Out of office text with illustrated palm trees and vacation buildings

April 13, 2022

Vacation planning made simple

2 minute read

Whether you’re jet-setting off to an international destination, road-tripping to a new place, or planning a relaxing staycation, a little preparation and organization can help ensure that your vacation goes smoothly.

Start gathering inspiration

A little research before a trip can go a long way in your vacation planning. Keep track of all your ideas from the web in a Microsoft Edge Collection. You can save lists of restaurant suggestions, guided tours, local events, hotel accommodations, and more.

Take organization up a notch with templates

You’ve got all your ideas together in a Microsoft Edge Collection, and now it’s time to book them. A free itinerary template from Microsoft Excel can help you keep track of the dates and times of your activities, so you know what’s on deck every day. A free budget template can help you keep track of your anticipated spending, so you can prioritize the activities that are most important to you during your vacation planning.

Keep track of every detail everywhere you go

Illustrated vacation stamps and purple suitcase with orange background

You can easily record all the details of your trip and have them at your fingertips for quick reference anytime. Use Microsoft OneNote to keep track of information like confirmation codes, links to activities, a copy of your itinerary, and more. You can even divide your “vacation notebook” into color-coded sections and pages for easier navigation. OneNote is shareable and collaborative, so you and your travel partner can add information to the same place. It’s also available across all your devices, so you can start planning a vacation on your laptop and update or reference on your phone as you go.

Don’t forget to check the forecast!

Use widgets when planning a vacation to check the weather at your destination before packing up. Select More Options (…) in the upper-right corner of the widget to customize the location setting. That way, you won’t forget important items like rain jackets or sun hats.

Your time off is approved, your activities are booked, and now you’re ready to enjoy every moment of your vacation.