How to Plan for Your Next Big Vacation

Everyone surely loves a big vacation. It’s a chance to get out of your normal, everyday, humdrum existence and basically live a different life for a few days or weeks.

Oh, you’re from suburban wonderland? Become a secret agent for a week by traveling abroad in a different country, dressing to the nines and looking cool as you do so.

It’s fun, to be certain.

What isn’t so much fun, though, is planning it all. That’s right, and we’ve all been there. Sitting at your computer for weeks, trying to get it all right: the accommodations, the food, the budget, the itinerary, the things that are free versus what you’ll need to pay for…and so on.

Need a little help? We thought so. Let’s explore three ways you can make planning for your next vacation a little easier.

Check Out Some Travel Blogs

Okay, first up, we’ll start really simply and easily: read up about your target destination on some travel blogs.

This is just what we’ll call the “awareness” stage. You’re thinking of some ideas, not quite sure what you want yet, but you do have a shortlist of places you’d like.

Why not do some free investigations into these places by checking out the stories of those who have gone before you? Grab some blog posts from someone who’s been to the Swiss Alps or New South Wales or Seoul or Vienna and see what they have to say.

People have no reason to hold back the truth on their personal blogs, so you’ll likely get some really honest opinions on what the people are like, how the food is, how to get around, and all the rest.

Determine What You’re Willing to Spend

Every trip needs a budget, and now, it’s time to find yours. We can fantasize and idealize our trips all we want, but when you’re in them, out in the real world, you’re going to need cold, hard cash to get by.

Think of the essentials first. What will you need to spend on transportation to the destination and your accommodations while there? And how can you reduce those costs?

You also know you’ll need to eat, but do you have to spend a fortune on food? Probably not. Will it be possible to cook while there, or do you literally have to eat out for every meal?

How about souvenirs? What about the exchange rate if you’re going international? Have you allowed for all of these things?

Keep Your Property Safe Back Home

We spend so much time thinking about how we’re going to fare on our trips that we can neglect to think about the homes we leave behind for those days or weeks.

While you’re gone away for that amount of time, it’s vital that you keep your property safe at home as best as you can. Get timers for your lights so they can turn on at night. If you have security cameras, make sure they’re batteries are charged and that they are in working order. Stop your mail, too.

All these things together will make it look like you’re home, and you can travel in peace, knowing that very few people will notice the difference at all.

There you have it: three things to do to plan for your next big trip!