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Don’t be surprised if you feel this way as vacation time approaches. The only question that gets asked more often is “Mom, what’s for dinner?” A lot of the time, the answer isn’t as obvious as you’d think.
There are a lot of factors that go into determining where you should go for your vacation; is it a honeymoon or just a leisure trip, is it a business trip that includes some free time, how many people are going, how much time off you have, what’s the budget, what sorts of activities do you enjoy, what activities would you like to try that you’ve never tried before, what cultures or historical places interest you, and so forth and so on...
We’ve summed up some of the basic factors that can help you narrow down your options and make a choice you’ll be happy with.
How Much Time Do You Have To Spend?
This will determine what kind of vacation you have time for. If you’re looking for a weekend getaway, you want to consider minimizing plane changes and travel time. Another thing to consider Is whether your vacation time flexible. Many resort and vacation destinations have “off” seasons with fewer crowds and cheaper prices. If you can match your vacation time up to the “off” season of the destination you choose, you could save yourself some hassle and some moolah. Another source of potential savings is known as the Last Minute Deal - these are ideally suited for the person who doesn’t plan in advance. They almost always require departure within two weeks and consist of previously unsold space that airlines and hotels are glad to finally sell. Be careful though - some airlines and hotels have a tendency to overbook and you could end up stranded if you don’t check in early enough for your flights and rooms.
How Much Money Do You Have To Spend?
This will help keep your focus. No use looking through the Round-the-World-in-80-Days Cruise Brochure when your budget is only $2500. Consider all-inclusive packages so that you know what all your costs are up front. With most all inclusive offers, everything, including taxes and transfers are included in the price you pay so the only other expenses you incur while on your trip are incidentals, extra excursions and souvenirs. Some all inclusive destinations include off-property excursions along with their other entertainment and sports. If you firmly establish a budget for yourself, it’s easier to locate trips that meet your requirements without having to read through hundreds of listings that are out of your price range or too chintzy for you.
Who is going?
Will this be a family vacation, a trip for two, a family reunion, or a group travel excursion? This simple criteria can really narrow your search for the perfect destination. For example, if you’re looking for an all inclusive family resort, this knocks out any resort with an age limit that’s higher than the age of the youngest traveler. Some “family” resorts have a minimum age of 12 years, so be sure to check. Resorts with a minimum age of 18 are usually considered “adult” resorts. If you’re planning a trip for a group of 5 or more people, make sure you are searching for hotels that have the correct number of rooms available for the selected dates. If you don’t change this value in most search forms, you may get some neat places in your results list, but they may only have one room on that date and a 4-person-per-room limit.
What’s The Purpose Of The Trip?
This will help you determine the kind of destination you should look for - are you looking for adventure or relaxation? Do you want to party with the locals or bask on a secluded beach? Do you want to finally read War and Peace or would you like to learn to scuba dive? ”Experiential” adventure travel is a popular past-time for those who want to experience something new. These can include anything from a photo-safari in South Africa to a work-vacation on a dairy farm in Ireland. Relaxation, or leisure vacations can span anything from a simple cabana on the beach to an all inclusive Balinese health spa where you can be pampered 24 hours a day. Somewhere in between lie cruises, where the ship itself is as much of a destination as are any of the ports - you can choose whether to relax or be adventurous as you go. You can laze around on the deck one day, take a Zodiac excursion to a glacier the next (if you’re in the correct sea for that). Many river cruises offer a relaxing pace during the day with overland nights at 5-start resorts, punctuated with free time at ports of call where you can create your own itinerary while inland. Carefully consider the pace of the trip you choose - there are few things worse than requiring a vacation in order to recover from your vacation.
Are There Any Places You Really Want To Visit?
Sometimes, there’s just some place you really, really want to see - perhaps you’ve been eyeing some photos through the See Before You Die widget in your personalized Google page. Maybe you saw an awesome documentary on cable television and have had an itch to see the place in person. Perhaps your family heritage has its roots on another continent and you’d like to go there to reconnect with your family’s past. Whatever the reason, some people have a list of places they’d like to see, so why not start with those when planning a vacation? Trips overseas are nothing to be intimidated by. Popular destinations include Eastern Europe (Turkey, Croatia, Ukraine), Asia (China, Tibet, Cambodia, Korea), and Africa (Egypt, Botswana, Morocco). Some of the world’s most spectacular waterfalls and fjords are in South America. The US has its own travel destinations, like the Grand Canyon, New York City, Las Vegas, Puerto Rico, the Rockies, or the Hawaiian Islands.
 Once you’ve figured out the personal balance you prefer between these main topics, the rest of the pieces of your vacation can fall more easily into place, making it something you remember fondly for years to come.
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