Tom and I love to travel! With several decades of traveling near and far, together, in groups, and on business, Tom and I have figured out a travel trifecta that helps us enjoy our journeys more than ever: faith, finances, and fun. Just in time for the 2022 summer vacation season, I’d like to share a few of our tips to make the most of your travels no matter what the season.
Spring breaks seem to kickoff traveling for lots of folks, or at least getting us to think about it in the months ahead. Are you looking forward to a getaway soon? Maybe this summer? Or if you’re empty nesters like Tom and me, you may have more flexibility when it comes to travel.
Here are three tips Tom and I have learned that consistently upgrade our adventures. And like so many things in life, they’re all about preparation.
Travel Trifecta Tip #1:
Don’t leave home without Him.
Faith was probably the hardest thing for us to learn to include in our travel plans. Really, who thinks God wants to be part of a trip to Disney World? As we learned to invite God into other parts of our lives, vacations were the next step. That doesn’t mean all of our trips became perfect, but we have peace knowing He’s our constant companion wherever we wander.
“The Lord will guard your going out and your coming in [everything that you do]
From this time forth and forever” (Psalm 121:8 AMP).
Travel Trifecta Tip #2: Planning ahead is the gateway between your resources and enjoying your travels more (& stressing less).
Knowing we won’t be paying off a trip for months down the road make vacations that much sweeter.
Getting the most enjoyment out of traveling means planning and realistic budgeting for a destination and your family. We use a rewards credit card for groceries, gas, and charitable donations. Then we create our household budget to include a line item to keep the credit card paid off while still earning travel rewards. We keep stress down with regularly scheduled deposits into a travel savings account. Paying it forward saves a lot of stress.
“If you wanted to build a building, you would first sit down and decide how much it would cost. You must see if you have enough money to finish the job” (Luke 14:28 ERV).
Trip Trifecta Tip #3: Compromise + flexibility = fun for everyone.
Fun is so subjective isn’t it, Dear Reader? The day at the beach was one of my funnest days ever. I love the beach, especially with our granddaughters! It was the younger one, Gracie’s, first trip ever from our Midwest homes to the ocean and beach. Pretty sure the girls enjoyed it as much as me.
Tom? Not so much. The only reason Tom is barefoot and touching water is because he was with our girls. Tom’s happy place has always been the Colorado mountains. As long as we see beach and mountains once in a while, we’re both happy. Tom and I have learned to compromise and be flexible so we both have fun.
” The best thing we can do is eat and drink and enjoy what we have earned. And yet, I realized that even this comes from God” (Ecclesiastes 2:24 GNT).
Dear Reader, if you enjoy traveling as much as Tom and I do, you’re probably always on the lookout for ideas to make traveling easier/more fun. No, I didn’t do a lot of research on our tips, but they work for us. I hope they give you a little food for thought.
I tend to be a bit OCD (okay, a lot!) and think in boxes so spreadsheets help me keep our travel budgets and itineraries manageable and accessible. For me, that means more relaxation and less frenzy. (No, this gal has never acquired the “fly by the seat of my pants” philosophy.) The link above seems to have a spreadsheet for most travel planners for business or pleasure.
Whether your travels take you far afield or become a staycation, Dear Reader, I hope you will find rest and recreation that soothes and refreshes your body and spirit.
