by Samantha Giving

Created on: June 27, 2008   Last Updated: July 25, 2008

Ahhh vacation, one of the nicest words in the English language! In North America, the average worker receives 3 weeks of time off. In Europe, the average worker earns 4 to 6 weeks; it doesn't seem quite fair. Regardless of who much time off you have, you need to make the most of it. What will you do? For some it's a time to do nothing, for others it's a chance to get away and see a new land. Maybe it's a reunion with loved ones, or a sandy beach and a good book; or possibly a chance to catch up on the to-do list. Whatever its meaning is to us, it's a defined period of time that needs to be prepared for.

Here are some tips to help you plan your next wonderful vacation!

1. The Getaway Vacation. Lists and a little research are the key to fully enjoying your vacation away from home. As you don't want to spend valuable vacation time searching out stores in an unfamiliar city for the items you forgot, make a master checklist of all the essentials: clothing, shoes, accessories, toiletries, beach/pool equipment and entertainment items. Keep this list handy and update it from vacation to vacation. This will make packing a breeze; and even allow you to leave on a last minute vacation with all everything you need.
The last week prior to your vacation is going to be a busy one. Create lists of what you need to purchase. Map out where you need to purchase these items, and try to pick them out while you are doing other errands in the same area. Ensure that all your laundry is up to date; as this will make packing a breeze. Arrange for someone to take care of all the little things that will need doing while you are, such as cutting the grass, feeding the cat, collecting the mail. You want to know that you've taken care of everything and are able to enjoy your vacation!

Research the area you will be visiting. Figure out what you want to see; and how much time you want to spend seeing the sights, shopping and plain ol' relaxing. Don't forget to factor in jet-lag recovery for those vacations that take you to foreign lands. Identify what your priorities are for this particular vacation. What are the most the important things you want to see? What do you really want to do? Create a vacation calendar and block off time to do the most important items. Let your free time catch all the extra items that come along.

2. The Nothing Vacation. This is the vacation where you simply disappear from reality for awhile to rest, relax and recharge. In order for this type of vacation to be successful,

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