Your step one should involve choosing your vacation spot. You have to choose a place that interests you and you're excited to travel to. Depending on your budget, you can either travel internationally or domestically. Another aspect you have to consider is how much travel time you have and plan accordingly. Remember, family vacations, couple's getaway and solo trips all have their own type of planning. When choosing your destination, like aforementioned, you must consider what you want out of this trip. Are you looking for relaxation, adventure, beaches, mountains, winter, summer, countryside, city, road trips, resorts, culture, food, shopping, budget, mid-range, luxury and so on? Once you have decided what you want out of this trip, you should also give yourself some time to suss out your budget. If your budget is a bit compromised, it will always be better for you to head out in the low season or the shoulder season. Besides, there are hotels and resorts that offer discounts during these seasons. For instance, when looking for a Chiang Mai hotel, you can check out properties like Anantara Chiang Mai Resort.