Now that COVID-19 vaccinations are widespread and the end of the pandemic is in sight, international travel has begun to resume. This is fantastic news and means that it’s time to start planning your next vacation! Of course, after a couple of years without being able to go abroad, you might be a little rusty on traveling. Don’t panic though, as you’re sure to get back into the swing of things without too much trouble. To help you out, here are some top tips for preparing for your next vacation overseas.
Choose your destination
The first step to take is deciding where exactly you want to go! Are you in the mood for a bustling city break? A luxurious island getaway? How about a picturesque rural retreat? Other factors to consider include how long of a flight you are happy to take, whether a visa is required to enter the country, what languages are spoken there, and how expensive of a destination it is. If you need some inspiration, browse a travel website and see what sort of places appeal to you. You could also ask friends and family for recommendations.
Decide when to go
If you have children and are taking a family vacation, you might not have much choice around when to travel because you have to match up with the school vacations. However, for everyone else, you should utilize your flexibility to your advantage when it comes to travel. For example, you can often make big savings on flights and accommodation by traveling during off-peak seasons (which will vary from country to country depending on factors such as climate). At the same time, you want to make sure you don’t put money above all else and end up unable to enjoy your trip because the weather is bad or all the attractions are closed for a national holiday!
Create a list of things to do
This is the fun part of vacation planning! Once you have nailed down your destination, it’s time to start putting together a list of all the activities you want to do while you’re there. This could be sightseeing spots, renowned restaurants, once-in-a-lifetime experiences, and everything in between. It can be helpful to begin by simply searching for (as an example) things to do in San Diego and seeing what interesting recommendations come up. Remember to leave a bit of flexibility in your itinerary in case you discover something off the beaten track while you’re there!
Think about what to pack
With your destination and itinerary in hand, you can begin making your packing list. It’s good to do this early so that you have time to buy any extras that you don’t already own. When deciding what to pack, make sure that you take into account the temperature and weather of the location you’re traveling to, as well as the sort of activities you’ll be doing when you get there. After all, your choice of suitcase will look very different if you’re on a relaxing beach vacation compared to a hiking trip or city break! Once all that’s done, you can truly get excited about your vacation!
