HOW TO PLAN AN ENGAGING VACATION
Vacations can be as engaging as vacationers desire, and there’s no shortage of ways to make your next getaway more immersive.
• Ask locals. It’s easy to have limited engagements
with locals when vacationing, particularly
when staying at a resort. However,
locals can be invaluable resources for vacationers
who want to immerse themselves in
the culture and cuisine of the cities or towns
where they’ll be staying. Ask locals for advice
on local restaurants, beaches and cultural attractions.
Locals typically know where to go
for a more authentic and less touristy vibe,
and that can make for a more engaging trip.
• Welcome chances to get out of your comfort
zone. Th ere’s nothing wrong with a vacation
built around rest and relaxation, which
can be the perfect antidote to the hustle and
bustle of life back home. But vacationers who
want something more engaging than sunsoaked
aft ernoons on a waterfront chaise
lounger are urged to embrace opportunities
to escape their comfort zone. Whether it’s
hiking excursions, whitewater kayaking trips
or parasailing sessions, there are many ways
to make a vacation more engaging.|
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Recreation is an important component
of a healthy lifestyle. Th e
nonprofi t HelpGuide.org notes
that making time for recreation provides a
host of health benefi ts, including reduced
stress, improved brain function and even
stronger relationships.
Despite the well-documented benefi ts of
taking time off , millions of vacation days
go unused each year. According to an
Ipsos survey conducted near the end of
2024, nearly half of working professionals
in the United States expected to have unused
vacation days by the end of that year.
Th e cost of travel has risen in recent years,
and a 2024 report from Deloitte indicated
that price concerns kept many would-be
vacationers from traveling that summer.
Th ough costs might remain high depending
on how vacationers travel and where
they’re going, there are still ways to plan
an engaging vacation without breaking the
bank.
• Pick the right
time of year to
travel. Summer
is the most popular
time to vacation
because
shool is out and
work requirements
tend to
be a little less
demanding in
many industries.
However,
summer also is
the most expensive
time to travel. Fall tends to be much
more aff ordable, and estimates from the
travel aggregator Expedia indicate airfare
costs in fall historically drop by 10 percent
compared to the peak summer travel season.
If summer is the only season when a
vacation can be taken, consider driving to
a destination to save on airfare costs.
• Plan ahead.
Travelers who
truly want to
experience life
in a diff erent
locale are urged
to plan ahead
so their vacations
can be as
immersive as
possible. Even
v a c a t i o n e r s
who book stays
in all-inclusive
resorts can plan
day trips into local neighborhoods outside
resort walls to get a more authentic idea of
what it’s like to live, eat and play in a given
destination. By waiting until you arrive at
a destination to look into local attractions,
you might not be able to book restaurant
reservations or other excursions. Plan
ahead and book as early as possible.
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