| I have always done the Griswold family vacation. My | | | | and possibly some survival rations of some sort. You |
| dad, an amazingly competent person, always tried to | | | | should always keep an atlas and local map in the car. |
| control his vacations to the point that he knew what | | | | Even when simply going somewhere reasonably close |
| meals would be served each time we ate at a | | | | to your home town, you should always do your |
| restaurant. Despite this, we always had to deal with | | | | research. There are many little treasures you can find |
| the unexpected. This might be a 10 foot extension | | | | that are not normally considered tourist destinations. I |
| cord when we turned out to need 12 foot cord, or a | | | | have been able to visit places from movies, books and |
| car recall for possible shorts in the electric door locks | | | | history that were not on any guided tour. Whenever |
| we heard right after we stopped because the doors | | | | possible, I ask people I know in person or through the |
| were on fire. | | | | internet about the places I intend to visit. This has |
| I have spent a few decades trying to foresee the | | | | worked both ways, with both the person living there |
| next disaster and prevent it from happening. Perhaps, | | | | and me, the visitor, likely to learn about the place. |
| as areaction, I tend to be less structured in my | | | | One of the lessons I have learned from my father is |
| vacations. I know where I am going, and when I will be | | | | that a spontaneous vacation, where you go to a city |
| there, but I tend to presume that I can deal with | | | | and then explore instead of following an itinerary, can |
| whatever comes up when the time comes. Thankfully, | | | | benefit from planning. Like my father, I keep a folder |
| I have pretty much been able to manage without | | | | with every document and message pertaining to the |
| encountering major problems. | | | | vacation. It greatly helps when the time comes to deal |
| Either method can work for a good, enjoyable | | | | with troubles. The folder includes places that might be |
| vacation. Knowing what kind of person you are, and | | | | useful, like an embassy, tourist center, welcome center |
| what you want out of the vacation is required. | | | | or other such site. |
| Whichever plan you embrace, some preparation is | | | | The most important thing to remember about a |
| required. You have to know what budget you can use. | | | | vacation is to enjoy it. Bring what you need for |
| This is money and time at least. If you intend to fly, you | | | | comfort, plan for multiple things you might want to do, |
| will need to have tickets far enough ahead of time to | | | | so you have available options in case something does |
| get the best price. If you drive, the car needs to be | | | | not work. Do not be afraid to follow your nose if you |
| serviced to limit the chances of something breaking at | | | | find something exciting. Just do not break the budget |
| an inopportune time. A car should be stocked with an | | | | you set when you started. |
| emergency kit, with first aid supplies, water, a blanket | | | | |