6 Secrets to Planning the *Perfect* Vacation

We absolutely love traveling! Vacations are a must especially after dealing with finals at school, long hours at work, or taking care of your family 24/7. We believe in treating yourself to a picture perfect vacation where you can leave all of your stress behind, dig your toes into the sand, and enjoy the ocean breeze on your face. BUT, in order to have a picture perfect vacation, you have to plan it the right way! Here are our 6 Secrets to Planning the *Perfect* Vacation:

1. Survey everyone.

When you're planning a vacation involving other people, involve them! The best way to test everyone's preferences is to create a survey. We use Survey Monkey-it's simple to use and free! 

2. When choosing a hotel/destination, research it.

We love hearing from other people their experiences on different trips and the best website to get people's opinions is TripAdvisor. It will help you determine what you can expect at a hotel/destination.

3. Check the weather forecast.

Destinations like Mexico, California, and Florida sound great, but if you go during a not-so-sunny season, it could conflict with your plans. Be sure to check the weather forecast so you know when the best time is to travel.

4. Make reservations.

Open Table is a great site to use when reserving places to eat. When you're on vacation, we recommend getting the most out of your time, so waiting around at packed restaurants is no fun. When you make reservations it saves time!

5. Book transportation in advance.

Transportation is so important when you're on vacation. Finding out how you are going to get around in advance is key. Figuring out if your hotel has a shuttle or determining whether or not you will need a rental beforehand can save lots of time and money.

6. Pack for every day.

Packing for a vacation is fun and you can be smart about your packing by using sites like Her Packing List where they tell you what to pack for your trip. We have found that packing your outfits for each part of your day not only makes your luggage the perfect size, but it relieves any stress you may have while on the trip choosing an outfit.

What secrets do you have when planning your vacation? Let us know by leaving a comment below!

Table For Two

Dinner for two, me and you.  Since V-Day is a week away, now is the time to make dinner reservations for your romantic evening!  Most restaurants fill up fast, and there are things to look for when picking the perfect dining spot.  Whether you're out with a cute date or your BFF, this will help to make your dining experience even better!

Book early.  Make your reservation early.  Come the day of Valentine's Day, it will be hard to find an open reservation!

Prix Fixe menus.  For holidays such as this, a lot of places offer special menus at a set price.  Such as, a 4-course meal for $75.00 a person.  When booking a reservation, ask if there's a fixed menu for the night.  That way, it won't be a surprise on your wallet-- and, you can make sure you like what they're serving!

Nightly specials.  Ask about specials for the night.  This could be anything from a yummy main course, to a decadent dessert!  Some restaurants have dessert or other extras as an offer when purchasing dinner, which is good to know.

Not sure?  In that case, cook dinner at home!  Or, just go out to eat on February 15th with your sweetie.  You can avoid the crowds and pricey menus all together.  After all, every day can be Valentine's Day!