Been thinking about going on vacation, but don’t know where to go? Don’t worry, I can help. Whether you’re going for a long weekend or a whole month, this post will help you determine where to go on vacation in the US.
Selecting and planning a trip can be just as fun as actually going on the trip. It gets me not only excited to be getting a chance to relax and do fun activities, but I like the organization of budgeting for a large expense and knowing that it will be well planned. If you are anything like me, FOBO (fear of better options), you will enjoy reading these tips on how to choose a travel destination that will be perfect for you.
Why are you going?
Why are you going on vacation in the first place? Is it to go on a new adventure? Want to spend more time with your family? Just spend some time away from work? Knowing the reason you want to “get away” is a vital part of deciding where you are going to go.
During this thought process, try to avoid social media and the opinions of others. Social media is one of the most influential things in the world right now. So if you are burnt out from work and really need a relaxing week to destress, seeing posts on Instagram explore page of the hottest clubs in Atlanta, GA, and how you could get the best pictures there isn’t going to positively affect your decision of where to go on vacation. Even thinking about what you perceive as relaxing will help. And try to avoid any advice from a friend or family as they will always be skewed by their own life and personal views.
Once you realize the why, you can then ask yourself the when and What?
What do you want to do?
This is another very important question to ask yourself when deciding where to go on vacation. Create a list of activities/excursions and list them from most wanted and down. You can reduce the number of destination choices by understanding what you want to do during that time.
For example, if we are keeping the same example as above, going somewhere such as a secluded beach or beautiful nature park would be perfect for relaxing. This could either narrow down your choices to the bordering oceans states or states with the best national parks terrains. You could even dig a bit deeper and think about what kind of beach you are envisioning. Miami Beach, FL is going to be a totally different vibe than Rehoboth Beach, DE. And they definitely will come with different price tags too.
What can you afford?
When choosing a travel destination, it is easy to avoid thinking about the costs that will come with it. Seeing all the beautiful and exciting images of new sights and activities can be good motivation for choosing a location, but you must remember that most nice things will come with a cost.
The “why” and “what” would usually follow with “when” and “where” BUT the when and where can be two of the driving factors of a travel budget. I would recommend determining your total budget before you decide anything else. You can also consult with your financial advisor about what you can afford. Planning everything before thinking about the cost, can force you into saying “YOLO” and spending more than you can manage.
Figure out the amount you can afford to spend and create line item percentages for each travel factor.
Per person flying is on average:
10-15% – Flights
25-30% – Lodging
10-15% – Transportation
30-40% – Food
Varies – Activities
After you have gone through the process of creating a budget, use the line item costs to help you determine where to go!
Don’t add more stress to your life by coming home after an enjoyable vacation to debt!
Where to go?
Choosing the location is one of the best parts of planning a vacation! Being smart about the location can get you the most out of your budget and the activities you want to do. Take your activities list and create another list of the places that have the majority of the items on your activities list.
Research flight sites to compare the prices of each location such as:
Always use Incognito mode (Google Chrome) or InPrivate mode (Edge) or Private mode (Safari). It has been said that sometimes your cookies can be tracked to influence your purchase.
Also, try leaving the dates flexible to check the price variations and spot any inflated peak season costs. This will help with deciding when to go!
When do you want to go?
There are so many days to choose from, but with all the above research and lists, this should make choosing a date much easier. Either the pricing, weather, or other factors will direct you to a certain time.
If your will be flying, some of the lowest rates are on Sunday 28-35 days before for domestic flights & 3-4 months before for international.
Now that you have your trip details all figured out, you can create a final budget for your fantastic vacation!
Here is a PDF to help you research and choose between multiple locations: LE Destination Comparison