How to Plan a Vacation?

Come holidays and we begin to wonder where to go next. Somewhere we have been or someplace new, somewhere in our own country or abroad, somewhere relaxing or adventurous? There are questions galore! And At times it gets perplexing!

So, how to plan a vacation? …And how to ensure having a good time on one?

With vacations, good planning goes a long way in ensuring a good, fun-filled, hassle-free holiday. Here are a few things to keep in mind while planning your next retreat.

1.  First and foremost comes your budget, as it has a big role to play in your choice of destination. Also, it can both, put constraints on or liberalise your duration of stay, activities, shopping etc.

2.   The duration you want to get away for. Once you are clear about how many days of break you need, it is easier to plan a vacation destination keeping the budget in mind.

3.   Relaxing or thrilling holiday. There are times one feels the need of a laidback holiday while at the other times he may seek adventure dying to do a thing he has never tried before or explore the unexplored.

If you go for what you want, your holiday is less likely to be a disappointment and you are bound to return happy and refreshed after your much-needed, fulfilling break.

4.  Shortlist a few places of interest. We all desire to visit certain places or do certain things, at least once in our lifetime. Away from the humdrum of life, vacations present us with the perfect opportunity to realise our dreams and add meaning & quality to life. Shortlist the places which tempt you or offer what you are seeking.

5.  Decide on your final destination. Once you have the budget, duration and clarity on what you desire and which all places you want to visit, you will be able to easily home on to where to go next.

While deciding you must keep, the prevailing weather, tourist season and other factors, in mind. Like visiting hills in monsoons might sound romantic but it is not a very good idea because of the fear of landslides, slippery roads, traffic snarls etc.

6.  Road, Rail or Air? Do you love travelling by road? Is the distance appropriate enough to travel by your own car? And do you have adequate time to do so? Or will it be better to catch a suitable train or maybe go by air? And would you get a means of transport at your holiday destination? These are a few of the things you must consider beforehand.

7.   Book your hotel and air tickets. It is always better to book your hotel and tickets in advance, as at times places are over-booked and exorbitantly priced, especially so during the tourist season.

Before booking your hotel you must check out reviews by genuine travellers on various websites and forums like Tripadvisor and HolidayIq etc.

8.   Chart out your itinerary. After your bookings, come to your itinerary. It is always a good idea to work out your itinerary beforehand so that you can spread out your day excursions and hectic activities to give you adequate gaps for relaxation and recouping, the whole idea behind a vacation.

Also, if there is any tourist place or activity which requires prior permission, medical certificate or entrance passes to be collected from someplace else, you will be better prepared.

9.   Pack thoughtfully. While carrying all your latest and best attires might definitely be your first temptation that actually might not be enough. If you have done your research well on the place and decided what all you are going to indulge in, you must pack accordingly too.

While catering to weather goes without saying, things like a repellent for camping and forest visits, comfortable shoes for long nature walks, light jackets for nippy evenings, costumes for swimming and binoculars for bird-watching come pretty handy.

With tickets in hand and bags packed, you are all set to go. Embark on your journey with a planning well done and have a time of your life!