Travel

Going on vacation is wonderful: You get to take some time away from the daily grind to relax and have fun, and you’ll return refreshed, healthier, and more productive. But planning a vacation? Well, that’s a different story. Experts agree that, as relaxing as vacations may be, planning them can be a serious source of stress. Worse, planning is something that you have to do well — if the stress gets to you and you make silly planning mistakes, then you’ll seriously sabotage your own vacation. Nobody wants to spend a bunch of money and stress out planning a trip only to find that the vacation itself isn’t as fun as it should be.

You may have made some planning mistakes in the past, but you’re not going to let that happen again. And we’re here to help you keep that commitment. Below, you’ll find some great tips for planning smarter for your next vacation.

Plan early, plan often

The simplest tip for planning smarter is one that you’re probably already well aware of. To get the most out of vacation planning, you need to start early.

You’ll find a lot of reasons for this. For one, starting earlier gives you more time to plan, which means less stress over running out of time. Another important reason to plan early is that you’ll have a better shot at snagging reservations and tickets that your fellow tourists are competing with you to get.

Do something new and exciting

Familiarity can be a wonderful thing when you’re going on vacation. That’s part of why people who can afford to do so often buy vacation homes in favorite spots. But you can do too much of the same-old, same-old on your trip. You should try to do something unique each time you take time off. Maybe it’s something a little out of your comfort zone, or maybe it’s a fast-paced activity that spices up a relaxing week at the lake or on the beach. The point is to add something to your trip that makes it different not only from your daily life, but from your past vacations, too. You should be building memories.

For example, imagine a trip to a favorite beach. Every year you go down to Florida or someplace like it, lie on the beach, eat at the same restaurants, drink the same tiki drinks, and have a good time. But, this year, why not do something fun — like parasailing in West Palm Beach? That’s a great (and safe) way to get an adrenaline rush and do something other than relax under the sun all day, every day.

Leave room in your schedule

If you want your vacation to be relaxing, here’s what not to do: Pack your schedule with careful plans. Planning is good, but you should not overplan.

You’re on vacation. You shouldn’t feel like you’re rushing in the hallways of your old high school, desperate to get to class on time. You shouldn’t feel like you’re being pushed around by Mom and Dad as they hustle you to the summer activities of your youth. This is your trip, and you should enjoy it.

So leave plenty of time — more than you think that you’ll need — to travel between activities. You never know when you’ll want to linger, when traffic might delay you, and so on. Furthermore, don’t have activities in every morning and afternoon slot all vacation long. What if you want to do something spontaneous? What if you want to do nothing at all? Leave open spots when you plan, and you’ll have the freedom to do (or not do) those things.

Bring things and save

Traveling light can reduce stress. But travel too light, and you’ll start seeing how expensive vacations can get. Sure, the resort store is sure to have sunblock, but do you know how much it might cost?

Be smart. If you want to enjoy a cocktail or a beer on the beach, consider hitting up the liquor store before you leave. Head to the pharmacy for sunblock. Pack a lunch for your travel days, and consider going to the grocery store when you arrive at your destination — a few meals at home can make your trip much more affordable.

To read more on topics like this, check out the travel category.

 

Even if you’re a seasoned traveler, it’s still possible to learn new handy travel tips, which will make your life a whole lot easier, when you’re traveling to new and exotic locales.

5 Travel tips you’ll wish you heard of earlier:

1. If you plan on doing laundry on vacation, hold on to any coins which you may get. Depending on the accommodation that you choose to stay at, there may be on-site, coin-operated washing machines and dryers which you can use to wash your clothes. However, in many cases, you have to have the right amount of coins on hand, so it pays to hold on to any spare coins which you get given. If your accommodation doesn’t boast on-site laundry facilities, use Google Maps to find your nearest self serve laundrette.

2. Try to select hotels which offer complimentary breakfast. If you’ve narrowed down your selection of hotels down to a couple of hotels which have a similar rating and location, it’s worth opting for the hotel which offers a free breakfast. In order to cut down on your food expenses, which may allow you to enjoy more lunches and dinners at local restaurants. Just remember that hotels which offer continental breakfasts usually offer toast, spreads, and cereals, while hotels which offer cooked breakfasts offer extras such as sausages, eggs, baked beans, and specialty bread. So in most cases, a cooked breakfast will be more hearty and filling than a traditional continental breakfast, which is useful knowledge if you’re on a budget.

3. If you’re not happy with the room which you’re assigned, let the reception staff know. If you’re instantly disappointed when you unlock your hotel room and step into your temporary home away from home, it’s well worth picking up your phone or walking down to reception to let the reception staff know why you’re disappointed. As in many cases, if there are spare rooms available, that are worth a similar value, the reception staff may be more than willing to move you to a new room.

4. If you plan on hiring a rental car, choose a hotel which offers free parking. If you love having the freedom to drive around a new city, make sure to factor in the price of parking if you don’t elect to stay at a hotel which offers free parking. Especially if your chosen hotel is located in the heart of the city, where parking spots may be limited and exorbitantly priced. Thankfully when you search for hotels on hotel comparison sites, you’ll be able to narrow down your search by requesting that all hotels that come up in your search, offer complimentary free parking for their guests.

5. If you don’t plan on renting a car, choose a hotel which is located within walking distance of public transportation. It’s a smart idea to choose a hotel which is located five minutes from a subway station or a bus stop. As it’s far more convenient and a whole lot cheaper to use public transportation in many urban cities, instead of paying for a taxi or an Uber.

So, when you book your next trip, ensure to keep all 5 of the handy tips listed above in mind, to make your trip a little easier.

 

 

If you’re an experienced traveler or have recently caught the travel bug and are looking for a brand new vacation destination to visit, you’re in luck. Just continue reading in order to discover two of the best travel destinations to add to your ever-growing bucket list!

The Best Travel Destinations to Visit:

1. Berlin – Germany Berlin is a cosmopolitan city, which truly has something to offer everyone. If you’re a history buff, you’ll enjoy taking a walking tour of Berlin where you’ll get a chance to view part of the infamous Berlin Wall, which has been kept intact. While in Berlin it’s also well worth getting a photo in front of the imposing Brandenburg Gate, which was built in the 13th century. Located at the Brandenburg Gate is also a Holocaust memorial, in order the honor all those who lost their lives during the Holocaust. You may be surprised to find that Berlin is also known for its nightlife and electronic scene and Berlin happens to boast some of the largest night clubs and bars in Germany. Examples of nightclubs which offer three or more levels to explore include Tresor Berlin, which is located in a converted heating plant and Sisyphos Nightclub. The latter of which offers a huge outdoor area. Lastly, it would be a shame to visit Berlin, without watching a professional Bundesliga football match. Especially as Berlin is home to several professional football clubs.

2. Agra – India If you find getting off the beaten tourist track a thrilling experience, you may be interested in visiting Agra, a beautiful city which is located in India. If the name Agra is familiar, that’s because it’s the home of one of the most famous buildings in the world, the Taj Mahal. If you’re unaware of the history of the Taj Mahal, it was was commissioned as a tomb in 1632, in order to be the eternal resting place of the current emperor’s favorite wife. The Taj Mahal is famous for its size, its Mughal style architecture, and its picture-perfect symmetrical garden. If you visit the Taj Mahal, it’s well worth getting a picture of yourself sitting on the famous bench in front of the Taj Mahal’s famous water feature. Which happens to be the same spot where celebrities such as the late Princess Diana have been photographed. Although the Taj Mahal is definitely the jewel in Agra’s crown, it’s well worth spending a couple of days exploring all of the attractions which Agra has to offer. As an example, it’s well worth visiting the Agra Fort, which features red sandstone and intricate turrets and which was built in 1565. You may be interested to know that the Agra Fort used to serve as the main residence for the emperors of the Mughal Dynasty. So if you’re looking for a real adventure and to see one of the most stunning buildings in the world make sure to plan a trip to Agra, India. While if you’re looking to discover a city which boasts plenty of history and culture as well as a bustling nightlife, it’s well worth heading to Berlin, Germany.