Are you one of those workaholic types?
Do you get a strange sense of high when you bury yourself in piles of files?
Quite honestly, the same goes for me! My work-life balance is out of whack, but I love it.
But, there is one thing I am very particular about – HOLIDAYS!
I make sure to take some days off work every year. And I highly suggest you do the same. If you think you fall in no place to enjoy the luxury of vacations, better get rid of this belief as soon as possible. From a prep-school kid to a homemaker and someone who’s stuck in a corporate rut, everyone deserves to take a few days off their usual schedules.
An article by the New York Times shows that you increase your rate of dying soon by 21 percent when you do not take any annual vacations. A survey on the same subject, conducted by Sam’s Club, found that a little number of days off by small business owners increases their chance of poor judgment, impatience, and exhaustion.
Now that we’re on the same page let’s talk about the importance of planning an awesome vacation. It sums up in one sentence – there’s no point having it when you throw preparation part out of the window, thinking you’ll follow the tide. Well, you don’t have enough time to figure things out when you reach your destination.
With that said, here are things you need to keep in mind before you set off:
Who will travel with you?
Traveling alone is the new trend, being embraced by many people across the world. If you are willing to do the same, you are in charge of figuring out the itinerary and book places to stay. Make sure you enlist every task and check it off as they get done.
But if you are seeking to spend some quality time with family, the destination must be kid-friendly. Plus, it should have decent romantic spots for you to make memories with your better half.
As for the vacations taken with friends or colleagues, divide tasks of booking and planning. You may have to make some compromises on meals or activities.
Manage your budget
Maintaining a budget is the cornerstone of every vacation. Some destinations can be too swanky for you to afford. Better steer clear of such plans if you want to save up for next year too. Once you have finalized the place, your next task is to nail down all the costs expected on the course.
How much does the hotel cost? What is the ticket price for famous attractions? What are the daily meal charges for one person? These are the questions you have to address prior. The process becomes simpler if you:
- Buy a guidebook
- Ask on community websites, Social media and Facebook groups
- Google up the prices for attractions and food
After you have all the essential price details, you can then estimate the total costs for living there according to the length of your trip.
How will you move about?
The first couple of days of every trip usually waste away as the unfamiliar surroundings haze you out. You should plan your trip from the first day to be certain you’ll make the most out of the limited time. And transportation is a vital aspect to consider, as you won’t be able to move around without it. Most of us default to use rental cabs or metros.
The advancement of times has brought forth spectacular developments in this regime. You can have your car waiting for you at the airport as you land at your destination. All you have to do is log on to the website, type the model name and purchase it using digital currency. When you get your hands on the new vehicle, take good care of it to ensure it doesn’t disturb your trip budget.
Besides this, some places also allow for bike rentals and car-sharing options. Explore all possibilities before you make a move.
Check the weather
The climate of the destined place will have a great impact on your entire trip. Travel agents and frequent tourists endorse the importance of checking the weather. Research by Weather and Climate Information for Tourism shows that 86% of holidaymakers to the Mediterranean looked for climate information for the region, with 81% of them doing so before making a booking.
The weather forecast will help you with your packing. In case you don’t pay attention to it, you may end up as an unhappy and soggy traveler. Thanks to tech wonders, we have optimized apps to provide us with a clear and concise forecast. Apps like AccuWeather and Weatherbug lead the app markets for their efficiency.
Set your phone to send notifications whenever there is an uncertain weather condition in places near you. So when an alert pops up on your phone, you can make prior arrangements to deal with upcoming weather conditions.
Check entertainment listings
Almost every tourist destination has a weekly or daily entertainment rag. You should check these out before you leave. It helps to plan your days in each spot accordingly. Time Out, for example, covers plenty of destinations across the globe. Likewise, you can access the local tourist board to watch the events calendar and see what’s going on at that place.
The Bottom line
In the end, I want to state there is no such thing as a perfect vacation until you get back to your home. Things may go south along the way. But when you’re out of the waters and back to your hometown, you will cherish those memories forever.
Are you tired of pushing through the grind? It’s about time you get those backpacks out! Scan our list again and book your tickets for the next place on your bucket list.
Have a nice, safe, and satisfying trip!
Guest author, Justin is a fashion enthusiast and has the soul of a traveler. Staying atop the fashion trends, styling and grooming are etched in every fiber of his being. Not only that, but he loves to share his thoughts with a myriad of people via his blogs. You can follow him on Twitter @justcody89