When planning a vacation the most obvious decision you need to make is where you want to go. This may sound silly, but if you have the “travel bug” it can be a difficult decision. Once you choose a location, you need to figure out when you want to go there. This takes more than just picking a random date. You must take into account tourist season. Prices often go up in touristy areas during holidays. If you can only go during the holidays, don’t despair. Booking far in advance can help keep you on budget.

Now that you know when and where you want to go somewhere, you have to be able to get there. You may assume driving is cheaper, but that may require an overnight hotel stay. Driving has a lot of hidden fees. I’m a supporter of driving to your destination, but make sure you take food, sleep, and bathroom breaks into the equation. You cannot yet drive a car over water, and I can guarantee that legally travelling over water with a car will not be less expensive than flying, so you need plane tickets. Generally speaking, the earlier you select your tickets the cheaper they will be. Pro tip: using Google’s Incognito Mode will help keep prices lower as well. The cheapest tickets are not always the best deals. Make sure you check safety ratings and customer ratings as well. Not just the first ratings you are shown, companies often deceive you that way.

It’s time to select your hotel. Personally, this is the trickiest part. There are just so many to choose from. When it comes to hotels, motels, or maybe even hostels it’s best to check out as many as possible. If no pictures are on the site, I don’t recommend staying there. Be wary of reviews and continental “breakfasts.” There’s a huge difference between a few items and a full meal. Many places will also offer shuttle services or discounts to local attractions. That’s another thing to look for. Always remember there may be quite a price difference from the initial one you see and the one you end up with.

Now you can choose what to do while you’re on vacation! This is probably the most fun. Look at all the packages you can. Try and pick a large number of things you’re interested in doing. Even if you aren’t really keen on an idea, it will make you feel more productive when you cross it off the list later. Always leave free time on your agenda. You may find out about some event when you are finally on your trip. Planning every second of a trip will only stress you out, and you’re supposed to be relaxing!

Finally you have everything decided. It can seem like a lot. You just need to categorize your planning. Planning your planning sounds kind of terrifying, but it really is helpful. Every trip deserves to be special. Don’t make rash decisions, but also remember to trust your instincts. The most important thing is to have fun!