Having to sit out most of 2020 and travel less has been hard. But I am not sitting idly and waiting for things to change. I'm using this time to plan, organize and look ahead. 

I'm pretty good at planning vacations far in advance. However, with this extra time, I'm doing things a little differently.

Here are a few vacation planning tips you can do now for future stress-free vacation planning. 

   

1. Organize Travel Photos

I'm finally organizing our pictures into travel albums so we can easily find them. Now I can use Apple TV to set them as the background and have them displayed daily and remember past trips — just by turning on the TV. 

We also had a picture viewing party to reminisce on 10 years of vacations.

2. Build a Vacation Fund

I've created a little vacation fund by opening a fee-free account at my bank and funding it monthly. This way, we'll have a larger pot to use in the years ahead. 

3. Take Inventory of Travel Documents 

   

I'm making sure all our passports and international entry accounts are up-to-date, so we have no last-minute surprises next time we travel abroad. 

4. Accumulate Points 

I got a new credit card for Hilton and Delta Airlines and I'm taking advantage of the huge points promotions during the pandemic for future vacation planning. 

5. Explore Hilton Grand Vacations' Properties

I'm researching some of the Hilton Grand Vacations properties we've not visited yet and put those on a list for future travels.

 6. Update Travel Bucket-Lists

Last but not least, I created an electronic file of all the travel destinations we want to visit in the future. I even created subfolders for dining, entertainment and things to do on vacation for each travel destination. 

I've really enjoyed doing all the research, and it feels great to be prepared — no more last-minute stress trying to find things to do and places to eat. Although, that can be fun too.

We're honestly having fun doing these things and are really excited to embrace the new normal and start traveling more often. 

Read If You're Dreaming of Far Flung Lands to Add to Your Travel Bucket List, Here’s One You've Got to See for more vacation planning inspiration.