Five Tips for Summer Vacation Plans
The kids are out of school, and the sun is blazing. Yep, it is summer vacation!
Like a majority of others, summer is the time for family trips, and I have been busy trying to figure out all the typical stuff, where to go, how much to spend, how are we going to get there, you know how the story goes.
For many of us, we need a vacation from planning the vacation. For those folks, I wanted to share some tips on how to plan your summer vacation stress free!
1. Choose a date.
The first to figure out is when you would like to go on vacation. For military families, this means our service member needs to be able to take leave. Once you’ve decided on a time frame, your service member should put in for leave as soon as possible, so you have the best chance of getting the dates you want. Be sure to consider any special dates during summer. If you find special offers from companies, check to see if they pertain to certain dates or time frames. In our family, our daughter has a birthday in July. This was also the best time for my husband to take leave. I decided we would plan our vacation on my daughter’s birthday. What an awesome birthday gift, right?
2. Decide where to go.
The first thing I did was make a list of places I thought my family would enjoy, then I looked online for special deals or military packages. Many companies offer great vacation packages for military families. Be sure to do your research! Google will be your best friend. After completing my research, I decided on Universal Studios in Orlando. They offered great military packages, and I knew it was a place the whole family could enjoy.
3. Calculate your budget.
This is when I began creating our vacation budget by making a list of expenses. I first contacted Universal Studios and got a quote on our vacation package and what exactly the package entailed, so I was sure of the details. Universal was extremely friendly and helpful in answering all my questions and providing me with a quote. They told me the dates when they would need my deposit and the date the package would need to be paid in full. These are important dates to have. Be sure, if you are doing a package deal, that you write this information down in your calendar. Once I got all the information I needed from Universal, I started writing down other incidentals. We have pets—they will need boarding. What expenses will I have that are not covered in our package deal? How much are we willing to use as spending money? These are all things you will need to think about as you create your budget.
4. Figure out how you’re getting there.
We live in Georgia, so we decided to drive to Universal. For you and your family, you may decide flying is the best way to get to your destination. Once again, this is where Google will come in handy. Be sure to research all airlines. Some will offer great summer deals, but again, be sure to check date restrictions. Make sure they coincide with the dates you want to travel. Once you have decided your means of transportation, you can work the cost into your budget.
5. Stay organized.
Once you have begun planning your vacation, use a manila folder or small binder to keep all your vacation information together. This helps keep you organized. When you pack for your trip, you simply grab your folder or notebook and you have all your vacation information right there. This is important, as many hotels and other companies require you to bring certain materials with you, such as receipts and confirmation emails.
I hope these tips keep you on the organized and stress-free track as you begin planning your summer vacation. My family is well on its way to Universal summer extravaganza.
Where are you going this summer? What are your best summer vacation planning tips?
