Trip Planning 101: A Basic Guideline to Get You on Your Way

As I am writing this, my home is being bombarded with snow. I really just want to go on vacation to a far off place. This is when I really start to dig for information on a trip. It gives me a rest from the current weather conditions and actually helps make the trip easier in the future. Here is my personal guideline for trip planning.

Budget - We should all have an amount that we are willing and able to spend on a vacation. Honestly, this is the main reason we start planning so far in advance. That way we have a set amount to put aside for this purpose. This should be the first step for most people in the planning process. Typically, I figure 30/30/30- meaning = thirty percent to transportation, accommodations, and activities/purchases/dining. The additional ten percent is in reserve for emergencies or unplanned expenses.

Date - A lot of us have a date that is made available by our employment, our family schedule or a combination of both. If you know the date, it can really help in choosing the destination. Hurricane Season is a great example of a time you may not want to go to the Caribbean.

Duration - The amount of time you have to spend on a vacation is very useful. If you only have a couple of days, you may choose to stick closer to home. Then, you can spend that time doing something enjoyable. Whereas, if you have more time, spending 6 hours on a plane may be no big deal. If you have young children, you may want to think of their boredom threshold, also.

Destination - This is for the most part, an individual choice. Take to heart your wants and needs for this getaway. Are you active and wanting to go on treks through the jungle? Or, are you one that wants to spend time at the beach? With other family members in tow, you'll have to consider what they enjoy, also. Budget, also comes into play, upon further research a Mediterranean cruise may be out of the picture. With further planning it can be made in the future.

Transportation - If you are not staying in a local destination this could take up to half of your budget, easily. Most of us fly. There are other options, depending on how long you want to spend in said vehicle. Some people really enjoy being able to mingle with other passengers or watch the scenery go by. Then again, there are some of us that just want to relax in peace. You'll most likely know what category you fit in.

Accommodations - There are so many choices in this category. You again need to assess what you or your cohorts are comfortable with. Some are happy to stay in budget motels, camp or even stay in hostels in order to save the budget for the activities during the day. Others use the lodging as their primary destination and have activities that are available onsite or through their concierge service.

Must Sees - Depending on your destination and likes, there may be places you "have to" explore. If we were to go to New York, it would be my son's biggest joy to see the Statue of Liberty, my husband would have to have "Real New York Pizza" and I would like to go to the MET.

Vacations are things to look forward to. The process shouldn't drive you to insanity. Planning up to a year in advance, I usually take care of chunks at a time. At this sitting I have a budget, date, duration, and destination planned. If you can work loosely off a guideline you may find it easier to tackle. I am a huge fan of several online travel sites. They can be very useful in finding destinations that suit your needs. You may even find a great deal. Many Happy Travels!