In June I’m heading to Florida for a few days of rest and relaxation, and I couldn’t be more excited! Although I’m not much of a beach bum, the idea of taking a break from reality to sit outside and read a book or two is a welcomed thought.
Most working people I know share my sentiments. Unfortunately, many people – including business owners and managers – rarely, if ever take vacations. Some say they don’t have time, while others point out money is an issue. Regardless of the excuse, the fact is, vacations are a good thing. Without one, you can burn out, lose focus and be less productive.
Now that you are hopefully motivated to go on a vacation, here are some tips to plan a trip that will help keep you within budget and will allow you to have peace of mind while you’re away from work:
• Book your hotel rooms early As soon as you know you are traveling, call to book your hotel rooms. According to Bob Diener, co-founder of getaroom.com, hotels are more generous with discounts if you call 14-21 days in advance of your stay.
• Purchase plane tickets on Wednesdays Farnoosh Torabi, author of “Psych Yourself Rich: Get the Mindset & Discipline You Need to Build Your Financial Life” said that airlines announce sales on Fridays, which leads competing airlines to announce sales over the weekend and into Monday and Tuesday. This means by Wednesday, the lowest prices are usually all available.
• Consider traveling by bus Megabus.com offers travelers low-cost tickets to more than 70 major cities in both the United States and Canada. If booked early enough, tickets can cost as low as $1. Their fleet of busses all offer free Wi-Fi and laptop plug-ins at each seat.
• Make lunch the main meal of your day Prices tend to be lower at lunch. Plus, instead of eating a big dinner, you can head to main attractions and places that are going to be less packed since the dinner crowd will be heading to the restaurants. Another great suggestion is packing a cooler and renting a hotel room with a kitchen.
• Write out a list and delegate tasks Before you head out of the office for your vacation, tell each employee what you expect them to do while you are away. As former About.com Business Guide Darrell Zahorsky pointed out, vacations are a great way to see who can be trusted while you are out.
• Put an emergency plan in place In case a major issue arises while you are gone, make sure those back at the office know where you will be, how they can reach you and in what situations it is necessary to contact you.
Whether you decide to take a week-long trip to London or drive down the street to spend the day in the park, do yourself a favor and take a break. If you want your business to be healthy, stable and successful, you have to be the same. So get out from behind your desk, and go enjoy the sunshine!
Information compiled from the following sources:
TBS – http://www.tbs.com/shows/trendswithbenefits/
About.com – http://sbinformation.about.com/od/benefits/a/vacationguide.htm
The Detroit News – http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120514/BIZ01/205140314/Tips-help-keep-summer-travel-season-costs-under-control?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGE%7Cp
NBC Chicago – http://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/inc-well/Why-you-Should-Take-Time-Off-150957985.html
Megabus.com – http://www.megabus.com/