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How To Plan Your Next European Vacation
Europe has always
been a popular travel destination. Whether you're a
seasoned traveler or planning
your first trip, there are several important things
to keep in mind before calling your travel agent and
booking your next vacation:
1. Time of year: While "Paris in
the Springtime" sounds very romantic, the truth
is that you're liable to spend many days indoors, because
the weather can be cold and rainy. On the other hand,
the French Riviera in the springtime boasts warm temperatures,
sunshine and beautiful places to visit. If you're not
sure of weather patterns, check with your travel agent
who can advise you on rainy seasons or other weather-related
issues for traveling to a specific spot.
2. Your Budget: Decide how much you've
got to spend, and don't forget to include extras like
tourist attractions, getting around, souvenirs and meals
(which are typically more expensive in Europe than in
the states -- dinner can cost upwards of 50 Euros per
person, especially in metropolitan cities). If your
budget is smaller, consider visiting Eastern Europe,
looking for packaged tours, or, if you're flexible,
book a "last-minute" trip, which can often
save you 30% or more. Check out the current exchange
rate between your currency and that of the country you'll
be visiting, to have a better idea of what your vacation
is going to actually cost you. Whenever possible, travel
during an off-peak season to save even more.
3. Your secret dreams or "someday"
wishes: For most of us, taking a vacation is something
we get to do only once a year, and often plan and save
the whole year for. So if you have always wanted to
visit somewhere or do something special -- why wait?
Include it in your next vacation plans.
4. Political Climate: While most countries
that rely on tourism make every effort to ensure the
safety of tourists, these days it's always a good idea
to keep up on the current political climate of the country
you're planning to visit, especially if there have been
problems in the past.
5. Your own "internal clock":
If you prefer sleeping in in the mornings, and "doing
your own thing" then a guided tour is probably
not for you. Most guided tours start early in the morning,
and you're on the go until evening. You may visit several
cities in a country or countries within a specified
amount of time, and you're required to stay with the
group.
On the other hand, if you don't like
traveling alone, you enjoy the companionship of others
and getting to see as much as possible in the time you've
got, a guided tour or cruise may be just the thing for
you.
6. How you like to spend your time:
Take a little time to think about what you like doing
before planning your trip. Do you prefer the water,
or the mountains? Lying on the beach, or rock-climbing?
Adrenaline rushes or visiting an art museum?
While going outside your comfort zone
and trying new things can be a great experience, spending
your time doing something that bores you silly or makes
you uncomfortable and unhappy just doesn't make sense.
Once you know what you want to do, figure out what you'll
have time to do. Many times, in an effort to get the
"most bang for our buck" we tend to over plan
the vacation, and end up needing a vacation from the
vacation when we get home! Prioritize your list, and
be willing to save some activities or attractions for
another trip.
7. Use the resources that are available
to make your trip special and save money: Today's travelers
have numerous options when planning their vacation.
You can use the Internet to find out more about the
cities or countries you want to visit, check out prices,
even book your flight or hotel room. If you're visiting
a place for the first time, check with a travel agent,
talk to someone who's "been there, done that"
on an Internet Forum, or contact local chambers or commerce
or travel councils to get more information about where
to go, what to see and what to do.
8. Get organized: You can use trip-planning
software, or your own favorite organizing system to
organize and plan your trip. Don't forget things like
making sure your passport and picture ID are up-to-date,
finding out if travel insurance is something you need,
and how and where to exchange your money. The more organized
you are in the beginning, the better vacation you'll
have.
9. Pack lightly: Most of us take too
much on a vacation, and end up lugging heavy suitcases
and other bags along filled with items that we either
don't use or don't need. When planning your trip, look
at your wardrobe and pack as lightly as you can. Take
only what you'll really need, and remember that if you
forget or end up needing something, chances are you
can get it once you reach your destination.
10. Have fun! Get organized, make your
plans and expect the best. That way, once you're on
your way, you'll be able to relax and enjoy yourself.
But remember, there are very few "perfect"
vacations, so if something does go wrong, try to relax
and "go with the flow" as much as possible.
Experienced travelers say that sometimes their best
vacations have been the ones where the unexpected happened.
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