Plan ahead for your best summer vacation

Know your goals.

Want to expand your mind or simply unwind? For mind-refining, think museums, art festivals and historical sites. For stress relief, there's nothing like lazing by a river or on a beach. Biking and hiking are great for active travelers, while destination shopping malls are nirvana for bargain hunters.

Keep time in mind.

Build in extra time so you won't have to rush through activities you've been planning for months. And leave some time for spontaneous discoveries.

Don't overspend.

Stressing over money is a guaranteed vacation wrecker. Build a financial cushion into your plans for unexpected expenses.