Vacation Planning Guide

There are a few things in life that I’m good at. These amazing talents include remembering useless information, popping my toes, baking incredibly fattening things, buying another dozen pair of flip flops, and staring at my workout DVDs without actually doing them.

I know, I know. Please refrain from your applause.

I also happen to be well skilled in the business of vacation planning.

Or at least a know-it-all-jackass on the subject.

In all seriousness though I figure some of you might want to know what I use in travel planning, because I talk about it so much.

So while I'm no expert on the issue of planning a vacation I'm willing to share my tips to assist anyone in thinking of things they might not have before.

Websites of Choice:

http://www.flickr.com/
*I use Flickr (no account required) as a search engine for pictures. Instead of relying on the tourist websites for pictures of a destination, which are often so photoshopped you freak when you arrive and realize it‘s nothing like your dreams. By performing a search of the destination here, you will discover actual vacationers’ and locals’ photographs to give a real sense of the spot, rather than some beefed up Chamber of Commerce version.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/
*This is a wonderful way to find reviews of the place you are thinking of booking, city you want to visit, restaurant you want to eat at or sight you want to see to find out if it’s really worth it. Another great tip for this site is to visit the FORUM of the place you want to visit so you can ask questions of local experts or other travelers. I’ve had people help me pick a condo in the past or offer a restaurant suggestion.

http://www.vrbo.com/
*Vacation Rentals By Owner. This a great site for finding condo or house rentals, and they are directly offered by the owner. Most listings have tons of photos, lists of amenities and sometimes reviews from past visitors.

I also wouldn’t hesitate to visit a destination’s Chamber of Commerce website either, they are usually filled with tons of info, links to rental companies and hotels and sometimes great deals and coupons.

Hot Tips:

*Don’t just think hotel. We love renting condos and houses, especially in Florida or on Smoky Mountain trips because they are often better deals than hotels and offer more privacy.

*If renting from a hotel, don’t hesitate to actually call on the phone and talk to a real live person. While sites like Expedia and Hotline do offer great deals on certain locations, booking agents at the hotel are authorized to offer their own deals that often rival.

*But remember, you get what you pay for. I like to do quite of bit of searching to get a feel for the average price of a weeks stay wherever I’m about to visit and often bump up or push back the week so that it falls into off seasons or shoulder seasons to save the most money. But I refuse to stay in places that look like they fell right out of 1982 which is why it’s important to….

*Gauge what is important to you as a traveler. It’s imperative to know what type of décor and amenities you require as a traveler and patron. For example, some people might only enjoy all inclusive vacations with breakfast, lunch and dinner options all on site, I enjoy visiting the local grocery store and taking that one on myself for the week. There is no right or wrong answer to this one.

*I also refuse to stay anywhere without first seeing a picture of the room. I made the mistake of booking on information from a hotel manager one time and let’s just say they lied. Because it was a dump that I checked out of early.

*If you are renting a car find rental codes online to save money. Much like finding a “free shipping” code for an online store, you can google Budget, Hertz, ect., “coupon codes” to save money on car rentals. This alone saved us $200 last year.

*Request Vacation Guides from the tourism website of the state or city you are going to visit. These are invaluable to me and I take a folder full of these guides, maps and brochures on all of my trips. This is a great way to be organized and expect the unexpected.

Most of all, remember to have fun with it. I really enjoy reading the websites or scouring through pictures. Plan early and find ways to save as much money as possible. Vacations can only be money pits if you let them. I like to make envelopes in advance and label them with various things I want to do or see while I’m on a trip. I write the price on the envelope and stick cash in them when I have extra until before I know it a meal or admission somewhere is paid for without it breaking the bank.

I’m passionate about this. I wonder if anyone can tell? ;)