![Planning ahead of time for key aspects such as transportation, dining, and activities can help make sure you have a low-stress vacation. 3 Considerations to Make When Planning a Vacation](images/Couple-Travel-Luggage-AndreaPiacquadio-1000.jpg)
Vacationing can be a great way to take a break from a busy schedule and return feeling refreshed and ready to jump back in. However, a vacation that is low-stress and relaxing will require planning.
Transportation
After you decide on your destination, one of the first things you need to decide is how you are going to get there. If you are going a distance within a reasonable driving distance, driving can often be the cheaper option and offers much greater flexibility than flying. Driving to your destination offers you the option to leave at any time you wish, make stops along the way and does not restrict your luggage. If you will be traveling for more than a day, plan ahead of time for any overnight stops. If you decide taking a flight is the best option for getting to your destination, make sure to book your flights as far in advance as possible to ensure you get the flight times you want and hopefully get you a better flight rate. Flying typically offers the quickest travel time, which can be important when trying to maximize your vacation time. If you are flying, consider how you will get from the airport to your destination; compare options such as Avail car sharing, rental cars or public transportation.
Dining
Creating a plan for when and where you will eat your meals will help ensure you don't miss out on the must-try restaurants and also helps you financially plan for the cost of food. If your accommodations offer complimentary breakfast, or if you have access to simple appliances and a refrigerator, eating breakfast and lunch at 'home' can be a great way to save money on the trip. In addition, having access to food throughout the day allows everyone to eat when they are hungry and the day will feel less scheduled. If you plan to eat out for dinner, making reservations can help eliminate long wait times and ensure that the restaurants chosen have food that everyone in your party is happy with eating.
Activity
Planning activities may or may not be important to you for your trip. If your goal of the trip is to spend the everyday reading on the beach, then there is little planning to be done. However, if you plan to spend your days with activities such as site-seeing or visiting amusement parks, it will be important to come up with an itinerary in advance. Researching your desired activities ahead of time is most important for places that will require a ticket for entrance. Be sure to look into price differences between buying tickets ahead of time online versus buying at the gate, and also look at the refund and date transfer policies in case you need to reschedule your visit to an attraction.
Planning ahead of time for key aspects of your vacation such as transportation, dining and activities can help ensure you have a low-stress vacation.
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