Winter has wound down, so it is time to give some thought to the incoming warmer weather. Use the early rays of sunshine to inspire you to plan for a summer vacation. Or look further ahead and plan for a vacation to take you away next winter.  It’s never too late to start planning. That’s half the fun!

Starting your vacation planning now can help you make your next vacation one of the best ones of your life. Not only will you have plenty of time to come up with activities you want to do—but you can save money too!

Start Planning Your Vacation Now

Dream About It

Dream about the ultimate vacation for you. Where would you want to go? What would you want to do? Who would you like to travel with or do you prefer to go it alone and make new friends when you arrive?  If you want to go on a trip with the entire family…look at everyone’s calendar. Three-day weekends may be a good time for everyone to get together.

You could always take that solo vacation you’ve always wanted. Find a free week or even two or three in your calendar and plan that trip locally, regionally, in another state, or abroad. When you know what you want to do, you can start moving on to the next steps.

When you plan this early you can make sure everyone is involved. When you give yourself plenty of advance time to plan –the possibilities can be endless.

Do Your Research

Starting with thinking about your dream vacation gives you ideas.  Then you can move into the research phase and figure out how to make your dream a reality.  You may need to make some adjustments to the details but having enough time gives you that luxury too.

And when you have time to plan your vacation you can really research the best deals. For instance, you can search for a hotel, Airbnb, or other place to stay that will best meet your needs and wants and give you the most bang for your buck. You can check ratings to help make sure the trip meets your expectations and is safe and fun.  And the earlier you look into booking those plane tickets or the cruise options, the more choice you will have for travel times.

Follow A Budget

One of the earliest things to do when planning a dream vacation is to set a budget. How much do you want to spend on your vacation? How much will travel cost and do you prefer a package deal? Will you work with a travel agent? Are there discounts for older adults or other savings through rewards or points you can apply?

Do you prefer to take a bigger, longer vacation or budget for several smaller and more affordable ones?  If you do go with family, how will the budgeting work for everyone?  It’s important to budget your vacation so you can be prepared for anything you might need and have peace of mind when you are actually traveling.

Stash Your Cash

If you want to give yourself a great vacation, you may need to intentionally put aside some money. Set up a vacation savings account, and automatically put money into the account every month. You can watch the vacation budget add up as part of the planning process.  Preparing in advance for the cost of the vacation is just one more part of planning that can help you out in the end.

For simple weekend getaways or other spontaneous vacays, you may decide to put your expenses on a credit card. When you are planning your vacation many months ahead of time, you can often pre-pay for your vacation before you even set foot on the beach or deplane for that tour of a historical city. Paying for your hotel and travel expenses before your trip may make it easier to go with the flow because your itinerary is set.

Relax and Enjoy Your Time

Once you’ve paid for your vacation plans, create a daily budget for each day or week of your vacation — you can decide how specific you prefer to be. Factor in food, souvenirs, excursions, and entrance fees then pad it with a little extra for unexpected purchases.

When you’re on the vacation, you do not have to tally every receipt or expenditure. That could distract from the fun of vacation! However having an idea of what you intend to spend before you go can help you stay on track with your goals for the dream vacation.  The goal is to get away, relax ,and really enjoy your time.  Make it a memorable adventure that you can share with loved ones – whether they attend or get to see photos afterward.

It’s a great idea to start planning your future vacations now. Make sure you include everyone you want in the decision process. Planning your dream vacation can be a group effort or a solo one! Happy planning. And happy getaways!