How To Plan Your Next European Vacation

Europe is a very popular travel destination. Whether you\'re a
seasoned traveler or planning your first trip, there are several
important things to keep in mind before calling your travel
agent and booking the next vacation:

1. While \Paris in the Springtime\ sounds very romantic, the
truth is that you\'re liable to spend many days indoors, because
the weather can be cold and rainy. On the other hand, the French
Riviera in the springtime boasts warm temperatures, sunshine and
beautiful places to visit. If you\'re not sure of weather
patterns, check with your travel agent who can advise you on
rainy seasons or other weather-related issues for traveling to a
specific spot.

2. Budget: Decide how much you\'ve got to spend, and don\'t forget
to include extras like tourist attractions, getting around,
souvenirs and meals (which are typically more expensive in
Europe than in the states -- dinner can cost upwards of 50 Euros
per person, especially in metropolitan cities). If your budget
is smaller, consider visiting Eastern Europe, looking for
packaged tours, or, if you\'re flexible, book a \last-minute\
trip, which can often save you 30% or more. Check out the
current exchange rate between your currency and that of the
country you\'ll be visiting, to have a better idea of what your
vacation is going to actually cost you. Whenever possible,
travel during an off-peak season to save even more.

3. Your secret dreams or \someday\ wishes: For most of us,
taking a vacation is something we get to do only once a year,
and often plan and save the whole year for. So if you have
always wanted to visit somewhere or do something special -- why
wait? Include it in your next vacation plans.

4. Political Climate: While most countries that rely on tourism
make every effort to ensure the safety of tourists, these days
it\'s always a good idea to keep up on the current political
climate of the country you\'re planning to visit, especially if
there have been problems in the past.

5. Your own \internal clock\: If you prefer sleeping in, in the
mornings, and \doing your own thing\ then a guided tour is
probably not for you. Most guided tours start early in the
morning, and you\'re on the go until evening. You may visit
several cities in a country or countries within a specified
amount of time, and you\'re required to stay with the group.

On the other hand, if you don\'t like traveling alone, you enjoy
the companionship of others and getting to see as much as
possible in the time you\'ve got, a guided tour or cruise may be
just the thing for you.

6. How you like to spend your time: Take a little time to think
about what you like doing before planning your trip. Do you
prefer the water, or the mountains? Lying on the beach, or
rock-climbing? Adrenaline rushes or visiting an art museum?

While going outside your comfort zone and trying new things can
be a great experience, spending your time doing something that
bores you silly or makes you uncomfortable and unhappy just
doesn\'t make sense. Once you know what you want to do, figure
out what you\'ll have time to do. Many times, in an effort to get
the \most bang for our buck\ we tend to over plan the vacation,
and end up needing a vacation from the vacation when we get
home! Prioritize your list, and be willing to save some
activities or attractions for another trip.

7. Use the resources that are available to make your trip
special and save money: Today\'s travelers have numerous options
when planning their vacation. You can use the Internet to find
out more about the cities or countries you want to visit, check
out prices, even book your flight or hotel room. If you\'re
visiting a place for the first time, check with a travel agent,
talk to someone who\'s \been there, done that\ on an Internet
Forum, or contact local chambers or commerce or travel councils
to get more information about where to go, what to see and what
to do.

8. You can use trip-planning software, or your own favorite
organizing system to organize and plan your trip. Don\'t forget
things like making sure your passport and picture ID are
up-to-date, finding out if travel insurance is something you
need, and how and where to exchange your money. The more
organized you are in the beginning, the better vacation you\'ll
have.

9. Most of us take too much on a vacation, and end up lugging
heavy suitcases and other bags along filled with items that we
either don\'t use or don\'t need. When planning your trip, look at
your wardrobe and pack as lightly as you can. Take only what
you\'ll really need, and remember that if you forget or end up
needing something, chances are you can get it once you reach
your destination.

10. Have fun! Get organized, make your plans and expect the
best. That way, once you\'re on your way, you\'ll be able to relax
and enjoy yourself. But remember, there are very few \perfect\
vacations, so if something does go wrong, try to relax and \go
with the flow\ as much as possible. Experienced travelers say
that sometimes their best vacations have been the ones where the
unexpected happened.