Summer is officially here! Over at HYD we try to think of ways to help you stay organized not only in your homes, but also in making plans!

Our quick guide to planning your summer vacation is just a simple way to stay on top of things while you're enjoying the warm weather.

Step 1: The details

Plan ahead, pick your dates and ask off work.

Figure out a budget and then decide what kind of vacation you would like to take. Looking for an adventure? Maybe you want to explore a city you've never been to or maybe you'd like to do some back packing or head to the beach.

Once you've decided on what kind of vacation you would like to take, think through who you would like to go with. Is it a family trip? A trip with friends? Maybe you want a nice getaway with your significant other. Make sure you are on the same page about budget, location, and agenda with all parties involved. While your idea of a vacation may be mostly relaxing, some people love to pack lots of activities in.

When figuring out where you will stay, we recommend checking out air bnb or vrbo which can often save you more money than staying at a hotel depending on where you are going. They are an international company! It can be really nice to have a full kitchen if you don't want to have to pay to eat out for every meal. Do some research on neighborhoods in the place you are visiting. Think about whether you want beach front, walkability to restaurants and activities, kid friendly spaces etc.

Step 2: Planning your schedule

Depending on the nature of your vacation, you may want to plan a lot of it out, or you may like to be more spontaneous and plan very little.  If you are going to the beach, your days may be spent mostly on the ocean or laying in the sun. However, if you are exploring a new city, you will have to plan ahead.

Where to eat: One of our tried and true tips on restaurant hunting (bear with us.. this might sound ridiculous but it honestly never disappoints) is to google "hipster guide to {whatever city you are visiting}". Those hipsters sure know how to eat is all I'm saying. Often times, the search results will come up with restaurants, interesting shops, and local tips on neighborhoods to check out and how to utilize public transportation. If you plan to eat in and have access to a kitchen, try researching local farmers markets and small locally owned grocery stores to have a more authentic experience of living in town.

Activities: This will largely depend on who is on this vacation with you. Many cities have free events in the summer time like concerts in the park, first Friday art crawls, or discounted museum days. Looking at local event calendars is a great way to see what's happening around town while you are there. Think about taking a cooking class (especially if you are somewhere overseas) or a swing dancing lesson. For kids, many art and science museums have great children's corners. You could also check out local parks or ask around about a swimming hole or public fountain that allows play.

Step 3: Packing

Print all necessary paper work for travel and stay. Make sure you have access to online tickets as well. It's always a good idea to let someone back home know your itinerary, how to reach you, and who to call in an emergency. 

Suitcase: Make sure to check the weather as close to when you will be there as possible and remember to look into night time temperatures as well as many places have major temperature drops once the sun goes down. We recommend packing around a certain color scheme so that it's easier to mix and match outfits to cut down on the volume of clothing that you lug around. If you focus on basics and items that can be dressed up or down, it's easy to pack jewelry and accessories to change the feel of an outfit. Make sure to pack shoes that are comfortable!

Carry on: BOOKS! If you are a reader, bring a kindle or other reading device so that you don't have to cart around a library :). Journal and a pen (I never regret jotting down daily memories from my travels). Lotion, chapstick, a few healthy snacks (to avoid exorbitant airport prices), earbuds, phone charger, laptop (or not), and ear plugs are essentials.

Step 4: Enjoy!

P.S. If a summer vacay doesn't fit into your schedule or budget, consider a stay-cation one weekend and get out and do things around your own city that you normally wouldn't. Sometimes a stay-cation is just what the Dr. ordered :)