Vacation Planning Tips
Hints for Booking Flights, Hotel Room Reservations & Trip Activities
Aug 31, 2008
Planning a vacation can be stressful and unpleasant, but there are some strategies that can help vacationers to plan a trip without the hassle and worry.
Travel Agent or No Travel Agent?
Before the age of the internet, travel agents were the only real way to plan a vacation or trip with ease. A travel agent will book the flights, the hotel reservations, the car rental and some travelers would even opt to have their travel agent schedule a complete itinerary for the trip.
Today, the world is a bit different. Whether a travel destination is across the state, the country or on the other side of the world, virtually every aspect of a vacation or trip can be planned from the comfort of a traveler’s home or office. Now, that dream vacation to the Caribbean or Europe is just a mouse click away, with no phone calls required in many instances.
While it’s relatively easy and cost effective to plan your own trip largely via the internet, there are cases when a travel agent is the way to go. International travel is one instance, particularly when the destination is not a prime vacation destination. Group travel is another time when a travel agent can be a lifesaver, as chartering activities and reserving 20 hotel rooms at a time can be a bit tricky and time consuming.
Hints for Easier Trip Planning
Whether it’s a business trip, a family vacation, or a romantic second honeymoon, there are several travel and trip planning strategies that are sure to make for fast and hassle-free travel planning.
- Purchase airfare far in advance, when possible. Purchasing airline tickets months in advance will result in dramatically reduced fares. Last-minute airplane tickets are much more expensive, often double or triple the price when the fare is purchased weeks or even days before the date of departure.
- Don’t hesitate to make reservations online, but be sure to print out reservation and payment verification pages that are typically displayed when paying for the hotel or rental car in advance. If, by chance, there is a problem with your reservations, these print-outs will ensure that the original price is honored.
- Two weeks before the date of departure for a trip, call to verify hotel reservations, car rental reservations and other similar arrangements. If there is a problem and the reservation is lost, this will provide the travel planner some extra time to make alternate arrangements, while avoiding exorbitant last-minute planning fee hikes.
- Research your destination online and in travel guides to determine what sights and activities are at the top of the list in terms of preference. Once a handful of activities are identified as “must-see” or “must-do,” visit the official website for each activity or attraction. For many amusement parks, museums, and popular sight-seeing activities, tickets are available for purchase in advance via the internet. Not only will this ensure that these activities will be on the itinerary, but there are often discounts available when purchasing tickets online.
- If possible, remain flexible when it comes to planning a trip or vacation, as this will enable travelers to take advantage of deals with airfare and hotel through sites like Hotwire.com and Expedia.com, which offer lower fares and hotel fees for flexible travelers.
- Research airline fares and hotel fees. A traveler who departs on a Friday and returns the following week on Sunday will pay much higher prices for airfare and hotel, as these are prime traveling times. Instead, consider leaving and returning mid-week on a Tuesday or Wednesday, which is less popular when it comes to the airlines and hotels, making fares are less pricey.
Planning ahead is key when it comes to traveling. When possible, plan ahead and if the itinerary activities don’t go exactly as planned, don’t stress. After all, it is supposed to be a vacation.
