Planning Your Spring Break Trip

With spring right around the corner, it's time to begin planning your spring break trip if you haven't already! Whether it’s a quick getaway or a prolonged family vacation, everyone is looking forward to shedding the winter blues and grabbing some rays. Naturally, a lot has to go into planning a Spring Break trip, especially if you’re planning on bringing the kids along with you! Choosing a destination is the first step, but it’s what comes after that really effects how smoothly your spring break trip is going to go. Here is the perfect vacation checklist for making sure you are well planned and prepared for anything.

Getting Started

Choose a Destination – This is something that has likely been on your mind for a while. Most people who are trying to plan a trip have a list of destinations they want to visit at some point in their lives. Start with that list and narrow down destinations based on what’s feasible for you from a financial and realistic standpoint. If your family has a certain place you go every year, you’ll know ahead of time what your destination will be, which eliminates the need for this process.

Decide on a Time Frame – This is equally as important as deciding where you’ll be visiting. Look ahead and see how long you can take off, or what kind of vacation time you’ll have. This is important because based on this time frame you’ll be able to eliminate certain destinations from your list. If you’re self-employed, look ahead and see how long everyone can manage with you being gone. Remember, you can’t plan on the amount of time you need to take off if you don’t know where you’re going. Use the list strategy again and mark off certain places as you get more information about your vacation time.

Time To Pack

The Dreaded Packing List – The initial part of your spring break planning is done! But now comes the hard part. Since you finally know where you’re going, and for how long you’ll be there, you can begin the process of packing. Here lies another opportunity to make a list of everything you’ll need for the trip. This is a good way to make sure you include all the essentials, as well as anything extra you may think you’ll need. A good idea is to make copies of the list and hand it out to all of your family members who you’ll be traveling with. This makes it easy for the whole family to be on the same page! Be sure to remember these items, as they are generally the most forgotten: first aid kit, chapstick, hand sanitizer, phone charger, and camera!

Luggage – This really depends on what kind of trip you’re taking, but if it’s a long distance one and you’re traveling by plane, you will most definitely need luggage tags. There is no better way to be able to identify your family’s luggage in an airport than luggage tags.

Last Minute Review

Double Check Everything – Here you are, right on the cusp of leaving for an awesome family vacation and all you have to do is make sure everyone is ready to leave. This may seem simple but can be difficult due to the mental headache of trying to prepare for your Spring Break for so long! Make sure your children are all prepped before you double check your own bags. If you’re driving somewhere, make sure you have snacks for the car, a full tank of gas, and sufficient entertainment for everyone involved. Taking a plane somewhere is a different story, as you must make sure everyone has their tickets, IDs, Passports (if you’re going abroad), as well as a special bag that has items in case of lost luggage. Emphasize the checklist again, as it is the easiest way to double-check anything and everything.

Spring break is a wonderful time to get away from the hustle and bustle of day-to-day stresses and really relax. Whether it’s with your entire family, or just a couple of friends, I guarantee that it will be a much-needed vacation. Follow my steps above for a stress free packing period and enjoy your break the way it’s meant to be enjoyed.