So you’ve just booked your next Vacation Wellness excursion.  Congratulations!  You’ve joined tens of thousands of savvy travelers who have found a better way to enjoy the world in style, without spending an arm and a leg, and without an ounce of planning hassle.

Whether you’re ready to hit the beach with a mai tai and a good book, or excited about indulging your photography passion in Europe’s elegant, historic cities, or anxious to see nature’s splendor in New Zealand’s breathtaking outdoors, we’d like to help you make the most of your time away.  After all, Vacation Wellness is all about better living, and better working, through life stress management.  Your human resources employee benefits folks have provided Vacation Wellness as part of your employee health and wellness programs suite to help you stave off the negative effects of cumulative stress.  So it makes sense to plan a stress-free vacation experience.

While you’ve paid up to 2/3 less for your four- or five-star vacation experience than otherwise possible without our Vacation Wellness program, you still want to get the most for your vacation dollar.  So here are a few tips to maximize your enjoyment and relaxation:

1. Plan your packing.  The professional travel agent who planned your Vacation Wellness experience has probably already been in touch with you to email a planning guide for your unique destination.  Use those information gems to start a list of things to bring along with you.  Start the list as soon as you book your trip, and you’ll be able to add to it as you think of things to help make your vacation experience relaxing and enjoyable.  That way, when it comes time to load your suitcase, there won’t be any last-minute stress or panic, and you’ll arrive at your destination with everything you need.
2. Don’t plan redeye travel! Take a day on either side of your planned excursion to travel in a leisurely pace during normal waking hours.  Plan to arrive at your destination at a reasonable hour with plenty of time to get settled, relax, and enjoy your first evening in paradise.  Do the same thing on your return leg, leaving plenty of time to take care of the little things at home before you return to work.  This will prevent a stressful transition from your vacation back to your everyday life.
3. Pick an excursion or two. Adventurous?  Ready to zip-line through the rainforest in Costa Rica?  Excited to snorkel or scuba dive to see the amazing coral reef habitat?  Contact the agent responsible for planning your trip to help you book your excursions in advance.  You’ll often save additional money by booking early, and you’ll ensure your place on the trip.  Don’t worry if you forget this step, as our travel partner’s on-site host will steer you in the right direction and help you make the most of your Vacation Wellness experience.
4. Make plans to do nothing. The research shows that an important part of vacationing is just spending unstructured time with loved ones in a fun, relaxing environment.  Don’t over-plan your vacation time, or you risk returning more tired than you left!
5. DO NOT, under any circumstances whatsoever, bring work with you. Don’t bring your laptop, blackberry, files, or projects, even to work on during travel to and from your destination.  This point can’t be overemphasized – do not succumb to the temptation to even “check in” with work.  While it may take just a few minutes for your boss or colleague to describe the new crisis-du-jour, your mind will spend the rest of the day ruminating, robbing you of the vacation joy and relaxation you sorely need.  We promise that the world will not end while you’re disconnected for a week.

It’s really that simple.  We make it as easy as possible to enjoy your time away, but a little bit of planning on your part will take your vacation to the next level.