As we near summer, people all around the country are exploring times and places to travel, with the peak travel period being between Memorial Day and Labor Day with the bookend holidays being some of the heaviest travel periods of the year.
In the United States, the peak travel period is during the summer because kids are out of school, college students are heading back home, job transfers coordinate with schools being out of session, and requested time off from jobs.
And with the cost of gas being the highest it’s ever been, projections are that this summer will exceed previous years in terms of people traveling. The difference is that this year, people aren’t looking to take a long, cross-country road trip. Instead, they plan on staying closer to home.
In fact, close to 7 out of 10 people plan to travel this summer, though they plan to alter their trip to accommodate rising inflation and gas prices. Those surveys don’t mean that cross-country road trips are out-of-bounds, just less likely than previous years. So, whether you’re looking for places to stay in, say, Nashville or the Pacific Northwest, planning for your perfect trip is slightly more challenging than in past years.
Planning Your Trip
Understanding that your trip may cost more than in previous years should help you determine where and how long you plan to travel. Planning your trip, where you want to visit, and how long you’ll be gone will be the foundation for a good time and help you budget. In order to plan your trip effectively, you need to decide on a destination, create an itinerary, create a budget, and pack conservatively.
Decide on a Destination
If you plan on having a vacation, deciding on a destination is the first thing you need to do. Unless you plan to have a “staycation” and relax around the house, deciding on your destination is part of the fun of the vacation. So whether you’re looking to head to The Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Niagara Falls, Disneyworld, or some other destination, choosing where to go is a significant part of the excitement.
In the planning stage, consider the importance of your destination. For example, do you need to go to Las Vegas in August for NFL games when you can easily find online sportsbook NFL lines to help you with your gaming? A family trip to the sun may be just as exciting and the weather just as cool. But, instead, maybe a trip to the mountains or family may be a better plan.
Create an Itinerary
Once you have your destination decided upon, you need to create an itinerary that you can share. An itinerary is a travel plan of where you should be on specific days so that in the case something goes wrong; people know where to attempt to find or communicate with you.
Set a Trip Budget, Don’t Forget To Budget Post-Trip
Now that you know where you’ll be heading and for how long, creating a budget that you can enjoy yourself without indebting your family is what needs to be done. Setting a budget for your trip, you should figure out gas, lodging, and meals and add 10% as safety for just-in-cases.
As you budget for your time away from home, you also should calculate your bills for when you return. One of the biggest mistakes people make when planning a summer trip is that they only budget for when they’re on the road. The reality is that a couple of weeks after your trip is over and before your next payday can be difficult.
Pack and Repack
Even though you are using your car for a road trip and don’t have to pay baggage fees as if you were driving, don’t overpack your car. On the one hand, you want to pack for your trip, but do you really need to pack a couple of sweaters in the middle of summer? On the other hand, you should focus on packing less than you may need so that you have room for souvenirs and be comfortable on your trip. Overpacking your car may not cost more per bag than an airline, but it does come with a cost in comfort for you and the family in the car.
Even with costs rising, more people than ever plan on traveling this summer. Planning effectively will help you take a vacation that doesn’t put you into debt but also one that you and your family can enjoy.
