Planning the Perfect Vacation

[jmq]

Interesting article from Sunday NYT about the value of anticipation, frequency of get-aways, and other tips to unplug and enjoy.

http://travel.nytimes.com/2011/07/24/tr ... ref=travel

[EagleRayLover]

good article- thanks!

[PA Girl]

That is a good article.

My husband is one that prefers to stay on top of things while on vacation while I prefer to ignore real life. He checks in once in the morning and then he is good to go for the rest of the day.

People think we are odd for returning to the same place over and over again but I enjoy it because I don't want to have to work too hard on vacation.

[Xislandgirl]

That is a good article.


People think we are odd for returning to the same place over and over again but I enjoy it because I don't want to have to work too hard on vacation.

This is exactly why we retrun to STJ every year. There is no thinking involved. I plan for a living, I do not want to when I am on vacation!

[jmq]

People think we are odd for returning to the same place over and over again but I enjoy it because I don't want to have to work too hard on vacation.

This is exactly why we retrun to STJ every year. There is no thinking involved. I plan for a living, I do not want to when I am on vacation!

I actually think it may be more common than not that people go to the same place year after year on vacation. The comfort of a repeat, familiar vacation location requires a lot less planning, is relaxing, restorative, etc. There is also a lot to be said for knowing the lay of the land better at a destination you become familiar with.

Going to the same place year after year as a kid may have had the opposite effect on me – I think it motivated me NOT to fall into the predictable. I would always head over to the National Geographics at the library as a kid for the articles and outstanding photography, and wish I could experience some of those places. The adventure of the new, while daunting and stress inducing for some, can be soul stirring for others.

The fact that we’ve been to STJ and BVIs four times in the past six years speaks to the undeniable allure and vibe of these places, and even though we do miss it and want to get back, the desire to see other places while still younger and fit is overriding a return for now.
Plus, we’ve found that for what you need to budget for STJ, you can travel to an awful lot of other places for total expenses that are in the same ballpark. Indeed, next year Kauai will substitute for the Virgin Islands. Prices for car rentals and nice waterfront condos there are very reasonable, plus we can maximize our Capitol One points on that airfare, bringing it into a cost range similar to a VI trip.
The thinking also is that Hawaii is a bucket list place that we would like to experience and that STJ and our other fave Virgin Gorda can wait for now. So, the planning has already begun for that. And thankfully it has been pretty easy to gain traction on the Kauai planning, compared to the planning involved for our trips to Europe.