8 Must Know Tips For Planning Your Great Vacation

Budgeting / By Humbled Budget

Humbled Budget Team

With over 55 years of combine experience in the Finance/Tax Industries based in the United States, Our Team of Humbled Individuals' shares their wisdom gained through experience or technical knowledge acquired through Additional Education.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Are you planning a vacation but need help figuring out where to start? You’re not alone. Hopefully, this article will help point you in the right direction.

Pick a destination

Once you’ve decided on the type of vacation you want, it’s time to pick a destination.

Consider countless things before deciding where to spend your time away from home.

Your budget will dictate which areas are within reach for your family, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t other options; you have to research before booking anything.

When looking at potential destinations, look at their amenities and activities first. This can help narrow down the locations best suited for your interests and hobbies. If you’re into hiking or skiing in the mountains, an apartment in Banff National Park might be perfect.

If all those mountains make you feel claustrophobic and worried about avalanches (they do happen), then perhaps somewhere else might be better suited for what you want out of a vacation spot: maybe taking advantage of cheap flights while they’re still around or spending less money altogether on a resort near Cabo San Lucas? With so many options available nowadays thanks to technology improvements over previous decades—especially now with innovations such as Airbnb becoming popular among millennials—there seem to be endless opportunities available today.

Research your destination

Researching your destination is a must. You want to ensure that it’s somewhere safe and enjoyable wherever you go.

Research the best time of year to visit and consider if any events are going on while you’re there; this can help narrow down your choices.

When choosing where to stay, look for a hotel or Airbnb within walking distance of tourist attractions and restaurants so that you don’t have to deal with public transportation or taxis daily.

When booking accommodations online, be sure they offer free WiFi so you can stay connected while away from home.

You should also book before traveling as prices tend to increase closer to the departure date—and sometimes even fill up entirely.

Once in town (or better yet, once at home), start planning activities by checking out websites like TripAdvisor or Yelp for local recommendations about where not-to-miss spots are located throughout the city (or state) where we’re visiting next year’s Winter Olympics Games. With all these tips at hand now, what do YOU think about all this advice?

Make a packing list

The first step to planning your trip is making a packing list. Here are some things to consider:

Pack items you will need for your trip based on the destination and weather forecast.

For example, pack comfortable and rugged clothes to go hiking in if you’re camping. If you’re going on a tropical vacation, pack swimsuits and sunscreen.

Pack stylish and comfortable clothes—the last thing anyone wants is to spend their time away from home in uncomfortable clothing.
When choosing which items to pack, think about how easy it will be for others around you (like TSA agents) to see what’s inside your luggage—this will help ensure there aren’t any surprises when it comes time for security screenings at airports or other transportation hubs.

Also, remember how easy each item will be when traveling through crowded terminals full of impatient travelers who want their flight boarded so they can get home already.

A good rule of thumb is “not more than two pockets.” If something has more than two pockets, then chances are good that someone else could reach into them without permission or notice from those carrying said item

Make your reservations

Reservations are a good idea, but they’re optional. You can still find availability in many destinations at the last minute.

However, if you want to ensure your vacation is stress-free, making reservations ahead of time is the way to go.

Reserving will also save money on popular destinations and give you peace of mind that your lodging preferences are available when needed.

When making reservations by phone, ensure that any confirmation number given by the operator matches the number on their website or printed out from an email confirmation.

Put together an itinerary ahead of time

The first thing you should do is plan out a day-by-day itinerary. This will help you know exactly how long you have how to travel between two locations and at what time of year it would be best to visit if you’re planning on traveling across the country.

It’s also important to include activities in your itinerary, as well as meals and breaks. The last thing anyone wants is for their vacation plans to fall through because they didn’t give themselves enough time for relaxation at each stop.

Get ready for your trip by prepping tasks at home

Pack a travel bag. Make sure you have everything you need, like your passport, wallet, and phone charger.
Clean the house if needed. You want to avoid coming home with dirty clothes or dishes.
Get all the travel documents in order. Double-check your passport expiration date and ensure all necessary visas are up-to-date and any other important information like health cards or emergency contact numbers.

Get reservations for hotels and rental cars before leaving on your trip so that nothing comes up when you arrive at those locations (and it’ll save time).

Set an alarm clock for your flight times—and don’t forget to check in early. -This will help ensure there are no issues with getting through security or missing flights because of long lines at checkpoints or check-in counters.

Leave some wiggle room in your budget

Follow budget best practices to stick to it. It’s important to leave some wiggle room in your budget to have flexibility when things come up on vacation.

Things can change quickly, and sometimes it’s better to be safe than sorry—for example, if a storm is coming in or you need medical attention for an injury or illness. Budgeting isn’t about limiting yourself; it’s about being intentional about how you spend money.

If something unexpected comes up, you can use the extra cash instead of cutting other areas of your trip short or going into debt just because something came up at home (or elsewhere).

Another reason not to skimp on vacation planning is because of how much more stress-free traveling with children can be when there are no last-minute surprises with money.

This makes it easier for everyone involved—including those who travel without children or pets—as well as any family members who might be helping out by watching over them while everyone else is away.

The more you plan for your trip, the more time you’ll have to relax and have fun when you get there!

The key to a successful vacation is planning. If you plan and organize things well, staying on budget and enjoying yourself will be much easier.

By planning, we mean not only booking hotels and flights but also booking activities in advance—and even making reservations at restaurants where they’re likely to be busy (or even sold out) during peak season.