In your day-to-day life, you’re probably all too familiar with a jam-packed schedule. It can be tempting to follow the same approach on vacation. Many of us choose a bustling city that’s all the rage on vacation blogs and proceed to compile a too-long list of must-see spots and must-try restaurants. But operating at full-steam on vacation can leave you feeling like you need a vacation from your vacation. This season, welcome a change of pace and plan a relaxing vacation — one that’s restorative rather than exhausting.

One of the simplest tips we can offer for a relaxing vacation? Slow the heck down! Imagine this: you’re on vacation and relaxed enough to muse about what time it is rather than rushing to make your dinner reservations. When was the last time you had nowhere to be? This year, abandon your schedule for a few days, don’t live by a clock, and enjoy a truly relaxing vacation.

Here are five tips to help make it happen:

1. Put your mind at ease.

Easier said than done, right? It’s hard not to fret over what happens if something goes awry on your trip — or even before you leave the house. That’s why we’re including purchasing travel insurance as the first step to a more relaxing trip. Think back to those potentially stressful scenarios we just mentioned. First, there’s the fear of something going awry during your trip. If it’s a covered injury or illness requiring medical care and/or transportation that keeps you up at night, the OneTrip Emergency Medical plan is an option to consider. If you’re more concerned about unexpected events preventing you from even beginning your trip, try OneTrip Basic for trip cancellation benefits. Allianz Global Assistance offers travel insurance plans designed for most budgets and itineraries; take a look at which best fits your needs. Also, be sure to read all of plan’s details to understand what’s considered a “covered” event and other important details. (Pro tip: once you make a choice, be sure to make the savvy follow-up move by downloading our TravelSmart app.)

2. Rent a house.

Staying in a hotel compels you to be on-the-go. At the very least, you need meals and there’s only so much you can do when limited to one room. Renting an entire house, on the other hand, is a different story. That’s especially true for houses that are designed for family vacations and include fun add-ons such as pools, foosball, billiards, hot tubs, fire pits, and more. In some cases, exploring a vacation rental can be an activity in itself. With a house, you’ll usually have kitchen access, a fridge, and even a washer and dryer – making it easy to stay put and relax once you arrive and unload.

3. Splurge for a view.

It’s not much of a getaway if you choose a destination that’s identical to your backyard. Choose a landing spot that’s easy on the eyes and helps you feel serene. Think: the mountains, the ocean, rolling fields - whatever relaxes you. Even better if you can stay as close to the view as possible. There’s something pretty special about drinking your morning coffee overlooking the water or watching the sun come up over a mountaintop. Now of course, rental properties with a view usually coincide with a higher price tag. But before you discount it based on that alone, consider the money you’ll save by taking a pass on the museums, restaurants, and touristy activities you might indulge in if you were staying in a busy city.

4. Embrace the outskirts.

It’s easier to avoid crowds, slow down, and disconnect by casting your net wider and taking a polite pass on the city center. With Wi-Fi access available at every coffee shop, you may not realize that in some more secluded areas, Wi-Fi isn’t a guarantee. Before you filter your vacation search to make sure you have high speed internet, consider if it’s actually essential while you vacation. For example, if a high-pressure job makes it tough not to check your email while you’re away, going somewhere that doesn’t have internet can be the perfect excuse to fully clock out for a truly relaxing vacation! If you’re really feeling daring, remote areas that also have spotty cellular service can help you drop off the grid. Just be sure to set your “out-of-the-office” message before you go!

5. Eat at home.

Eating out for every meal on vacation is dangerously close to a full-time job. You research the restaurant, you call to make a reservation, you have to stop what you’re doing in time to get ready, you wrangle your travel companions, find your keys, navigate to the restaurant… you get the point. Multiply that by three meals a day and the time you have left to relax quickly dwindles. Instead, plan to cook your meals. Not everyone eats breakfast, or wants lunch at the same time. So, having the fridge stocked with breakfast and lunch staples lets adults and older kids fend for themselves to minimize formal meal prep. When it comes to dinner, you’ve got options. You know those meal-kit delivery services? Consider ordering a couple to take with you on vacation. They include the ingredients you need and the recipes, so that you can cook tasty meals without a lot of planning in advance. And of course there’s always the option to get delivery on nights that you’re fully embracing the opportunity to relax. How many pizza nights are too many pizza nights, you know?

Bonus: Pack (or rent) your fun.

When you allow yourself to slow down on vacation you have time for some good old fashioned fun! If you’re visiting a lake or body of water consider packing fishing poles for a family-friendly activity or rafts if your crowd will be happy floating the day away. Plus, many vacation spots have rental companies for equipment like kayaks, bikes, and skis. Alternatively, if you’ll be spending time inside, bring some of your favorite movies, a new puzzle, and the book you haven’t had time for. With no early morning activities on the books, there’s also the opportunity to stay up past bedtimes and enjoy nightfall. If you live near a city usually but are vacationing somewhere more remote, consider bringing along a telescope to check out the stars at nightfall.

Before you book your next trip, think about what a relaxing vacation means for you, and set yourself up to actually achieve it. After all, there's more to a getaway than the amount of activities you can squeeze in.

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