Booking Your Summer Vacation
The time for booking your summer vacation is right around the corner! We all have an idea of the perfect summer vacation for us. I always pick the beach! Any beach is fine, I just love being near the water. Summer vacations are popular. The kids are out of school, the weather is good almost everywhere, and there is a lot of fun to be had! Are you planning to take a summer vacation? If so read on, for some of my best tips!
Destination
The first step is to pick a destination. Where do you want to go? What do you enjoy doing? Are there activities for my kids? These are just a few of the questions you need to ask.
Before you decide on a destination pick how you are going to vacation. Are you going on a road trip? Going to the beach? (that’s me!) A cruise? Theme parks? There are so many options for fun vacations.
Road Trip-I love road trips! For me they allow the most amount of time to explore. But be realistic about road trips, if your kids aren’t into being in the car for long periods of time a road trip may not be for you. I have some tips for planning a road trip, you can check them out here.
The Beach-I always pick the beach, and my family kind of rolls their eyes when I say it! I have to compromise so they get to do something they enjoy. The beach is always a good time, and there are beautiful beaches all over the world.
Cruises are a great option for summer vacation. Cruises have amazing destinations and it’s all-inclusive. There are onboard activities for adults and kids of any age, and of course, there’s plenty of food to satisfy even a picky eater!
Theme Parks are another great summer vacation option. If you chose a theme park vacation be mindful of all the walking you will be doing. Theme parks are fun, but they do require stamina!
Flying to a destination is another option. Pick somewhere you’ve never been and have a great time! One of my dream destinations is Hawaii! I just can’t image my kids and airlines! Ha!
You’ve picked a destination, now you’re ready to book it!
Booking Your Trip
Using a Travel Agent
When it comes to booking a summer vacation, a large number of travelers use the assistance of a travel agent. Travel agents are individuals who specialize in researching and arranging vacations for their clients. Travel agents are popular because they allow clients to spend more time completing their daily activities, instead of having to research and plan a summer vacation. When you use a travel agent be aware that there may be a fee for their services. Travel agents generally are paid by commission, but some do charge a separate fee.
Self Booking
If you are planning a summer vacation, on a budget, making your own reservations could save you money.
Amusement parks, campgrounds, and hotels in the United States do require reservations. Getting those booked as soon as possible will ensure you get the dates you need for your vacation. Popular summer vacation hotspots, fill up quickly with vacationing tourists.
Direct Booking
One way to book your summer vacation is to direct book. If you are a member of travel reward programs direct booking will be the best option for you. Many times booking direct will be cheaper than using a third-party booking site. I highly recommend joining hotel, airline, rental car, and any travel reward programs. You can earn points and save money on your travel with these programs.
Using Apps to Book
Third-party booking apps are a popular way to book vacations. Booking.com, Orbitz.com, Expedia, are a few of the popular apps. These apps make booking hotels, flights, car rentals, and sometimes attractions easy. I have used all three of these apps and found them to be very user-friendly. Just remember direct booking may save you some money!
Travel Websites
To book a popular vacation destination, but at a discount, you may want to look at the services offered by online travel websites. These websites tend to offer discounts on popular hotels, airlines, and restaurants all around the world. The only downside to using the services offered by an online discount travel website is that they tend to focus only on popular summer vacation destinations. If you are looking to vacation at an unknown resort, you may be unable to use the services of a discount travel website.
There are many ways to book your summer vacation. Taking a chance that there will be availability at the hottest summer vacation destinations is a mistake that could ruin your vacation. Use these resources and book an awesome summer vacation.