Annamarie's Checklist for Planning Your Vacation

Planning a vacation can be stressful, which is kind of ironic, no? I am here to help take some of that anxiety out of planning with my tried and true five steps to a better vacation.

Vacations should not be stressful!

The first thing to do, which people do without even thinking, is to establish your traveling party size. It is important to have the number of people set in stone. This will help when calculating the cost of a hotel, access to transportation, and even travel time from place to place. I travel solo so this step is a natural skip for me. However, there are times when I am traveling with a group of friends and someone wants to jump in or bail at the last possible minute. Make sure when you plan your trip you know how committed your party is. Nothing is worse than a vacation falling apart because one person could not come. (Pro-tip: Always plan a vacation budget that works with the cost being split between one less person than you originally plan for. That way if someone cancels you can still have your vacation.)

The second thing that I always strongly suggest is that you get to know your speed. Vacation pace is different for everyone. Personally, I like to take my time on vacation, sleep in, take the scenic route, stop whenever I see something interesting, sit down somewhere a read for a bit- but that sounds horrible to some people. They would rather complete a packed agenda every day, wake up before the crack of dawn, keep the pace moving the whole trip. Both of these are great options but, and again if you are traveling with other people, one might suit you better. Keep your pace in mind when making choices like how many attractions you want to see each day, the travel distance from your hotel to the sites you want to see, and even how long to schedule in for meals or coffee breaks. (Pro-tip: If you are traveling in a large group make sure to account for the slowest travelers in the group before accommodating the fast-paced vacationers.)

The third step is probably one of the most important: Research! Check and make sure that the sites you want to see will be open on the days you want to see them. I have met so many disappointed travelers who did not get to see what they wanted because they had not done their homework. Today with opening and closing times posted all over the internet this step will not take you long. Here, in Wyoming, some roads are closed for large portions of the year. Make sure to check the opening dates of National Parks, monuments, museums, and Wyoming scenic highways so that you do not miss out on anything you were dying to see. (Pro-tip: Double check your sources. Not everything on the internet is right, up to date, or true.)

The fourth step to vacation planning is determining where you want to stay. Maybe a hotel sounds good, or maybe you are more of a tent person. Where ever you are staying, decide this early on so you can plan accordingly. For example, if you are staying in a tent you might also want to find a place to shower and do laundry during your trip. (Pro-tip: Remember that where you stay and how you sleep can affect your mood on vacation. Do not put off booking a place to stay!)

The fifth step is my favorite. Call the local visitor center and ask if there is anything you are missing. Ask what the weather is like during the time of year you are visiting. Have a conversation with a local and get to know where you are going. (Pro-tip: Some visitor centers even send visitor guides or make them available online. Get your hands on one if you can. These are great tools.)

Planning a trip really is that simple!

After taking these five steps you should be well on your way to planning a great vacation! Safe Travels. - Annamarie