One of our first international trips together was to Paris, France in February. I wasn’t really big on planning and the only thing that was of importance to me was “what time are we leaving?” Not planning came back to bite me in the behind. Imagine being so uncomfortably cold that you miss going up to the top of the Eiffel Tower. This is why planning is so vital! Paris in February was cold; well for me it was. I am a Texas girl, so this weather had me struggling. On one particular night the weather was rainy and cold. This combination is my kryptonite. I didn’t want to go anywhere! A bed, warm blanket and some Tylenol was all I wanted. I felt terrible for Keith because he wanted to get out and explore. Fortunately, he bundled up, grabbed an umbrella and went up to visit the Eifel Tower all by himself. He did get some good video for me, but of course, it’s not the same as seeing it with your own eyes. You can never predict the weather, but through a little bit of preparation, you will definitely get a better understanding of typical temperatures and weather conditions to help you try to be as comfortable as possible during your trip.
One of the most frequently asked question we get is “What’s the best time of year to visit _______? (fill in the blank) This is not an easy question to answer because there are so many variables to consider.
Let’s break down some logistics to help you decide when actually is the best time for you to go to your vacation destination so that you won’t be a frozen popsicle like me, stuck in a hotel room and missing all the fun.
In typical Suitcase Race fashion, start with the 3T’s Time, Time, Time…
What TIME of the year would you like to travel?
Consider the season (peak/low), weather (hot/cold), and budget.
How much TIME do you have to get there and back?
Coordinate work and school schedules
7 days, 14 days or 30+ day vacations
TIME allotted for excursions?
Do you want to enjoy your chosen excursions or just get the quick Instagrammable photo and move on?
Determine the time of year you want to go. This is important because, if you’re like me, I tend to stay away from frigid conditions, so, consider seasonality, weather, and budget.
- Now you have to plan how long are you going to stay.
- How much PTO will you and can you use?
- Did you factor in travel time there and back, including time zone changes?
- Will you visit more than one location or stay at one location for the entire trip?
- Hotel or AirBnB? (the more nights you stay the more expenses begin to rack up)
- Will you go straight back to work or will you take a few days of PTO after the vacation to unwind?
Once you know where you’re going, your budget, the time of year and how long you are going to stay, then, start booking. You will need to find your flight (use points if you have them). Do you have reward points for hotel rooms? Will you rent a car, have a personal driver, or use public transportation? How much will you allocate for food and entertainment?
Start thinking about what kind of excursions and attractions you’d like to see. Do you realistically have enough time to see it all? The last thing you want to do is rush and or miss your next paid excursion.
Other things to consider…
- Are you an early bird or like to sleep in?
- Do you like adventure, history, or art?
- How much money do you want to spend on each attraction?
- How far away will your excursion be, and, how will you get there? Pro-tip: Do not overload your day with so many activities that you don’t give yourself time to thoroughly enjoy those very activities. it’s a vacation and should be as stress free as possible. Search for any free or little to no cost attractions or excursions if possible.
Traveling is not a one-size-fits-all approach. What works for one may not work for another. Whatever you do, give yourself enough time to plan. Do some research and be as organized as possible. Be sure to have some fun and allow some room for spontaneity and the unexpected. For me, it’s not about the destination, it’s the journey.
