Planning the perfect vacation

We Americans love to work–it’s in our DNA.  While Germans look forward to month-long vacations each year, we pride ourselves on not using all our vacation time. Is it any wonder, then, that when we do take a vacation, we aren’t very good at it? Practice does make perfect and most of us simply don’t get enough practice!

Study after study shows that vacations make us more productive, healthy and happy. Planning and booking a vacation, however, often ends up becoming yet one more project that needs to be added to your to-do list. Fortunately, there are travel professionals who spend countless hours learning about great destinations and tracking the best deals so you don’t have to.

So…let’s talk about what goes into creating a “dream vacation.”

What’s your goal?

Unwind? Adventure? Bucket list destination? Visit that special someone? There are so many different reasons for wanting to get away.  So, start by being really clear about why you are now ready to invest your time and money or the vacation may fall well short of your expectations.

How much time do you have and how much can you afford to spend

It is possible to have a great vacation close to home for very little money, but impossible to visit the capitals of Europe over a weekend for under $100. Finding that right balance between time, cost and quality is tricky, but essential to realizing a dream vacation. Timing here is also important. While there are some great last minute deals, you almost always get the best deal by booking as early as possible.

Now comes the research

Have you run into market or demand pricing? Computers now adjust the prices of everything from ride sharing and airline tickets to hotels and cruises in real time based on demand. World events impact what’s open and desirable. Did you know you can impact the cost of your plane ticket simply by checking on the price multiple times? There is more and better information than has ever been available before, but staying on top of it and understanding what it means has never been harder. This is where the right travel professional can make all the difference. Planning a day trip to Apple Hill? Jump in the car and have fun! Planning a cruise, trip to Europe, or Safari in Africa, talk with a travel professional. Worried about cost? The data consistently shows that most travelers save hundreds of dollars booking through a travel agent versus booking on their own! 

Decision time

Ideally, based on the research,  you should have 2-3 really good options to choose from. Sometimes this could be as simple as which hotel to pick, or it might be deciding between countries to visit. Take the time to visualize each option, ask questions, and see how well it satisfies your requirements.

Booking

Timing can be tricky on this one. The ideal time for booking a cruise is different from booking ground transportation. Change and cancellation policies sometimes turn a great deal into a risky proposition. Do you need/want travel insurance? Are there passport, visa, immunization or other considerations before you commit?

Before you travel

This step will depend very much on why you are going. If you are looking to relax, try leaving the computer at home and pack a good book. If your trip is to a bucket list destination, make the time to learn as much as you can about the destination before you get there to get the most out of your vacation. This is also the time to make sure your luggage and travel clothing is appropriate for your destination. Last but not least, if you are leaving children or pets behind, make sure plans are in place so you can enjoy your holiday and not lie awake and worry if everything is okay back home.

Vacation time

This is your time to shine and/or unwind.  Enjoy yourself! Time to focus on you and your partner/family if they are traveling with you. Give yourself permission to leave the “real world” behind for a while!

Back to reality.

Depending on your vacation, you may need time to readjust when you return. It is also a great time to capture what worked and what you would do differently on your next vacation.

Bottom line, vacations really aren’t a luxury.  They make you healthier, happier and more productive. So make your next vacation your best vacation yet.  Your family, friends and boss will thank you for it!

When you are ready for your next vacation please consider our sponsor Dream Vacations in Fair Oaks!

Reno, NV

Reno lives up to its slogan even during the pandemic

October 2020

This was our first overnight trip since the pandemic started and we were looking for something familiar to do as a starting point. Reno is an easy drive up I-80 from the Sacramento area and a place we know well from years of skiing in nearby Tahoe. You can do Reno as a day trip, but a friend was able to get us a great deal for two nights at the Grand Sierra Resort, which I hadn’t stayed at before, so that became our plan. I am happy to report the people we encountered were being careful and the local businesses seemed to be going out of their way to make everyone feel safe. October is a great time to visit Reno as the weather is perfect and the light crowds make for easy social distancing. No question it felt wonderful to escape for a couple of days and to discover both some old favorites and some new treasures.

Grand Sierra Resort (GSR)

The GSR has everything you expect from a large casio/hotel and then some

Beautiful rooms and everything under one roof you need for a short vacation

Our hotel for this visit was the Grand Sierra Resort which is located near the airport and most attractions. The GSR is huge. Almost a city within Reno, it has an ice rink, movie theater and bowling alley in addition to the casino, a nightclub, restaurants and bars you would expect. The management did a good job of following the CDC protocols and despite it being more crowded than I would have liked, we never felt uncomfortable. Special call out for Fat Tuesday, which makes it far too easy to grab a daiquiri on your way to the pool! 

La Vecchia Italian Ristorante

Upscale Italian food with a nice patio overlooking the city

Excellent food, great service in a great new location

We enjoyed dinner here the first night as this has become our go-to Italian restaurant when visiting Reno. Our  the first time we have been back since they moved, they are a little harder to find but worth the drive. Same great food and service and the new location offers a nice patio that overlooks the Reno skyline. Make sure you leave room for their outstanding desserts.

Two Chicks Reno

Lighthearted restaurant located in midtown with easy parking

Wonderful breakfast, great service nice location

Breakfast can be tricky, grab something at the hotel or look for something special nearby? Tried Two Chicks based on many positive online reviews and was not disappointed. They have limited outdoor seating, but have made all the adjustments you expect to keep customers and staff safe while seated inside. I had their french toast with pork sausage which was excellent! My wife’s eggs, chicken sausage and toast may have been even better. She so enjoyed the toast so much we ended up buying a loaf to take home. Located in midtown, parking was easy and it is surrounded by other fun looking shops.

National Automobile Museum

Autos old and new with wonder docents to bring their stories alive

Movie stars, precious metals and more help tell the history of the cars

I’ve visited several auto museums all over the world and this is certainly one of the best. The collection of truly beautiful cars, trucks and more are organized by time periods with artfully done sets that help create perspective. The docents are very knowledgeable and happy to give you all the details you could want. They have also done a nice job of using displays to highlight cars with a special historical significance.

Reno Riverwalk District

Urban art and street people mix with trendy restaurants and bars

Beautiful park like escape in the middle of Reno

Reno really has done a nice job of creating walkways, parks and public art along the river. Not surprisingly several nice restaurants, pubs and shops have opened nearby as well. This beautiful area does have homeless people who also enjoy everything it offers but the police patrol it often.

Bertha Miranda’s Mexican Restaurant

All the standards you expect in a setting that is comfortable but funky

Traditional Mexican food done really well in an interesting setting

First time trying Bertha’s, which we selected based on the many good reviews. I was a little disappointed initially as we were quickly seated, but then the staff disappeared. Fortunately the rest of the evening was delightful with great chips and salsa, outstanding beans and one of the best chicken enchiladas I’ve ever had. The decor is quite unique with some great live plants and some very unusual artwork. Located across the street from the National Car Museum.

The Daily Bagel

NY style bagels and cream cheese ready to go

Simple, fresh and good

On our last morning we looked for another local place to have a quick breakfast before starting the trip home. Discovered The Daily Bagel, which based on the constant stream of customers seems to be a local favorite. Catering to a pickup crowd seating is limited and nicely spaced just outside the pickup window. I had a plain bagel with homemade Strawberry cream cheese that was delicious. Vicki had the breakfast sandwich on a croissant which was also good.

Welcome to SavvySr!

My great Uncle Buss used to tell everyone “anyone who called old age the golden years, didn’t live to be very old”. Of course that didn’t stop him from taking regular trips to Alaska and enjoying every day to the fullest.

SavvySr is for those of us who have enjoyed a full life but aren’t ready to stop living.

In the computer world I’m a dinosaur but I still enjoy playing with technology so I created this site for seniors who want to share ideas, stories and pictures with other seniors without fear of being “spammed” or otherwise tracked.

We are just getting started, but with your help it should be fun and you might even learn something.

Anyone can view and comment on the stories and pictures already posted here, just click on that green circle to the left or scroll to the bottom. No subject is off limits*, but I hope you will choose to register and contribute your own stories and pictures!

*in the spirit of full full disclosure anything illegal, immoral, unethical and outright lies will be removed and repeat offenders will be blocked from using the site