Travel for Fun

So, you have the chance to go somewhere finally!  What should you think about before taking that special trip?

There is nothing like travel to bring a family together, to help you to relax by yourself, or to reconnect with a loved one.  People who get to see the world are to be envied by the rest of us who are plugging away at our jobs everyday.  But, with this said, if you have the chance to travel, where should you go?  Let's examine some of the factors that you will want to consider.

Money - of course!  You need to take a look at your pocketbook and decide how much money you are willing to spend.  At 10-20% onto any amount you calculate.  Your trip will end up costing you more than you think.  Now that you have a number, think about where that number will get you.  Don't make plans to go to Paris for five days if you have enough money to camp in your backyard for a night.  Don't try to stay at a five star hotel, if you can only afford a three star.  Really think about how to get the most out of a trip for the amount of money you can afford.

Weather -  What kind of weather do you most enjoy?  If you love to go to the snow, then don't plan a trip to Yosemite in the summer.  If you hate the heat - then don't try to go to Israel in August.  You need to think about what you most enjoy - this is your chance to get away and relax.  You might as well do it at the time of year that you most enjoy.

Activities - So, you've decided on the time of year to go, but now the question is, where should you go?  Think about the activities and energy level of the participants.  Do you enjoy camping? climbing? sitting by the pool doing nothing? snowboarding?  What will all participants who are coming enjoy?  The worst thing you can do is plan a trip that you will love, but your spouse or children will hate.  There is no reason to drag people around kicking and screaming.

These are just a few of the important decisions to make before packing that bag and heading to the airport.  This is your special chance to relax and enjoy yourself - give it the thought that it deserves before jumping in.

We can't all afford to pick up for a few weeks and travel around the world.  Would be nice, wouldn't it?  But, it's not practical for everyone.  That doesn't mean, however, that you can't go anywhere.  There is always a way that you can get away for a little while and still enjoy yourself.  Let's explore a few of these options.  Camping - this is a great way to travel on a budget.  If you don't have camping supplies, see if you can borrow a tent from someone.  This will make the trip even less expensive.  Find out where there is a nice place to camp - you can even camp close to home and feel like you have gotten away.  Maybe you'll only go for one night - but it will feel like a break, and that's what is important.  All you need to camp is a place to go (which usually has a small entrance fee), a tent, some sleeping bags, and food that you bring along.  This is a truly inexpensive and easy way to get a vacation and the kids will think it's great.  Believe it or not, my husband did this with my older boys last summer.  He called a friend who lives about 5 hours from us, in a beautiful area of the country.  He asked them if he could camp in their backyard!  Yep, you heard me correctly.  And they packed up and slept in this guy's backyard for two days.  During the day, they toured around and had a wonderful time.  They used our friend's shower and then camped at night.  You can't find a vacation for much less than that - and my kids thought that it was the greatest thing in the world.

You don't need a lot of money to fit in a vacation - you just need creativity and a desire to get away.  Turn in for other creative vacation ideas in future posting!