You’ve got a long to-do list if you’re planning a vacation. You have to decide where to go, where to stay, and what to do when you get there. You have to pack just right and create a budget to ensure you don’t spend too much money when you arrive.
That’s not all. You should also create a vacation playlist!
Why bother creating a playlist? Music has the ability to boost your memory and mood, which are two things you want if you’re going on vacation. Choosing the right music will get you pumped about your trip, and it can make it more memorable.
Not just any old music will do, though. Here are a few tips for creating the perfect vacation playlist.
Let Your Destination Inspire You
Finding inspiration for your vacation can be a challenge. You may be tempted to just include songs you happen to like, but that won’t make your vacation playlist special. If you want to associate your playlist with your trip, let your destination inspire you.
For example, if you’re creating a custom vacation package in Music City, you can let the city itself inspire you. Nashville is known for country music, so why not put a few twangy tunes on your list?
If you’re staying on the beach, you might want to think about adding chill, musical tunes to your list, while a trip to New York City may include a few of your Broadway favorites.
Let Your Mode of Transportation Inspire You
Not only can your destination inspire the tunes on your playlist, your method of transportation can inspire you to. If you’re riding in an airplane, consider tunes from Jefferson Airplane or add “Leaving on a Jet Plane” by John Denver to the mix. A cruise might include favorites from Jimmy Buffet or the popular hit “In the Summertime” by Mungo Jerry.
There’s an even larger list of tunes to choose from if you’re taking a road trip! Just a few ideas include:
- “Going Up the Country” by Canned Heat
- “I’ve Been Everywhere” by Johnny Cash
- “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” by the Proclaimers
- “Love Shack” by the B-52’s
- “On the Road Again” by Willie Nelson
- “Two of Us” by the Beatles
- “I Drove All Night” by Cyndi Lauper
Consider Your Audience
Considering your audience is important. Just because you may be inspired by your destination or your method of transportation doesn’t mean your audience is going to appreciate listening to Broadway tunes or John Denver!
The music you choose for young children is different from the music you’ll choose with a car full of teens, and that’s different than the songs you’ll choose if you’re hitting the road with your girlfriends.
Why not ask for their input? Let the family and friends you’re traveling with know that you’re creating a playlist and ask them to provide you with a few of their favorite songs.
Find New Tunes by Listening to Pre-Made Playlists
It’s easy to get stuck in a rut listening to the same music all the time. Instead of listening to your favorite songs on repeat, discover some new music by listening to a pre-made playlist.
There are some popular playlist options that you can check out when doing your research to find the perfect songs for your vacation playlist, but you may also be able to find playlists that you can listen to while you’re on vacation. For example, the “Girls’ Night” playlist on Spotify could be the perfect choice for your weekend getaway with friends, while “Ultimate Country” could be the perfect choice for a trip to Nashville.
Include a Variety of Artists
It isn’t uncommon to start creating your playlist only to discover you have basically copied and pasted your favorite album to the list. Although there’s nothing wrong with listening to your favorite tunes, variety is the spice of life!
Try to include just one or two songs from the same artists on your playlist. That way, it actually sounds like a playlist! Otherwise, you might as well just play your favorite albums from start to finish.
There’s nothing wrong with turning on the radio in the car or watching a movie on the airplane, but if you want to boost your mood and remember the details of your trip better, you should listen to a custom playlist instead. With the tips on this list, you can create a playlist that you’ll want to listen to over and over again!
