Everyone deserves a vacation once in awhile, and if you have the money to go on a grand adventure, why not do it? There are things to keep in mind when it comes to planning a vacation, especially if it’s a big one. Money will matter a great deal.

Other things that will matter are whether you can take that time off work and whether you can get your whole family to go with you (is it a kid-friendly vacation or do you have someone to watch them?). Here are a few things to question before you board that plane, train or automobile!

Can You Afford It?

You need to consider whether or not you can actually afford a vacation. It’s not cheap, and the money that will get you through your vacation isn’t the only money you need to take into consideration. You’re going to be missing work, can you afford that?

First, if you have a good deal of debt already, vacation shouldn’t be at the top of your spending list. Then you need to look at how many people are in your family that you’re going to need to take with you on vacation. Even if this is an adults only vacation you’ll still need to find a family member to watch the kids, and they may want some kind of compensation.

You need to have the money put away for your vacation. It’s a bad idea to use credit cards to fund your vacation and will just add to your debt. Though, you could have one with you for emergencies or your souvenir purchases/

Where Will You Go (And Why)?

Determine where you are going to go for your vacation. This will also help determine how much money you are going to need for your vacation. Maybe you’re traveling to visit family, or maybe you want to spend your winter someplace warmer. There are all sorts of vacation options.

If you want to plan a vacation that will be memorable forever you may want to plan to go someplace you’ve been dreaming if. Maybe you have Irish heritage and want to visit Ireland. Or, maybe you’ve always dreamed about going to Graceland.

How Are You Getting There?

Lastly, you want to consider your transportation plans. If you want to go on a road trip vacation and take the whole family with you, but you drive a compact car, you’re going to need a rental. Or, maybe you should invest in an RV.

If you’re going out of the country, you’re going to need to fly. Take some time to research the rules with airports, there are bag amount and weight limits, and more. If you’re taking a bus or train, you also want to be prepared for layovers, just like with flying.