by Alex Simon ’14
Find your feeling
It’s easy — and overwhelming — to scroll on Instagram or Facebook and find hundreds of places on your bucket list. The best way to start planning a vacation is to think about what you’re trying to "feel" on your getaway. Ask yourself, “Do I want to sit by the beach? Go skiing? Explore a new city I’ve never seen before?” Once you decide on what type of trip you want, the planning process becomes simple.
Set a budget and Get. Those. Deals.
Before searching for a specific place that you had in mind, try coming up with a ballpark budget for your vacation. Use some online vacation planning tools and compare the costs of various destinations. You may find that instead of going to Florida again, you can get a Barcelona experience for the same cost!
Break it down
This is where many people get lost, confused and overwhelmed. Once you’ve locked down a specific location, you can now break down your itinerary day by day or keep it wide open for spontaneity. If you like to have a set plan then try securing tickets, passes and excursion trips before you get there. Be sure to research the location and check out blogs from other travelers. You may find an awesome spot you wouldn’t have known about.
Pack and get things sorted
Don’t wait until the last minute to dust off your suitcase! If you’re traveling internationally, make sure your visas and passport are set. The best packing tip is to map out your days and pack according to your itinerary. In any case, make sure your clothes and shoes are versatile.
Don’t think — enjoy!
Planning a vacation can become stressful and you might even lose sight of the purpose of the trip — to break away! Once you arrive at your destination, sit back, relax and enjoy your hard work.
Alex Simon ’14 is the CEO and co-founder of Elude along with Frankie Scerbo ’07. Elude is a travel app that allows users to search for travel packages based on their budget. He is a former business manager at Morgan Stanley and Deutsche Bank.