MCLEAN, Va. - When it comes to vacation planning, Clark Griswold has given guys everywhere a bad name. The first National Lampoon's Vacation movie saw his plans to bring his family to Walley World fall apart at every turn. Then his planned trip to Europe was a disaster. He couldn't even plan a simple family Christmas without it becoming a complete catastrophe.
Now the holidays are coming up once again for you and you want to plan your own vacation. It doesn't have to follow the Griswold script. Just follow these five guidelines below and you'll be able to enjoy your vacation without the comedy or the tragedy.
1. Think events before time. Many vacation planners focus right away on how many days they will be gone and fill their time based on this. Why? The days aren't the most important element, it's what you're doing that defines a great vacation. Start your plans by determining everything you want to do and then set aside the time necessary to make all of it happen.
2. Take the initiative. Don't let Clark Griswold's foiled plans stop you. You can plan an amazing vacation and research shows your significant other would appreciate it if you did. Ninety percent of women said they would be happy if their partner did any of the travel planning according to the Travel MANager Weekend Escape Artist survey, conducted by Wakefield Research. Surprise your significant other by planning all of the details for a spontaneous holiday trip using the Travel MANager microsite, an online platform that provides men with advice, resources and tools to plan the perfect trip. Travel MANager offers you professional advice from expert travel bloggers, original research and trip itinerary suggestions all in one digital hub so you can plan efficiently.
3. Budget everything. You may not know what every aspect of your trip will cost, but it's good to have an idea before you go. Having a rough outline of the expenses you'll incur will prevent you from having to forgo any activities or getting that surprisingly high bill at trip's end.
4. Find the right hotel. When you're on vacation, your hotel room is your home away from home so pick a good one to fit your needs. Look for a hotel that allows you to spread out and have a little space. This is especially true if you're traveling with kids who will appreciate the space to play and rest. Homewood Suites by Hilton, for example offers large, spacious suites perfect for you and your family and friends to spread out after an exhilarating day.
5. Save the best for last. The final day of many trips is simply reserved for traveling back home. Instead of subscribing to this tired mantra, save your last day for the thing you wanted to do most. You'll leave your trip on a high note with plenty of amazing memories, and you'll be more apt to stick to your schedule if it preserves your most coveted activity.
2. Take the initiative. Don't let Clark Griswold's foiled plans stop you. You can plan an amazing vacation and research shows your significant other would appreciate it if you did. Ninety percent of women said they would be happy if their partner did any of the travel planning according to the Travel MANager Weekend Escape Artist survey, conducted by Wakefield Research. Surprise your significant other by planning all of the details for a spontaneous holiday trip using the Travel MANager microsite, an online platform that provides men with advice, resources and tools to plan the perfect trip. Travel MANager offers you professional advice from expert travel bloggers, original research and trip itinerary suggestions all in one digital hub so you can plan efficiently.
3. Budget everything. You may not know what every aspect of your trip will cost, but it's good to have an idea before you go. Having a rough outline of the expenses you'll incur will prevent you from having to forgo any activities or getting that surprisingly high bill at trip's end.
4. Find the right hotel. When you're on vacation, your hotel room is your home away from home so pick a good one to fit your needs. Look for a hotel that allows you to spread out and have a little space. This is especially true if you're traveling with kids who will appreciate the space to play and rest. Homewood Suites by Hilton, for example offers large, spacious suites perfect for you and your family and friends to spread out after an exhilarating day.
5. Save the best for last. The final day of many trips is simply reserved for traveling back home. Instead of subscribing to this tired mantra, save your last day for the thing you wanted to do most. You'll leave your trip on a high note with plenty of amazing memories, and you'll be more apt to stick to your schedule if it preserves your most coveted activity.
Great holiday trips don't just plan themselves, and the more planning you do ahead of time, the less likely you are to have the mishaps that would make your story truly screen worthy. To learn more about how Travel MANager can help you plan your holiday trip, visit mencanplantravel.com.
