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The excitement you feel when you are about to leave for a new destination is almost addicting. At the same time, to plan a trip can be downright overwhelming! Do not let this discourage you from starting a new journey and therefore visiting the same place over and over (just because you know what to expect, aka your safe space).
The pandemic has changed travel as we know it, but remaining where you are does not mean you can’t plan for your next trip. We’ve created nine steps to help you put all your ducks in a row and get this planning thing down pat. Keep reading to get all the information on how to plan your next trip!
Article Contents
The destination
Who are you traveling with?
The budget
Book your way there
Accommodation
How to plan your itinerary
How to plan your arrival
Enjoy your trip!
The destination
This is what it’s all about. Where do you want to go? What is on your bucket list? The destination will motivate you to save money so you can finally see that historic landmark, get to eat that amazing Italian pizza or take that adventurous kayak ride.
Plan where you are going and how long
Get inspired! This is your personal decision and you cannot make mistakes here. We recommend using these sources to pinpoint your next destination:
Instagram
Pinterest
Google Maps
Certain activity
A simple hashtag (#travel) on social media can give you many visual ideas when planning your next trip.
Certain activities can also lead you to a destination such as hiking a volcano, or something specific such as listening to music in an open-air amphitheater. You can then use the internet to narrow down locations where you could experience that activity.
Questions to consider for your next destination
Do some research on your destination. Think about factors that might be important for your travel plans.
What is the current political situation in that country?
Is there a dry season, rain season?
How much time off from work do you have?
When is high season/low season?
Use google to research these important factors. Instead of generic terms like “safest country to visit”, search for the country you would like to visit. For example: “what is the weather in March in the Netherlands”.
Look at dates for your trip
We are not playing around here. Time to get specific and to open your google calendar. Look at what dates are available and when you can lock down your trip! Request time off from work and get that approved before booking anything just yet.
Take the days that you will be traveling into account. We recommend to take one full day for travel to the destination and one day to return home.
Who are you traveling with?
It is important to consider who you are traveling with as this determines how you are going to travel. Are you traveling solo or are you planning your trip with your best friend, spouse or dog? These questions will determine how you travel (adventure, relaxation, slow paced) and where you travel (think $$$). This brings us to our third and most important point.
Budget
Your budget is so important when planning your next trip. How much money can you save and how much money are you willing to spend?
Daily budget
First determine how much money you need per day, we use this website to do that. The website gives you an estimate of how much money you need in the currency of your destination.
You can also select your travel style (budget, mid-range or luxurious) which will reflect in the needed daily amount. Then multiply that number by the amount of days you are staying.
Now you have an estimate of how much your trip will cost and perhaps this is a moment to revisit your destination. Besides, the same amount of money could last you one month in Vietnam or one week in Australia.
Additional costs
Do not forget about costs that come into play before you actually leave. Think about the costs of potential immunizations, visas and flight tickets. We recommend looking at your country’s travel information website for immunization and visa requirements. For America, that would be the CDC or U.S. department of state.
Take a look at our packing list so you won’t forget to take and do anything before your trip!
Notify your bank
Your bank might block your credit cards if they see any activity in a different country. Make sure to let them know when and where you’re going (this can also be done in the app of your bank).
Automate bills
You do not want to miss out on any payments while you’re living your best life. Automate them so whenever (if ever) you’ll return, there won’t be any surprises waiting for you.
Book your way there
Now you can book your transportation, whether that is by air, boat or car. We use google flights and skyscanner to look for cheap flights.
If you’re set on saving money and willing to do some extra work, look at flying to other cities where it is cheaper to fly to (not necessarily near your destination) and then book another flight to your destination.
Example: You want to fly from Knoxville (TYS) to Amsterdam (AMS). It would be cheaper to fly from New York (JFK) to Amsterdam (AMS) and book a separate flight from TYS to JFK. This could save you money!
If this got you interested, check out our travel hacking guide to learn more about working your way to cheap flights.
Before booking your flight, we recommend browsing at hotels or airbnb options to check the availability in your price range. After all, it would suck to book your flight just to find out the price of a room has tripled.
Accommodation
Now you have to make a decision where you want to stay. We like these websites to find accommodations:
Booking.com
Airbnb
Hostelworld
Trusted house sitters
When planning a trip, we like to look for accommodations in local areas of our destination. This way you experience an area more authentically compared to booking resorts or hotels in tourist areas. We usually go for an Airbnb to get that experience!
Get your Airbnb coupon for $35 off your first trip!
How to plan your itinerary
This is the fun part when you plan your trip. What are you going to do and when? We normally use google to search for activities with a basic phrase such as “Things to do in Hanoi Vietnam”.
We like reading blogs from local writers or fellow travellers to get some ideas on where to go and what to do that might not be so tourist-loaded. Websites such as lonely planet or airbnb experiences can give you an easy experience finding activities to do.
We like the blog of solo Sophie for inspiration for a Paris trip, local adventurer for USA trip ideas and Nomadic Matt has posts on pretty much anything.
Make a list of experiences that are non-negotiable, your must sees and must do’s as well as a list of things that you would like to see and do.
Write down the costs of all activities and see if you’re still in budget.
Pin down where the activities or sights are located (we pin them on google maps) to determine your route and how you will move throughout the trip (but don’t get too hung up on your plan!).
How to plan your arrival
Do not underestimate your arrival (we speak from experience!). We think it’s worth taking some extra steps to make sure your arrival goes smooth.
You don’t want to be overwhelmed when you arrive due to a lack of planning.
First, figure out how to get to your accommodation (taxi, car rental, public transportation). Make sure to have these directions handy. Make a screenshot, carry a copy of the route with you or write down the address to show to the taxi driver.
Second, travel with some cash and know the currency exchange rate. Use the XE currency converter to convert foreign currencies.
Finally, you can’t go wrong with learning some helpful phrases in the local language such as ‘How do I get to …’ and ‘How much for …’. If your language abilities fail you, the Google Translate app will be there to save you.
Enjoy your trip!
You have finally made it to your destination! Now it’s time to enjoy those moments you have been waiting for!
Do your best to unplug from everything that isn’t important for your trip. All your obligations will wait for you when you get back home.
Go with the flow. If the events of the day mess with your plans, then just work with it. It may lead to an unforgettable experience.
Be present in the moment…
Let yourself be heard!
How do you plan for a trip? Let us know in the comment section!
I found it helpful when you suggested writing down the costs of all the activities of your trip to ensure that you would be able to keep everything in budget. My husband and I will surely take note of this and find a website where we can find tips for what we can do when we tour Decatur. We want to spend time together to enjoy quality time since we have been working hard for the past few months.
I like how you explained that it is a good idea to find an accommodation that is in a local area of your destination. If you are going to travel to an area with a beach, it could be a good idea to find a vacation rental that is close to the beach. Being close to the beach could make your vacation much more enjoyable.
Thanks for pointing out that you must determine how much money you will need to travel to your preferred destination. My husband and I are planning a family trip with our two children because we want to bond with them. We will be sure to take note of your tips since we want to keep everything within the budget while touring monument valley on the 15th.