Thanksgiving marked the beginning of the holiday season, and during this time, many families set out to travel and explore — my family was no different.

Over the course of the holiday break, my family traveled to Florida and cruised to the Bahamas. Although this vacation was designed to help us forget about the stresses of everyday life, it created problems of its own.

This trip was expensive, and it was quite annoying to have to pay an additional $26 just to drink soda on the ship, to stay confined to eating cheese pizza and then to realize that one of the islands wasn’t a real island at all — but one set up by the cruise line.

The ups and downs made the trip memorable, though.

Traveling always presents the opportunity for a unique learning experience, an experience that everyone should set out to have if possible.

However, travelers should always keep in mind a few tips: When setting out to explore the world, people should plan ahead, pack light, keep an open mind and remember to take a vacation from the actual vacation.

Planning a vacation can be stressful, but it’s essential for an enjoyable experience. Planning goes beyond securing hotel accommodations and includes things like budgeting and creating detailed itineraries.

My mom always serves as the travel agent for our trips and had each day planned to the minute. She had thoroughly done her research about the activities available, which let us have our own walking guidebook. Everyone should take the initiative to be thoroughly informed; this way, everyone will benefit from the schedule.

On the other hand, note that the trip will not always go according to plan, but informed travelers will make any unforeseen bump in the road smooth.

The second-most-important tip is packing light. No matter how many times I am forced to reorganize bags at the checkout counter, I always overpack. Putting my bags on the scale is like waiting for a death sentence.

But you all can learn from my mistakes. My sister and I stuffed shoes, souvenir cups and Dasani bottles of water throughout our luggage, and we still had to pay for a second bag. In an effort to save water, my mom and sister drank bottles of water from the time we woke up until we reached the security line.

Don’t get caught up in packing items that you may “potentially” need because more than likely you won’t.

Again, planning is necessary. Check the weather of your travel destination the week of, and a couple weeks prior to, travel, so you know what to pack. Still, remember to anticipate wild weather such as rain or snow, but don’t go overboard.

Also, don’t fall into the trap of packing at the last minute. This is the most inefficient way to pack: You will just throw unneeded items into your suitcase.

Another important tip when traveling is to keep an open mind, especially when traveling outside of the country or with those from different cultures. One of the most enjoyable aspects of my trip was being surrounded by different people from all over the world. Some of the people I met came from Jamaica, India, Peru and the Bahamas, of course. I used this trip to connect with those people and learn about similarities and differences in culture.

When it’s all said and done, you will need a vacation from your vacation. Our trip lasted eight days, and after two or three days of being on the move, I was exhausted. For the majority of my trip, I was up before 8 a.m. and in bed by 1 a.m., which reflects the stressful schedule I was eager to get away from. If traveling for long periods of time, especially on ships that seem to defy gravity, set aside time specifically designed for relaxation.

When taking a trip, naturally we want to accomplish as much as we can, but it’s also important to remember why you’re there. During our chill time, my family usually just sat around talking and laughing with one another, an aspect more enjoyable than any other part of the trip.

Overall, I am very appreciative of the opportunity. If given the chance, everyone should go and discover the amazing possibilities, stories and memories that await.

Ta’les is a junior in Media. She can be reached at [email protected].