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