Plan a trip in 10 easy steps
1. Where to go?
If you need some inspiration on where to travel, you need to find your reason why you want to travel. It could be to learn a new culture, to escape from winter, learn something new and maybe something that will fit your budget.
If you need inspiration, look on Instagram and TikTok or visit travel blogs. If you have a look online at Booking.com or Expedia, they will show you the cost of flying everywhere in the world from your hometown on dates that suit you. If you look early, you can find some cheap deals, which might help you decide your destination.
This is an excellent time to set your budget, or maybe you don't need a budget as you are swimming in money.
But for most people, this step is the biggest determining factor when planning a trip.
Here are some tips to help guide you on what your budget might look like.
- Check the currency exchange rate in your home country.
- Will you stay with family or book accommodation? And what sort of accommodation will you book?
- Research average spending money needed per day.
- Are there sites or activities you can visit and do for free?
2. Check Travel Advice
Once you have chosen your destination, visit your government website for information on security, entry and exit requirements, health conditions, local laws and culture, natural disasters, and climate, and how to get help from your country when you are there. Here is an example of my home country: Australia's smart traveller government website has always been helpful to me www.smartraveller.gov.au
In some places, you need to apply for a tourist visa in advance as it may take time to get it. This is why it's best to plan. There are also certain mandatory or recommended vaccinations you may need before travelling to enter the country and to return home. Also, something to keep in mind: if you travel to a country that your government doesn't recommend you travel to, your travel insurance may not cover you.
3. Book your Flight
The trick to getting cheap flights is to research and allow heaps of time to research, as you will have a better chance of scoring a good deal. If you want to save money, some tips are to travel off-season and be flexible with your dates. I use several different search engines, so I have many other flights, times and prices. Check out Booking.com, Trip.com and Expedia. You can also find cheap packages with flights and accommodation as packages. Remember to look at your luggage allowance so you don't have an unpleasant surprise at the airport.
4. Take care of your health
Before your travels, go to the doctor for a check-up; let them know you're travelling soon and want to make sure you're healthy to travel. My doctor was so helpful as I forgot a mandated vaccine before travelling to Brazil and could get it done in time before my Trip. If I didn't get it, I may have needed to quarantine when returning to Australia. In some countries, your doctor may suggest anti-malaria medicine. I always get prescription travel anti-diarrhoeal medication from my doctor before I travel. This will be optional if you do; the convenience of already having the medicine is a lifesaver. Finding medicine in a foreign country that speaks a different language is stressful, especially if unwell. I'd also suggest getting travel insurance. I've never had to use it, thankfully, but it is a good piece of mind knowing I'm covered in any medical emergency, and it won't cost me thousands of dollars.
A travel insurance I'd recommend is EKTA, I've used them many times on my trips. It's easy to book online, and there are a few different levels of coverage depending on your needs and budget.
5. Research your Destination
This is my favourite part of the planning process: researching your destination. I use a mix of travel blogs and social media sites like YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok to research the destination. I also make sure to check out Trip Advisor, which is the world's largest travel platform. You can see reviews of tours, restaurants, accommodation, airlines, cruises, and experiences. It's a great way to see what other travellers enjoy.
Be creative, don't limit yourself, and take some notes.
6. Pick your Must do things to do
Once you have researched your holiday destination, you need to choose things that excite you and things that you are curious to do. Choose your must-see places or experiences that will make you feel alive. Make a list of all the things that interest you, and write down the costs of the tour or experience. I also researched how much time you need for it. I find this helpful later when budgeting and planning itineraries.
7. Plan your itinerary
Now is an excellent time to plan your transportation between your must-see things to do. How long will it take to get to another city or town? How long do I need for activities? How much time do I need to spend in this town or city to see all my favourite places?
Will you want to travel by train, bus or car?
Depending on your destination, hiring a car can be more convenient, especially in smaller towns with limited public transport, uber or taxis. Hiring a car can also be cheaper if travelling with friends and family.
My go-to websites to search for a hire car are booking.com and Trip.com
If you're not an experienced traveller or a more vulnerable person, I suggest pre-booking your airport transfer to your hotel. I did this in Brazil as I was travelling solo, and I was quite new to international travel. I felt much safer than getting in an Uber or taxi, especially when there's a language barrier. And when you have jetlag, it's easier to make mistakes. I use Holiday Taxis. Here you can book an affordable airport transfer or airport taxi and have peace of mind your travel to your hotel will be safe and easy.
The trains are a popular and cheap transport option in Europe. Here is another website to compare and book train fares for Europe is Trainline.com
For trains, buses and flights in Europe, Canada and the US, a great website is Omino.com
When planning, plan a little and leave time for downtime, unexpected situations or spontaneous new activities.
8. Book your accommodation
I always like to book my accommodation in advance as it's usually cheaper when booking early. Leaving it too late can limit your choices and be more expensive during peak seasons. Booking in advance makes it easier to budget for my Trip, and then I can focus on activities, tours, and spending money. I always use Booking.com they have an extensive range of hotels, resorts, and apartments worldwide. There are also some properties that you can book and pay on arrival. You get rewards with them the more you book, and you can earn credits and discounts on future bookings.
For budget accommodation, you can also search for rooms to rent in local homes on Airbnb, or if you are younger, hostels are a very popular and great way to meet other travellers.
9. Book your activities!
I only sometimes book tickets in advance, as some activities could be depending on whether that day if it's an outdoor activity. But it's always a good idea to visit the website to get all the information like price, location, how long it goes for and parking if driving. Booking some activities or tours in advance can save money, prevent you from missing out during peak season, and help with your itinerary. I suggest booking the most important must-do activities online if they have an option to do so.
The best websites for tours and activities are Tripadvisor and Viator. They have a wide selection of activities worldwide you can look at and book.
10. Pack your bag
Ok, I'm a serial offender of overpacking and have always regretted it for costing me hundreds in excess baggage and the stress of carrying too much luggage when jetlag is brutal. Pack less, you don't need too much, and it's so easy to find a laundromat to wash clothes in most countries if you need to.
- Ladies, pack only a few shoes. All you need is sandals, one pair of casual shoes and some sneakers for walking. This depends on your destination, of course, and travel plans.
- Determine the cost of buying it there vs packing it as in some countries, the currency is much lower, and it might be cheaper to purchase some stuff there.
- Winter travel tips for packing are to wear layers. Invest in one good quality jacket, then everything else you can layer it up.
- Downsize your toiletries and have a good bag to pack them neatly into.
- Roll your clothes and pack them first. You will be amazed by how this saves space.
- Choose travel-friendly fabrics; when they wrinkle, the creases will fall out.
- Packing cubes help keep your suitcase organised and stacks easily.
- Carry a reusable water bottle to stay hydrated and fill it up at an airport café or water station. I hate drinking tap water, so I always take a filtered water bottle to make my water taste cleaner.