| Chances are, some of your fondest memories are of | | | | For instance, if you're visiting Rome and Tuscany, go |
| experiences that you had while on vacation. But if | | | | to Tuscany first. Rome can be an exhausting place, |
| you're like most of us, you've probably experienced | | | | so save it for the end of your trip when you're more |
| some disappointments too. Some advance trip | | | | rested. |
| planning can help turn a so-so vacation into a great | | | | If you can only get away for a week, which is |
| one. And it doesn't have to take a lot of time or | | | | becoming more common, you'll have a better time if |
| effort. | | | | it takes you less than seven hours to fly to your |
| There's a wealth of travel planning information online | | | | destination. Especially if you're traveling from east to |
| to help you figure it all out. But where, and how | | | | west. And if all you have available is a long weekend, |
| should you start to plan your vacation? | | | | choose a destination you can fly to in less than four |
| Begin by asking yourself a few simple questions. | | | | hours. |
| 1) What do I really want to do? | | | | With these guidelines, you should be able to look at a |
| There are lots of travel experiences out there and | | | | map or globe and figure out which destinations offer |
| plenty of trips to choose from. Do you want to shop | | | | what you're looking for and are within striking |
| until you drop in Hong Kong, tour the great museums | | | | distance given your available vacation time. |
| of Paris, or just relax by the pool with an umbrella | | | | Then it all comes down to: |
| drink in one hand and a paperback in the other? If | | | | 3) How much can I afford to spend? |
| you're having trouble deciding, try to remember the | | | | Ask yourself how much you're willing to spend. Then |
| activities you liked best on previous vacations | | | | if you're flying, figure out what airfare will cost. There |
| If you loved being outdoors, getting back to nature | | | | are several websites that will show you all the |
| and enjoying the scenery, you probably won't like a | | | | options. Once you know how much the airfare will |
| city vacation with lots of noise and crowds. If you | | | | be, subtract that from your total budget, then divide |
| were bored in that island paradise where there was | | | | that number by the number of nights you'll be away |
| nothing to do but soak up the sun, look for | | | | from home to get a per-day cost. |
| someplace with plenty to do and see. | | | | Take the per-day rate and multiply it by.4 to.7, |
| Do you want to enjoy an absolutely stress-free | | | | depending on a number of factors. If you love to |
| getaway or do you want to experience something | | | | dine in all the best restaurants and enjoy activities like |
| new and exciting that you've never done before? | | | | sunset cocktail cruises or private tours, figure you'll |
| Which is more important -- recharging your batteries | | | | spend almost as much on meals and sightseeing as |
| or living life to the fullest? | | | | you will on accommodations. If you prefer |
| Understanding this is an essential part of planning a | | | | inexpensive restaurants and you don't spend much |
| trip. The next question you should ask yourself is: | | | | when you're vacationing, your accommodations can |
| 2) How long can I be away? | | | | probably be about 70% of your remaining budget, |
| Getting there isn't really half the fun. In fact, it can be | | | | with 30% left for food and sightseeing. |
| pretty taxing. And depending on how far you travel | | | | Once you do the math, you may find that you can |
| -- and how many connections you make -- it can | | | | afford to stay longer than you thought. Or you may |
| take you days to recover. So take that into account | | | | have to shorten your trip to meet your budget. |
| when you look at potential destinations. | | | | You can have similar experiences in a variety of price |
| Overnight flights look good on paper, but if you're | | | | ranges. A Hawaii beach vacation might cost half as |
| traveling in coach, getting a good night's sleep can be | | | | much on Waikiki as on Maui. Park City might be much |
| a real challenge. | | | | more affordable than Aspen. And Montreal will be a |
| Usually, it takes your body clock a day to catch up | | | | fraction of the price of a trip to Paris. Focus on the |
| for every time zone you change. So if you're going | | | | experience rather than the place, and you'll be |
| from the West Coast to Europe, you won't really be | | | | amazed by all the options. |
| hitting your stride for a week. | | | | Just asking yourself these trip planning questions will |
| If you have two full weeks, you can go almost | | | | help provide you with the focus you need to plan |
| anywhere you like. When you're planning your trip, | | | | your best vacation ever. |
| just schedule the least stressful part at the beginning. | | | | |