How Travel Preparation Pays Off
Preparation for any eventuality, especially problems, might seem to take the adventure and excited expectation out of a vacation trip. But in reality this preparation is a kind of insurance that you will have an enjoyable trip. If you have ever fallen into a difficult, even dangerous, situation while on vacation, you know precautions are a good thing.
First of all, the vacation spot you choose will have everything to do with how your trip turns out. A vacation is a chance to follow your dreams and step outside of dull routines. You want a place where you can do this. You may want exotic or rugged scenery, or the challenge of encountering a culture strange to you. These can give you the exciting interlude you desire. But if you choose this path, preparation ahead of time is all the more essential. The same things that make the vacation exciting can also make it dangerous.
There are ample resources on the Internet to help you book travel and hotel arrangements to almost anywhere. Often you can get a deep discount by exploring different sites and booking ahead of time. But also try your local travel agency, or a large one like AAA with worldwide resources but a local office. A local person you talk to face to face, one with years of experience in the travel business, can give you a more personal angle on vacation opportunities. They have the benefit of clients' past experiences. They can help you know how to prepare for a particular place.
Some people feel comfortable with a package deal, where you travel with a group of people on a bus, and stop at places pre-determined and well prepared to receive you. These tours can be especially enjoyable if you go with a group of people you know, from church or some other association. These tours are safe and secure. You do not have to worry about arrangements, and usually get a good price. This is the opposite end of the spectrum from the adventure traveler. Choose the one that truly suits you. Whitewater rafting through a wild, remote river gorge is not for everyone!
If your trip is planned well ahead of time, take the opportunity to learn all you can about your destination in the interim. Knowing the history, the artistic creations, the language and customs of the place will make it all the more fascinating to you once you get there. It will help you make the best use of your vacation time. You will come back home with deeper experiences and out-of-the way souvenirs and photographs to share with others.
Don't forget to send postcards to friends back home. These will fascinate children especially, and may lead them to visit the place on the postcard someday, or to begin a stamp collection.
Leave some empty space in your suitcase so you can bring back memorabilia and goods from the country you visit. If going to Ireland, for instance, you might bring back a beautifully woven woolen shawl that you will treasure for years, and even hand down to a child.
Use these suggestions to help make your vacation a happy and harmonious one. Bon apetit! and Bon voyage!
