Vacations are deceptively complex. By their very nature they’re meant to be stress-free, so we naturally assume we shouldn’t put too much thought into them. But a good plan of preparedness can really help you maximize your vacation time.
On the other hand, some of us travelers can sometimes find ourselves anxious during the actual trip and unable to maximize our away days from work. This is the reason why we’ve put together 5 simple tips on how you can get the most out of your vacation.
5 Ways to Maximize Your Vacation
1. Plan as far ahead as you can to build anticipation.
Planning far in advance for a vacation definitely helps build excitement. The vacation cycle starts with the anticipation, spills into the actual trip, and continues with the pangs of nostalgia every traveler experiences for years after their travels.
Ticking off the details one at a time starts with booking the airfare ahead of time. As soon as you have the dates set, start checking airfares as soon as they are available.
2. Limit yourself to a few options to minimize regret.
Are you looking into enjoying the majestic country Costa Rica? Maybe you’re planning to take a hike through the Rocky Mountains. What about a food tour in New Orleans? All of these options are doable and awesome, but how do you guarantee that selecting one won’t make you regret not choosing the others?
Making a choice is better than not making one, because that means you get to go somewhere! Although, it doesn’t always hold true that more is better than less. Before your trip, narrow down your choices to just two options. You’ll feel better knowing you picked the best one.
3. Give yourself time to mentally ease into vacation mode.
It is always a good idea to be fully rested right before a trip. So if you have at least a day to spare, take a day off and unwind. You can use the time to pack up and get chores out of the way so that you’re fully ready to settle into your trip.
The less you rush, the easier it’ll be to start the vacation on the right foot.
4. Spend money on experiences, rather than stuff, to maximize happiness.
Vacations are already on the right track when it comes to maximizing happiness. Spending money on memorable experiences instead of the cool new car or gadget is probably going to make you happier.
You can take that wisdom into the vacation itself. Minimize the budget you set for coffee mugs and hoodies, and spend as much time as possible building the memories that your remembering self will love.
5. Plan your most exciting activities for the middle or end.
Take the time to get to know a new place in the beginning of your trip. Even if you have an itinerary set, start off with free and easy days, and get the thrilling activities done leading to the end.
Doing this will surely make you feel that you’ve maximized your vacation, and it will allow you to explore without getting lost and losing valuable time.
No matter how busy the days get, it’s always important to make time for a little vacation and relaxation. So go on and make that trip, whether solo or with a few of your favorite people. Hopefully these tips have given you an idea of how to plan a vacation so you can maximize your time therein!