Sure, vacations are fun because you’re traveling somewhere away from home and you don’t have to work. While that’s true, you’ve probably been on some not-so-great vacations in your life. Well, here are some tips to help you have a great vacation every time!
Try something new
You’re on vacation, probably in a place you’ve never been before, so it’s the perfect time to try something new. For example, you can try things for the first time like zip lining, snorkeling, or white water rafting. In 2018 alone, there were nearly 700,000 whitewater paddlers in the United States, and you can join that group for the first time while you’re on vacation.
Travel with a group
The next time you can do to make your vacation more enjoyable is to travel with a group. You can invite your parents, bring your kids, or ask your friends to tag along. According to recent studies, people who travel with a mixed group (friends and family) typically remember their trips at least 20% better than an unmixed group. So the phrase, “the more the merrier” really works when you’re on vacation.
Get a souvenir
This tip is more for when you get home than when you’re on vacation, but searching for the perfect souvenir can make your vacation even more fun too. You can hop from shop to shop to find the perfect thing to bring home. You can also go shopping for people who aren’t on the vacation with you. Consumers spend an average of $1,700 on apparel and related services every year, and a t-shirt from your vacation destination makes a great souvenir.
Drink some booze
One of the best things about traveling to a new destination for vacation is that you get to try some new, local food and drinks. If you like drinking at home, then you’ll probably enjoy trying a new brew while you’re away. Right now, the United States craft beer market is worth over $23.5 billion, and what better way to get to know a new place than trying a beer from a local brewery.
Go for more than a week
Many people go on vacations for three days over a long weekend, or they take week-long trips to a new destination. However, 10 days could be the magic number. You have that much more time to travel, make multiple stops, and unwind from your real life and responsibilities back at home.
Put your phone away
When in a new place, we are all tempted to pull out our smartphones and take pictures of the scenery. You want to take a selfie with the Grand Canyon in the background just as many other people do. While you’ll have those pictures for a while, you’re taking away from the moment and the memories you could be creating. So, put your phone away for at least a few hours every day to really be present and enjoy your vacation.
Pack right
You might be thinking, “how can packing impact my vacation?” Many people stress over packing for a vacation, and then they tend to pack too much stuff. At that point, you’re going to be lugging a heavy suitcase around for almost no reason, and that isn’t fun. Try to create a packing list so you bring just the right amount of things with you. If you can’t come up with one on your own, you can find many helpful tools online.
Schedule activities
Some people don’t want to schedule their free time on vacation, but if you don’t schedule it, you’ll probably end up wasting it. A recent study found that people who manage their free time well often have a better quality of life than those who don’t. Experts suggest that you plan small things every day so you can spread out your activities and have something to do every day of your vacation.
Vacations are supposed to be fun, and you want to enjoy the time you’re spending away from work and home. While certain things may be out of your control, try these tips above to make your vacation the best one you’ve ever had.