Most people love going on vacation. It's the best time to take a break and relax. What most people don't talk about is the dread of planning a vacation. Here are 7 steps on how to plan a vacation and avoid the pre-vacation stress.
Step 1: Pick a time to travel
Start with picking a time of year to travel. When you're on vacation, the weather can make or break a trip. It's important to understand what time of year you're going on vacation and what destinations work best with that time of year. For example, you don't want to travel to the Caribbean during hurricane season!
Step 2: Decide where your headed to
Now that you've picked a time of year, it's time to choose your location! We'd recommend checking your budget and narrowing it down to three destinations. Check flight costs first, as you have more options when it comes to hotels.
Step 3: Find affordable flights.
You've already done some research into flights, but now it's time to book it! The most important tip is to open a new incognito window. Airlines track how often you are looking at flights and jack up the prices after your first initial search. Don’t be the sap who gets caught window shopping.
Our favorite tool to find cheap flights is Sky Scanner.
Step 4: Find a great place to stay.
Before booking your hotel, do yourself a favor and Google image the hotel. All hotels show their best images on their website, so it's essential to do your own research. You'll be shocked at what you find!
Step 5: Take time off work
You did it! You planned your trip! Now it's time to take time off work! Often this can be stressful, but you deserve it. Pull the trigger and tell your boss.
Step 6: Plan your daytime activities.
Often planning activities loom in the back of our minds. As the vacation approaches, we start to think, "what are we going to do on this trip?" You can use sites like Expedia, TripAdvisor, and Google to find activities before leaving. However, we'd recommend planning your activities while you're in the destination using the Bubba Booking app. Planning your activities on vacation allows you to take into account the weather and how you're feeling that day. Download the app before heading on vacation and tell Bubba your vacation dates; after doing this, they will text you daily activities happening nearby.
Step 7: Alert your credit card
Call your credit card companies and let them when and where you will be traveling. Giving them a heads up will ensure you don't get declined when making a purchase.
