Planning a Vacation: When the Why is Clear

When The Why is Clear, The How is Easy

Deciding to take a vacation is the easy part, but the planning becomes the monster you were not expecting. Asking where everyone wants to go on vacation may bring ideas you were not ready to consider. I was thinking beach and fruity drinks served to me in my hammock…and my family was thinking river rafting and hiking to the top of a mountain. If you have a large group going, you may even experience the “maybe this was not a great idea” feeling, or as my husband calls it, “the road to Abilene.” Try not to lose sight as to the why you want to take a vacation.

River Rafting the Colorado

Yankee Boy, CO Hiking

Hammock by the beach

Most of my close family and friends are on Facebook so we will start a group conversation to put everyone’s ideas together. It feels like herding cats, but a plan does start to form. The next time you want to take a group trip together, don’t let the details derail the real reason you want to get together. Patience, grasshopper; it will come together.

There are many factors to consider when planning a vacation: Who’s going? Where do you want to go? When do you want to go? How long do you want stay? What activities are there to do? How much do you want to spend? How will you get there? (See, there’s more to it than “I want a trip to the beach.”)

For my husband, the why is very important. When we chose Chicago for our next trip, it was because we had family visit all summer long and we wanted to take a trip just the two of us. Don’t get me wrong—I LOVE my family and enjoy them very much, but I also think it’s important to spend time with your partner and allow your soul to catch up to your body.

Whatever your reason to take on that next trip or adventure, just keep mind why it is you want to do this. Then the who, what, where, when, and how will come together.