Vacation Planner Vicki Shook has been planning vacations for Inspirato Members in Vail<\/a><\/span> and Beaver Creek<\/a><\/span> for more than six years. In that time, she has planned thousands of itineraries for members from around the world \u2013 and has picked up plenty of helpful hints along the way. We talked to Vicki about how she works with club members to plan memorable vacations and some of her top tips for planning your own.<\/p>\n\n\n Vicki says one of the top tips she tells members is not to overfill their itinerary<\/a><\/span>. While it\u2019s fine to plan some activities prior to your arrival, it\u2019s a good idea to leave plenty of room for things you discover while you\u2019re there, as well as time to relax and enjoy. \u201cVery few people say they haven\u2019t done enough,\u201d Vicki says.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n Are you flying or taking a road trip<\/a><\/span>? Many details of planning a vacation depend on how you\u2019re getting there. If you\u2019re flying, you might need to get a rental car when you\u2019re there; if you\u2019re driving, you may need to factor in extra time for the journey. It\u2019s smart to secure those logistics early so you can focus on the more fun aspects of the vacation.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n One of the first things Vicki finds out while trip planning are the ages and relationships of everyone traveling. That helps her recommend the right things for everyone to do. Knowing that, she says, she can make the best suggestions for everything from dining and activity recommendations to the times that reservations can be made.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n Restaurant reservations fill up quickly \u2013 especially during peak seasons \u2014 so making your dining plans is better to do early. Even if you plan to cook or hire a private chef for most meals, those are best to plan in advance. For activities, the time of year<\/span> will affect what\u2019s available, so be sure to have realistic expectations.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n Even the best-laid plans are susceptible to uncontrollable factors. If a rainy day causes your boat trip to be canceled, a lack of snow delays a ski resort\u2019s opening day, or a business is unexpectedly closed, be open to a change of plans. Sometimes, Vicki says, those impromptu diversions make for the best vacation memories<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n\n\nKudos to Inspirato for being true professionals in the travel field. From your initial outreach well before the trip to your kind, attentive staff and wise recommendations, you all are top shelf!<\/blockquote>
1. Don\u2019t overplan.<\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\n2. Lock down your travel arrangements.<\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\n3. Consider the dynamics of the group.<\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\n4. Figure out your dining and activity preferences.<\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\n5. Be open to changing your plans on the fly.<\/h2>\n
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