3 Essential Questions To Ask When Planning Your Next Vacation

So, you have some much-needed vacation time coming up. You've decided that you want to get away; a stay-cation just isn't going to cut it this time. You're not sure what you want to do or where you want to go, but you know that a change of scene is what you need. Now what?

Because vacation time doesn't come along often, many people can get overwhelmed deciding how to use it. Sometimes the planning stage is so stressful that people avoid it until the last minute, which can lead to some very strange vacation choices. Other times, planning a vacation becomes a second job, with people becoming fixated on preparations. Take a breath! All you need to do is ask yourself a few simple questions and you'll be well on your way to the fulfilling vacation you deserve.

1. What's Your Budget?

This is the first thing you need to think about. You're taking a vacation to get away and relieve the stress of everyday life; planning a trip that is beyond your means will create havoc in your financial life long after the vacation is over. If going to Paris means taking out a sizable loan, tapping into your kids' college fund or taking money out of retirement savings, it's not the trip for you.

On the other hand, if your budget is so limited that you're reduced to staying at dive hotels rather than getting a luxurious room at Embassy Suites Albuquerque, there are sacrifices it is worth making for a great vacation. Prominent mental health professionals have determined that spending money on experiences is more valuable to a person's development and happiness than things. Objects begin to depreciate in emotional value the minute you take them home. Experiences actually grow in value over time and add to people's happiness for a lifetime. So if you have some money put aside for a new widescreen TV, a new set of living room furniture or a pair of crazy expensive Manolo Blahnik shoes, deciding to divert those funds to enhancing your upcoming vacation isn't a bad idea. 

2. What Kind of Experience Are You Seeking?

Don't just decide to go to Vegas because your friends had a great time there. Don't choose a theme park vacation simply because you've never gone. Spend some time thinking about what kind of vacation experience you want and need. Are you desperately in need of some peace and quiet? Then standing in line for thrilling rides while surrounded by screaming children is probably not the ideal getaway for you. Craving excitement and new experiences? Probably not the time to take your cousin up on his offer to let you use his remote mountain cabin. Really take the time to think about the kind of vacation you want and how you want it to make you feel.

3. What's Your Destination?

Only now that you've determined what your budget is and spent some time focused on what kind of experience you want to have, is it time to choose a destination. Answering the previous two questions thoroughly will help you rule out trips that are simply too expensive as well as those that might seem like good ideas but simply are not what you want to be doing right now. You will have narrowed your decision process considerably and given yourself a more defined search. Now is the time to spend a few hours on the internet and in conversation with friends and family looking for vacation destinations that fit your criteria and offer a highly rated experience.

You probably only get vacation time once or twice a year, and your budget may make destination vacations even more rare than that. Make sure that your next vacation is as perfect as you can make it by thinking about budget and an experience suited to what you want and need at the moment. A great vacation may only last a few days, but the memories will last forever.