Travel season is in full force, but how to even begin planning? Is it too late? Where should we go?

Before you pack your bags, consider these tips to make your vacay choice a breeze.

Who is going? This can determine everything! From where you stay, the length of time, the LOCATION, the time of year, and budget (I hate the word “budget”..sounds so low vibe). Are you planning a family trip? A solo trip? A trip with the girls?

Where do you want to visit? Are you looking for a beach getaway? City? A well-known place? Up and coming? Hiking friendly? Determine WHAT you want to ideally be doing and then choose the city accordingly. If, for example, Italy is on your mind.. Stop to think WHAT type of Italy vacation are you craving? Wine tasting Tuscany? Hiking in Dolomites? Visiting Rome and Vatican City? Island hopping from Capri to Sicily? Or maybe all of the above. I’d suggest making a list of places that are a must, maybe, and if we have time. Then look at a map to see the distance from each location. Consider if you need to travel by ferry or boat, plane, train, or car to get there. Once you have this, check which flight would be the cheapest to fly into from your city and book accordingly.

Where to Stay: In general, if you are traveling with a group, booking a rental could be more fun, inclusive and budget friendly. You have a shared communal space, which means more inclusivity, splitting groceries and always having access to your group. If there’s a lot of you, make sure everyone is comfortable with the sleeping arrangements AND bathroom situation. For ARY Retreats, I ALWAYS book places where each room has their own bathroom. I know for regular vacations this isn’t always possible, but can definitely make a difference. Privacy is golden lol.

Hotel or Rental? If you know me..I usually pick a place for the vibe and aesthetics. BB (before baby), my husband and I chose places that were not only beautiful BUT that had easy access to nightlife and great restaurants. We would barely plan our outings and let the days take us where they lead. We usually meet locals who recommended great things to do or we’d meet other couples on vacay and hang with them for a night or two.

PB (post baby), we were more concerned about safety and quiet. We planned most of our days (and transportation). Not that free styling the day can’t work with kids, but we found that our time is used much more efficiently if we knew beforehand what was kid friendly. Our last family trip, I was dying to stay at this super chic hotel I found in Oaxaca City. IT WAS A DREAM! Literally as if my brain designed every last detail. I was so excited to book BUT the hotel did not welcome guests under 12. Insert bawling face. Now that I think about it, it happened when we did a family trip to Holbox in 2021.

But you know what can determine whether we stay in a hotel or rental? IF WE ARE RENTING A CAR! If you’re staying at a hotel, access to transportation is MUUUUUUUUCH easier and quicker (but not always on the way back). When I was in my 20’s, my bestie and I were stranded in Ubud and needed to get back to our hotel but did not have access to Uber and didn’t see any available cabs. So, we walked into a restaurant that was closing for the night and asked the staff if anyone was willing to take us. So, there we went… each of us on the back of a motorized scooter driven by random Balinese men. WTF? Lol. We obviously made it to our destination… but don’t do this.

Now, when I travel with my husband and daughter, we usually stay in a hotel in the case of an emergency, there’s staff downstairs able to help. If we decide on a rental, we rent a car.

Wherever you stay, you should feel safe, clean, and comfortable (regardless if it’s a family, solo, or gf trip). There are TONS of great options in every price range. Most air bnb, VRBO and hotel searches have a max amount per night option. For me, in addition to vibe and cost, I look at reviews and photos. I look at both the best and worst reviews to know what I am getting myself into. Reviews give you a real time look at what to expect and sometimes recommendations on what to do and/or eat.

Pro-Tips: If you stay at a rental, ask the host for their personal top 3 places to eat and visit. Experiencing a new place through a local makes your trip exponentially better. Venice is still one of my favorite places since we asked our AirBnb host his favorite places to eat.

Also, book airport pick up ESPECIALLY if you don’t speak the language. For my 30th birthday my best friend and I went to Bali. We thought it would be easy to get a cab from the airport… but no..it was not. It was scary and overwhelming and we had no clue who was a real cab driver and who was not. Just book the shuttle or private transfer. Trust me it’s worth it.

Deep breaths.. YOU GOT THIS!

If you’re still not sure where to go or what to do, or would you rather have someone book your trip for you, hire ARY Retreats to take care of the details. We can customize your trip or you can join a retreat. Email us for more info at info@aryreteats.com