{"id":98904411,"date":"2020-01-20T17:20:02","date_gmt":"2020-01-20T22:20:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.onetravel.com\/going-places\/?p=98904411"},"modified":"2021-08-04T07:36:47","modified_gmt":"2021-08-04T11:36:47","slug":"tips-on-how-to-plan-a-vacation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onetravel.com\/going-places\/tips-on-how-to-plan-a-vacation\/","title":{"rendered":"7 Easy Tips on How to Plan a Vacation So You Travel More and Stress Less!"},"content":{"rendered":"

Not so pleased with how you\u2019ve traveled in the past or feel as though you spent your vacation time unwisely in previous years? If you\u2019re wondering where you\u2019ll end up going over the coming months or worry that you\u2019ll find yourself stuck in a travel rut,\u00a0in the doldrums of getaways and adventures… we’re here to tell you not to worry! There are some simple things you can do now to make the most of your next 12 months of travel opportunity.<\/p>\n

Here are some broad-stroke ideas to help you plan effectively and actually get to the places you most want to see this year. From\u00a0pre-trip prep to strategic planning or even as specific as building out the perfect itinerary, these suggestions on how to plan a vacation will help you turn your travel dreams from abandoned adventures to exciting escapades this year!<\/p>\n

Envision Your Trip<\/h2>\n

\"how<\/p>\n

First and foremost allow yourself a chance to fantasize about where you would like to visit, what you would like to see and do when you get there, and the kind of experiences and memories you want to have\/make when you’re there. Put down your phone, close your laptop, shelve your guidebooks. Sit down in a comfy chair with a cup of coffee or tea and maybe a notepad and pen – and then envision your future trip. Where would you go if money, time, the job, family and other obligations weren\u2019t an issue? Allow your mind drift where it wants to without inhibitions or thinking an idea is too expensive or farfetched. Ahhh!…<\/em>see, wasn\u2019t that nice? Almost like a mini-vacation in itself, right?<\/p>\n

This is one of the most important steps in the process because this is where your very first “draft” of your potential travel itinerary takes form. The where and the what are the two most difficult aspects of planning a trip, especially considering external factors and obstacles that may get in the way of your picture-perfect vacation. Once you’ve envisaged your trip, you can set some parameters around how to plan (ie: if your dream trip is a pricey one you can start a savings plan to afford it).<\/p>\n

Be Ahead of the Game<\/h2>\n

\"how<\/p>\n

Now ease back into reality by taking a look at your calendar for the year ahead. What kind of weather did you imagine in your ideal vacation?\u00a0What holidays do you definitely have off from work? If you have school-aged children when are their vacation days? What dates do you know you\u2019ll need to visit with family or attend special occasions? Also, ask yourself when do you usually feel the strongest need to getaway. Height of summer? Depths of winter? Once you have a good sense of both when you can and most want to travel, make a note of the dates that match up (maybe give them a star on the calendar or block them off as travel days so you\u2019ll know not to schedule other things). This will also help you in keeping an\u00a0eye out for airline tickets<\/a>\u00a0and request time off well-ahead of your vacation to ensure you get those specific days off from work.<\/p>\n

Make a\u00a0Plan for Budgeting<\/h2>\n

\"shutterstock_457857022\"<\/p>\n

If you’re wondering how to plan a vacation that leads to stress-free travel, obviously, budgeting is key. If you’re akin to the ways of start-of-the-year budgeting (if you’re not, here’s your wake up call!) you know that planning out your big expenses as early as possible will give you the best look what your potential savings for the year can look like. So,\u00a0while you\u2019re crunching the numbers for the year be sure to include how much you think you\u2019ll need for travel.<\/p>\n

Not only is starting your year by considering your expenses is always a good idea, but also, when it comes time for your trip, you’ll be ready to go without having to take extreme measures or pinch pennies at the last-minute to make it happen. How much you set aside for the next several months for your travel costs is really up to how much you can spare and how important going away is to you. Do you need to save up for a big trip at the end of the year or are you able to get away now – or can you do both? As the weeks pass, return to your budget to see how you\u2019re doing with saving and spending.<\/p>\n

Evaluate Your Past Experiences<\/h2>\n

\"shutterstock_524205946\"<\/p>\n

An activity that might help with everything from deciding whom to travel with and for how long to budgeting and planning your trip itinerary is to remember past travel experiences. Have a think about the trips of your past that went really well and those that could have turned out far better. Do you want to repeat your travel style or do you feel like you could have more fun doing things differently? This will help you plan out your trip according to your preferences and will also allow you a chance to broaden your horizons on future trips.<\/p>\n

Consider Your Priorities<\/h2>\n

\"shutterstock_1276191064\"<\/p>\n

Need to catch up with a friend or family member on the other side of the country? Would a surprise weekend city break be the perfect gift for your anniversary or partner\u2019s birthday? Already know you\u2019ll be traveling for work or family at some point this year? Maybe you can make travel a means to another end and achieve more than one goal at once. Planning out your trip length, location, and even your accommodation will be much easier if you have an idea of what your priorities are. Whether you’re a die-hard museum lover\u00a0who\u00a0needs\u00a0<\/em>to see all the ones in the destination you’re going to, or you’re all about seeing and spending time with loved ones, and itinerary becomes much clearer once you’ve noted your must-do’s for a trip.<\/p>\n

Don’t Forget to Be a Little Spontaneous<\/h2>\n

\"how<\/p>\n

Be adaptable to your planning. You never know what\u2019s around the corner. Besides, adding some slack to your calendar enables you to take those last-minute getaways and make some unforgettable memories! Don\u2019t be so strict in your plans that you miss out on anything amazing that comes up on your next trip. Striking the right balance can be tough but not impossible. Maybe even save some spare vacation days or personal days for a \u201crainy day\u201d or spontaneous excursion.<\/p>\n

Trust Your Gut, Take the\u00a0Plunge!<\/h2>\n

\"how<\/p>\n

So, are any of those dream destinations actually places you could visit? Once you\u2019ve got down your free dates and funds for the year, see how feasible traveling is going to be while keeping in mind your travel style and relevant priorities. If those dream destinations are out of reach for this year, is there somewhere similar where you could go? When you decide on a trip you want to take, don\u2019t hesitate to start making concrete plans. Book flights<\/a> and accommodations as soon as it\u2019s possible. Don\u2019t let the inspiration die and don\u2019t wait so long that you miss out!<\/p>\n

How do you plan for your trips? Do you have long term destination goals or are you more a spur of the moment sort of traveler? We\u2019d love to hear your suggestions to help others see more of the world and enjoy themselves to the fullest when they do.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Not so pleased with how you\u2019ve traveled in the past or feel as though you spent your vacation time unwisely in previous years? If you\u2019re wondering where you\u2019ll end up going over the coming months or worry that you\u2019ll find yourself stuck in a travel rut,\u00a0in the doldrums of getaways and adventures… we’re here to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[69],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-98904411","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-travel-tips-intel"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onetravel.com\/going-places\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/98904411","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onetravel.com\/going-places\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onetravel.com\/going-places\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onetravel.com\/going-places\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onetravel.com\/going-places\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=98904411"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/www.onetravel.com\/going-places\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/98904411\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":98908258,"href":"https:\/\/www.onetravel.com\/going-places\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/98904411\/revisions\/98908258"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onetravel.com\/going-places\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=98904411"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onetravel.com\/going-places\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=98904411"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onetravel.com\/going-places\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=98904411"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}