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Sticking Your Neck Out
So I got an email recently from a college friend that went something like this, "Hey, let's go to Africa and stay at this giraffe manor!"
I live for e-mails like that.
One of the huge disappointments of post-college life is discovering you no longer have prescheduled vacations. You work on Labor Day. There's no long weekend in October. Christmas suddenly lasts only one day long. And spring break? Forget about it.
But then one day you get a giraffe manor e-mail. And you realize you're not alone in your despair. So you vow to make it a reality.
Okay, not necessarily the giraffe expedition. But something wonderful. Something that breaks up the monotony of life and provides a sense of adventure. Maybe something elaborate like a month-long Contiki tour of Europe. Or perhaps something as simple as a long weekend to the infamous Mount Horeb Mustard Museum in Wisconsin. The destination doesn't really matter. The fun is in the planning and anticipation.
If you're developing a case of cubicle fever, here are some tips to help you plan "The New Spring Break" that inevitably awaits you:
1. Research your options. The Let's Go series and Lonely Planet are excellent guides for everything from international travel to exploring the curiosities that lie in your own backyard.
2. Choose wisely. As you've quickly learned, time is precious. Maximize the vacation time you have and make the itinerary truly yours. If sightseeing tops your list of things-to-do, perhaps the lazy beachbum pleasure trip to Cancun should wait for next time. Likewise, be sure to select the right travel partner(s). If you can't stand a 5-minute phone conversation with your brother, what makes you think you'll enjoy a weeklong ski trip with him?
3. Look for value. I'm willing to bet you don't have bucketloads of money to finance this much-needed excursion. Look for last-minute deals. Check out travel agents who offer all-inclusive packages. Look for ways to cut costs that won't reduce your fun. Bottom line, be budget savvy, because (sadly) vacation doesn't last forever.
I feel compelled to tell you that my next jaunt is to Grand Rapids, Michigan. Definitely nothing fancy. Just a long weekend accompanied by college friends. We'll reminisce about the days in the dorm, drink some coffee, and catch up on each others' lives. Honestly? That's all the Spring Break we need.
Eat, drink, and be merry. For tomorrow, it's work, work, work. |
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