The following is a guest post from momAgendaCOMM blogger Jenn Quillen.
Summer is finally here and if you’re anything like me, you’ve spent the past school year longing for a trip to somewhere fabulous! Visiting somewhere new can refresh the body, the mind and the spirit. It’s a big world out there and there are so many opportunities for adventure, excitement, or alternatively, peacefulness and relaxation.
Deciding on your destination can be overwhelming with so many awesome choices, so here are some tips on finding that perfect summer travel destination:
1. Start out small and narrow your focus to the destinations that interest you. Do you love spending your days digging your toes on a sandy beach? Do you love immersing yourself in American history? Are you a thrill-seeker looking for endless roller coaster rides? By tapping into what appeals to you, you can develop a good base for your summer travel plans.
2. Research, research, research. This is always the most daunting task. If you long for a beach vacation with shopping and nightly dinner shows, narrow down the options by looking into resort towns like Myrtle Beach. While home to 60 miles of white sandy beaches, Myrtle Beach also has family-friendly activities like Medieval Times, Ripley’s Aquarium and Brookgreen Gardens, yet also has a coastal foodie scene that will please even the pickiest of parents come dinnertime. If your family wants to spend all day at the theme park on roller coasters and lounge by the pool in the evening, think about places like Kissimmee, Florida, Hershey Park, Pennsylvania and Gatlinburg, Tennessee.
3. Use review sites as you plan your vacation. Don’t discount travel review sites like Trip Advisor. You’ll find helpful information from real people that can offer insight on what a location offers and you’ll get a good feel for the price ranges of the places that interest you so that you can stay within your budget for your summer trip.
4. Search travel blogs and ask around for recommendations. If you still feel at a loss for where to go, search travel blogs or ask your friends and coworkers where they like to go on vacation. If someone had a great time somewhere, they’ll be happy to tell you all about their favorite attractions, the hotel they stayed at, and what they would or would not do if they had the chance to do it all over again.
5. Consider booking an all-inclusive vacation. The hard work has been already done for you when booking an all-inclusive vacation through a travel agency or website like Southwest Airlines Vacations or Delta Vacations. Daily deal sites like Groupon, Living Social and Jetsetter are full of last-minute vacation package deals right now! Whether you’re interested in a theme park vacation, an all-inclusive Caribbean vacation or an African safari, they’re a great place to go for travel inspiration – and a great deal!
Jenn Quillen is a Miami native and the resident rebel at The Rebel Chick. Connect with Jenn on Twitter and Facebook.