Navigating family members' schedules and competing for time during this peak travel season can complicate summer vacation planning. Thankfully, these tips can make scheduling that summer getaway a little easier.
- Identify your blackout dates. Likely there already are some things on the calendar that are unmovable, such as kids' summer camp schedules or high school or travel sports practices.
- Take a calendar and block out any can’t-do dates as soon as you know them. This helps to identify the days and weeks that are free.
- Start planning early. It’s best to get a jump-start on vacation planning early in the year. In fact, you might want to make it a New Year’s resolution. The early bird gets the worm, so booking early can ensure you won’t be caught paying more by booking last-minute. Narrow down your list of desired destinations, choose a spot and start pricing out travel and accommodations. If you find a great deal, book it.
- Set price alerts. Many travel sites enable you to set up search parameters so that you’ll get automated messages with deals that match your budget. Keep in mind that some airline sites may track your search history, and prices may fluctuate if you keep checking out the same flights. Clear your cookies and cache or use a different computer or tablet for each search to get the most competitive price.
- Check for work conflicts. Before booking a trip, ensure that others in your department will not be out the same days. Often companies frown upon having too many people out concurrently because they need to keep the work flowing. It’s best to float your vacation days with coworkers or a supervisor well in advance to ensure there are no conflicts.
- Delegate some of the work. Ironing out all of the details of a vacation means having many moving parts, which can be stressful. Farm out some of the tasks to others in the family or your group of friends depending on who is traveling together. One person can be in charge of researching transportation, while another can secure rental cars and still another can figure out meals and any excursions while on the trip. Breaking up tasks makes it collectively easier on all.
Winter is an ideal time to plan memorable summer vacations.
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