| This time of year I'm inundated with people | | | | number of people that think they can drive |
| asking for my vacation planning advice - I | | | | from New York to the Maine Wilderness in one |
| own a regional vacation site and offer free | | | | day and still have time to hike a mountain. |
| consultation. The problem is information | | | | Which is a nice lead in to... WHAT DO YOU |
| overload. Vacation web sites contain so much | | | | LIKE TO SEE AND DO? Don't try to see and do |
| information that people get overwhelmed with | | | | everything, or the vacation will just be one |
| the confusing number of choices and decisions | | | | big blur. Be realistic on just how many |
| - it can be disheartening. I've developed a | | | | attractions you can enjoy and not be |
| few questions I get people to think about and | | | | exhausted at the end of the day. So write out |
| answer that really gets them realistic about | | | | the things you like to do and see. Do you |
| vacation planning for their destinations and | | | | like excitement and plenty to do at night or |
| accommodations. So here are the questions and | | | | enjoy a quiet village atmosphere? Are you a |
| advice I give to people touring my specialty | | | | history and museum buff, or attracted more to |
| region - New England - but I know are | | | | the scenic beauty of an area? Do you like to |
| relevant to vacation planning almost | | | | hike in the mountains, or doze on a beach? |
| anywhere. HOW MANY DAYS DO YOU HAVE FOR YOUR | | | | Once you've chosen a few themes they'll help |
| VACATION? If you're flying in to a central | | | | make your vacation planning easier by zeroing |
| airport allow the first day to pick up your | | | | in on a realistic area to cover during your |
| car and drive to your destination. Take time | | | | stay, depending on whether you'll be housed |
| to settle into your accommodation, get | | | | in one spot or touring around. WHAT DO YOU |
| orientated and scout out for a relaxing | | | | WANT IN ACCOMMODATION? Are you looking to |
| dinner location. Similarly on the last day, | | | | lodge at a Four-Star resort and spa or a |
| you should allocate for driving back to the | | | | campground near a lake? The one thing these |
| airport, dropping off your car and getting | | | | two extremes have in common is reservations. |
| through security to catch your flight. So if | | | | You can't expect to turn up in the height of |
| you're planning on seven vacation days in the | | | | summer or a popular seasonal time and hope to |
| area - now you're down to five for touring | | | | find a room. Do some quick research to find |
| and sightseeing. DO YOU PREFER TO TOUR OR | | | | out what's available in the region. For |
| STAY IN ONE PLACE? This is an important | | | | example the New England region is famous for |
| question for you to answer as touring | | | | its Country Inns and Bed and Breakfasts - a |
| requires more vacation planning but also | | | | type of accommodation that suits couples and |
| offers the chance to see more of a region's | | | | singles, but not necessarily families with |
| diversity. If you prefer to be based at one | | | | young children. I always urge visitors to |
| location then it makes the lodging choice | | | | book their accommodation early in their |
| easier. But there may be no one place | | | | vacation planning - even before their |
| centrally located for destinations and | | | | flights. I hope this brief article will help |
| attractions, so you need to ensure where you | | | | you zero in on that trip of your dreams and |
| stay is close for all the things you want to | | | | avoid an expensive mistake you live to |
| see and do. Check with a regional map and | | | | regret. |
| calculate distances. I can't tell you the | | | | |