A new year is here! That means getting back to your regular schedule after the holiday break, making a few resolutions, and thinking about travel plans you might want to make. After all, if you don’t take time for yourself, it’s easy to get burned out.
The turning of the calendar year is a great time to consider when you might take a vacation. And you can get the planning process underway, especially with National Plan for Vacation Day falling on the last Tuesday of January. What can you do to make the process as smooth as possible and ensure a fantastic travel experience?
Set Your Budget Ahead of Time
Knowing how much you can reasonably spend on your vacation will have some bearing on factors like where you travel and how long you’re there. A suitable budget won’t put you in debt, but it will have to cover transportation, lodgings, meals, excursions, and any expenses leading up to the trip. These expenses may include obtaining a travel visa, trip insurance, appropriate clothing, and so on.
Consider Destination and Duration
Maybe you’re interested in visiting a nearby national park, or you’ve always wanted to road trip Route 66. Perhaps you want to travel overseas to historic destinations or a tropical island. Regardless of your dream destination, you will have to do some research to ensure your budget aligns with your trip.
Start by looking into flights or calculating fuel costs for a drive. Then, search for deals on hotels at your destination or along your planned trip path. Consider options like dining out versus booking an Airbnb, where you have a kitchen at your disposal. Don’t forget to factor in the length of your vacation to determine costs accurately.
Plan for Travel in the Off-Season
Even if you book your trip well in advance and get approval for time off work, choosing a known busy season can make it difficult to get away. You may end up burning the midnight oil to get work done prior to travel. You might upset coworkers by leaving them with added burden during a busy time or leave clients unsatisfied with your absence.
Worst of all, you could spend your whole trip stressing about what you’re not getting done or even end up taking work with you when you should be relaxing. Choosing the off-season for travel could free you up to enjoy your trip and the quality time you spend with loved ones.
Book Early
Travel is an industry where the early bird very much gets the worm. By booking early, you can take advantage of low rates on travel and secure preferred flights, lodgings, and other reservations.
Get Your Ducks in a Row
Before traveling, leave yourself plenty of time to submit applications for documents like passports and travel visas. Also, plan time to buy travel insurance and visit a nearby currency exchange, if necessary. You should also consider signing up for airline, hotel, and rental car memberships that offer benefits.
Research and apply for travel rewards credit cards that can help cover trip costs or earn you upgrades. With proper planning and scheduling, you can have the trip of a lifetime and make your travels in the new year memorable.
