The vacation has been booked and your family is ready to go. The only problem with that is that the vacation is another six months away. What are you going to do in six months to keep everyone calm until the day you leave? There are a few things that you can do to prepare for your vacation to make it fun and exciting.
Make a Plan
There are not many people who like to make a schedule of things to do while they are on vacation. However, if you have an idea of things you want to do, then you will not be spending as much time searching for something fun when you get there. First, make a list of everything that members of your family like to do. Include everyone in the decision, especially children. Try to come up with at least 10 ideas, and then you can narrow your options later. You also need to think of what you are going to eat while you are on vacation. Are you going to cook in the hotel, or are you going to eat out? This will affect your budget, so you need to make a plan for meals.
The next thing you need to do is look online for attractions in the area where you are taking your vacation. Several places have coupons that can save you a lot of money. You can print coupons for places you like, or you can pay for the tickets online so that you know you can get into the attraction. Sort each activity in order of price. Start with the lowest, and work your way up to the most expensive. Ask everyone in the family which activity they would like to do. The top votes would be the things you do. Limit yourself to about three or four things so that you do not overwhelm yourself with traveling while you are supposed to be relaxing.
When you know the places you are going to visit, make an itinerary of which day you will go. You should also call ahead to see if there are any specials for that time period. Make a plan of where to eat lunch and if you are going to get souvenirs. Adjust your budget to include your activities, and add extra money to cover additional fun things that you see.
The Week Before
The best time to pack for your trip is about a week to three days before you are supposed to leave. You will need to leave out enough clothes for everyone to wear until you depart. Ask children what outfits they would like to wear, but try to keep their clothing simple. If there is a pool at the hotel you are staying at, then your children will probably spend a lot of time in a bathing suit. You can pack any snacks and toys that you plan to take in the car the night before you leave. Keep any tickets or maps in a safe place until the morning you leave. Remember to lock the doors and get your money before heading out the driveway.
Photo by: Kimba Howard, Marc Levin
