No one wants to think about when your vacation is over. Chances are, it was pretty awesome and you wish you were still there. But sometimes your vacation isn’t the paradise you thought it was going to be. Here are 6 things you should do when you get home.
So today, I thought I would share a few tips on how we deal when vacation is over. Some are easy, some are thought-provoking, and some call for some brutal honesty. But all together, they help you to recap your current vacation, and help plan your next one.
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Step #1: Get All The Unpacking Done First
The worst, and often most-hated, task after vacation is spending time unloading and unpacking. I shared some easy unpacking tips to help you out. So before you do anything else, take care of the housekeeping tasks of post-vacation fun. You will have a clear head and no be distracted on things you need to focus on.
Step #2: Take A Few Moments And Write About All Aspects Of Your Trip
So one of the things you need to do when you vacation is over is journal about it. It doesn’t have to be long-drawn out sentences(if long descriptions are your thing, then go for it), it can just be bullet points if you like. Jot down your thoughts about:
- Travel to and from your vacation
- Your hotel accommodations
- Food & drink
- Things you did
- Souvenirs and momentos
You don’t need to take a lot of time doing it. It is a great way to find out what everyone thought of your vacation.
Step #3: Discuss What You Loved About Your Vacation
This is probably the easiest thing to do when your vacation is over. What things did you love? What were your favorite foods? Most fun thing to do? Just talk it out, look at pictures, even pull out those souvenirs to remember all the things you loved about your vacation.
Jot those things down. You will need them in a step further down.
Step #4: Talk About What You Didn’t Like Or Wouldn’t Do Again When Your Vacation Is Over
As much as you don’t like to think that your vacation wasn’t perfect, let’s face it, there probably was bumps and snags. Let’s face it, nothing is perfect. Here are a few questions to consider:
- Was there too much or not enough activity?
- Was your method of travel the best way to get there?
- Do you need to think about better places to eat?
- Was an attraction worth the price you paid?
- Did you itinerary make everyone tired(and cranky)?
- What could you have brought to make it better?
Be honest with yourselves. It is okay that things didn’t go as planned. Travel is often a learning experience. As much as you want to love a place because someone else does or it looks awesome on TV or in a magazine, sometimes it just isn’t the place for you. And that is ok.
You can use this time to discuss everything, so when you plan your next trip, you will know what to avoid.
Step #5: Leave Constructive(Not Destructive) Feedback On TripAdvisor Or Other Review Sites
Now, I strongly advise you to at least wait a week before you do this. Why? Because you have to be able to look inward to see if there was something you did to have a bad experience. Did you not do proper research? Were you expecting too much because you didn’t understand? Or were you grumpy because you spent the entire day traveling?
Let’s face it, review sites can be wonderful when they are used in the right manner. And when reviews are realistic. As someone who frequents Sandals Resorts, I spent a lot of time researching and reading reviews.
Some of them are spot on.
Some of them make no sense.
Some of them are just out there for the attention so the reviewer can get compensation.
As I stated earlier, no place is perfect, and you have no right to expect that. Places honestly want to know what they can do to make sure your stay(and others)is the best possible. But let’s face it, you need to be realistic.
If you had a truly awful time(and we know that happens)you should contact the place first. Don’t immediately jump onto social media and start ripping a place to shreds. It could have been a misunderstanding on the hotel or attractions part. Or it could be that you didn’t research something enough and didn’t understand something that made your trip not-so-much fun. In fact, if something was truly that bad, you should have been dealing with it while you were on your trip.
Whatever you decide to write, remember this: if it was you and you made a genuine, honest mistake, would you want that blasted all over the internet? Be truthful & kind, and know better in the future that this place wasn’t for you, but it could be someone else’s paradise.
Step #6: Use This Knowledge To Plan & Book Your Next Vacation
So now that you have the good, the bad, & maybe even the ugly, it is time to use that knowledge to plan your next vacation. If you enjoyed your vacation, can you plan something similar in a new location? If you did the beach this time, maybe a camping trip or amusement park may be the answer.
Just decide together where you want to go & what you want to do. Can’t decide? Toss names in a hat and pull one. Have an arm wrestling match. Have an outside friend or family member decide for you, if you just can’t make up your mind.
Bonus Tip: Sometimes It IS Best To Stick To The Familiar
Sometimes, trying something new isn’t the best thing for your family. Sticking with the familiar may be just what you need to relax and rejuvenate. For us, the familiar and the most relaxing is Wildwood NJ. The best place for all members of our family, the yummiest food, and the perfect combination of fun & relaxation. In fact, we book for the following year before we even leave our hotel.
Sometimes something old is your best something new.
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