Planning a Getaway

Well, the holidays are over. Now what?

For much of the world, the holiday hangovers have passed and ushered in a new reality – winter, New Years resolutions (diets, newbies at the gym), and the prospect of several work holiday-less months. Its enough to drive a man to drink…if the reduction of that itself hadn’t been a New Year’s resolution. Fear not, Pursuits readers, a simple tonic exists for those doldrums – plan a trip.

For many of us, while our bank accounts may be depleted as the new year arrives, our vacation day stockpiles have just received a desperately needed infusion. Here’s how to start plotting them out:

Allow Yourself to Dream

While it may not truly be possible for you to actually head anywhere in the world, allowing yourself to brainstorm in this manner will highlight what your ambitions are for 2011 travel. Think about the places you’ve seen on TV and in films, read about in books or magazines, or heard friends talking about. The act of brainstorming all these new and exciting places will generate not only travel ideas but also excitement and make you more likely to follow through on planning a trip.

Still need help? Try these sites to help spark ideas:

Wanderfly – A personalized recommendation engine that helps you discover new and exciting experiences, based on your budget and interests.

Joobili – Offers time-sensitive travel inspiration specific to your travel dates and interests, with the idea that when you go is as important as where you go.

Make a Choice

This may sound simplistic, but the necessary act of actually committing to a destination is the largest hurdle for many people. I am often asked:

• What made you decide to go to Turkey? (for one reason – see here)
• Why would you choose Colombia? (its seriously safe – military helo notwithstanding)

The truth is, I rarely have an earthshaking reason.  My responses generally go something like this: “Well, for one, I’ve never been. Also, the flight was cheap.”  That’s it. Clearly we all have places we have dreamed of traveling to or experiences that occupy high real estate on our bucket lists and if its time for one of those trips, I envy you. But, don’t pressure yourself. Make a choice and start planning – that’s where the real fun begins. The only bad vacations are the ones talked about, but never taken.

Enjoy the Preparation

While the health benefits of vacation are well-documented, I strongly believe there are similar (at least mental) health benefits of having a vacation planned and preparing therefor. In between trips, my buddies and I always lament that “we need to get something on the calendar asap!” For me, the enjoyment and contentment I feel from anticipating, preparing and planning for a trip is equal to the travels themselves. Embrace the planning – buy a guidebook (I’m a huge Lonely Planet fan, myself), poll your Twitter and Facebook friends to see who’s been and what they recommend, and seek out online resources like Matador Travel and BootsnAll. Diving into trip planning will not only highlight awesome attractions at your destination and make your ultimate trip more organized, but also extend the “vacation” feeling and excitement.

Finally, enjoy the journey. Load up your pack, turn off those Blackberrys and embrace your long-awaiting (and well-planned) trip!