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It’s that time again! Everyone
I talk to is planning their summer vacations. There are so many fabulous places to visit. Every family is different. Some want to just sit on the beach with a good book and do nothing. Others want to go water skiing, scuba diving, mountain climbing, theme park hopping and so much more! Whether you want to have a busy week jammed with fun activities or a time of relaxation and rejuvenation, here are some things you should know before choosing a summer vacation.
1. Consider your hobbies & interest If your family is not outdoorsy kind of people, don’t book a vacation in the woods with wild animals surrounding you. Pick a place that you know your family will love. Consider your hobbies and interests to help you decide a destination.
2. Know your budget Sit down and figure out your budget. There is so much freedom in knowing exactly how much you have to spend. Knowing your budget will allow you to see exactly where your money can be best spent to enjoy every day of your vacation.
3. Coordinate schedules Check with your spouse, older children, sports schedules, and anyone else who may be coming on vacation with you. Before you book your dates, consider everyone’s schedule and the best time to go.
4. Early booking bonus There are some packages that will give you a discount or bonus just for booking early. Now is the time to plan and even book your vacation to get the best deal possible and to prevent from seeing the “Sold Out” sign.
5. Age appropriate When looking at a vacation spot, consider everyone’s ages. Some places are just not very child-friendly. Maybe just the adults will be heading somewhere, you might not want to book a place where a bunch of children will be crowding around you.
6. Activities available Even if you are booking through a travel agency or travel site, make sure to check the actual resort or hotels website to see if there are renovations going on or closing of attractions or activities. Don’t be surprised and disappointed to find out the event you wanted to go to or activity you were planning on is closed or unavailable.
7. Restaurants or food stores available Think about your meals while on vacation. Will you be staying at an all-inclusive place? Will your room have a kitchenette or fridge? Knowing ahead of time which restaurants are available to you and if you can bring your own food and prepare it in your room will help you to book the best vacation.
8. Good reviews Check out the reviews from other travelers. There might be tips or advice that they can offer about the place you will be vacationing at. It may even give you insight as to whether or not you even want to book that venue.
9. Travel time and method to and from location Don’t forget to plan for travel time! Sometimes you need an extra day just to travel to and from your vacation spot. Are you driving? Get your car tuned up before you leave. Flying? Do you need a passport? Ask these questions before booking your trip.
10. Cross off the bucket list Do something you have always wanted to do! Vacations don’t happen often. Make it a memory and cross something off your bucket list.
Have you booked your Summer Vacation yet? Where are you going?
I always read reviews before I book anything. We are a Disney family, so we go there every year and always stay at the same resort.
These are some wonderful tips, many of which I’ve never taken into consideration before planning a trip!
These are all definitely great things to keep in mind when planning any vacation regardless of it’s just a short getaway for yourself or a prolonged getaway for a large family!
Great tips. It’s funny, I was watching the news and it was all about summer vacations much like your post and I said to my husband that my family never went away in the summer. He looked at me and said, “you lived at the beach why would you go away.” And I said, “to get away from the beach!” heh
One person’s dream is another’s boredom I guess. Your tips are all very good as a little research will help so much for any vacation.
I love reading reviews of places so much. We love to go to Disney when we go abroad but we stay in different hotels there throughout our stay 🙂
These are very helpful tips. The last time I traveled was with my daughter almost 2 years ago in the Philippines but never as a family. I wish we can travel someday as a family. I want to cross out Disneyland 🙂
These are some great tips for choosing a summer vacation. We are hoping to do some more camping this year!
Great tips! As a traveler – I really like to look at reviews!
Awesome Tips & Ideas Will Have To Keep In Mind When Going On Vacation!!
Budget is definitely a factor for us. We also have be be mindful of activities for children between the ages of 1 and 8.
Great tips, we’re trying to decide where to go this summer… not sure yet. this will help us make up our minds.
There really is a lot to research in advance. All that research pays off though when your vacation comes together!