Last year, I visited Japan for my birthday. This year, I travelled to Mexico for a nice and relaxing vacation.
When you only have a few weeks of vacation a year, you make sure to take advantage of each day while out of the office. My trip to Japan last year was absolutely packed with non-stop walking, sightseeing and eating. As much as I loved my trip last year, I knew I had to take it easy with this one. Here’s what I did to make sure the vacation was vacationing.
1. Book an all-inclusive resort
This is the most obvious and the most difficult. Choosing a hotel or resort is definitely a skill. You want luxury, but you want (or need, in my case) affordability. You want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city, but you don’t want to be isolated. It’s a balancing act.
2. Do research
The best thing I did was make sure I knew what I absolutely must see, what I would like to visit and what I don’t mind missing. It’s really helpful to do some research about the place you’re going to and find out what’s in season.
3. Leave the itinerary at home
As much as it’s important to do research, be spontaneous! Maybe take up a suggestion from the hotel concierge, go to the foam party or sign up for karaoke night. There’s lots of activities on the resort’s schedule board.
4. Protect your skin
The easiest way to ruin a vacation is catching a sunburn. Save your poor skin and make sure you reapply often!
5. Plan your outfits
I slept in everyday. I made sure to get every minute of sleep I could by planning some outfit combinations for my trip. Items that you can use to mix and match are the best things to pack! Don’t forget to bring some extra pieces in case you need to change out of a stained top.
Do you do any of these? What are your travel planning habits? Let me know.
Use those vacation days wisely. Happy travels!
The Lilac Blog 