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Planning A Vacation Is An Extreme Sport, But Here's How You Can Finish In First Place

Here are some dos and don'ts that will help you secure that gold medal in vacay planning!

Anushree Rayarikar

Jul 16, 2019

Illinois State University

Planning A Vacation Is An Extreme Sport, But Here's How You Can Finish In First Place

Anushree Rayarikar

Planning a vacation is NOT easy. This summer, a few friends from college and I decided to take a road trip. Right off the bat, planning this trip was hard. We had to pick a location, choose how long we actually wanted to drive for, see which one of us would drive, book an AirBNB, and THEN actually PLAN what we would do on our vacation! This list seems daunting, but here are five helpful tips you need to think about when planning your fun road trip vacay!

Don't pick a destination that's too far away

Although driving 12 hours in the car with your best friends, windows down, with the music blasting seems like a fun idea, remember that the reality is going to be much different. If a road trip shows 12 hours on a map, it'll probably take closer to 15 hours when you include bathroom breaks, food stops, etc. Additionally, after the first few hours in the car, you will start to feel cooped up and bored (ESPECIALLY if you are driving in the Midwest, where there is literally no pretty landscapes to look at). The ideal road trip time would be between three to six hours — this way you get the whole "long drive" experience with your friends without just being stuck in a car for a full day.

Do make sure your car is stocked up

When I say stocked up, I don't just mean food. I mean make sure that you have your car's registration in the glove box and a spare tire kit in the trunk. Emergencies happen, and cell service isn't always guaranteed on road trips. Make sure you've familiarized yourself with how to replace a tire and are noting the nearest gas stations to you as you drive. Also, make sure your car's fluids are checked and the gas tank is full!

Don't spend too much on the hotel/AirBNB

While it seems really dope to have a hotel or house rental that's stocked with cool amenities or that has nice upgraded features, keep in mind that the whole point of the trip is to experience new things and explore a new city! Now, I'm not saying to completely disregard the amenities aspect of the place you're staying in! But, be aware that you will end up spending more money on excursions and food as well, so try to stay within a budget for the place you're staying at.

Do create a poppin' playlist for your journey

What fun is a road trip without jams? A week or so before the trip, create a collaborative playlist on your preferred music app (Spotify makes this super simple to do) and have all your friends add their favorite songs to it! You'll be playing that playlist for the whole trip, so make sure it is loaded with tons of songs to keep you jamming along.

Don't be afraid to be spontaneous

The whole point of a road trip is experiencing things you haven't before. So, if while driving, you see something cool, stop by and check it out! After all, even if the attraction is super dorky, you can still say that you went out of your comfort zone and lived your road trip to its fullest

All that being said, be sure to be present during the whole trip. Don't spend the whole time texting people or surfing social media. This is your time away from your routine, so make the most of it! Bon voyage!

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.

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Recommended for you

Planning A Vacation Is An Extreme Sport, But Here's How You Can Finish In First Place

Here are some dos and don'ts that will help you secure that gold medal in vacay planning!

Don't pick a destination that's too far away

Do make sure your car is stocked up

Don't spend too much on the hotel/AirBNB

Do create a poppin' playlist for your journey

Don't be afraid to be spontaneous

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The Best Lines from the Fab Four

And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make

The sun is up, the sky is blue, it's beautiful and so are you

Love is old, love is new, love is all, love is you

There's nowhere you can be that isn't where you're meant to be

Life is very short, and there's no time for fussing and fighting, my friend

He say, "I know you, you know me", One thing I can tell you is you got to be free

Oh please, say to me, You'll let me be your man. And please say to me, You'll let me hold your hand

It was twenty years ago today, Sgt. Pepper taught the band to play. They've been going in and out of style, but they're guaranteed to raise a smile

Living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see

Can you hear me? When it rains and shine, it's just a state of mind

Little darling, it's been long cold lonely winter. Little darling, it feels like years since it' s been here. Here comes the sun, Here comes the sun, and I say it's alright

We danced through the night and we held each other tight, and before too long I fell in love with her. Now, I'll never dance with another when I saw her standing there

I love you, I love you, I love you, that's all I want to say

You say you want a revolution. Well you know, we all want to change the world

All the lonely people, where do they all come from. All the lonely people, where do they all belong

Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends

Hey Jude, don't make it bad. Take a sad song and make it better

Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away. Now it looks as though they're here to stay. Oh, I believe in yesterday

And when the brokenhearted people, living in the world agree, there will be an answer, let it be.

And anytime you feel the pain, Hey Jude, refrain. Don't carry the world upon your shoulders

I'll give you all I got to give if you say you'll love me too. I may not have a lot to give but what I got I'll give to you. I don't care too much for money. Money can't buy me love

All you need is love, love is all you need

Whisper words of wisdom, let it be

Blackbird singing in the dead of night, Take these broken wings and learn to fly. All your life, You were only waiting for this moment to arise

Though I know I'll never lose affection, for people and things that went before. I know I'll often stop and think about them. In my life, I love you more

Obviously the best superpower.

There have been many lessons learned.

1. The importance of traditions.

2. How to be thankful for family and friends.

3. How to give back.

4. What the word "community" really means.

5. That it isn't about the destination, but the journey.

6. The consequences of making bad choices.

7. To trust people, until you have a reason not to.

8. To be welcoming and accepting of everyone.

9. How to be my own, individual person.

10. How to work for what I want.

11. How to be great at giving directions.

12. How to be humble.

13. To be well-rounded.

14. How to be great at conflict resolution.

15. The beauty of getting outside and exploring.

16. To be prepared for anything.

17. That you don't always have to do it alone.

18. How to be creative.

19. To brush off gossip.

I have never been so thankful to know you.

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

Don't freak out

Email the professor

Attend the first class

Keep attending class

Have a backup plan

Remember that everything works out at the end

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