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Want to learn how to plan the Ultimate Summer Vacation? Keep reading!
You can have an amazing summer vacation this year with a little planning and creativity. Follow these tips to craft your dream summer trip, whether you’re traveling solo or with friends and family.
Traveling is an awesome way to spend a summer vacation (or any vacation, really!). Some benefits of summer travel are doing outdoor activities, cultural events, new knowledge from exploring, and just having some time to relax.
This post will guide you in planning the most amazing summer vacation that you won’t ever want to end.
1. Decide on Your Ideal Destination
The first step to planning your summer trip is actually picking a place. You can’t start planning when you don’t know what you’re planning for. Picking a place can also help you establish a budget (or you can establish a budget first, then pick a location based on that). Which one you do first really depends on you and how much you know about pricing around the world.
Location is very important and there are so many places to choose from. Really consider your interests when choosing because picking a location that has little to nothing you enjoy can sour your trip. For example, if you dislike the beach and the sand, why would you travel for multiple days/weeks with an itinerary that is 90% beaches? You can incorporate beaches if there’s really one or two you want to see, but if you know you don’t like it, avoid packing a bunch of it into your trip.
Just because someone else says it’s cool, DOESN’T MEAN IT WILL BE FOR YOU!!
Here are a few options in case you have no idea where to start:
Beach Vacations
– This includes places with AMAZING beaches
Outdoor Adventures
– Look for places with great nature and hikes
Big Cities with Summer Events
– This includes large, bustling cities with festivals or fun events
Small Towns and Rural Areas
– Look for quaint, quiet places with a “hometown” feel
International Destinations
Any place outside of your home country and this can be broken down into the categories above as well, or just everything within a few cities.
2. Make Your Travel Arrangements
Now for an even more exciting part of planning, BOOKING THINGS!
This step depends entirely on when you are planning. If you are planning within 6 months of your trip, I would highly recommend booking flights NOW or in the very, very near future. However, if you’re farther out than that, you don’t need to worry as much about booking immediately as prices will fluctuate and potentially go down, saving you HUNDREDS.
For accommodation, it really depends on your area and if you’re solo traveling. When I solo travel, I generally enjoy staying in hostels because I feel less isolated and get to meet people. It’s all about putting yourself out there when you want. There’s also the classic hotel, but I tend to only book these when a place doesn’t have hostels/private hostel rooms, Airbnb is similarly or higher priced, or I just want some space to myself for a while. Again, it all depends on how you travel and what makes you feel most comfortable, but I would still highly recommend trying them all to see what fits your style the best (you might be surprised).
I get asked all the time, so I made a post on the best travel websites for finding the best deals and how I book super affordable flights and accommodations and it has a TON of information in it.
3. Build Your Itinerary
Now that you’ve picked your perfect destination(s), it’s time to build your itinerary. This step could be in conjunction with the previous one if you’re traveling internationally and want to go to a bunch of different places. One route might be significantly cheaper than another, so for more extensive trips, do these together to figure out the best deal.
On your itinerary, search Google, Reddit, TikTok, and any other social media to find cool, must-see attractions and activities. You don’t have to do all of it, but it should give you a good idea of what there is to do. But don’t just stick to the popular touristy locations and activities, check out the lesser-known local gems because that’s how you find the charm of a place!
Another thing to look for is seasonal events and festivals. These can be cool because they don’t happen all the time and can give you a feel of the city when its people come together and you understand the community within. The summer is a great time to travel because there are so many events in the cities and you’ll most likely never be bored.
Be sure you also plan for relaxation time. I know I am a go, go, go type of person, but even on vacation you need a little bit of a break. Make sure to plan that out so you don’t overwhelm yourself with an extremely booked itinerary.
4. Pack Smart for Summer Vacation Weather
The time of year is a huge factor in pricing and packing for your trip. If you’re going in summer (northern hemisphere time), you will probably have an easier time than if you were packing in winter (or going to the southern hemisphere). This is another very important thing to know because if you’re going to the opposite hemisphere, you need to be prepared for even more weather differences.
For example, I studied abroad in Australia from my school in Arizona…THE WEATHER WAS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT! Even tropical Australia’s winter was different than that of Sydney’s, so you can imagine my struggle when it came to packing. The point is that you need to know the climate of everywhere you are going and pack accordingly. You can always buy clothing items when you arrive, but depending on where you go, and what you need, it might cost you a bit.
Assuming the weather is warm, something you can try is a capsule wardrobe of light, breathable clothing such as swimsuits, shorts, tanks, sundresses, sandals, or loose-fit “flowy” pants. They pack very nicely and take up less room than traditional jeans and thicker tees. Pair this with versatile layering pieces for cool nights and you’re ready to go! For colder climates, one or two jackets are really all you need in terms of bulky items. Getting long johns you can wear under your clothes will really help keep you warm.
No matter the weather, don’t forget sun protection – hats, sunglasses, and sunscreen all work great and can protect you from those UV rays.
5. Useful travel accessories
The last things you need for packing are toiletries and practical travel accessories. Buy travel-size toiletries and make sure they fit in whatever standard-size bag the location you are going to allows. These things are much easier to buy wherever you’re going, so you don’t need to bring your full size of all 80 products you own. I would HIGHLY recommend bringing baby wipes and a toothbrush cover.
More essentials you need are a reusable water bottle, a portable battery charger, and a lightweight backpack or crossbody bag. Many places have water filling stations and buying water costs into your budget for actual fun stuff. Having to charge your phone, however, will cut into your time if you have to sit and stop for an hour or so to charge. A bag for all of your belongings is just a smart thing to have, especially when you buy random little things at a corner shop or just don’t want anything in your pocket.
Tip of the day: Research if you need to carry your passport on you at all times if you are traveling internationally. Some countries require it and some countries allow a Government-issued ID. Copies can be acceptable, just be sure to research beforehand. Two times in Mexico City I was asked for mine; one was to get into a club and one was to get onto a bus going to another city (this was a spur-of-the-moment trip, so I’m lucky I even had it on me!). Either way, make copies for yourself to leave in your hotel room stored away.
I hope you enjoyed this post all about SUMMER VACATION IDEAS!
Having an unforgettable summer vacation filled with fun activities, new experiences, and lasting memories is something everyone should be able to experience. The beaches, mountains, rain, sun, etc. are perfect for making the most of your time off. Knowing what you want to do and where you want to/can do it is super important to the planning process.
Plan this trip for yourself because you deserve it!
