Summer vacation is all fun and games until you actually have to sit down and make plans and figure out ALL THE LOGISTICAL THINGS. But, according to the great philosopher Brooke Buffington, there’s no time like the present. I know some of you out there are fly-by-the-seat of your pants kind of life-livers and vacationers. You’re procrastinators or you’re spontaneous. Or both. But, quite frankly, even for my fellow free spirits of the world, there are quite a few advantages to planning your vacation early and working at it along and along. So, from the non-planner in me to the non-planner in you, I present 5 reasons you should start planning your summer vacation NOW…

1. Because Pinterest. You can look and dream and plan. You can pin ideas for months. And you still have plenty of time to change your mind 346 times on the specific things you’ll do on your epic trip. (Don’t be modest. We all know how indecisive you are.)
2. Because you’ll have days when you just need something to look forward to. You guys, joy. I know. I get it. But, not all days are sunshine and rainbows and unicorns and cupcakes. Some nights, you need to be able to just collapse into your sofa with your Bailey’s coffee and dream about your upcoming escape, even if it’s an entire six months away.
3. Kid bribery. It’s like the whole Santa thing, but with vacation. Don’t act like you ain’t gon’ do this.
4. Budgeting. Can I get an AMEN?! This is a big one. It’s major. Vacation ain’t free. Unless you’ve got a ridiculously loaded Uncle. And if so, can y’all adopt me? By beginning to plan now, you can start budgeting for the summer. Your family can have realistic expectations and match what you can actually afford with what you plan to do. If you’re looking for a little guidance or some tips on how to budget for any upcoming trip, check out my blog series here on How to Afford an Epic Family Vacation.
5. You’ll have plenty of time to ask your friends/family/social media folks who have actually been to your particular vacation locale for tips on restaurants, places to stay, and things to do. Pinterest is great, but it’s always nice to hear from someone’s first-hand experiences. I know it’s 2017 and all, but word of mouth is still king. And if your vacationing friends are anything like me, they’ll LOVE talking about their trip and sharing their experiences. Buy me a cup of coffee and I’ll tell you all the stories.

Friends, regardless of how early you plan or where you go or what you do, make memories. Savor moments. Value experiences.

Keep on adventuring,
Brooke