How to Plan the Perfect Getaway: 6 Steps for A Successful Vacation

My roommate and I have been on our fair share of trips. We’re adventure junkies, as well as travel junkies.

If we were given the chance to travel all year round, we would, no questions asked. So after years of planning trips, you could say, we’ve perfected a thing of two.

Here are just a few tips and tricks we’ve learned along the way.

1. What are your budget and timeframe?

Budget and timing going to drive your trip in a big way. That certainly doesn’t mean you won’t be able to do much with a small budget, it simply means you’ll need to plan that much smarter. Likewise, if your timeframe is tight due to work and obligations, it doesn’t mean you won’t be able to have a great trip!

So start by being honest with yourself: how much many can you spend? What days can you travel?

2. What do you want to do?

Now that you’ve defined your timeframe/budget, decide what you want to do. Do you want to do…

• A cruise?
• A road trip?
• A local trip?
• An international trip?

3. Where do you want to go?

Where you want to go and what you want to do will play off of one another. Typically, though, you’ll want to decide what kind of trip you want to take first. Do some searches based on the type of trip you want to take in order to help choose your location. More than likely, you’ll already have a bucket list in the back of your mind.

4. Look for deals

Once you have your plan set, I like to look for deals. Even if you have a good sized budget, there’s no reason to spend a lot if you can save!

• For flights, try CheapFlights.com
• For hotels, try CheapHotels.com or Name Your Own Price via Priceline
• For fun adventures, check out Groupon and Living Social

5. Plan your adventures

Maybe it’s Type A of me, but I’m a spread-sheeter. Honestly, I wouldn’t travel any other way.

Day	Where?	Activity	Time
Monday	Drive to Keys		10am
	Keys	Hotel 1
Tuesday	Keys	Glass bottomed boat	10am – 12pm
	Keys	Hotel 1
Wednesday	Everglades	Everglades tour
	Miami	Hotel 2
Thursday	Miami	Scavenger hunt
	Miami	Show	8:30-10:30pm
	Miami	Hotel 2
Friday	West Palm Beach	Aerial trapeze	2:00-4:00pm
	Drive home

I also find it helpful to set aside any documentation (boarding passes, Groupon vouchers, etc.) aside so there’s no problem once you are in travel-mode.

6. Get to packing

When you pack, be sure keep the occasions and weather in mind. I tend to be a compulsive over-packer, so I like to plan my outfits in advance.