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5 Travel Tips for Planning a Vacation

Posted February 24, 2009 , trackback

The middle of January is peak time for planning and booking a winter get-away or spring break vacation. Travel companies are busy, airlines run promotions, and call centers are flooded with folks looking for a vacation to break up the winter doldrums. But are you prepared with the proper information before you begin browsing the internet, typing in dates, choosing hotels, and before you pick up the phone? When you can be more prepared before you begin planning your vacation, the sooner you can begin looking forward to that vacation! Check out these 5 vacation planning travel tips to get you closer to finding the perfect vacation and relaxing on the beach.To make your vacation planning experience a smooth one, consider some of these time & money saving travel tips:

1. Have a budget in mind
    It’s so much easier to make decisions when you absolutely know what you’re able to spend.  And, if you don’t have a specific destination in mind, but you just want to go somewhere sunny, a travel company can make a better recommendation when they know your budget.

2. Choose dates
    To get good service and a reliable price, be prepared to provide a specific time-frame before you browse the internet or pick up the phone.  Airfares are lower midweek for both departures and returns.  And, the first flights to sell out will be the Saturday flights, especially around your town’s spring break schedule.

3. Know what kinds of hotels you like
    Are you a five-star all the way, or is a locally run hotel with local flavor and just a few rooms more your style?  Do you like name brand hotels or independents?  If you don’t plan to be in your room very much, you may opt for a more moderately priced room so you can allocate more of your trip budget to tours and sightseeing excursions.  Do you love gourmet restaurants, or do you enjoy cooking your own meals?  If you enjoy cooking meals, a suite-hotel (with a kitchen) might be your best choice, allowing you to save money by preparing some of your meals in your room. Or, all-inclusive vacations with an all-inclusive resort option, is a great time saving and money saving option.

4. Consider fly-time
    Are there direct flights to your chosen destination from your city?  How long is the flight?  Do you care about connections?  If you’re only going for a few days, or you simply want to maximize every moment of your vacation, maybe consider a destination with shorter, convenient, direct flights from your hometown.  That means more time enjoying your vacation and less time on planes or in airports.

5. Ask around
     So you’ve been to Aruba and you want to visit the Caribbean again, but you’re not sure where to go?  The Bahamas, Grand Cayman, Puerto Rico and Jamaica may all sound great, but are they great for you?  Do you know that Grand Cayman and Cozumel, Mexico are known for diving?  Or that Puerto Rico is home to great beaches, the only tropical rainforest in the United States, and NASA’s Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence (SETI)?  Talk to your friends and family - find out what they liked about a destination.  Then, to make sure you’ve got the facts straight, call a travel company for their expertise.

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