Summer vacation is right around the corner. Have you started planning your vacay yet?? There are so many options that it can be overwhelming. Last spring I wrote a similar blog post you should check out. This time I want to discuss cruise options, all inclusive resorts, and local travel(heyyy Branson, MO).

Cruises

Have you tried looking up cruises? Because oh my gosh, it is overwhelming. There are so many cruise lines, so many places to go, different ports to choose, different lengths, different ship sizes. How do you choose the best one? I have talked to a few friends who have been on some, and everyone says Royal Caribbean and Carnival are pretty similar in general. Disney cruises are great for entertaining kids and just a lot of fun. I’m sure Disney will be super busy during the summer since kids are out of school, so book early.

Cruises can range in length from 2 nights to 12+nights. You can choose an interior room, ocean view, or a room with a balcony. One thing to consider though is that you may not spend a lot of time in the room. If you are looking to save money, the way to do it may be with an interior room since you won’t need the view. There are a lot of ports to choose from as well, depending on where you plan to cruise to. Price ranges vary a lot, from $500 for 2 people all the way up to $5500+.

Are you going to want to do an excursion, such as zip lining or scuba diving, or maybe even swimming with dolphins? You can also have a spa day on the cruise if you want.

Most meals are included, but drinks are not. You can also add on the nicer restaurants if you want to try that. The casino is not included, obviously.

Take into account travel to and from the port and a hotel stay at the port. You will probably want to visit for at least a day before you set sail.

All Inclusive Resorts

Mexico isn’t exactly the safest place right now, but if you stay on the resort, you and your loved ones should be fine. There are other options as well though, such as Jamaica, the Bahamas, the Dominican, etc, all of which are gorgeous and will be perfect for summer vacation.

Know what is included and what isn’t ahead of time so you can plan. Sometimes it says “all inclusive” but you may have to pay for some of the top shelf liquor, airport transfer, gratuities, and some of the watersports.

More local options

We are in Missouri, so Branson is obvious. There are other options as well though. I recently went to Dallas/Fort Worth area and had a BLAST. You should definitely look into it if traveling without kids. The stockyards have lots of shopping and museums and bars. You can spend all day there, then go out to eat later and catch a concert at Billy Bob’s.

Chicago is always a great weekend getaway, and there is so much to do for adults and kids if you have a family. The train seems like it would be a fun way to travel.

What do you think of those summer vacay ideas?

I know there are so many other options, but those are a few that could be fun for couples or the family. What are your plans?!