Plan Your Vacation

Things to Think about as You Plan Your Vacation

Before you plan the details of your vacation, ask yourself a few questions:

- What is your level of fitness? Can you handle challenging "adventure" travel? Or would you be better off at a "beginner" level?

- Are you traveling alone or with others? Who will be traveling with you? What are their ages, interests, and physical abilities?

- Make sure you understand everyone's expectations. "Learning to cook in Tuscany" can mean a 1/2 day class for one person, or a full week including wine appreciation and grape-stomping to someone else.

- Are the activities more important than the destination, or vice versa? Or are both equally important?

- What is your budget? Are you looking for luxury or simplicity? Is a rustic environment acceptable?

- Do you want to travel independently or with a group? (See below for a discussion of independent vs. group travel).

The more you think about what you want, the more likely you are to find it!

One of the most important decisions you have to make is whether to travel independently or with a tour group.

There are advantanges and disadvantages to both, of course.

Independent travel allows you to pick and choose where to go, where to stay, what to do, and when to do it. YOU decide whether to visit the Louvre on Tuesday or Wednesday, or whether to visit it at all.

You can, and should, leave a day or two open to relax, or to take advantage of opportunities that come up at the last minute.

However, YOU are also responsible for all of the arrangements, getting passports and other documents, getting to and from the airport at your destination, meals, and all other details. This can be complicated and time-consuming.

Escorted tours are much easier - all of the above details are taken care of for you, and you will have an English-speaking guide to help you throughout your trip.

However, you have NO control over the sites you visit, how long you spend at each site, or when you go there.

Tours are a good choice if you are visiting a foreign country for the first time. You may not have the opportunity to visit again, and you want to get as much out of the experience as possible. With a tour, you don't have to worry about language barriers or getting lost trying to find a historical site.

Tours are also good if you are traveling alone (see "Tours for Women Only"). Most tour companies will match you with a roommate if you'd like, or you can pay a single supplement (these are usually not too expensive). You can meet new people and share the experience even if you do not have a travel companion.

But, despite the complexity, we encourage independent travel. It can be much more rewarding to design your own experience, and you might find a hidden jewel along the way!

Or, you can take a tour and add a few days of independent travel at the end of your trip, once you're a bit more familiar with the area.

When should you use a travel agent?

If you are just booking airfare and hotel, you can probably do just as well using an online booking agent, like Travelocity.

But a plane ticket and hotel don't make much of a vacation, do they? You need to add activities, excursions, classes or day trips to truly make it an experience.

Viator.com is a great place to start - they offer interesting walking tours, culinary tours, sightseeing, whale watching - just about any kind of experience you are looking for, just about anywhere in the world!

You can do the research and book activities on your own, or an experienced agent can help you find the activities that will make your trip memorable.

You'll find plenty of ideas for memorable vacation experiences on this site. Just browse around - you're bound to find something that intrigues you!

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