How To Plan a Last-Minute Summer Vacation

Hey, y’all, life is busy. Don’t be so hard on yourself if summer suddenly showed up and all of the neighbors went on vacation, leaving you feeling a bit bummed that you never got anything planned. It’s not too late! I’ve got some tips for how to plan a last-minute summer vacation that’ll make ditching responsibility for a few days an easy task.

Don’t Go Too Far

For starters, a vacation doesn’t have to be 2,000 miles away from home. You don’t need to “staycation,” but seek out places that are just a day’s drive or a quick flight away to keep your planning simple. Maybe there’s a state park where you can hike for a weekend or a big city nearby that you’ve never explored. Get the map out and find out which places aren’t too far from home.

I know for me I would love to visit the Pacific Northwest. My middle daughter took a trip to Oregon, and I fell in love with the pictures she brought back. I know if I were looking for a place to visit and to find accommodations, I would check out Meredith Lodging’s Bend vacation rentals collection.

Remain Flexible

Remain flexible and have an open mind to travel a bit differently than you’re used to if you’re usually a “plan way ahead” type of person. You might find that some things are booked for the summer, but who knows? That just might steer you in a different direction than you would have considered otherwise.

One area where flexibility is helpful is with airline flights. To get better last-minute flight deals, opt for crazy red-eye flights or flights with several stops. You’ll still get there at a great price.

Two Days or Two Weeks?

Did y’all make some fond vacation memories as a kid? More than likely, it wasn’t on a two-week trip to the Bahamas. If it was, great! For the rest of us, my point is that vacation time is a break from responsibility and a time to make fun memories. A short trip can be just the thing for both of those tasks. Take a long trip if it suits you better, but remember, just getting away for a little bit is still a vacation.

Prepare Your Home and Pets

Short trips or long trips, our homes and pets need a plan as well. If Fido isn’t coming with y’all, then find care for them. Do thoroughly check all the locks on your windows and doors before leaving town. Put the mail on hold and ask a friend to water your summer flowers if necessary. Also, don’t leave town without an A/C check. You don’t need to come home to a failed HVAC system after a relaxing vacation. Turn the thermostat up a few degrees so the A/C isn’t working hard to cool the air of an empty house.

There’s always somewhere to visit in this big old country of ours. Follow my tips for a last-minute summer vacation, and remember, spontaneity is the spice of life. Sometimes, the best vacations are born from it. Happy trails!

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