courtesy of Austin Kirk
As many can agree, vacation time is a limited and valued commodity in the workplace. According to salary.com, the average days of paid time off can range from 14–27 days (depending on years of service), although many companies offer even fewer days than the bottom of that range to start with. Some even choose to carry their vacation time over to the next year in order to plan a longer vacation. Needless to say, vacation time is certainly gold to many employees across a lot of industries today.
So for those hard workers who wish to make the most of their valued vacation time each year, here are a few common things to avoid doing in order to have an all-around great trip.
Avoid:
1. Packing too much.
More often than not, we get so worried about having an outfit for every occasion, the right amount of layers for cold weather, etc., that we end up overpacking. With a few exceptions, the great part about traveling is that there aren’t many items that can’t be purchased along the way or left at home for a bit while you’re away. Plus, if you’re big on purchasing souvenirs or other momentos, packing too much from the start will limit your suitcase space for bringing things back home after your trip.
2. Staying at an expensive hotel or resort.
While it certainly can be worth it in some instances to invest in a luxury hotel for your getaway, sometimes it’s better to put your money toward something more memorable, like an experience or a souvenir. It’s not every day that you get to be in this new place, wherever that place should be. Additionally, there are some (not all, but some) all-inclusive resorts that are actually significantly overpriced, offering low-quality alcohol, reheated frozen foods, exclusive services that you don’t end up taking advantage of, and more.
3. Sticking too closely to your itinerary.
This may be challenging for those with type A personalities, but it’s important all the same. Even the strictest planners should have some flexibility in their schedules for exploring, enjoying the outdoors, etc. It’s better to have a loose schedule to leave time for other activities—after all, you are on vacation, aren’t you?
4. Overbooking yourself with activities.
Along with not sticking too closely to your itinerary, you should also avoid cramming in too many activities. At that point, it’s no longer a fun adventure, but rather a stressful experience. While it’s great to experience as much as possible while in a new city, you might end up needing a vacation from your vacation when you get back if you try to do too much in too little time.
5. Being glued to your electronics the whole time.
With the amount of electronics available to us on the go, it’s hard to avoid bringing all your devices with you on your trip. But just remember that you can always watch your favorite movie on a rainy day back home, call and chat with a friend when you’re not in a new city, or tweet about a fun thing you did traveling later (and not while it’s actually still happening!).
Courtesy of Alejandro De La Cruz
If you’re vacation time is limited and you’re looking for the best ways to experience it to the fullest, use these five tips for things to avoid during your trip. Plus, get insider information and more travel resources from E-Z Rent-A-Car by checking out some of our exclusive discounts online, other travel-related blog posts, special coupons and more.
