How to Make the Most Out of Your Vacation

I just wrote my first advice article on www.eHow.com. The copy is below, along with a direct link to the article. Feedback is welcome, of course!

http://www.ehow.com/how_2098142_vacation.html

Introduction

Everyone has taken a vacation and come home feeling more worn out than before they left. Learn to get the MOST out of your future travels...

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You'll Need
Only the desire to have a little more fun than usual!

Steps

Step One
First and Foremost, Remember That You're on Vacation to Have Fun!

Before you go on vacation, it's always a good idea to research the location and make a list of places you'd like to visit or things you'd like to do. However, if you don't get to everything on your list (or ANYTHING on your list), that's okay! Taking a vacation gives you the chance to get away from the time constraints and pressures of your everyday life - there is no need to make a strict itinerary and stick to it minute by minute. Let loose!

Step Two
Talk to Locals.

No one can give you more valuable insight into local hotspots than the locals themselves! Challenge yourself to talk to people everywhere you go. Most people are more than happy to put in their two cents, and sometimes two cents can be worth a lot. After someone gives you a good tip, put it to use. No website or travel book can compare to a real, face-to-face recommendation.

Step Three
Take the Time to Do a Little Bit of Nothing.

There is no rule that says every minute of your day needs to be outwardly productive - a little "me time" can go a long way. Relax, take a nap, read a book... appreciate your exciting new surroundings and drink them in with all of your being.

Step Four
Break Free from Your Normal Routines.

Do you work out every morning at 7:00 a.m.? Eat dinner at 5:30 p.m. every evening? Eat a sandwich for lunch everyday? Whatever it is that you normally do, DON'T DO IT ON YOUR VACATION! Vacations should be special, and this is the simplist way to insure that they feel that way. Even a night spent in the next town over can be amazing if you just let it.

Step Five
Lose Your Inhibitions.

Now, I'm not recommending that you go out, get drunk, and end up in Tijuana at noon on a Friday with no recollection of the previous three days... but I am recommending that you take some risks and leave your comfort zone for a bit. If you've always wanted to go to a nightclub but think you dance like an idiot, go anyway. Keep in mind that you'll probably never see most of the people you meet on a vacation ever again. And who knows? Maybe you'll win a dance contest and come home with more confidence in your moves than you ever thought possible. If not, nothing is lost. A vacation is a chance to live your unlived life.

Step Six
Treat Yourself.

Get yourself a massage or play nine holes on a world famous golf course. Eat an expensive French meal or throw down $100 on the roulette table. As I've said before, a vacation should be special. Don't break yourself, but don't miss out on something you really want to do. Give in to an impulsive desire and appreciate every second of your experience.

Step Seven
Dress Up.

Need a special occasion to wear that new dress? This is special. Make yourself feel beautiful and take an extra half hour to get ready before walking out that hotel door. You'll hold your chin a little bit higher and you'll have an extra bounce to your step - guaranteed. And don't be so hard on yourself - feel gorgeous, without shame.

Step Eight
Support Local Businesses.

Do you know who built the town you're enjoying? The guy that owns the corner coffee shop and the lady who opened the antique store down the street. Big tourist attractions get most of the attention, but they wouldn't even exist if not for small business owners. Treat them with the respect and appreciation that they deserve - you'll enjoy a more personal experience while helping others who really deserve it.

Step Nine
Finally, Bring Your New Attitudes, Stories and Experiences Home with You.

There is no better souvenir of a great time than a wonderful memory, a new hobby or a different outlook. Allow your vacation to change you, and share your stories with others to inspire them as well. Now that you've had the best vacation of your life, don't waste all that you've learned - apply it to your everyday life and smile a little more.