Arrange Your List - PLAN 3 of 4

Sift through the information you've collected and start to prioritize.

This is usually my least favorite step because it involves several reality checks. You have finished step 1 of the PLAN and established your who, when, and where. You have become obsessed with your destination and finished step 2 of the PLAN and collected a giant list of ideas. Now you need to finalize your budget and work your magic to squeeze in as much awesomeness as you can within the boundries of reality.

Take all that info you collected and start to prioritize what you are most excited to see and do. Dig a little deeper. That restaurant looks neat but some of the recent reviews are terrible and the prices are higher than what it's worth to you. Save the money you would have spent on steak and look into an alternate option. Or keeping searching for a great steak if that is what you really want.

When creating your budget be sure to account for all transportation, lodging, food, excursions, entry fees, tickets, tips, taxes, souvenirs, exchange rates, insurance, and then add a little more because you're on vacation.

Beyond your financial budget, now is also the time to consider your time and energy budgets. When you have a limited amount of time at a destination, it is often tempting to over-stuff an itinerary. I have been guilty of this a few (okay, several) times. Packing in too many things, especially for multiple consecutive days, can lead to grumpy travelers. Planning time to rest and regroup may decrease the sites that you see but is sure to increase the overall enjoyment of the trip. Plus - if you miss something this time, all the more reason to add it to your Wishlist to go back someday!