Plan a vacation for cheap

Taking a vacation can be a great way to relax. More than just rest and recuperation, vacations allow people to have fun by experiencing something new. Therefore, it is common for people to seek information about the best vacation places around the world when planning their vacations.

One of the most important considerations factors when on vacation. We all have one or two favorite spots to relax and enjoy a few days for vacationing. These are most desirable spots that provide great comfort and pleasure. You can’t be sitting at home doing nothing, instead you want to spend some time with your family and friends. As it is summer so, every one wants to go out to spend some time in their dream holiday destination.

Going on vacation is made easy when you know the top places in the world to visit. Vacations can feed your mind, body, and soul. They allow us to get out of our comfort zones and take us to new places that we would never expect.

Tips to plan a summer vacation

Start Planning Now

Travel is on the rise and I’ve personally found that waiting to book until the last minute only results in higher pricing especially when it comes to flights and hotels during peak seasons like summer.

Get Everyone on Board with the Destination

I find that if there is someone in our family who isn’t keen on where we’re going, things can get a bit difficult. Make sure the itinerary includes something each person wants to do or make concessions accordingly.

We’re staying a bit out of the way in Crete because the resort we chose has a number of water sports and a cool pool for my daughter who at age 9 is not that keen on Greek history (yet).

Find the Best Flights

Be sure to clear your browser each time you search for flights. The airlines are sneaky like that and it’s not unheard of for prices to go up based on search habits in order to panic you into booking. It happened to me just a few weeks ago to the tune of about $100 per person.

In planning our European adventure, I found that Google Flights was able to pick up budget carriers that travel sites like Expedia could not. Perhaps it’s because Google is not a travel agent but rather directs users directly to the airline for booking. So, I now search routes for best prices with Google Flights.

Also, TSA airport lines are expected to be quite awful this summer due to an increased number of travelers and understaffing. Based on what I saw last weekend while passing through both San Diego International Airport and DFW, this is likely to be true.

Hurry up and apply for Global Entry to skip airport queues (truthfully, it might be too late but I’m an advocate of travelers having this so look into it anyway). Also, plan a decent layover to avoid missing a connecting flight.

Chart Your Itinerary and Print Back-Ups

With seven sets of flights, six hotels, and four countries, staying organized is totally key and admittedly challenging.

I first go old-school by sketching everything out by the day on a piece of paper so that I can draw arrows, make chicken-scratch notes and other changes before inputting a final itinerary into a Google calendar as I book it. (Yes, there are travel apps for this but frankly, they’ve never worked for me.)

As someone guilty of running down phone batteries, I always keep printed copies of airline tickets and other reservations just in case I can’t access them digitally. It is also wise to securely scan and upload a copy of passports or other ID to a cloud for easy access anywhere in the world in case of loss.

Stay Healthy and Hydrated

I pack everyone’s usual daily vitamins and some healthy snacks like granola bars for each journey. I also make sure we stay hydrated in summer heat. During the times plain old water gets tiresome (when you need so much of it while hiking or on a beach), we opt for sparkling water like Sparkling Ice Essence of Water, which is comes in 4 natural flavors. Staying hydrated is also key for beating jet lag.

Sleep is critical to overall happiness and for keeping our immune systems in check during travel but can be difficult in hotel rooms. I always pack an eye mask to block out unexpected light (great also for adjusting to jet lag) and earplugs just in case.

Carry hand sanitizers and antibacterial wipes to quickly wipe down airplane armrests and things you might touch for long periods of time. Getting sick on vacation can ruin it (here’s how to stay healthy on vacation). I also pack pain reliever and fever reducer that is age-appropriate for all of us, just in case.

Make Lists and Use Packing Cubes

It’s a bummer to forget something important. I used to be a constant leaver of toiletries at home and in hotel room showers. Making a list of essentials that I actually keep in my makeup bag to tick off each time I depart somewhere has prevented me from forgetting expensive face soap and razors in showers more than once.

I’m also a recent convert to packing cubes, especially when bouncing from place to place. People use them to organize outfits by day, but I find it helpful to pack t-shirts in one, leggings in another, etc. to help keep my suitcase organized.

Find Packable Toys and Travel Games for the Kids

Headed to the beach? These days, packable sand and water toys can include collapsible buckets, small Waboba balls (they bounce on water… highly recommend for exercise), inflatable pool toys and much more.

I really do need to make a list of best travel games for kids to share, but my 9-year-old currently loves traveling with Mad Libs, Spot It! cards, Bananagrams and other compact games that are great for road trips and hotel rooms.

Let (Some) Things Slide

It’s tough to keep some rules that are non-negotiable at home in force while on the road especially when kids are in tow. I let my daughter use the iPad for longer than usual while on planes and road trips. There might be a bit more dessert ordered and later bedtimes.

Flexibility goes a long way when people are out of their normal routines. Take a deep breath, have a refreshing sip, and let (some) things slide.

Best places to vacation on

Maldives

The Maldives is an island country located in the Indian Ocean, just north of Sri Lanka. There are over 1,200 islands in the chain and they are known for their pristine beaches and clear blue waters. The Maldives are also home to many luxury resorts that offer excellent diving opportunities and luxurious accommodations.

Hawaii

Hawaii is a U.S. state made up of 8 major islands, including Oahu, Maui and Kauai. The island chain is famous for its beautiful beaches and tropical scenery, but there are also plenty of volcanoes and other natural landmarks that make this destination unique. The islands offer excellent opportunities for hiking as well as surfing and snorkeling on their many beaches.

Koh Samui, Thailand

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Koh Samui is one of the lesser-known spots on our list but this hidden gem is an all-time favorite. Koh Samui is Thailand’s second-largest island, known for palm-lined beaches, coconut groves, and lush jungles. 

Koh Samui features some of the most luxurious spas and resorts, for a significantly smaller price tag than ones on more well-known islands like Hawaii or Bora Bora. The famous Thai hospitality will follow you to this paradise, and you’ll feel spoiled at any of the hotels. 

Koh Samui also has some unexpected cultural sites. One of the most breathtaking is the 12m-tall golden Big Buddha statue at Wat Phra Yai Temple, located on a small island that connects to Koh Samui. 

The Azores

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Looking at google image results for The Azores will make you feel like your watching a fantasy movie. The Azores are a group of nine islands off the coast of Portugal that features the best of Southern European culture with some of the most breathtaking scenery on the continent. 

The Azores’ landscape is converted into lush green trees all year, and wildflowers dot beautiful meadows in the spring and summer.

Each island features gorgeous beaches, multi-colored lakes, and centuries-old Portuguese villages. A trip here will feel like you’ve stepped back in time to a place untouched by modernity. 

Bali

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Bali is one of the most popular island vacation spots worldwide, and rightly so. Bali truly has it all: towering volcanos nestled in green jungles, quaint fishing villages with beautiful pagodas, and sandy beaches that look out over some of the bluest water you’ll find anywhere.

This Indonesian island also has delicious food and some of the friendliest locals.

While some locals resent tourists, those in Bali are welcoming and always excited to meet people from far and wide. Don’t be surprised if you get invited to dinner at someone’s home as soon as you meet them.

Galapagos Islands

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The Galapagos Islands were made famous by Charles Darwin over 200 years ago when he used the wildlife there to discover and explain evolution. Centuries later, these islands are still as awe-inspiring as they were to Darwin.

One of the best parts of the Galapagos is the unique wildlife. Massive tortoises that slowly wander the beaches, intimidating but fascinating iguanas, and playful sea lions all line the shores of the Galapagos.

The islands also feature exciting hikes up rocky cliffs and the second-largest crater on earth. 

Tampa Bay

Tampa Bay Area is a popular American tourist destination, with St. Petersburg serving as its unofficial hub for business and leisure travel throughout Hillsborough County and Pinellas County. The area has experienced growing popularity throughout the years, and draws tourists from nearby Orlando as well as internationally. There are many beaches to relax on here, as well as historical sites, and unique Florida wildlife to view.

Magic Kingdom

Magic Kingdom is located in Orlando, Florida. It is owned by Walt Disney World Resort, which is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. The park gets more than 18 million visitors each year and more than 50 million people visit all four parks combined each year. The park has many rides and attractions including Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. The park also offers live music performances throughout the day as well as fireworks shows at night.

Epcot Center

Epcot Center has two theme parks called Future World and World Showcase that represent different countries around the world such as China, Norway and Mexico among others. It also has an indoor theme park called Innoventions where you can find educational exhibits about technology and innovation during your visit to this location which is located inside Epcot Center itself instead of being separated from it like most other theme parks tend to be located nowadays because those would be too expensive for most people if they had been built outside but that’s not something we

Panama City Beach

Panama City Beach on the Florida panhandle offers 27 miles (43 km) of white sand beaches on the Emerald Coast. The beach is a popular destination for residents of the southern United States as well as tens of thousands of high school and college students on spring break.

Besides having fun in the sun in the emerald green waters, this town of just over 12,000 permanent residents offers sports fishing on the gulf, plenty of golfing, marine parks including one for alligators, amusement and water parks …in short, something for everyone in the family.