For many years I traveled as a business consultant which took me from exotic locales to sleepy little hamlets.  This provided the opportunity to see parts of the country I might never otherwise visit. It also provided a value education in the art of travel I could use for leisure travel as well.  Over time I learned to plan, prepare and pack in a way to reduce stress and truly enjoy the experience.

Here are my tips for making your trip a success:

Plan.  If you are not one for group travel, planning trip details yourself can be fun.  While many tours provide exposure to a large swathe of territory in a relatively short period of time, sometimes you might just want to limit yourself to a single location or activity. Careful planning allows you to use your travel budget wisely.