By Chris Kullstroem

If you want to take a Halloween vacation this year and explore haunted America or beyond, start planning your vacation far in advance to make the most of your adventure.

Researching where and when you want to take your trip months ahead of time has a lot of advantages. You have more time to save up for everything you need – plane tickets, car rental, admission prices, and all the souvenirs and goodies you could wish for.

Just as importantly, planning your trip gives you the opportunity to get the time off work. The good news is that not many people take vacations in late September or October, so the competition will be low. Still, it’s always best to be on the safe side.

Researching where you want to go also gives you time to see what events and attractions change from year to year, and which ones stay the same. Rather than dishing out all of your Halloween fund to go to a town that has the same haunted houses and ghost tours every year, you can find towns that are building new haunts, or expanding previous haunts and shows.

Your Halloween vacation can have a theme, such as haunted houses, shows, famous haunted towns or motels, huge Halloween outlets, parties, tours and more! When choosing your “final destination,” also check if there are other events going on in that area to see while you’re there.

When deciding where to take your trip, remember to also look up any tours, backstage passes and exclusive parties that are available at the events. Saving in advance will also make these special features a lot more feasible, and you’ll have them to look forward to throughout the year.

If spending a week on a Halloween vacation is a bit much, remember you can always break up the trips to encompass more of the season. Take one weekend trip in early September and another in mid-October. This will make the Halloween season seem longer as you’re out in the spook of it more often.

Planning a Halloween vacation each year also allows you to experience Halloween outside your local area. If you put on your own haunt, you can get some great, new ideas. You’ll also meet people from around the globe that are Halloween enthusiasts just like you!

So don’t wait! Start planning your Halloween vacation now, and experience how the holiday is celebrated around the globe.