You never quite realise just how tricky it is to plan a vacation abroad until you’re already in too deep. The problem is, vacation planning is just far too exciting, which means half the time, when you’re trying to get the trip of a lifetime sorted, you’re too caught up in a hazy vacation bubble to approach the task with any real focus.
It’s hardly surprising that we end up getting so distracted while we’re vacation planning. Dream vacation destinations don’t need to do much to sell themselves, but boy, do the marketing masterminds behind travel and hotel companies promote them well. No wonder we so often find ourselves scrolling through beautiful images of sandy white beaches and sparkling blue resort pools, dreamily imagining lounging on a deckchair with cocktail in hand, instead of looking at the practicalities.
When you’re in the booking stages of a vacation, you might find yourself taking the mindset of, oh, we’re obviously going to have a good time no matter what – we’re on holiday! While this is probably true, it might only be once you arrive at your destination that you realise that as nice as it is, it isn’t quite to your tastes.
The best vacations are the ones that appeal to every aspect of your personality, so much so that it almost feels as if they’re tailored to your very wishes. And they’re by no means impossible to find – in fact, with a simple bit of planning, you’ll have no trouble discovering your dream destination to beat all other options right off the table.
Here are a few things you should consider if you’re looking to plan the perfect vacation abroad:
Who am I traveling with?
This is by far the biggest question you should be asking yourself before you even get started on the vacation booking process. While your vacation should be special in every way to you, it should be equally so for the people you’re traveling with.
If you’re planning on jetting off with a group of friends, it’s time to think about what each person may be into. Sometimes you might have to make compromises – if Jenny likes to party but Sarah wants a quiet place to sip her cocktails in peace, find yourself a secluded hotel near to a clubbing strip.
Traveling with or without children can also play a huge factor in the planning decisions you make for your trip. There’s absolutely no point taking your children to a fancy, five-star hotel with a tiny swimming pool when you know they’d rather be living their best lives in a place with a kid’s club and a waterslide or two. On the opposite end, if you’re a couple looking for a relaxing week away from the daily stresses, you might want to consider an adults-only hotel for a guaranteed week of peace.
What’s my budget?
Obviously, your budget is one thing that you have no choice but to consider during the vacation booking process, when you need to decide on exactly how much you’re prepared to spend on your dream getaway. But once the initial price of the hotel has been dealt with, many people forget to factor in the costs of the actual holiday itself.
There are certain vacation destinations that make it more than possible to show up with limited funds and pay for nothing more than the occasional wallet-friendly meal out and cocktails on the beach. Other destinations, especially city locations, make it a much bigger challenge to enjoy yourself without spending money.
Even if you’re planning on doing the same activities wherever you end up in the world, some locations have far more inflated costs than others. Do your research beforehand and decide whether you’re willing to pay a bit more for the destination alone.
Is the location for me?
When you’re staring at the picture of sunny skies and shimmering seas of a vacation destination in a travel brochure, it can be easy to picture yourself having a great time in that location. But there’s a lot more that’s worth considering than just the appearance of a place alone. Sure, beautiful scenery counts for a lot, but if nothing else is quite living up to your expectations, it’s not right for you.
First of all, you need to determine exactly where your hotel of choice is situated in the destination you’re planning to visit. Is it right in the middle of the action, or on the outskirts, a good car ride away? You don’t want to end up disappointed because you’re miles away from anything, nor do you want to be banging your head against the wall because what was supposed to be a peaceful trip away has played out to be sleepless nights listening to the sound of thumping club music.
You also need to check your distance to local shops and amenities, if they’re important for you, as well as beaches, restaurants, and anything else that you’d expect to find close by.
Is there enough for me to do?
When it comes to the perfect vacation, everybody has a different image in their mind. For some, lazing on a deckchair and soaking up the sun for a week might be exactly what it takes to help them refresh and regenerate, taking a much-needed break from day-to-day work life. For others, the thought of hours of sun-worshipping might seem incredibly boring. They’ll probably need to find somewhere with the opportunity for activity and adventure.
While you might find yourself being pulled to a destination because it sounds lovely, it’s worth doing your research to find out exactly what it can offer to you. You’d hate to show up somewhere and find that it really wasn’t suitable for your needs, whether because there wasn’t enough for you to do, or it required you to be constantly on-the-go when you’d been hoping for a week off your feet. Take a look at online reviews of the area for the best idea of what to expect when you arrive.