10 Easy Steps on How to Do
I know some people can get overwhelmed by the idea of planning a trip by themselves. You feel like there's so much to think about and so much to do!
You can be tempted to book an organized trip and then you have to follow a schedule you're not always comfortable with, do activities you are not interested in, and talk to people you don't know but have to deal with for all your trip.
Planning a trip is easier than you may think.
Organization is part of my day job and I'm here to give you the best tips I use to plan my dream trip.
1. Decide Where You Want to Go
Maybe you already know where you want to go, or maybe you need inspiration. Let me help you.
First, find the reason why you want to travel.
Do you want to escape from winter?
Do you want to discover a new culture?
Do you want to learn something new? (That last one is often my reason to travel.)
Maybe you need to choose a destination that fits your budget?
Research the average cost per day for a destination to find one you can afford. Some places have an average cost as low as 30$ per day!
Read:
- How to Choose Your Travel Destinations
- How to Save Money to Travel
2. Check the Travel Advice and Advisories
Once you have chosen your destination, visit your government's website to see the information on security, entry and exit requirements, health conditions, local laws and culture, natural disasters and climate, and how to find help when you are there.
For example, some places require to get a tourist visa and the delay to get it can be several weeks. You need to plan it in advance.
This is also where you'll learn about the mandatory or recommended vaccinations.
After, it is your call to decide to travel there, or to choose another destination. Know that if your gouvernement doesn't recommend to travel to a destination, your travel insurance might not cover you.
Find the Travel Advice and Advisories here:
- Travel Advice and Advisories for Canadians
- Travel Advice and Advisories for Americans
3. Book Your Flight
And this is where you all want to know how to get cheap flights, yeah?
The trick is to research, research, research. The more time you have to research, the more chance you have to find a good deal, but there is no magic formula.
People used to say that booking last-minute makes you save money, but I don't find it to be true anymore. The only tips that really works each time are to travel off-season and to be flexible with your dates of departure and return.
Set an alarm on a few booking sites and you'll be informed of the variation of prices. That will give you an idea of when to book.
Personally, I always found the cheapest flight on Skyscanner.
Here's the easiest way to find cheap flights on Skyscanner:
- Download the app for Android ou the app for iOS
- Search your departure city to Everywhere. You'll see all the cheapest flights around the World!
- Or, choose your destination, but enter "Whole Month" and then "Cheapest Month" to see the best time to travel.
- Last option is to set and alarm to receive all the latest price.
When booking a flight, always make sure to read about luggage included in the price so you won't have unpleasant surprise at the airport.
Be aware that, unless you pay an extra, you rarely can cancel or change a flight.
4. Take Care of Your Health
I rarely travel without going to a travel clinic prior to my departure.
Unless you travel to North America or Europe, you should visit a travel clinic before travelling to get your vaccines, a general antibiotic, and an anti-malaria (if needed).
Also very important: take a travel insurance!
I know some people travel without it. It is never mandatory to get one, but I highly recommend it.
Having to pay for an hospitalization can cost a lot of money! Even more than you can imagine! In the United States, it can cost you up to 100,000 US$!! You don't want to pay that.
I don't want to advertise one insurance company in particular so I won't link to any, but do your research and ask if you are covered with you credit card.
Quite often, your credit card will cover you for a few days if you book your flight using your card.
5. Research Your Destination
Now my favorite part begin: sketching the itinerary! Yay!
Personally, I use a mix of guide books and travel blogs to decide what I want to see. I like Lonely Planet and Ulysse (In French) particularly, but it is really up to you.
Read guidebooks and search on travel blogs and Pinterest.
Make a list of all the places you would like to see, even if you know that you don't have time to see all of them. It's a first draft so you need to have a general idea of what activities you want to do and where you want to go.
You can take a look at Trip Advisor to see what other travelers liked in a specific destination.
When Googling your destination, make sure to include "travel blog" to your research. For example: "California Travel Blog", so you'll have more chance to find bloggers and not just tour companies.
At this point, be creative and don't limit yourself. Just list everything you like and take notes.
6. Pick Your Must-do
Pick the "non-negotiable" places and activities on your list. Choose what makes you excited, curious, enthusiastic.
Don't necessarily pick the must-see attractions mention in guidebooks. Choose YOUR must-see. You don't have to go to the Statue of Liberty in New York if you just don't care about it. It is not because a place is the most touristic place in a town that YOU have to see it. Trust me on that.
Choose places that will make you feel alive.
7. Plan Your Itinerary
Plan your transportation between your "must-see". How long is it to go from a town to another? How long do you need to do this activities? How much time do you need to spend in this town to have enough time to see all your favorite places?
It can be a puzzle to understand public transportation in a foreign country, Rome2Rio and guidebooks will help you to figure it out.
Will you want to travel by train, by bus or by car?
Renting a car gives you more flexibility and can be cheaper than other transport if you're travelling with friends or family. Search on Discover Car Hire to find the best options. This website compares different suppliers in more than 150 countries to help you find the best price.
Now, it's also time to evaluate if your itinerary is realistic.
Don't plan too much things and leave time for creativity or unexpected situations. If needed, go back to your list and cut some activities.
On the other side, you have plenty of time? Great! You can refer to your list and add some more activities you have listed.
8. Book Your Accommodation (or not)
Personally, when I plan my trip, I like to book my accommodation for the first night, because I don't like to worry about it after a long flight… But I know a lot of backpackers who find their accommodation once they arrive at destination. It is up to you.
If you don't want to book your accommodation in advance, just be sure to check if there's a special event in the town where you're going.
We almost got into trouble in Portugal, last year, when we arrived during a big music festival without knowing. All the hostels and cheap rooms were full and we had to pay more than our budget for our room.
The first place I look is always Airbnb. I like to meet locals, feel home,… and pay less! Use my code to get an extra discount the first time you book with Airbnb.
Not familiar with Airbnb? Take a look at my Beginner's Guide to Airbnb.
You can also use hospitality exchange, such as Couchsurfing, or hostels, for cheap accommodation.
- How to Find Cheap accommodation
- Travel Tips: How to Find Cheap accommodation
9. Book Your Activities (or not)
You generally don't have to buy your tickets in advance, but sometimes, you can have a discount if you do. It is always a good idea to visit the website.
Another good idea is to visit the website of the Tourism Board and see if they offer a city pass including activities you already want to do. It can be a good way to save money.
If you plan on visiting a big city in the USA, take a look at CityPASS. They offer special bundles for the most popular activities and you can save 40%.
Finally, just make sure to check with the very popular attraction if you need to book in advance to make sure you have a spot. I'm thinking about Alcatraz if you go to San Francisco, as an example. You need to book several weeks in advance!
My place of choice to find interesting guided tours and skip-the-line ticket is Get Your Guide. You can find absolutely everything on that website.
10. Pack Your Bag
Oh my…. I don't even know where to start with this one! I guess I will have to write a whole post about it. Ahaha!
General advice could be:
- No more then 3 pairs of shoes! – One pair of sandals, one pair of casual shoes, one pair of hiking boots. (Of course, depending of your travel plan…)
- You need less than what you think. – Remove one kit from your bag.
- Think "Layers". – Even if you go to a warm country.
Take a look at this to help you pack your bag:
- Her Packing List
- Interactive Packing List
- A Dangerous Business – In My Backpack
What are your best tips to plan a perfect trip?
This post contains affiliate links, meaning I may earn a commission if you make a reservation, at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products I use and love myself. Thank you for your support!
This post is written in partnership with Discover Car Hire.
Source: https://www.annieanywhere.com/how-to-plan-a-trip-in-10-easy-steps/
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