Dreaming of the dusty Pyramids, the glittering Taj Mahal, or the stately cathedral of Notre Dame? The time has come for you to take an international vacation if similar images to these come into mind often for you. Trouble is, you might be stumped by finding the time to plan your vacation, let alone go on one! And if you had the time, would you know where to begin? Well, life is short, and an international vacation is worth the effort of making it happen. Here are a few simple guidelines to help you get started planning the adventure of a lifetime by going international for your next vacation.

First, there are a few big decisions to make that will frame all subsequent planning: What amount are you willing and able to spend? What are the destinations you most want to visit? Are there specific attractions in your preferred destinations that you want to be certain to includefirst? By making these decisions at the start, you will focus your energy and time looking only at the sorts of trips that fit with your big picture. Determine also how flexible your budget can be. An example. You are in Moscow, and you find you can get tickets to the Russian ballet. Knowing how far you can tweak your budget will allow yourself to take advantage of rare opportunities like this. So, leave some room to maneuver.

Once you've established the major priorities regarding your trip, you can either plan the details yourself, or engage the services of a travel agent. If it's your first international trip, I recommend that you use an agent. Travel agents are informed about the best deals, so you usually get good prices by using their services. They're experienced travelers, and can often advise you about things that might not even occur to you. Furthermore, they can often connect you with an agent in your destination countries should you need assistance while you're there. If you are in countries where you don't speak the language, this can be especially useful. To choose a travel agent, talk to friends and family for referrals to someone with a good reputation. And be sure the person you work with is a member of the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA), ensuring a good quality of services. By the way, travel agents make the majority of their money from company commissions, rather than by charging you a fee.

Even though it is relatively smooth and simple to use a travel agent, some people still enjoy doing a lot of the planning on their own, kind of seeing the research as part of the journey. With the Internet, planning your own vacation has become much easier than ever before. There are dozens of online travel companies such as Orbitz, Expedia, and Priceline where you can find complete packages, or put your own pieces together. However, in the case of international vacations, be aware that if you don't know the language or culture of your destination country very well, you could get yourself in a bind. You'll need to have very clear information about visas, transportation, and etc. that might be difficult to find without the aid of a travel agent.

One more possibility, especially if this is your first trip abroad, is to travel with a tour group. Whatever you decide - to be guided by an agent, to go independently online, or to take part in an organized tour - remember to bring your camera and your passport, and have a fabulous time on your international vacation!

Duane Bertani has made a study of topics related to vacations and travel. He is contributing writer of articles for The Vacation News your premier resource on-line for information on vacations. Find the archive of articles at: http://www.flashvacation.com/

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