Travel Planning Basics 101
Well, coming from someone who travels a lot I have a few things that may just help you with your traveling plans this year. Whenever I get ready to go vacationing, I usually start with outlining a budget I plan to spend on my trip. After I know how much I want to spend, I get a tourist guide from whatever state I plan to visit. The easiest way to get a guide is to visit that state’s website or Google “(State) Travel Guide” with dashes (-) on both sides of the keywords or you will end up with information about just the state, airplane travel, guides for hedgehog watching or other silly, crazy things that pop up when we look around on the Web for things. After I get the state guide I wish, I flip the pages checking out what interests me; I’m an outside person so I look for places to fish, nature walks, parks, or museums. Now, I know not everyone is an outside person; the guides have things for every person or family.
After I find all the things I like in the guide, I make a list of what I want to see working my way down until I run out of numbers; sometimes I have to bypass some things to stay within my budget. I go through the guide to find a hotel close to where I plan on going since some of the exciting plans can be pretty spread out; I make sure that I will not have to go too far if I have a long day of fun in the sun. I look for garages or local mechanics in the area since my car may break down; I can continue without too much of an interruption if I have my car fixed right away. Restaurants are also located in the guide from quick meals to romantic dinners depending on what is your style. I try to pick places not too far out of the way that are new and not astronomical in price.
When I have all my plans mapped out, I see how many days I am planning on spending in that state, I try to plan my trips to have quite a bit of extra money left in my budget to pay for the accidental breakdowns or to get gifts for family and friends who were not able to go with me. Once I know where I’m going, eating, and staying I give them a call to reserve rooms, tickets, etc. for an hour or so after my directions say I am supposed to arrive; that way I am prepared for weather and traffic in case either one gets bad. I pack enough clothes for those days along with a day or two extra just in case, pack my phone charger and car charger, make sure I have a first aid kit packed, have a full spare tire, have my jack with my lug nut tools, and have snacks in my car for the long hauls. Just about ready to leave now, I do a once around my car to make sure all my tires are good and that my lights are working. Remember, safety first on all trips; even if it is just to the grocery store. Now that my car is packed up to go, I check that my house is locked up tight. Time to go on vacation! Sunglasses, Check. Money, Check. Mirrors, Check. Purse, Check. Gas, Check. Road trip! I hope my way of planning travels helps you out the way it does me.
