It’s T-minus 12 hours before we leave. In some ways, it’s the worst part of the vacation countdown. Everything’s half-done.
Millions of other travelers will experience the same thing this summer in the agonizing hours and minutes before their departure.
Staying home may not be your idea of a vacation, but more people are reportedly considering a “staycation” this year than any time since the Great Recession.
To which I say: Go for it! Staying home can teach you so much about having a better vacation.
Our return to Paris was all but a sure thing. We had our passports. We’d spent weeks brushing up our French in Duolingo. We were even arguing about the best apartments on HomeAway.And then life happened.It wasn’t one thing that sunk our summer plans in Paris. Instead, it was a lot of little things, including some paperwork issues, school schedules and, of course, the funds. In the end, it’s always about money, isn’t it?
Hey, can you keep a secret? It’s free museum day. That’s how you save a few bucks while you’re on vacation, and maybe even see another side of your destination.
You’ve probably read one or two travel stories that advise you to become a vacation contrarian. By zigging when everyone else zags, you can save money and avoid crowds, they claim. But that could be a serious vacation mistake.
I know because I’ve taken that advice.
If you’ve ever lost someone on vacation, you probably know it’s disruptive, if not disappointing. And by “lost” I don’t mean you can’t find junior at the beach. I’m talking about losing a member of your party for days — or longer — to sickness or injury.
My kids are pet magnets when we’re on the road. They’re constantly adopting dogs and cats and other animals we encounter in our vacation rentals.
Ever visited a place that you liked so much that you didn’t want to leave? Me too.I have a short list of destinations that we were so enamored of, we would live there. Some of them might be on your list, like Hawaii and Southern California. Others, like Fort Collins, Colo., New Orleans, and Ketchum, Idaho, might come as a surprise.
If you hate to plan, your last family vacation probably was filled with chaos. I know a thing or two about that.
Flying somewhere with your family? Before you board that plane, before you pack your bags, before you even book your ticket, you’ll want to read this.
