With school out and warm, sunny weather upon us, the time of year for vacations has arrived. To help you make the most of your time away from it all, try following the steps below. Whether you are looking for an exciting adventure or a quiet spot to relax, a little time spent planning can make a world of difference in the overall quality of your vacation.

• Assess your objective. Before anything else, decide what the purpose of your vacation will be. If what you really need is some serious rest, don’t plan a trip packed with fun but exhausting activities. If you do, you’ll need a second vacation just to recover, or worse, you’ll return to work stressed instead of refreshed. The flip side is also true. If you are craving adventure or an educational excursion, booking a room in the middle of a small town in Vermont will more than likely leave you disappointed.

• Set a budget. No one wants to come home from a great trip just to find massive credit card bills from the adventure. Look at your overall financial picture before you choose a destination, book rooms, buy tickets, etc. If the money isn’t there, scale back or start saving up. A trip paid for in cash or in advance is much more fun in the long run. Don’t let debt taint your good memories.

• Pick a location. With budget set and purpose determined, it’s time to choose the place you want to go. Whether far away or nearby, do your homework on each likely candidate and choose the one that has the most to offer based on your goals for the trip. If it’s a family vacation, consider letting everyone have a vote or at least make sure there are things to do that everyone will enjoy.

• Use a service. Even experienced travelers can benefit from using a travel service. The professionals in the travel industry are trained to find the best deals and assemble the best packages based on your personal criteria. Having someone else handle the details can be a time saver and can offer peace of mind.

• Do it yourself. Just as there are positives to hiring a travel agent, there can also be rewards for planning the trip yourself. For starters, you will save money on the agent’s fees. Also, while researching the best options and tracking down the best prices can take a good chunk of time, it can also provide you with a better understanding of the area where you will be staying, something you’ll value upon arrival.