The Sims Vacation integrates into The Sims nicely. The expansion simply adds a button at the top menu bar. If you want to check out or build a new vacation area, just click on the button and you’ll have a view of Vacation Island – the premier resort for Sims. To head out on vacation just head over to a telephone and call a cab. Sims can choose to vacate to camp grounds, the beach, and a snow area. Here you can choose to vacation in one of the pre-set resorts or build your own resort with the 125 new items. The new items allow players to build and decorate hotels, carnivals, campsites and more. There are new floors and walls in Vacation help to add that decorative vacation feel to each of the properties. The new grass tool helps to add grass, snow, or sand in each respective area. After you’re done building, you can share your resort with via the Vacation Exchange section.

It’s a nice kick to see your Sim family head out and relax. If you set the options to let Sims have free will you’ll see them enjoying the resort at their own leisure. In addition, Sims tend not to get as cranky when they’re on vacation. Still, you’ll have to take care of your Sims comfort and hunger after activities. The Sims have a lot to do on vacation, including snowboarding, volleyball, fishing, and playing carnival games. In certain carnival games and using metal detectors, Sims will be able to collect prizes. The prizes can be collected and brought back to the house, where they can even be brought up in conversation.

Sims can interact in a few new ways. For example, you can call up a friend to head out on vacation with you, give someone a kiss on the hand, or scold your kids if they aren’t behaving. You might think that kids would be the entire reason for adult Sims to go on vacation, but the pre-set resorts and new items make it easy to please kids as well. Pre-set resorts have areas for kids to hang out and play arcade games and shop for new items. If you’re a Sim who still hates kids, you can tease them and send ‘em crying.

To keep everyone happy there are four new Vacation Island characters – Beach Shark, Archie Archer, The Yeti, and Vacation Director. The first three dance around to entertain Sims, and the latter helps you out on Vacation. Vacation Director Kana will give you tips on having a successful vacation, i.e. dressing appropriate for the weather, keeping your kids disciplined, and having fun yourself.

The Sims Vacation is an alternate way for Sims to have fun. It’s not a big departure from the original gameplay basics. There’s enough new to keep fans interested. But those on a budget don’t need to pack their bags.