Overwhelmed by vacation planning? Know where you’re going but not sure how to fit it all in?
We’ve got the answer: a vacation bucket list! An alternative to a planned itinerary, the vacation bucket list is a list of all the activities you’d like to do on vacation — and ranks them so you know what’s most important and what’s least important.
Let’s say you’re going to Walt Disney World. The Magic Kingdom currently offers 46 attractions plus parades, shows in front of Cinderella’s Castle and dining experiences. No one —- not even the most seasoned veteran can do it all in one day. If everyone makes a list of their favorites (for theme parks make a top ten list rather than 2-3), you can better determine how to spend the day. Narrowing down the options makes trip planning much easier. It works for any destination!
Here’s another example.
How to make a vacation bucket list:
1. Choose destinations wisely (if you already know where you’re going, you can skip ahead… Only 3 steps on your list!)
- Don’t like the sun, sand and sea, then don’t go to the beach! (I truly cannot imagine such a scenario, but I know there are some anti-beach readers out there somewhere)
- Like the city, but not the country, then choose a destination with lots of “citified” activities. (Lucky me. I like both.)
- Love the roller coasters but the kids are tiny, then wait a few years. (Or leave the kids with grandma!)
2. Create a list of possible activities at your destination.
- Visit the hotel website to understand the amenities offered, especially resort hotels, and start a tentative to do list for the resort.
- Search travel information sites like TripAdvisor and Frommer’s to explore the areas you will visit. Simply enter the location or attraction name in the search box at most sites to learn about the area you plan to visit. (Be sure you check out the destinations we feature here at Family Travels on a Budget as well!)
- Request brochures from the area’s convention and visitors’ bureau. They often include discount coupons for greater vacation savings!
- Create a list of potential activities based on initial reactions. You don’t need to know everything yet.
3. Discuss options with family (all traveling adults and kids old enough to offer opinions).
On the left: Top 2 activities from each person
On the right: Ranked (Fort Wool is only accessible through the Harbor Tour, so the Harbor Tour got the highest rank).
Bottom Right, the Sea to Stars package includes admission to all activities listed below it saving us money.
- Ask family members to pick two or three “must do” activities from your tentative list of activities. It’s okay if more than one person selects the same activity, since the goal is to make sure everyone gets to do something they really want to do. This becomes the family “bucket list.“
- If you have lots of options, ask the family to select their next two or three favorites from the remaining activities to create a “would like to do” list. (I don’t do this very often — but for family reunions, this is handy)
- Consider a rainy day list and ask everyone to pick one activity for a rainy day (shopping, nice restaurant, bowling, museums, movies, etc.)
- Once you have feedback from everyone, rank activities in order from most votes to least votes. This is your vacation bucket list!
4. Add important information to your Vacation Bucket List.
Include address, ticket prices, operating hours, phone and/or website info so you don’t have to look it up again on vacation.
For the “MUST DO” attractions, consider making reservations ahead of time. Many activities and attractions offer discounts for pre-purchased tickets. Read the fine print about weather and cancellations if that’s of any concern.
Now you know how to make a vacation bucket list! Wasn’t that easy?
Have you used a vacation bucket list (even if you gave it a different name)? How did it work?
Do you have suggestions to improve our bucket list process? Please share!
Of course, if you have any questions, ask!
Happy Travels!
Nicole says
Reading this makes me really want to plan my trips this year! I love a good bucket list as it makes me really excited to travel!
Kitty says
I have no plans to full fill my bucket list until next year as we have a new born and things are gonna change a lot… May be I would love to add up some new places
Cathleen @ A Taste of Madness says
These are great tips! I never thought about making a list with all your family. What a great idea
Hannah Marie says
This is a great guide! I honestly am the person who just go with the plans. I just let the others plan. We wil be traveling next month.
Anosa says
This is a great idea, when I went with my family as a child we used to just wing it then reaised we missed out so much when we arrived home! We haven’t yet gone on holiday as our little family of 3 but when we do I vow to be organised and get the most out of our trip!
Emmanuel Damian says
You know this is a very helpful post. I usually have struggles doing my own travel list as it keeps changing. I’ll share this to my travel buddies as well.
Denay DeGuzman says
What great ideas for planning a family vacation! I usually plan out the whole itinerary based on what I know about everyone’s interests and then ask for feedback. One thing I need to get better about is scheduling in enough down time! I’m always, go, go, go…
Claudia Krusch says
I just started a new travel bucket list. I was lucky to be able to cross a few off in 2017. I am excited to start working on crossing them off my new list.
Kimberly C. says
I’m going on a family cruise this spring and I am absolutely going to use these tips so we are not all over the place trying to do it all at the same time. Thank you!
Karen Dawkins says
I hope it helps! When we cruise, we pick certain activities/times beforehand that we want to do together. Then, when there’s free time, we don’t feel guilty splitting up to do our own thing.
One of my sons loves the freedom to hang out on the sports deck all day. He likes coming back together for dinner, too. It’s fun!
Caryn/The Mid Life Guru says
When planning family vacations, it’s vital to get everyone’s input and include at least one “wishlist item” for each member of the family.
Karen Dawkins says
Kindred spirits? I think the older kids get (or the older I get), the more important it is to have their input. When they know their interests matter, they buy in to everything else more readily. AND — I don’t have to guess what they want to do. They plan and I relax!
Rose says
I’m planning a few vacations for my family. Of course my kids would like to visit Disney and that in itself is a vacation but they also trust my surprise destinations and adventures too. I hope to get us out twice this year.
Karen Dawkins says
Have fun! Two vacations in one year is awesome!
Sarah Bailey says
There are so many places I would love to visit, I have a little bit of a bucket list but not a huge one. I definitely need to try and sit down and make it into something that could be workable.
Karen Dawkins says
I hope this helps you turn those dreams into a reality. Happy travels!
Khushboo says
That’s a very informative post.. Will remember this next time for my vacation..
Karen Dawkins says
Thanks.
Jeanette Radmall says
This is a great check list for a mom of young kids! I feel like vacations can be a little stressful with young kids but if you are prepared, it will go much more smoothly!
Karen Dawkins says
Thanks! It’s a great way to plan with teens too. At least my teens seem to enjoy vacation (and most anything we do) a lot more when they have a voice in it.
Amber Myers says
I need to do this! I know in October we’re going back to Disney World, which is boring to some, but my kids and I love it.
In the summer we’re headed to Ohio!
Karen Dawkins says
I’m going to Ohio this summer too! Where are you headed?
And for Disney World, I’m not sure how to do that spontaneously. I wouldn’t get very far (it’s not boring at all)!
Ben says
While this is probably a great idea for some vacations, I still prefer going somewhere completely unplanned and just getting surprised by what the place has to offer 🙂
Karen Dawkins says
Yes — I totally agree! When I travel with my family, I find that bucket list travel planning makes it easier. Each of my kids has different interests, so when they help plan, they know they’ll have fun. There’s actually a lot less bickering since we started planning major family vacations this way. AND, all of us have discovered things we enjoy that we wouldn’t have picked ourselves!
At the same time, one of the best moments in my whole life was the day I decided to jump into a cenoté in Mexico even though I didn’t have a swimsuit. It didn’t matter one bit that my clothes took hours to dry off, it was a thrill I’ll always cherish! And would never have planned.
Milton Goh says
This is useful and it certainly helps to prioritize where the must-visit places in your trip are! We are going to Hong Kong Disneyland this year so we should do a vacation bucket list too!
Karen Dawkins says
I’m jealous! I’d love to go to Hong Kong Disneyland! Enjoy!
corinne & kirsty says
I am always very spontaneous when I go on holiday. Sometimes it works very well (i.e. roadtrips) but some other time it is just a mess ahah! So i’d need a bucket list!
Karen Dawkins says
The more people who go, the more this helps (I think)! I enjoy a good spontaneous road trip, too, though! There’s an amazing garden in Bishopville, SC that I never would have found even planning with my bucket list. We drove by and saw these amazing topiaries. Voila! Spontaneous fun between bucket list activities. 🙂
Adepoju Grace says
Useful tips. Makes a family vacation easy
Karen Dawkins says
I think so. Thanks!
Joan Cajic says
I think I need to start writing about the activities to be done once there because I always book where to go and then arrive and all we do is sit and sleep and regret not knowing what activities to be done. So thank you for this I will remember for my next travels.
Karen Dawkins says
Happy to help! We had many vacations like yours, too. I found a skate park in Hilton Head, SC while looking for restaurant information and realized there’s so much more to do there than I ever thought. It’s been fun finding the little gems that make my kids’ eyes light up on vacation.
Though — there’s a lot to be said for catching up on sleep on vacation! 🙂
Twinkle Gaur says
I am not a bucket list kind of person, instead I am a dreamer. But yeah this is a nice read and will really help those who make their bucket list.
Karen Dawkins says
I like spontaneous trips, too. But, with five distinct personalities and interests, this really helps our family travel planning. When I go solo or with just one family member, we don’t plan half this much!
Julie Smith says
Hi Karen-
The family & I have started our bucket list for our big trip out west next summer. We are so excited, it’s lots of fun planning & talking & deciding about it!!
Karen Dawkins says
Julie, do you ever find the planning to be as much fun as the trip itself? At the very least, planning together makes the vacation seem to last longer!
Sarah says
What a great idea! The kids and I have never gone on vacation together, they’re still small, but I’m going to be putting the tips to use when that time finally comes — I’m scatterbrained enough to forget what the vacation goals would be, so lists are extremely helpful.
Karen Dawkins says
I’d be lost without my lists. 🙂 Sometimes they’re multicolored! It’s crazy.
Courtney~Mommy LaDy Club says
Karen,
This is such a great blog idea, and you’re doing such a great job! It’s funny, because I landed on your blogspot, and was going to suggest to get your custom domain, and here you are! Lookin’ good;)
Karen says
Courtney,
Thank you so much! Coming from you, that means a whole lot! I’m blessed with great friends and mentors (like you) who have helped the site grow quicker than it would have on its own. I do hope that the information provided here is a help to anyone who has a vacation dream and wants or needs help to accomplish it. Those of us in the US need to regain the art of relaxing!
Gina says
I wish going on the vacation was as easy as creating the bucket list. We usually do not have a problem with the bucket list, it is taking the time and money to actually go.
Karen says
Gina, please visit the blog posts from April. They discuss how to save for vacation (we used to save for three years to take one) and how to vacation for less. 🙂
Pamela R says
What great tips
Karen says
So much easier than a day by day itinerary!
Adam Zettler says
My bucket list currently contains San Francisco. I am hoping to make it there next spring!
Thanks for the great article, love the new site!
Family Travels on a Budget says
Adam,
We visited San Francisco a couple years ago. Great stuff there! Be sure to ride the cable cars, walk through Chinatown and walk the Golden Gate Bridge. It’s an amazing place to catch some awesome views of the city!
Karen