading and hiking in the woods, then renting a mountain cabin might be perfect. If you enjoy skydiving and scuba diving, an island destination might be your best vacation adventure. Consider how far you want to travel, and how long you have to be away.
You can often cover multiple interests on the same vacation, so set your sights on trips or packages that include everything you love to do. Is there a new hobby that you’ve been dying to try? Vacation is the perfect time to cut loose and explore brand new experiences in a different environment than your everyday life.
What relaxes you?
Don’t forget that vacation time is usually meant to rest, relax, and recharge your batteries. Many people get excited and book a vacation with non-stop activities, but you may want to build some intentional time for relaxation into your busy schedule. If you want a few hours of lounge time in the afternoon, look for a hotel with a nice pool. Find a city with great art museums and historical tours, if listening to tales from the past soothes your soul. Plan a stop near a great restaurant that may provide you with the perfect chill out spot at the end of your exciting travel day.
Ask for advice
Whew! You’ve thought long and hard about your dream vacation destination, and it’s time to make some plans. Travel magazines are a great resource for ideas for locations to research. Pick up Travel and Leisure and Budget Travel, or search for magazines related to specific activities like scuba diving or hiking. Check out travel-related Web sites such as Travel Zoo for great deals on vacation packages and get hotel reviews on sites like TripAdvisor. Contact a travel agent for insider suggestions for trips that meet your criteria, or poll your friends on Facebook for their favorite vacation spots. Everyone has a paradise that they want to share. All you have to do is ask.
Consider your companions
One last thing to consider before you start making vacation destination decisions: the people you will be traveling with! This will influence your accommodations and choice of activities. If you are traveling solo, you might search for an adventure vacation company that organizes trips specifically for singles. If you have kids, you may want to focus on amusement parks or all-inclusive resorts that cater to families. Elderly travelers may want to look for vacation destinations where strenuous exercise is not a requirement. Consult with your travel buddies and let everyone weigh in on the selection.
Check your budget
Now that you’ve narrowed down what you want to do, it’s wise to create a vacation budget. Vacation planning with a budget in mind will keep you from the surprise of an unexpectedly-high credit card bill when you get home from your travels. Helpful Web sites exist that cater to all budget levels, from penny-pinching outlets like Priceline to high-end planning sites like Luxury Link. Look also for online travel deals through sites such as Travelocity or Expedia. Follow your budget plan to help you choose the lodging and transportation options most appropriate and enjoyable for you and your travel partners.
Choosing a vacation destination is part of the fun of traveling and can be almost as much fun as the actual trip. Remember that whatever adventure you plan this time around, you can look ahead to trying something entirely new next year!
Explore your interests
Before you start booking flights and hotels, take a look at your interests. Make a list of your top 5 or 10 things to do, and look for similarities between these activities. Do your favorites take place outdoors? Do they revolve around history and education? Do they include quieter highlights like reading? Does a common setting come up, such as the mountains, the beach or the city?
Once you narrow down your top interests, you can set off in search of a vacation that features those activities. If you like reading and hiking in the woods, then renting a mountain cabin might be perfect. If you enjoy skydiving and scuba diving, an island destination might be your best vacation adventure. Consider how far you want to travel, and how long you have to be away.
You can often cover multiple interests on the same vacation, so set your sights on trips or packages that include everything you love to do. Is there a new hobby that you’ve been dying to try? Vacation is the perfect time to cut loose and explore brand new experiences in a different environment than your everyday life.
What relaxes you?
Don’t forget that vacation time is usually meant to rest, relax, and recharge your batteries. Many people get excited and book a vacation with non-stop activities, but you may want to build some intentional time for relaxation into your busy schedule. If you want a few hours of lounge time in the afternoon, look for a hotel with a nice pool. Find a city with great art museums and historical tours, if listening to tales from the past soothes your soul. Plan a stop near a great restaurant that may provide you with the perfect chill out spot at the end of your exciting travel day.
Ask for advice
Whew! You’ve thought long and hard about your dream vacation destination, and it’s time to make some plans. Travel magazines are a great resource for ideas for locations to research. Pick up Travel and Leisure and Budget Travel, or search for magazines related to specific activities like scuba diving or hiking. Check out travel-related Web sites such as Travel Zoo for great deals on vacation packages and get hotel reviews on sites like TripAdvisor. Contact a travel agent for insider suggestions for trips that meet your criteria, or poll your friends on Facebook for their favorite vacation spots. Everyone has a paradise that they want to share. All you have to do is ask.
Consider your companions
One last thing to consider before you start making vacation destination decisions: the people you will be traveling with! This will influence your accommodations and choice of activities. If you are traveling solo, you might search for an adventure vacation company that organizes trips specifically for singles. If you have kids, you may want to focus on amusement parks or all-inclusive resorts that cater to families. Elderly travelers may want to look for vacation destinations where strenuous exercise is not a requirement. Consult with your travel buddies and let everyone weigh in on the selection.
Check your budget
Now that you’ve narrowed down what you want to do, it’s wise to create a vacation budget. Vacation planning with a budget in mind will keep you from the surprise of an unexpectedly-high credit card bill when you get home from your travels. Helpful Web sites exist that cater to all budget levels, from penny-pinching outlets like Priceline to high-end planning sites like Luxury Link. Look also for online travel deals through sites such as Travelocity or Expedia. Follow your budget plan to help you choose the lodging and transportation options most appropriate and enjoyable for you and your travel partners.
Choosing a vacation destination is part of the fun of traveling and can be almost as much fun as the actual trip. Remember that whatever adventure you plan this time around, you can look ahead to trying something entirely new next year!
