How does “Turn Your Dream Vacation Into Reality: A Game Plan for Seeing the World the Way You Want to See It” differ from other travel planning books? 

“Turn Your Dream Vacation into Reality” focuses on developing a “specific dream vacation” in the reader’s mind.  

The reader is asked to consciously identify what it is about the destination that is attractive, right down to the emotional level. Accomplishing this, the reader builds a dream vacation around this information. The resulting vacation should inherently be more fulfilling.  

The only prerequisite is that the reader has an “undeveloped” interest in a specific destination. The book guides the reader in the following fashion:   

• Brainstorming the nature of the trip – destination, activities, travel route, modes of transportation, lodging, meals, shopping and cultural considerations.   
•  Developing an itinerary and a travel route.  
•  Researching transportation, lodging, meals and shopping options.
•   Researching cultural, monetary, health and safety concerns.   
•  Developing a workable travel budget. 
• Preparing for departure, implementing the vacation as planned, returning home.  
• Special topics.     

This book openly encourages the reader to make full use of “destination-specific” travel guides and the internet for gathering information. 

Other Travel Books:  

Many other travel planning books jump right in with how to purchase the cheapest airfares, followed by how to find cheap lodging and rental car rates.  

This hit-and-miss method of travel suggests that a cheap destination is the only vacation factor worthy of consideration. Other factors are secondary. While the traveler may in fact enjoy such a cheap vacation, he/she may feel unfulfilled because the emotional aspect has not been addressed.  

Details like a good travel itinerary, a realistic travel route and a workable travel budget are often mentioned over the course of 1-2 pages. Unfortunately the traveler is left hanging with how to develop each of these. 

Summary 

While it is true that “Turn Your Dream Vacation into Reality” can do everything that the other travel planning books can do, the reverse is not necessarily true.  

 

This book is very detailed. Do I have to the material in every chapter in order to plan/enjoy a fulfilling vacation? 

No.   

While the book is a fully integrated travel planning template, it is unlikely that you will utilize use of all of the chapters for a single vacation. The resources are available if required however.  

You will have a reasonably good idea what is required after brainstorming your vacation. However just to be thorough, quickly review each chapter to make sure that you have not overlooked anything.  

The applicability of each chapter varies with the type of vacation being planned.  

 

How is the author, Troy Herrick, qualified to write such a travel planning book?  

Troy Herrick, a Canadian travel writer, has traveled extensively in North America, the Caribbean, Europe and parts of South America. His articles have appeared in both Live Life Travel and International Living Magazines. “Turn Your Dream Vacation into Reality” is based on his own travel experiences over the years. 

He holds degrees in both Medicine and Chemical Engineering. He is also the former chief executive officer of a public health department. These unique skills and experiences give him unique insight into the travel planning process - which he views as a form of project management. Specific strengths that he brings to travel planning include budgeting, efficiency and travel medicine.