6 Ways to Enjoy your Vacation Before you Take It

Are you tired of waiting to board your flight, arrive at your destination and begin enjoying your upcoming getaway? Don’t fast-forward through the preparation process! According to experts, the planning that takes place before your travel experience may be just as important as the actual journey. A recent study of vacationers from the Netherlands shows that the process of anticipating travel may increase happiness more than the vacation itself. The act of intentionally preparing for your tripcan dramatically improve your experience before and after you leave. Here are a few ways to make the most of your vacation before you even head out the door.

“Anticipation. In love and travel, getting there is half the fun. The...impatience, the passionate daydreams, the nerve-wracking waiting...lovers and travelers are all alike when they find themselves on the brink of a new adventure.”

― Vivian Swift, Le Road Trip: A Traveler's Journal of Love and France

1. Pack Early.

Few people want to find themselves in a last-minute packing situation, but sometimes it becomes the reality—and starts the travel experience out on the wrong foot. To reduce stress, make a checklist. Keep a suitcase open in your closet or under the bed and start tossing in essential items weeks in advance. When your departure is a few days away, get the suitcase out, evaluate your checklist and add your clothing. This trick saves you from a frantic scramble hours before you leave. Bonus tip: Load luggage in your car the night before to make getting out the door easier in the morning.

2. Savor the Flavor.

Like a marinating steak, travel benefits from advance seasoning. Before you depart, spend a few evenings researching your destination. Learn its history and best-known landmarks. Think creatively and immerse yourself by watching a movie filmed on location there, reading a biography of someone who lived there, or digging into a history book. The more deeply you can appreciate the place prior to arrival, the more you’ll be impacted by your time there. Bonus tip: For trips to Israel, read EXODUS (Leon Uris) or The New Christian Traveler’s Guide to the Holy Land (Charles H. Dyer). For cruises of coastal Alaska, read Alaska: Saga of a Bold Land (Walter R. Borneman) and The Reader’s Companion to Alaska (edited by Alan Ryan). For a Caribbean cruise, read James Michener’s Caribbean. For Reformation Europe, read Luther and His World (Graham Tomlin) and these online articles from The Christian History Institute.

3. When in Rome.

If you’re traveling to a country dominated by an unfamiliar language, try to acquaint yourself with a few basic phrases. Browse the internet, check out language resources from your local library or simply take some time to study the Inspiration Guide we send you after booking. As you perfect your pronunciation, chances are you’ll pick up on a few cultural do’s and don’ts—such as certain gestures to avoid. Bonus tip: Being liberal with compliments comes in handy too. Figure out what geographical features or historical moments these citizens are particularly proud of and be sure to mention them as you thank the locals for their kind hospitality.

4. Trust the Lord.

Spend time in prayer before you go, seeking to know God’s heart for your travel plans. What are you hoping He’ll teach you? How would you like Him to use the experience to transform you? Meditate on a Scripture and carry it with you during your journey. Prepare your heart to receive from your Heavenly Father and even to bless those He leads you to encounter. Many people approach travel with worry. Give Him your anxieties, whether fears of flying or difficulties trusting Him with details. Make Him Lord over your travel experience and pray for freedom from worrying. Bonus tip: Enlist a team of prayer warriors who will lift up your journey from beginning to end. You’ll benefit from the prayer coverage, and they’ll be encouraged by the good report when you return home.

5. Home Sweet Home.

The last thing you want to do on your vacation is worry about what’s going on back at your house. A few suggestions to ease these concerns: Arrange to stop mail and newspaper delivery. Install automatic timers to switch on interior lights and a porch lamp at dusk. Unplug small appliances like toasters and computers, which drain power even when not in use and are a leading cause of house fires. Ask a trusted neighbor or relative to check in daily, take garbage cans to and from the curb and keep an eye out for deliveries. If you’re gone longer than a week in the summer, arrange for someone to mow your lawn. Bonus tip: Rather than boarding your pets, ask a young adult friend to pull double-duty as house-sitter and pet-sitter. Fido will be more at ease on his own turf and that friend may appreciate having their own space for a change.

6. Share the Joy.

You’re excited about your travel plans. Why not bring friends and family in on the excitement? Don’t be afraid to tell them about your upcoming trip. Like giving a speech, rehearsing your plans aloud can help you memorize the highlights as you share your enthusiasm. Who knows—you may inspire members of your “audience” to join you, multiplying the fun! If you know someone who’s already been to your destination, ask questions. Where did you go? What was your favorite part? What did you wish you’d known before arriving?Bonus tip: Host a destination-themed dinner party about a month before you leave. Not only will you get your tastebuds ready by serving up foreign foods, you’ll make memories before you head out on your adventure.

Remember: Travel is a journey, not a destination! By sharing your enthusiasm, immersing yourself in the culture, and taking care of loose ends before you depart, you’ll begin enjoying your Christian cruise or tour long before you leave home. Have you tried any of these ideas?