1. What Is Your Budget?
The first and foremost thing you need to do when planning a trip is to decide how much you want to spend on your next adventure. Your travel budget will have a big influence on how you plan your trip, such as where and for how long you can travel.
On a small budget, visit cheap countries like Laos or Thailand. Cut your vacation short so you can visit more expensive countries like Portugal or Italy. Plus, spend less on flights and travel by car or train on vacations near you.
2. The Right Destination
Now that you’ve set up your budget, the next thing to decide is which amazing country your journey will go to. Make a decision by answering these quick questions:
What Type Of Trip Would You Like To Plan?
You should think about your favorite things to do or the most amazing trips you have had in the past. Do you like adventure or relaxation? City or countryside? Or maybe you want to try something completely new? Some countries may offer multiple trip types, but it’s best to plan your trip around these categories. For example:
Relaxation – imagine lying on the beautiful white sand, swinging in a hammock, while sipping coconuts under the windswept palm trees? If so, choose countries known for their beaches or paradise islands. Like the Maldives, Thailand or Greece.
Adventure – looking for an action and thrilling experience? Choose countries with lots of outdoor sports and breathtaking scenery. Anywhere in Asia, it’s a great choice for activities like hiking, rock climbing, kayaking, trekking, surfing or scuba diving.
Food – do you think choosing a destination based on food is silly? Of course not! Trying local foods is one of the most delicious and enjoyable parts of traveling. Plan a trip based on your favorite foods. For example, India, Italy or Indonesia. Yummy!
Culture – if you enjoy learning during your travels, plan a trip to a country with an interesting history or well-preserved traditions. For example, Cambodia, Oman or Peru. Getting to know a country’s culture and meeting the locals is one of the best parts of traveling!
Transport – many countries are especially famous for their beautiful travel. For example, the famous train journey from Kandy to Ella in Sri Lanka, the legendary motor cycle in Vietnam or the fascinating Silk Road in Uzbekistan.
What Time Of Year Do You Travel?
Chances are you’ve already booked a specific holiday. Therefore, to plan a trip, you will have to think about the best seasons and countries to visit at that particular time of year. For example:
- Research high and low seasons to know when a country will be expensive or cheap.
- Think about why you are visiting this country. If you visit Vietnam to see the green rice fields, go when they are at their best.
- Study the weather conditions. For example, the Philippines has one hurricane season and two different peak seasons for each region.
- Choosing festivals and public holidays. You may want to visit the country for certain festivals, but public holidays can cause problems.
What Are The Visa Requirements?
Before planning a trip to another country, it is important to check the visa requirements for your nationality. In some cases, travel documents are required to enter the destination country.
3. Do Some Research
Research is important when planning a trip. Especially if you plan to travel across the country. Use the following research resources:
Plan Your Trip Using Instagram and Pinterest
Instagram and Pinterest are great ways to find blogs and photos for inspiration. Use hashtags or the search bar to find your destination. This is a great way to find hidden gems that you might not know otherwise.
Use Travel Blogs And Travel Guides To Plan Your Trip
Using travel blogs and online guidebooks is a great way to develop an idea of what you want to see in a particular country. I will keep adding to my travel blog so you can find a great destination on my blog.
More Resources
- TripAdvisor is a great way to find recommendations on what to do and see. Also where you want to stay or where you want to eat.
- Google Maps, like TripAdvisor, provide great food and entertainment recommendations.
- When you arrive at your destination, ask the locals what to see.
- Do you know someone who has visited your destination? Ask them what they did during their stay and which route they took, and take that into consideration when planning your trip.
4. Plan A Timetable
Now that the research is complete, it’s time to put the pieces together and create a daily itinerary. Pin the places you’ve researched to Google Maps so you have a clear picture of the places and the distances between them.
Keep the following in mind when planning your trip:
Distance – Use Google Maps to see the distance between points of interest. This will help you decide how many attractions you can see in a day.
Relaxation – Continuous travel is tiring, so it’s a good idea to add a few days of rest to your travel plans. After all, this is your vacation!
Flexibility – The trip will never go as planned. Therefore, it is better not to plan your trip too rigidly and take into account unexpected events. You may like the place and want to stay longer than expected or you may miss the bus.
Business Hours – Check the opening hours of the attractions so you don’t miss them.
Transport – I recommend that you book transfers in advance if possible. Book online and never miss a visit.
I also recommend using a forum like Tripadvisor to find out the cost of transportation when you are there. For example, you can find out how much a taxi will cost from the city center to one of the attractions outside the city.
5. Booking The Trip
Now we come to the exciting part. You are ready to book your planned trip!
Book Flight Or Trains
Book your flights using a search engine like Skyscanner or Kiwi to find the cheapest options or flights with the fewest connections. It is also a good idea to compare prices directly with airlines. Sometimes the airline can do promotions so the price can be much lower.
Stopovers are also a great way to save on flight costs and adding additional destinations to your travel plans! Kiwi allows you to add a stopover to see if the price goes up or down.
Resources For Transportation:
- Skyscanner
- Kiwi
- Busses and Trains (Europe)
- Busses and Trains (Asia)
Accommodations
Use your itinerary to decide where to stay and find the best places to stay. For example, is it good to be in the city center close to tourist attractions, or is being close to the beach good for relaxation? Use sites like Booking.com to find deals and safe reviews.
Use your itinerary to decide where to stay and find the best places to stay. For example, is it good to be in the city center close to tourist attractions, or is being close to the beach good for relaxation? Use sites like Booking.com to find deals and safe reviews.
Booking.com6. Have Your Arrival Planned
Getting to your destination on a long train or plane can be stressful if you’re not sure where you’re going. When planning your trip, be sure to:
- Plan ahead how to get to your accommodation and check your contact details in case you get lost. For example, find out how much a taxi costs from the airport and where you can find one. Or calculate the subway lines required to reach your destination.
- If you buy a local SIM card at the airport, you can use apps like Google Maps, taxi services like Uber, translation apps, and notify your hotel.
- Exchange your money and make sure you always have some cash on hand.
- Download a map of your first destination on Google Maps. You can set pins for the places you want to visit. This method does not necessarily require a connection to the internet.
- Learn some basic phrases in the local language. When visiting a country that doesn’t speak your native language, it’s good to remember a few basic phrases in case you need to ask questions. Questions such as “How much does it cost?” or simple words such as “Please, thank you.” Babbel is a great language learning app!
7. Organizing Important Documents
Organizing important documents is an important part of travel planning. Things you should not forget:
- It’s always better to safe than having nothing – so book a travel insurance.
- Apply for a visa online or at your local embassy, depending on whether you need a visa or not. You may need to bring your passport photo as some countries require you to apply for a visa upon arrival. You may also have to pay a fee, so be sure to enter the correct amount in the correct currency. Find out which type of visa is right for you to travel to.
- If you are visiting a country with a high risk of certain diseases, get any vaccinations you may need. Probably you don like it, but necessary!
- Buy any medications you may need while traveling. For example, if you are going to parts of Africa, you may need antimalarial medicine. This is important to consider when planning your trip.
- Order a travel card. For example, the Wise Travel Card (formerly Transferwise) does not charge a fee when withdrawing money abroad. If your card is stolen, your money is also safer because the thief won’t be able to access your main bank account.
- Copy and print your important documents (such as ID, Vaccination book) and keep them safe in your hand luggage so you have access to a copy at all times. For long-term travelers: take more passport photos!
Experience the world like never before with GetYourGuide – book your next adventure now and make unforgettable memories!
Conclusion
Planning a trip can be an exciting adventure, but it can also be overwhelming and stressful. The good news is that with a little bit of planning and research you can minimize the stress and make the most of your travel budget. I hope my tips have helped you get started on planning your dream vacation. What are your best tips for keeping costs down when traveling? Let us know in the comments below!
