Believe it or not, July is almost here, and with summer officially beginning last Friday, the season of sunshine has arrived. Nearly 100 million Americans will capitalize on the summertime to check a few locations off of their bucket lists. Us Fishies are no different when it comes to celebrating the season with a quick vacay but, naturally, tend to bring a little PR pizazz in to all aspects of our lives. The very Type A personalities that qualify us to manage brand messaging also comes in handy when planning our summer getaways. Here are a few tips from the PR pros on how to organize and plan for your next vacation:
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First things first – itineraries.
Creating an itinerary is the most essential part of planning out your vacation. Whether it’s a loose skeleton of ideas or detailed agenda, an organized itinerary will serve as your run of show. While you’re out and about, you can relax knowing your trip is already planned all in an easily accessible document. What makes a great itinerary? Be sure to include the addresses of major must-see attractions, dinner reservation and/or ticket times, and important phone numbers and websites (i.e. for hotels, restaurants, cabs, emergency numbers, tourist attractions, etc.). You’ll also need to book your flights and accommodation once you’ve decided where you want to go. Whether you’re looking at villas to let or a 5-star hotel, make sure you get accommodation booked as far in advance as possible.
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Think like a local – follow influencers.
While we may work with influencers to curate a brand’s image, we also find ourselves on the other side of the screen following them. Influencers are a great tool to utilize when it comes to traveling and really immersing yourself in the destination. These locals shed light on each location’s hidden gems that you typically won’t find in a simple Google search. For example, if you were going to vacation in Massachusetts you could look up things to do In Rockport as well as finding some influencers who also live in this area to give a more local perspective. Scroll through their comments and see what others have to say about the local restaurants, parks, tourist attractions, bars, etc.
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Capitalize on conversations.
We’re big proponents of communication seeing as…it’s what we do! Therefore, we recommend capitalizing on every opportunity you have to speak with someone who has either visited or is currently living in the area you’re soon to visit. Rather than booking online, call up your hotel and chat with the phone operator or concierge desk. Don’t be shy – reach out to that family friend who has traveled to your destination. See what the insiders recommend when traveling in order to get the most out of your experience.
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Count the days!
Once your trip is all planned, you can begin counting the days! Download your favorite countdown app and eagerly await your time in the sun, because you can rest easy knowing everything is all planned out.
