Tips for Planning a Vacation

January 31 is National Plan for Vacation Day, are you ready to celebrate? Get your gears turning and start dreaming of your next great getaway with these handy tips. Then, call up your local travel advisor to get something fun in the books, you deserve it.

Determine Your Perfect Trip

The first step in planning your dream getaway is deciding which style of travel is right for you. Are you hoping to explore far-flung locales or are you interested in discovering a destination closer to home? Do you want your days to be filled with lots of exciting activities, just one or two excursions or with total rest and relaxation? Who will you be traveling with — solo, with a friend, a partner, children, or perhaps the entire family? Answering these questions will help you crack the beginning stages of the vacation planning puzzle.

Need more info to help narrow down the search? Here are a few popular options to consider.

All-inclusive

With unlimited food and drink, and ample opportunities for relaxation and fun, the all-inclusive experience makes it easy to choose your own adventure. Whether you spend your days lounging on a white sand beach watching the ocean waves softly crash into the shore, party it up with a cocktail or two at the swim-up bar or take your journey off-site with a nearby excursion, customizing the vacation experience has never been easier.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Hyatt All Inclusive Resorts (@hyattallin)

Traveling with kids? No problem. Many all-inclusive resorts cater to travelers of all ages with kid’s clubs, teen’s clubs, family-friendly activities and plenty of entertainment.

Rest and Relaxation

Relax, unwind and unplug with a tranquil retreat to one of the world’s many wellness resorts and spas. With a focus on health-inspired, reinvigorating activities, a day at one of these resorts might include yoga with a lush jungle or idyllic beach acting as the backdrop, stress-melting spa days and sauna sessions, calming meditation time, tranquil hikes and more.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Six Senses (@sixsenses)

And the good vibes don’t stop at the itinerary, accommodations at many wellness resorts and spas are incredibly luxurious featuring beautiful designs, modern technology and incredible views of the gorgeous surrounding scenery. We’re feeling more relaxed already.

Adventurous

On the hunt for your next big adventure? Consider an expedition or guided tour. Focused on showing the best a destination has to offer, both expeditions and guided tours present vacationers with an authentic travel experience. Whether you explore the ancient city of Cairo spotting pyramids and massive monuments along the way, trek across massive glaciers and ice sheets in the Antarctic or observe rare flora and fauna in a far-off place like the Galapagos Islands, your sense of wanderlust is sure to be satisfied.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Intrepid Travel (@intrepidtravel)

Both guided tours and expeditions often have an educational twist with things like lectures and informational sessions available to travelers. Plus, you’ll be traveling with a group of likeminded adventurers ensuring you’ll meet some cool folks along the way.

Cruise

Take to the seas and wake up in a new destination every day with an epic cruise vacation. Whether you’re looking for something kid-free or family-friendly, there are a variety of cruise getaways suited for every type of traveler. And while you might be under the impression that cruises are just for “old people”, that’s simply not the case. These seafaring vessels are equipped with the latest technology and swanky bells and whistles, making them an entirely different beast from the cruise ships of yore.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Virgin Voyages (@virginvoyages)

Cruise vacations are great for travelers who never want to run out of things to do. From activities on the boat like swimming, lounging, dancing, eating and entertainment to excitement on shore, the fun is endless.

Work With a Travel Advisor

Don’t know where to start? Make things easier on yourself when you enlist the help of a travel advisor. Specially trained and certified in all things travel, advisors are your secret weapon for booking the vacation of your dreams.

From knowledge of specialty travel like luxury, family, cruises and guided tours, to destination-specific expertise for favorite vacation spots around the globe (think Hawaii, Mexico, the Caribbean, Europe and Alaska), advisors have the first-hand experience to help you make the right choice for you and your travel companions. Not to mention, advisors take the legwork out of the sometimes confusing and overwhelming parts of vacation planning like booking flights and airport transports, knowing which room category is best and differences in travel insurance policies.

Working with an advisor saves you time and eliminates stress. If you don’t already know of an advisor who you’d like to work with, begin your search close to home by asking travel-savvy friends and relatives for their recommendations. If their tips don’t pan out, don’t be afraid to take to the internet or to do a little window shopping to find a local agency near you.   

Book Early

Once you’ve determined where you want to go and which advisor is right for you, don’t be afraid to get your vacation on the books. There are tons of perks to booking earlier rather than later when it comes to travel, not to mention, booking early allows you more time to make sure all your ducks are in a row.

Still not convinced? Did you know that hotels, cruise lines and airlines love it when travelers book early? Sometimes they’ll even offer incentives and rewards like dining credits, free upgrades or even free nights for vacationers who plan ahead. Additionally, while it can sometimes be beneficial to wait things out and snag a last-minute flight, that’s not always the case for popular destinations during peak travel periods. In fact, sometimes the opposite is true, and you’ll end up forking out more cash than if you had booked sooner.

Another money-saving perk for travelers who work with advisors is the option to make deposits. While self-made online reservations don’t allow you to pay some now and some later, many travel advisors will help you secure your vacation dates without having to pay full price upfront. Sounds like a win-win to us.  

Happy National Plan for Vacation Day! Start planning your next adventure today.

About the Author

Senior Editor for VAX VacationAccess and world explorer, Jenna loves writing about all things travel. When she’s not busy creating content, she spends her time exploring the great outdoors, cuddling with her two black cats and researching her next big (sometimes strange) adventure.