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Planning a vacation may seem like a daunting task, now, don't get me wrong, sometimes it can be, but once in the right headspace with some time, trust me, it will all be just fine.
After planning a few trips and vacations, I've realized that these are the main questions and considerations that helped guide me no matter the destination. These are not steps as they are in no way incremental but they are the things that you should consider and keep to the top of mind when planning.
1. What's the Budget?
Budget, budget, budget. One of the most important factors for planning a vacation. Unless you are as fortunate as I would love to be, where opportunity cost is only but an after thought, budget plays a major role in steering the decisions to be made while planning. As a base, a range of TTD $3,000- $5,000 per person is a gauge for a short 2-3 day trip. However the further you go, you are looking at a minimum of TTD $10,000.
2. What's the Vibe?
Relaxation, Adventure, Romantic Getaway, Night on the town/ partying, down for whatever? To me, this is the main question that lays the foundation for the other considerations. Now, this is outside of the budget question as we all start with a range in mind. It's only after doing the research and calculations a decision can be made whether it's worth it, if you are willing to adjust your budget or will start the process again for another destination.
3. Where to?
Unless I am planning a trip to a destination where I need to be for a particular time period, the location or dates do not matter. My main consideration is cost! Show me to the cheapest location please Skyscanner.
And if its to a dream destination, show me the cheapest days to get there please Hopper!
Now, this method does take a bit of flexibility but I never put in a request for vacation days before checking flights and that's my toxic trait. Well... let me be truly-honest, my toxic trait is booking flights before putting in a request.. okay, there, I said it and I own it...lol.
But yes, usually the starting point is the destination. However, if you are in a situation where you are working with particular dates in mind but not yet sure where you would like to go, what I like to do, is look for the cheapest destinations for that time period, again, Skyscanner to the rescue.
4. Accommodation
Depending on the destination, accommodation usually takes up the biggest chunk of the budget and it breaks my heart and wallet every time. When thinking of accommodation, think of it as your home base, this your starting and ending point to each day, in most instances. The type of accommodation (including amenities) and the location of the accommodation are crucial factors when planning a vacation. This is one of the considerations where the question of "what's the vibe?" comes into play.
If the vibe is relaxation, you may want a comfortable space that is more secluded and away from the hustle and bustle. If the vibe is a romantic getaway, you may want a place with several service amenities, all inclusive perhaps. If its a night on the town or adventure you may want a location close to attractions you plan to visit or close to public transport in more well connected destinations.
You wouldn't want to do something like, book an all-inclusive package when your plan is to be out exploring attractions everyday or book a tucked away scenic location when you do not plan to rent a car. Which brings us to the next point.
5. What to do
While I am not one of those persons who plans their itinerary down to the second, I like to have an idea of the things I would like to do. Depending on the vibe, I look for the attractions and activities that align with the mood and then check the distance between my planned accommodation or the modes of transport to determine what the transportation arrangements need to be, hello google maps.
If you are unsure what the location has to offer, a little trick is to view the location on google maps scroll to the attractions tab and see what's around. Depending on what you would like to do, this would help when determining the location for your accommodation.
6. Transportation
What would be the main mode of transportation for the duration of your trip? Would you need to rent a car? Would public transportation suffice? How are you getting to your accommodation from the airport? It's the little things like this we sometimes take for granted.
The first consideration for transportation is getting to your accommodation from the airport. While some cities/countries have the infrastructure to easily get from the airport to the main city center via metro or bus, others do not offer such marvelous amenities. You can easily find yourself paying exorbitant taxi prices to get to your accommodation especially in places where Uber is not an option. Sometimes I might just choose a hotel over an AirBnB if they provide a shuttle service to and from the airport, if I do not intend to rent a car.
Also be sure to check out My Top Travel Planning Apps, as those also play a vital role in this process.
Now that you are equipped with the foundations for planning a vacation comment below how would you tackle these scenarios.
I want to visit St.Lucia for a getaway with hubby and we want to explore what the island has to offer. Which of the following should we not do?
A. Rent a car
B. Book a hotel with breakfast
C. Book an all-inclusive resort
D. Stay in a central location
My sister and I plan to visit Miami on some city girl vibes. Which of the following should we definitely do?
A. Rent a car
B. Book a hotel with breakfast
C. Book an all-inclusive resort
D. Stay in a central location
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