Whether it’s summertime or a holiday break, people spend a lot of time and energy planning and preparing for vacations. Where and how people choose to vacation may vary, but the goal is always the same: Experience something new and step outside the normal routine of work and home life.
Unfortunately, the stress of traveling and sightseeing can make those long-awaited vacations less than enjoyable. The good news is there are ways to ensure your next vacation is as relaxing as possible.
There are tried-and-true ways to ensure you and your travel companions enjoy the sights and culture of your destination while also making time for a spa day, a massage, or just some downtime to destress.
One of the easiest ways to relax while on vacation is to get a short-term car rental. This may seem a little more practical rather than fun or exciting, but rental cars are more than just practical. Rental cars offer you freedom and opportunity.
The First Step to a Relaxing Trip: Rent a Car
Getting a rental car is the first step to a truly relaxing vacation. With a rental car, you can see the sights you want, visit less “touristy” sites, and truly vacation your way.
You can also go where you want, when you want without additional stress or planning. Rental cars also give you the opportunity to see more of the city rather than travel on predetermined routes with public transit.
Some people see rental cars as a liability, an opportunity for loss, damage, and costly expenses. The truth is, however, that rental cars offer an opportunity for temporary auto insurance.
This kind of insurance covers you and the rental car for the duration of the rental agreement. You can drive your rental without worrying about potential damage and financial burden.
Travel Tips for Relaxation
Outside of a rental car, there are a handful of ways to help ensure your next vacation is something to enjoy. These tips will set the stage for fun, excitement, and relaxation.
#1 – Have a Plan and Make Reservations
The first step in a relaxing vacation happens well before the vacation even starts. Making and sticking to a plan leaves a lot of the guesswork out of the vacation itself. Rather than standing around on the first full day of vacation asking everyone what to do or where to go, you’ll have a place to start.
Planning ahead of time also opens up a lot of options for lodging, eating, and activities. If you wait until the last minute to book hotels or experiences, you might miss out completely. Often the places and events offered by a vacation book up quickly. Planning ahead means more time slots and the ease, and assurance, of reservations.
#2 – Prioritize Your Visits
Vacationing in new and different places can be overwhelming. You want to see and experience everything your vacation spot has to offer, but there is only so much time. It’s a good idea to pick a few must-do activities before loading up your schedule.
Prioritizing the things you and your family want to see will help ensure you have the maximum amount of time to see and experience the most important things. Without a list of priorities, the must-see things could get pushed aside or missed altogether.
#3 – Be Flexible
Even with all the planning in the world, it’s inevitable that things will go wrong. This doesn’t mean that all vacations are doomed, but it does mean that things won’t always go perfectly.
Someone will wake up late, the bus you need will be delayed, or a swimsuit will be forgotten. Any one of these and a million other scenarios can and will happen. So what can be done?
Be flexible. Make sure you understand the likelihood of something throwing the schedule off and plan accordingly. Build some time into your daily schedule to allow for time management issues and be ready to pivot if the day’s plans just won’t work out.
#4 – Save Money and Time by Meal Planning
Eating on vacation can be expensive and a big time suck. There are tons of different food options to try out, and everyone will have a different opinion or expectation. The best plan? Meal plan.
Vacation meal planning is very similar to weekly meal planning at home. Decide which restaurants are must-visits, plan the meals you’ll need to cook, and make a grocery list. This will keep costs low and take out any guesswork at dinner time.
If you’re road tripping, you can take meal planning a step further. Consider researching the food and meal options on your route. You can plan for the inevitable pit stops and feel much more prepared as you begin your adventure.
#5 – Pack Enough, But Not Too Much
Packing is another area of vacation stress. Sometimes it’s difficult to decide which pieces to bring along and which ones to leave behind. You want to be prepared for every eventuality.
Unfortunately, this tendency leads to overpacking and extra stress. Consider packing in light layers. Look for pieces of clothing that can be used multiple times in multiple ways. Don’t forget those specialty pieces like swimsuits and snow boots, though.
Limiting the packing stress will help start your vacation off on the right foot. Plus, with fewer bags and pieces of clothing to keep track of, you’ll be less likely to leave something behind.
#6 – Limit Time on Your Phone
Phones are a great piece of technology. They house everything you might need and give you the ability to take pictures of priceless moments instantly. These little wonders can, however, become huge distractions.
It’s important to put a limit on phones and other devices while on vacation. If you’re always buried in your phone, you’ll miss pieces of the once-in-a-lifetime experience you’re on.
Consider putting phones away for downtime and during interactive experiences. Limit the amount of scrolling and unnecessary communications. Grab the phone to snap a few pictures and then get back to enjoying the moment.
#7 – Set Boundaries
Many people go on vacation but have to step away to return a work email or phone call. One or two of these quick interactions can quickly snowball into full days of work and no time for vacationing.
Make sure you set boundaries while on vacation. Set aside a few minutes in the evening to return emails or catch up with your coworkers, but put away work for the rest of the day.
Communicate these and other boundaries with managers and coworkers so everyone is on the same page. This will help keep you focused on relaxing and encourage workmates to look for other avenues of support while you’re away.
#8 – Indulge in Relaxing Activities
We all know the value of taking time to relax while at home, but what about taking time to relax while you’re on vacation? Take some time, and a few extra dollars, to indulge in a little self-care.
This self-care can be something simple like strolling along the beach at sunset, hitting a chic boutique on the boardwalk, getting a massage, or pampering yourself at the spa. Whatever it may be, take the time to find intentional ways to care for yourself and relax.
There are many reasons to have a spa day while at home, but those same reasons exist while on vacation. Consider indulging in a little self-care while you are away. You will find yourself more relaxed while on vacation, but it can also help your stress level when you return to everyday activities.
Let Your Relaxing Trip Begin
Vacation, whether it’s for a weekend or a few weeks, should be about fun, experiences, and relaxation. This kind of vacation doesn’t happen by accident or without some work beforehand. Next time you plan a vacation, consider using these tips and see just how much more relaxed you’ll feel both on vacation and back home.
Laura Gunn writes and researches for the auto insurance comparison site, BuyAutoInsurance.com. She and her family take multiple vacations a year, and she is passionate about helping others find the joy in vacationing.
