Island Therapy is what you need! Through all your daydreaming, you soon realize you have no idea how to bring those day dreams to fruition or what goes into planning an island vacation at all.
Can you do it yourself? Will you need help? Planning an island vacation can be fun, but if you don’t know where to begin – it can also be cumbersome.
The first step in planning an island vacation is to ask yourself a series of pertinent questions. The answers to those questions will eventually lead you in the right direction – straight to the island you’ve dreamed of finding. Okay, so what do you need to know to get started? Let’s take a look.
Step 1 – Ask yourself the following questions.
Who will be traveling with you?
Family vacations are very different than solo ones or couple vacations in the amount of planning that’s involved. Knowing ahead of time who is in your traveling party will help you decide the best destination.
What is your travel time frame?
You don’t have to pinpoint exact dates, but doing so would be very helpful in landing the best deals. However, sometimes being flexible in your schedule leads to even greater deals so knowing the time you have to work in is important.
What is your budget?
Knowing how much you have to spend ahead of time will deter you from overspending and waste too much time looking at locations and accommodations that are out of your budget.
What do you want to do?
‘Vacation’ means something different to everyone. Perhaps you want to partake in lots of activities like watersports. Maybe you want to do some boutique shopping or exploring or take some educational classes. Knowing that you want out of your vacation will make it easier to weed out the locations that do not offer what you’re looking for.
Step 2 – Research your locations.
By now, you’ve narrowed your search down to just a few possible locations. Invest the time in researching them yourself to find out what they have to offer. Research everything you need to know or may even possibly need to know. Some suggestions on things to consider are:
1. Activities
2. Language barriers
3. Currency conversion ability
4. Phone, Internet accessibility
5. Information about health care options in the event of an emergency
6. Immigration requirements
7. Social/political situation in the country to avoid hazardous situations
8. Weather/climate and probability of storms or adverse weather
9. Common diseases in the area
10. Status of the drinking water
11. Whether or not the location is kid-friendly if you are traveling with children
12. Extra fees/taxes on arrivals and departures
13. When are the high and low travel seasons
Step 3 – Pinpoint Your Travel Dates
By now, you’ve likely decided where you want to go for your island vacation. Now it’s time to decide when you want to go. The best time to travel is going to depend on a variety of factors – including your personal situation with work and such as well as the availability of flights and accommodations.
Because you’ve already researched your location, you know when the off season is. During this time, the deals are going to be better because the prices are going to be considerably cheaper than during the peak season. So if at all possible, you’re going to want to go during the off season. Bear in mind though, being flexible in your schedule can often lead to some fabulous last minute travel deals.
Step 4 – Research Your Accommodations
Use the Internet to find out which kinds of accommodations are available in your intended destination. For extended stays, it’s sometimes cheaper to rent an entire house or apartment than to rent a hotel room. Don’t always shy away from resort properties based solely on price.
Many resort properties offer all inclusive deals and packages that come with meals, tickets to attractions, tours or various other perks. Research these thoroughly before deciding. Sometimes the packages are cheaper than pricing the tickets and such individually.
Beware of hidden fees and surcharges that can make a good deal bad very quickly. Keep a few places in mind, but don’t commit to any reservations yet. You can do that later.
Step 5 – Research Your Flight and Transportation
Ideally, non-stop flights to your destination are preferred, but sometimes you can shave a few hundred dollars off your fare just by taking a layover or two. Research all your flight options to see where the best deal is.
If you’re planning to rent a car once at your destination, use some of the travel planning websites for packaged deals. Some of them offer a flight/car rental combo at a discounted rate so this is definitely worth checking into. Some locations require you to have additional transportation arrangements made, like boat rides to your final destination.
Be sure that you investigate the charges and availability for these as well. Again, keep a few of the best deals in mind, but don’t reserve anything yet. You can do that later.
Step 6 – Check Your Destination’s Website For Travel Deals and Discounts
Some of the more popular island destinations have their own website where they will post news, information and many times travel deals for prospective tourists. Some sites allow you to book your entire trip through them. Those that allow this usually offer considerable discounts on local attractions and accommodations so it’s definitely worth checking out.
Compare the deals you find here with the other ones you marked from your previous research and make your reservations accordingly. Make sure everything you need is included in the reservation and that you leave no stone unturned.
Step 7 – Get Your Travel Documents In Order
Your previous research should have let you know if your intended destination requires any special travel documents and what they are. Now is the time to get them in order.
Be advised that you’re going to need the same documents for everyone that is traveling with you. Passports, birth certificates and other identifying information can take time to process so having time to get the copies you need is important.
Step 8 – Confirm Your Reservations
Make the final confirmation that your reservations are correct and in order. Confirm and re-confirm with every agency you booked with. The airline, the hotels, car rental agency – call all of them to be certain your dates have been secured to avoid any surprises.
Step 9 – Make Sure Your Personal Affairs Are In Order
While you’re gone, you may need someone to look after your house, pets or get your mail. You should line this up well in advance so that you won’t have to worry about what you left behind once you embark on your trip. Be sure that you provide everything that’s needed in your absence for the caretaker, like pet food and such.
Step 10 – Shop and Pack For Your Trip
Although packing for your trip might be the most nerve-wracking part, it’s important you take the time to do it correctly and with planning. You may be tempted to over-pack by bringing every possible thing you think you might ever need.
In reality, you can save yourself a lot of grief and wasted space by planning to purchase some things at your destination. Sit down and make a list of everything you may need. Then pare that list into two, marking off the things you can purchase later.
If you are taking prescription medications for a medical condition, consult your doctor and pharmacist to discuss your options about extra medications for your trip and what to do in the event you lose them or if they are stolen. If you can, have at least two extra supplies on hand.
From here, you’re just about set to embark on and enjoy your trip. This planning tool isn’t the definitive guide for everyone, but it can at least provide you with some good ideas on where to start with your island vacation planning.
Taking the time to plan your trip carefully, paying close attention to even the smallest of details can save you quite a bit of frustration in the long run.
