Vacations can cause more pressure than they relieve — unless you size up beforehand what you need. Consider your…
Stress threshold. If daily life is draining, use your time away to relax. Choose a setting where you won’t have to struggle with a foreign language or change hotels frequently — such as a quiet mountain resort or a lakeside bed-and-breakfast. Bring some novels and knitting… leave the laptop computer at home.
Boredom level. If your regular routine seems humdrum, choose a charged-up venue. Stimulating: Visit historic sites and museums… take a “learning vacation” at a culinary or language institute… hike foothills or cycle cross-country.
Travel companion. When your dreams don’t match your partner’s, compromise to avoid conflict. Example: If he’s stressed but you’re bored, pick a destination that offers simplicity and stimulation — a beach at the edge of a bustling city or a five-star spa near an archeological site.
Biorhythms. Travel is tough on the body clock. The day you arrive at your destination, stick with activities needing minimal planning (a brief bus tour, dinner at your hotel). Arrange major excursions (day-long snorkeling, all-night dancing) for mid-trip. The last day, take it easy again (a bit of shopping, a show) — so you arrive home refreshed.
