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8 Tips for picking the right vacation

Going on vacation every summer is the highlight of my year. I absolutely love planning what the kids and I will do and how we will spoil ourselves. Not all vacations fit us though. I’ve tried the cruise thing. Although it can be fun for the adults, unless you go on a Disney cruise, it can get pretty boring for the kids. The thing is though, when we find something we like, that doesn’t mean that’s what we’re going to do every year from now on. We want to try something new. So, how do we know that we like it and that it fits us before we spend our money on it? Here are a 8 Tips for picking the right vacation.

8 Tips for picking the right vacation

 

  1. What’s your budget? – As a single mother, I have to have somewhat of a budget if I want to keep the lights on. We like to splurge but we still have limits. So, you want to make sure you know how much you can spend total and then go from there.
  2. What kind of location are you looking for? – There are many different types of vacations but they basically fit into larger categories. For example, do you want to do something that involves the beach? Do you want that beach to be out of the country? Do you need something that’s beachy but also has fun things for the kids to do outside of the beach? Do you want to forego the beach and enjoy the mountains? Ask yourself what type of scenery you’re looking for because that will narrow down the locations quite a bit for you.
  3. Flying or driving? – If you want to go out of the country, there’s no driving option. If you have some reason why you can’t fly or that’s out of the budget, then pick somewhere within driving distance. If it doesn’t matter and either one works, awesome. However, if it’s a longer distance, I don’t want to be stuck in the car for 20 hours trying to keep the kids happy so we opt for flying which makes it a much shorter trip. Plus, flying allows you to spend more time at your destination rather than spending more time traveling.
  4. How much time do you have? – Do you only have a couple of days for your vacation this time around? Then try to opt for something a little closer to you and maybe a little less complicated. There’s no reason to get super complicated over a trip when you’re only going to be able to enjoy it for a day or two. Close to home locations can be just as fun.
  5. All-inclusive or nah? – Cruises have one thing going for them, they’re usually all-inclusive which means that you have the option of food for every meal and it’s included in the main price. There are other options outside cruises that are all-inclusive. However, the only pitfall is that you’re limited to what they offer and sometimes, you’re limited to the time they offer it as well. If you want to have more options, or don’t want to be held to a certain time to eat, all-inclusive can be tricky. Also, all-inclusive usually costs more which means, in a way, you’re paying for the food. If you don’t plan on eating what they have very often, then you will have to find or pay for food elsewhere which can end up becoming more expensive.
  6. All day fun or relaxing? – Are you looking for a vacation that has a lot of downtime or are you looking for a day packed with nonstop fun and adventure? Answering this question will narrow your choice significantly.
  7. Do you want to swing by and see relatives? – If you’re hoping to include a trip to see relatives in with your vacation, try to find a location that goes right by them or close to them. That way, you’re not having to go too far out of your way but you’re still getting in that visit.
  8. Location – If you’re looking for a safer environment, opt for a city that hasn’t been in the news a million times recently or is smaller. Large cities are often the focal point of crime so avoiding those will help ease your mind.

21 Comments

  • Robin Rue
    April 19, 2017 at 11:49 am

    We are not consistent when it comes to vacation. We go where we want and it always seems to work.

    Reply
  • Stacie @ Divine Lifestyle
    April 19, 2017 at 11:56 am

    These are great tips. Not every trip is right for every person or every family. You have to hammer down exactly what you want and need before pulling the trigger.

    Reply
  • Colleen Lanin
    April 19, 2017 at 11:58 am

    There are a lot of questions about traveling that you have to take into account before a trip. It all mainly boils down to time constraints and what you have in mind for activities (or lack of). Great post.

    Reply
  • Liz Mays
    April 19, 2017 at 8:24 pm

    This is a good guide. It’s been a while since I’ve planned a real vacation. We normally have weekend getaways but I wouldn’t mind having a long all-inclusive vacation.

    Reply
  • Pam Wattenbarger
    April 19, 2017 at 8:50 pm

    We always base our vacation on location. We try to discover different areas each year, depending if we are in the mood for the beach or somewhere else.

    Reply
  • Marcie W.
    April 19, 2017 at 10:35 pm

    These are all fantastic things to consider before making travel plans. Now that our kids are getting older, we are looking to broaden our destination options, starting with an all inclusive in Mexico for Christmas.

    Reply
  • valmg @ Mom Knows It All
    April 20, 2017 at 12:57 am

    These are all sound tips. We are years overdue for a true family vacation, sadly work, money and life happenings always seem to prevent it from happening.

    Reply
  • Dawn McAlexander
    April 20, 2017 at 2:04 am

    We always take all these into consideration when we are planning our vacation. Usually the budget is what determines where we go. It all ties into that, anyway. If you don’t have the money, you can’t take an all-inclusive vacation.

    Reply
  • Meagan
    April 20, 2017 at 3:26 am

    I’d love to go to an all-inclusive resort! I think budget always plays a big role for us when planning a trip!

    Reply
  • Janell Poulette
    April 20, 2017 at 4:17 am

    These are great tips to keep in mind because we are planning a vacation for the summer. All inclusive i think is the best way to go because food can get expensive!

    Reply
  • Tracey
    April 20, 2017 at 1:27 pm

    This is an awesome and so helpful post! We are back on and forth on where to vacation and these tips actually helped us narrow down our ideas.

    Reply
  • Cassie Tucker
    April 20, 2017 at 2:23 pm

    These are all great tips for picking the perfect vacation. Sadly, it usually comes down to finances for us, lol

    Reply
  • Seattle Travel Blogger
    April 20, 2017 at 4:45 pm

    My sister is a single mom and just got back from a week-long vacation in WDW.
    She stayed outside the park and obtained all sorts of deals from flight to hotel to park in order to make it a fun, yet affordable trip.

    Reply
  • Our Family World
    April 20, 2017 at 7:11 pm

    For me, minding the budget would be the first thing to consider when planning a vacation. I do not want to have a grand getaway only to be up to my neck in debt. If we have enough savings, then we start planning from that point. For activities, I leave that to my husband to decide. They can be active all they want. I’m staying in bed, indulging in a spa massage and having a manicure. 🙂

    Reply
  • Wendy Polisi
    April 20, 2017 at 8:22 pm

    We always have to mind the budget. Kids don’t make a budget very big.

    Reply
  • Beeb Ashcroft
    April 20, 2017 at 8:23 pm

    I love just about any scenery that’s new. I usually like going places I’ve never been before.

    Reply
  • Michelle Waller
    April 20, 2017 at 8:43 pm

    We plan out our vacation about 6 months in advance. That way all the plans will be set before we go.

    Reply
  • Shannon Gurnee
    April 20, 2017 at 9:22 pm

    We’re in Cancun right now and sometimes all-inclusive isn’t everything. However, it can definitely be beneficial depending on the rates. This is some great information!

    Reply
  • Annemarie LeBlanc
    April 20, 2017 at 10:15 pm

    Great tips for vacation planning. We do not have definite travel/vacation plans for the summer but we will be looking into these pieces of advice you provided. If I were to choose, I’d go for a vacation that would give me the ultimate relax time.

    Reply
  • Carol Cassara
    April 23, 2017 at 5:16 pm

    Budget is always a good question. It feels awesome to be able to travel without spending too much money. These are important questions that you should ask yourself when you’re planning a vacation, without a doubt.

    Reply
  • Mimi Green
    April 25, 2017 at 12:18 pm

    As a family of 4 I factor is travel cost. My kids are 7 years apart so I also factor their ages into the mix. I want to be sure everyone has fun.

    Reply

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