Whether you are going just a few hours away for a few days or you are headed overseas for a summer-long dream trip, you should put a little planning into your trip to make sure it’s worth every minute you spend away. So few of us get to take as much vacation as we would like or need, so we have to make the most of what we get. Plus, even daycations can be expensive, so you need to make the experience count!

Here are a few things you can do to make sure you have the best vacation you can each and every time:

Go at the Right Time of Year

You may find a good deal on a trip to Kyoto in January, but it will be freezing cold and you won’t get to see the famous cherry blossoms when you go. Likewise, you may think it’s better to go to the Caribbean in August when it’s warm and the kids are out of school, but it may be so blazing hot that you can’t get comfortable.

Make sure you book your travel at the best time of year for the location and what there is to do. If a place is known for its amazing skiing, you want to book your trip when you can enjoy the snow. But not all locations may have such obvious times to visit. Do your research or consult with a travel agent to know the best time to go.

Book the Best Lodgings

Sure, staying at a hostel may save you a lot of money, but you’ll end up sharing a room with several other people and not have access to a private bathroom. Even if you get a private room, you’ll have the bare minimum for accommodations. Is the savings really worth the experience you have?

It’s better to look for a quality place to stay that also offers reasonable rates, such as the Hilton Head Vacation Rentals. You will get a house-like setting with luxurious amenities for a great rate. With such lodgings, you’ll be able to rest and relax when your vacation becomes too frenzied. Plus, enjoying the amenities will feel like a vacation in itself.

Plan a Loose Itinerary

It’s important that you have an itinerary so you know what you want to do on your vacation, but it’s also important to keep it loose so that you can be flexible and adapt your plan to suit your needs.

By planning your itinerary ahead of time, you will learn through your research when things are open, when you can get the best deals, and so on. For example, you might find that all museums in the city are closed on Monday, which is information you would not want to discover once you are in the city and standing outside a closed museum without a backup plan. Or you might discover that museum fees are half off or even free on Mondays. Planning your schedule ahead of time will help you discover this and other useful information.

Yet adhering too stringently to your itinerary can also make your vacation worse. For example, you might miss out on a really amazing street festival because you didn’t want to deviate from your plan, or you might end up feeling miserable and sick because you didn’t drop something off your plan and get rest like you needed. Make your plan, but keep open the option to change it as you go.

Do Something Different

Visiting the popular tourist landmarks will be interesting, but you will also end up having the same cookie-cutter vacation as everyone else. Plan something a bit different if you want to have a unique experience. Sign up for a local cooking class in Italy. Learn how to herd sheep in Ireland. Take a butcher’s workshop in Scotland. You’ll have a wonderful time on your vacation, and you’ll take home skills that will make you think of your vacation for many years to come.

Taking a vacation is a wonderful time to relax, enjoy yourself, and experience something new. Make sure that your vacation brings only wonderful memories by doing the right planning before you go. Make your vacation the best yet!