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.:A Desert Lifestyle Article:.

Bookiing Your Perfect Vacation
by Kate Dyer

Everyone needs a vacation! With summer around the corner, it’s time to get away from the routine and do something extraordinary, or even ordinary, but something to change up the pace.  

The reasons for a vacation vary; some people take a vacation for pre-deployment leave, others for post-deployment leave. You may vacation for a holiday, to visit family or simply to escape for some relaxation. Whatever the reason, when it comes time to plan your next family vacation, you need to be prepared. Here are my suggestions on planning the perfect vacation for you and your family.

First, determine the purpose of your vacation. Do you want to be with extended family and friends (a trip home, a reunion at the beach)? Are you seeking an adventure (a cruise, a new city, state or country, an amusement park)? Do you want to have a quiet getaway with just you and your spouse (a cabin in the woods, a resort)? What motivated you to plan your trip?
My husband and I decided to take an adventurous vacation. As a married couple without children, we decided it was the right time to take the vacation of our dreams: a trip to Europe. Our focus would be the history of Italy and Greece. We wanted to witness the creation of art by the Renaissance giants, experience the culture of those two countries and gasp in awe while standing at historical landmarks.

Second, decide your budget and the time you have to take your vacation. Will it be a weekend getaway or will you take a week or more of leave? How much money can you spend on the vacation total? That includes clothes, souvenirs, food, gas, hotels, activities, tipping, taxi, plane tickets, etc. The key is to plan your budget and stick to it. Your vacation should be something fun that provides you with lasting memories. You should not have to pay it off for the next year. Don’t let your vacation take on a life of its own. You are in control!
After my husband David and I reviewed our finances and available leave, we made our budget and vacation timeline. We made sure to include some extra cash for those random purchases, which, in our case, was a lot of Italian gelato.

Third, begin the hunt for your perfect vacation. There are many great websites for finding a deal that will keep you within your budget. Sato Travel is a travel organization designed specifically for military families. Information, Tickets & Tours also offers vacation deals on local attractions. I have listed a few others for your reference. In some cases, consulting a travel agent will get you the best deals, but most of the time you can book it yourself online. Another important item to consider is whether you will need a passport or visa (make sure that you allow enough time to acquire those items). If you are visiting another country, you should also know the customs of the country and appropriate apparel for the place you are touring.
We scavenged for awesome deals online, but I was not finding anything substantial. Since this vacation was so different from our past vacations, we decided to consult a travel agent to see what kind of packages she could put together for us.

To our delight, she was able to guide us to hotels, museums, tours and cities that fit our desires, while staying within our budget. She informed us that a cruise would be the best way to see more of Greece for less money. She knew we would also want time to explore on our own, so she planned for us to use public transportation in Italy to tour Venice, Florence and Rome. Since my husband and I are both planners, we were happy to have the timeline of our trip mapped out before we left the United States.

David and I had our passports from a previous trip and no visas were required. In my research of the area, I did find out that we needed to buy new shoes for our journey. Apparently, Italians do not wear tennis shoes to walk around; they wear black walking shoes. So, we had to find some good black walking shoes to better blend in with the culture. (Once we arrived we found that most of the men and women wore gorgeous leather shoes with pointed toes and intricate designs.)

Fourth, find souvenirs that are special to the place you are vacationing. You will have something unique to remind you of your experience. Do you have a collection to add to or a family tradition you can enhance?
While we explored cities in Greece and Italy, we made sure to find souvenirs native to the region. On the island of Corfu we acquired items made from olive wood, in Venice we bought Murano glass and in Florence we purchased silk and leather. Our tradition is to buy a Christmas tree ornament when we take a special vacation. This ritual of decorating our tree allows us to relive precious moments from our travels.

Bon Voyage! You are ready to plan your perfect vacation. Just one last tip; consider your specific circumstances. While your ideal vacation might include exploring a new country such as Turkey or Argentina, if you are planning a homecoming trip for you and your spouse, then maybe a Hawaiian getaway or a Mexican Riviera resort would be best for you. If being around people energizes you, then a trip to Disneyland or SeaWorld might be on target. Just remember your goal, your budget, your timeline and, of course, remember to have fun. Happy planning!

How to shop for a vacation that fits the desires of you and your family

Location: You decide!
Hours: Online shopping 24 hours, travel agency hours & resort hours will vary.

Sato Travel
Bldg. 1102, Door 21
Phone: 830.6692

Hours Of Operation
Monday - Friday
7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Saturday, Sunday & Holidays
Closed

Information, Tickets & Tours (ITT)
Bldg. 1533
Phone: 830.6163 ext. 252

Hours Of Operation
Monday - Friday
10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Saturday, Sunday & Holidays
Closed

Online Shopping
www.satotravel.com
www.satovacations.com
www.usmc-mccs.org/itt
www.cheaptickets.com
www.travelocity.com
www.tripadvisor.com
www.priceline.com
www.travelzoo.com