Tips to Make the Most of Your Vacation

Vacation is a chance to unwind from daily routine. The most stressful thing on your mind should be deciding what activities and sights to squeeze into the limited number of days you have in a new area. With a little research and a few tricks you can make the most of your trip and walk away with an experience of a lifetime.

Here are some tips on choosing the right activities and sights for your next vacation:

• Research Beforehand 
  As obvious as this may seem, research your destination before you arrive. Doing so can make or break your vacation. Take the time to look into sights and excursions to determine what things you really want to do and what you might want to pass on (or hold off on until next time). Also, make sure you don't miss the boat by looking up departure times for sight-seeing cruises, trains or special tours ahead of time.
• Visit Tourism Offices 
  No one knows a city better than the local tourism office. Give them a call before your vacation to get suggestions on what to check out – this way you can plan ahead of time what you'll do. Or if spontaneity is more your style, stop at the tourism office once you arrive. Take a look at the brochures and information they have to offer and you'll discover so much to enjoy it'll be hard to narrow down your findings.
• Meet the Locals 
  To truly take in the culture and vibe of a new city, mingle with the locals. People are what truly make up the soul of a city. Locals can give you the greatest insight into what's worth doing and what can be skipped.
• Visit Small Towns 
  Big cities often draw us to a new destination but sometimes the smaller towns of a country offer just as much to experience. For example, while many travel to northern Italy to visit Rome and Milan – in southern Italy the lesser known Matera offers a chance to explore ancient Italy sans crowds.
• Be Open Minded 
  While you are on vacation you'll have the opportunity to experience things you wouldn't normally be exposed to at home. Whether it's trying a new food or having the courage to try zip lining – take full advantage of every opportunity you can. It's possible you may not be back in the area for a long time or even ever. So don't worry about what people think and just have fun!