When I think of vacation, I picture quality time spent in a poolside lounge chair with a great book, a pile of magazines and being served too many cocktails.
I also associate vacations with letting my hair down, uninterrupted conversations, new experiences, sleeping in and room service.
I envision escaping it all: laundry, bills, TV; the mundane of my every day existence at home.
Vacations are meant to be memory-making adventures sprinkled with a little more indulgence than usual and hopefully some decent photos to bring home and frame.
My perfect vacation [and only because it has been so long that I’ve had one quite like this] would be somewhere sunny and coastal and alone with my husband.
My perfect vacation would also include:
1. Someone to pack for me, first class tickets and a limousine ride to and from the airport would all be wonderful, but I honestly don’t mind shuttles or coach seats (just so long as I don’t get stuck next to a screaming kid or a stinky fat man).
2. The ability to enjoy the vacation without any mommy guilt!
3. Having been rained on, snowed in and caught in a hurricane, the perfect vacation would include perfect weather upon arrival and for the entire length of our stay.
4. The ability to pack everything I might need and nothing I won’t, in other words, as many shoes as I want without any questions from my traveling companion and no emergency stops at a mall or drug store for something stupid I forgot at home, like a bathing suit. Yes, I have done this before. More than once!
5. Souvenirs. In the form of a special trinket, new friends or the rekindling of an old relationship with a true BFF.Β
6. The ability to truly relax. This is so much easier said that done, especially for my husband when confined to a lounge chair. For me, if in a beach or pool setting, I could hang out in the sun all day every day, breaking only to eat, sleep and shower, but for him, it’s not so easy. I’m open to water sports and boat rides.
7. The ability to indulge in sweet treats and pretty drinks without gaining a single pound.
8. The ability to NOT get sick. I have had some of the nastiest colds in my life while on vacation.Β
9. Spa services. Enough said.
10. Returning home to a clean home, fresh sheets on the bed, mail sorted and someone to do the mounds of laundry.
This post was inspired by Stasha’s Monday Listicles, a linky right up my alley, as I LOVE lists! This week’s topic: 10 Things That Make A Vacation Perfect (selected by Hopes@StayingAfloat)
Stasha says
Oh yes, number 1 and 10 are a good place to start and finish. you have had some bad luck with weather on your holidays… Love the photos.
Tonya says
Thanks. I’ve taken some great vacations in my life, all of them included tons of laundry. π
Nicole says
11. Having the Amex bill with everything you charged to the room magically taken care of before it hits your statement. (However, still accumulate all the points!)
Tonya says
Excellent addition!
Runnermom-jen says
I love #7! Now that would be a perfect vacation…as well as all the others in your list.
Great pictures! Looks like you’ve had some pretty awesome vacations π
Tonya says
Wouldn’t that be great?! Truth be told, I always pack workout gear and sneakers and usually use them. At least once. I feel too guilty otherwise.
Yes, I have been very fortunate to see a lot of very cool places.
Jessica says
I want to go on this vacation with you.
Tonya says
Let’s go!! I am SO ready.
Kimberly says
YES! So when are we leaving? π
Tonya says
Doesn’t this sound perfect?
RoryBore says
Yes, Yes to number 10! I will also need someone to cook for me and make my bed for a few days, and bring me random drinks during the day so that I can ease back into life. LOL
Tonya says
#10 is key to making this the PERFECT vacation.
Kiddothings says
I love #10. That would certainly make my vacay a perfect one. As it is, that’s the only one that’s difficult to achieve. Great list Tonya π
Tonya says
Thanks! I think #10 is the best part too.
Lisa says
Love Hawaii. I really want to go back soon. Last time we went I was 9 weeks pregnant so I didn’t get to surf or enjoy those fruity drinks.
Tonya says
Hawaii must be experienced without a baby in the belly. Get on that, will ya? ! π
Alison@Mama Wants This says
Great list! Every time I get home from vacation, the first things I do are: unpack, laundry, clean house, do sheets. So #10? YES please.
Tonya says
Isn’t #10 the best?!
Mama And The City says
totally, returning to a clean ready-made home would complete the circle of a perfect vacation.
Tonya says
It’s sort of the cherry on top of a perfect vacay, no? My bags are packed!
Kir says
You and I would be perfect travel companions!!! I am a lazy slug on vaca and there is nothing I enjoy more than just sitting..looking out over a crystal blue ocean! Your list gives me a peek of paradise! π xo
Tonya says
Laying around and doing nothing sounds divine, doesn’t it? I’m SO ready!!
Katie E says
Great list! #6 is especially tough for me. I’m with you – I can relax and sit in the sun and read all day long, but my husband can’t, so that makes it hard for me to relax!
Tonya says
It really puts a damper on my relaxation, so I have learned to compromise. Sigh…
Jessica@Team Rasler says
I love all of these, but especially #10 so I don’t feel like I’m paying for my vacation for the next week after I get home! This is indeed a dream vacation. Where can we find those personal packers?? I totally want one.
Tonya says
#10 is my favorite too… the perfect homecoming makes the perfect trip.
Shell says
Someone to pack for you- that is GENIUS!
Tonya says
I can pull it off, but I’d much rather have someone do it for me.
Cookie's Mom says
Tonya, I think I’ll just add all of these to my list. Why stop at ten? Love, especially, coming home to a clean home and easing into chores by not having to do any for a while! Perfect!
Tonya says
Oh, now I have to check out your list too!
Leigh Ann says
I think I would have a reeeeeallly hard time letting go of the Mommy guilt. Although I did take off to a family reunion for 5 days and relished in not having anyone to be responsible for but myself! Great list!
Tonya says
The mommy guilt would ruin the trip for me for sure. Sigh…
Leah says
Book your next vacation already! I’m here to take Lucas! Perhaps a weekend to Santa Barbara or San Fran?? You and Todd should go somewhere asap! At least over Thankgiving in AZ, I’ll be there every night so you and Todd can at least go out to dinner and stuff… π Hey, I’m trying…haha XOXO
Tonya says
Yes! Maybe sometime in January.
tracy@sellabitmum says
Okay, now I need a vacation and a better bikini body. xo
Tonya says
Ugh… tell me about it!
Just Jennifer says
A girl after my own heart! All sounds great to me!
Tonya says
Let’s go, my bags are packed!
Jackie says
AMEN, sister!
Your list is perfect from escaping mommy guilt to spa packages, you covered it all!
Tonya says
Coming up with the perfect vacay was easy, now I just have to figure out where to go, when to go and how to pay for it all.
Greta @gfunkified says
This is HEAVEN. Really, this must be what heaven is like.
Tonya says
I could not agree more!
Ado says
I love your list (esp. the returning to clean sheets part – there’s nothing like going away, except the feeling you get when you come home again…)
Also, may I say that all of you in that Cabo picture look really great!
Tonya says
Thanks! I met my husband on that trip. π
Galit Breen says
Love this Tonya! Your photos and words perfectly capture the pure fun and joy and more fun that vacations are meant to be!
Also? Just look at how gorgeous you are, sweet friend! Wowsa! π
xo
Tonya says
I love vacations! And this one would be heaven.
Thanks for the compliment. I do my best to be bikini ready before a trip and then once I’m there… I lose all willpower.
Sophie says
Great list, my friend! I like nΒ°10 too! It would make things so perfect! Now, you and Todd need to book yourselves some “real” holidays for yourselves!
I loved it when you and Lucas came to see us here. They weren’t the most relaxing holidays for you with your sick little one, but we did have some good laughs, and it was so nice being able to catch up! I loved the time we had together on Duck Island π and it was lovely that we got to meet eachothers children! The girls LOVE you, just like me! XOXO
Kate F. (@katefineske) says
Love #10 π That is the best.
The only thing that concerns me with #4 (The ability to pack everything I might need and nothing I wonβt) is the airlines! My goodness they are picky with the amount of, the size of, and the weight of your luggage these days! So annoying π
Robin @ Farewell, Stranger says
I want a vacation. I’ll take it even if it’s not perfect (though if you figure out how to find one like this, please share!).
Coreen says
Mmmmmm, a vacation sounds nice right about now. Love your photos!
Jamie says
wow you know how to pick a vacation site girl! The clean sheets when you get home is a MUST! My neighbor and I do that for each other when we’re gone!
Janice says
#10 is a total MUST for a vacation to be dubbed as perfect! If only, right?
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