Planning Makes Perfect
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We like to think that a good vacation is one that just happens, miraculously and serendipitously. We tend to imagine that planning might actually take away from the relaxing break from routine that vacation is supposed to represent. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Take this travel story. Trudy, Paul, and their two kids, Phoebe and Eric, wanted to take a break for a long weekend from their hectic, demanding lives in a busy suburb outside Chicago. It was late November; the warm months of summer were all but a distant memory and the cold midwestern winter was hunkering down for a long stay. Paul came home one evening from work and announced to Trudy and the kids that he had just bought four tickets on a discount airline to Florida.
Trudy said, "Where are we staying?" "I'm not sure yet," replied Paul. "We'll find something when we get there."
The family of four packed lightly and jumped on a flight to Florida the next morning. They arrived in the Fort Lauderdale airport to discover it overflowing with people. Trudy looked at Paul and said, "It's not even spring break. What's going on?"
They soon found out that there was an enormous convention taking place throughout the city. Not only were there no rental cars available, but there was barely a hotel room open. The dreamy long weekend of sun and fun that Paul had imagined had suddenly turned into a disaster.
How did this particular travel story end? The family ended up staying at a not-so-nice airport hotel and relying on expensive taxi rides to take them to the beach, shopping areas, and other tourist attractions. Phoebe and Eric were soon cranky and bored, and no amount of cajoling helped to lift their spirits.
By the time they returned home to Chicago, all they wanted to do was crawl into their comfortable beds.
Vacations-turned-nightmares are absolutely avoidable if you follow one simple rule: Plan your vacation. Yes, it does take time and focus to plan a good vacation, but that effort always brings its rewards -- and this is especially true when planning a vacation with your children. Gone are the days of packing a simple overnight bag with your partner and jumping on a plane out of town. With children in tow -- whether those kids are toddlers or teenagers -- it is absolutely essential that you take steps to plan your vacation in order to maximize your enjoyment and minimize your discomfort. Planning also ensures getting the most out of your travel dollar.
What does planning encompass?
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