There are three basic ways to plan a vacation:
- Plan out every intricate detail, and schedule every minute of your time off
- Plan nothing – just go somewhere and do whatever comes to mind
- Something in-between – identify a few highlights/goals that you want to see/do/meet, possibly set some timelines as well.
We prefer the third option – it’s important to have goals, but if you schedule every minute, it’s not a vacation. So how do you balance relaxation and experiencing a different place? Here’s how we do it:
- Read about a place first. We use guidebooks – specifically Lonely Planet to learn about the place and what options are available.
- Identify a few “great opportunities” that seem really attractive to you.
- Rough out a timeline to include those activities plus a few days of rest and a few days for the unknowns that could be cool.
- When you arrive, talk to people to find some of the unknowns or the last-minute cool options. This helps to fill in the gaps, or to rearrange your schedule if need be.
Remember that it’s an experience, but it’s also for fun – it may not be the best plan to return from your vacation more tired than when you began it.
