What kind of vacation do you need

Opposite to many vacations on this list, a staycation gives you the ability to try new experiences in the city you live. You get a break from reality to relax on the couch, go for a bike ride, or visit local restaurants you've never been to before.

You can often be surprised by what you find close to home. If you're a sports fan, then a sports vacation may be perfect for you. With the endless amount of tournaments there's plenty of games to attend and visit a city. This can be a nice getaway while getting to see your favorite team play. As long as you're interested in sports, this appeals to every type of traveler.

If there's a group of friends or family that live far away you can go to visit them! This type of vacation gives you the opportunity to see people you don't see everyday and make for an adventure. You can plan to do activities together or even simply stay at their home to relax and catch up. No matter which type of traveler you are, there are plenty of types of vacations to match a perfect fit to what you want. We hope this list helps you weigh the pros and cons when planning out your next vacation.

All rights reserved. Our website services, content, and products are for informational purposes only. Skip to content. Note: We may earn commissions from the links within this post. Share on facebook. Share on pinterest. Share on twitter. Share on email. A Trip To The Mountains. Pros Surround yourself with natural beauty Peace and quiet away from the bustling city Enjoy outdoor activities unique to the mountains Cons The risk of a bear or other wild animal attack Frigid temperatures depending on the season Long drives between destinations.

A Road Trip. Pros Flexibility and freedom to do whatever, whenever Time to yourself to listen to music or catch up on podcasts The ability to make random pit-stops along the way Cons Dealing with bad drivers or road rage Many hours in the car If gas prices are high, it can be cheaper to buy a plane ticket somewhere instead depending on how many people you're traveling with.

A Cruise. Pros Unlimited activities, both on board and off Interesting ravel from one destination to the next The ability to experience multiple destinations while only unpacking once Cons Sea-sickness amplified if in rough waters Fear of the open ocean Risk of catching a virus. A Trip To The Beach. Pros Cheap, depending on driving distance Warm and pretty locations Plenty of activities for any age Cons You can often feel dirty after the beach from the sunscreen, saltwater, and sand Seasonal in certain locations Risk of skin cancer if not using ample sunscreen.

A Camping Trip. Pros Escape reality without phone service Campgrounds are inexpensive compared to hotels Plenty of activities for any age Cons Limited amenities such as running water, showers, and clean toilets depending on the campground you stay at You'll need to purchase many of your own supplies ahead of time Sanitation may not be the best. A Trip Abroad. Pros Experience new cultures, food, and ways of life See unique sights from the location Learn and meet new people with different perspectives Cons Travel farther distances, more expensive Requires longer vacation time usually a good thing, although if you have limited days off this can be a challenge Communication barriers where English isn't spoken or the primary language.

A Trip To The City. Pros Perfect for foodies Lots of diversity Unique things to do Cons Crowded with lots of people Spend money on each activity museums, tours, shows, restaurants, etc Hotels are generally more expensive due to the higher cost of living in cities. A Family Vacation. Pros Enjoy time with those you don't see everyday Build stronger relationships Create long-lasting memories Cons You can get sick of family Must plan far ahead to rent accommodations with large groups Can be difficult to get everyone together at the same time.

A Theme Park Trip. Pros Activities for all ages Unique rides and attractions Specialty foods Cons Crowded with lots of people Not great if you don't like kids Park tickets can be expensive. A Solo Trip. Pros Self discovery Do whatever you want Meet new people, try new things Cons Intimidating to solo travel Extra alert to maintain safety. A Group Trip. Pros Minimal planning unless if you're the organizer Cost effective to save money with group discounts Participate in group activities Cons Need to plan farther ahead for adequate accommodations Limited flexibility for choice beyond the group consensus.

A Last-Minute Flight Trip. Pros Save money on airfare Go somewhere you've never been Spontaneous Cons Can be difficult to find time to take advantage of it Often times limited to solo trips not necessarily a con. A Volunteer Trip. Pros Travel for free or at a large discount Help others in need Meet new people, create lasting memories Cons Not the most relaxing vacation as you're likely doing physical labor Accommodations might not be the nicest or luxurious Volunteer vacations typically do not go to the most exciting destinations.

A Resort Trip. Pros Many are in warm locations besides ski resorts Activities for all ages Can be all inclusive, depending on the resort Short and long stay vacations All amenities to provide you with everything you need Cons Somewhat touristy, hard to break away and experience the culture of the region Can be expensive with all the resort fees Depending on the country you're in, you may not want to drink the water or stray too far from the premises of the resort.

Remember that the weather and season could be drastically different from where you live--winter in Australia occurs from June to August. Also, some destinations have common weather events that could affect your trip, like hurricane season in the Caribbean.

Estimate a Budget Money is one of the biggest factors in trip planning, so it helps to be honest with yourself and whoever is going with you on what you want to spend—and what your priorities are. Communicating a budget before you decide where to go can provide some structure when narrowing down your list of locations and accommodations.

Decide Where to Go Even for frequent travelers, it can be difficult to decide on the right vacation destination. Deciding where to go often requires first asking how you want to spend your time off.

Safety and comfort? Adventure and lots of activities? Or both. Online travel suggestions are plenty , and even calling up a travel agent for advice can help you decide where to go based on your budget, time of year and how many days you want to book. Do you feel like kicking back and letting an all-inclusive resort take care of the details or would you rather book a vacation rental where you can be more integrated with the local community?

Also a good idea—researching online reviews and itinerary suggestions. Share Your Travel Plans Whether you have your own business or work for someone else, ensuring your best vacation goes smoothly requires a lot of communication. Consider a family camp; parents get time off from child-care and the adults have events of their own that provide the fun and relaxation they need. For people in their later years, play can mean a golf resort or a cruise with built-in activities and entertainment.

A play vacation can also be quieter, exploring wildlife habitats or attending theatre festivals. This is perfect for people who enjoy camping, hiking, and canoeing. Although time with nature can involve a lot of activity, it also provides long evenings around a campfire, lazy hours at the beach, sleep until whenever, and time for that pile of books and magazines. Outdoor venues build in physical activity and curiosity, and in this age of constant screen-watching, limited recess at school, and ever-present junk-food temptation, activity and curiosity will become huge assets to children as they grow.

Also, if you plan it well, a nature vacation can be relatively inexpensive. You might do this at home, but often the demands of a household make total relaxation impossible. More likely you hide out in comfortable but low-key lodgings and make a point not to create any itinerary whatsoever. Most of us spend at least some vacation time traveling to see relatives or hosting relatives who travel to see us.

This sort of vacation can also involve play and relaxation, especially if adult siblings bring their young families together for trips or a few days in a shared house near a beach or tourist attraction. Often, these are the vacations we remember many years later, because they included cousins, aunts and uncles, grandmas and grandpas.

One advantage to intergenerational family gatherings is that there are more adults and older teenagers around to spend time with little ones, which can be a real life-saver for parents who otherwise get little downtime on vacation. Now that you have time off from the day job, you can spend a week or two in that pottery or poetry workshop you signed up for back in January. Other intensive experiences could be religious or historical pilgrimages.

Quite a few people use vacation time to do service projects, such as building homes with Habitat for Humanity or helping an environmental organization plant trees or test local water sources. And there are always church and community experiences, such as Vacation Bible School , mission trips, or day camps.

Will you have more peace of mind if you dig in and get caught up on tasks around the house? Or do you really need several full nights of sleep and time for leisurely conversation with your loved ones? You will likely have to mix and match vacation styles, to accommodate the various preferences of family members.