TRAVEL PLANNING GUIDE

The simplest way to plan your next trip

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Planning for your next vacation can be a daunting task. It’s hard to know where to even start because there’s just so much to consider: Where do I find the best airlines and flights? What do I need to pack? How do I book the right hotels? It can all be very intimidating because of the multitude of options at our disposal and the idea that something may go wrong. You want to book the perfect trip, but you also want to find the cheapest options because you’re probably on a budget. And you don’t want to forget anything important because it can really affect your experience.

It’s one of the most popular questions I see: “how do I plan a trip?” I remember when I first started to travel on my own, I wanted to find the best options possible so I wouldn't waste my time. After all, we spend a lot of our resources on an experience that’s supposed to be fulfilling to us, right? I spent hours going over several different options for flights, hotels, activities, etc. It can be a long process that spans several days or weeks, but as long as you stay inspired and focused on your next experience, it will all be worth it.

Over time, I’ve gotten better and more efficient at my travel planning process and was able to streamline it so I wouldn’t miss anything important. Since I want to inspire others to seek new experiences by traveling, I created this guide to get you out of your house and into the world. I tried to design it for those who have never planned their own trip so it’s more simple and accessible. Just follow this step-by-step guide and hopefully your next vacation will be a much less stressful process.

Step 1: Choose Your Destination

Step 2: Decide the Length of Your Trip

Step 3: Research the Cost of Your Trip

Step 4: Book Flights

Step 5: Plan Activities

Step 6: Book Accommodations

Step 7: Logistical Tasks

Step 8: Research, Research, Research

Step 9: Buy Travel Insurance

Step 10: Pack

Step 11: GO!

Resources

Step 1:

CHOOSE YOUR DESTINATION

Everyone always says, "I want to go somewhere”, but they don’t really know where that is. Some people already have a destination in mind so this step should be easy for them. But for those who don’t, it’s important to consider what you want out of your trip. It may be adventure. It may be relaxation. Or maybe it's to experience something very specific. Try to find out what your goal is and choose a destination that matches it. This way you can plan around that goal instead of just finding random things to throw into your plans.

Step 1

Step 2

Step 2:

DECIDE THE LENGTH OF YOUR TRIP

This can depend on your destination. The farther you travel, the longer you’ll probably want to stay. But once you decide, you’ll now have more concrete base for planning the rest of your trip.

Step 3:

RESEARCH THE COST OF YOUR TRIP

Step 3

Your budget will decide what you’ll be doing on your trip. Some people will have a set amount that they’ll spend, and some will choose not to worry about the cost of their trip while they’re traveling. But it is important to get an idea so you don’t go overboard and get surprised at your bank account once you’re home. I like getting all the details down before I book anything so I have my trip planned and in my view when I’m ready to buy.

The way I research costs is to just do a quick search of the prices of normal flights, accommodations, food, and transportation at your destination, as well as some of the popular attractions you may want to visit. Google is your best friend here. There are unlimited sources of information on the web from blogs to travel directories and you can even go directly to the websites of the places you want to visit and check the information there. Some of the most common resources I use are:

Step 4:

BOOK FLIGHTS

I use google flights because it’s the easiest and has the most options/filters. But it's also very common to go directly to the airline's website and check their prices.

* A quick tip is once you choose a flight, go to the the airline’s website and look for tickets in the currency of your destination. For example I found a flight to Copenhagen from Norwegian Airlines, and when I went to the Danish version of the website, the same ticket was about $100 cheaper in USD.

* Also, another tip is to not fly directly to your destination. If there is a major city in between, you may want to visit that for a day or two and then go to your destination as it will likely be a lot cheaper.

* Last tip: Book 3 months in advance. Most of the time this is when flights are the cheapest. And it's just a good benchmark to use.

Step 4

Everyone looks for different things when they’re on vacation. Some search for adventure, and some just want to relax. Personally, I enjoy sights and seeing as much of the area as possible because it gives me inspiration.

Here’s what not to plan: every single thing you do down to the hour. This will inevitably stress you out because things don’t always go the way you want them to and it can end up ruining your trip. Give yourself room for flexibility and setbacks in case you get tired or are sick and need a chill day.

Read online reviews to point you in the right direction and help you choose where to go. They can also be used as advice on what to avoid. I try to read the bad reviews most because although they may be biased, it gives a better idea of what to expect. Of course, it’s important to discern what's useful so be sure to have an open mind. Here are some of the sites I use to choose my activities:

TripAdvisor
Lonely Planet
Travel + Leisure
Nomadic Matt
Instagram (search hash/location tags)

Another useful tip is to ask the locals about what to do in the area. They will usually provide great lesser-known options and it’s a good way to feel connected to the city you’re in.

Once I find an activity or landmark I want to visit, I tend to also Google search it just to get some context and tips that I may want to consider.

Don't forget to book ahead when appropriate, especially if it's a popular attraction. Sometimes booking well in advance (weeks/months) is needed. But if not, I like to book and buy tickets just a few days before so I have some flexibility.

Step 5:

PLAN ACTIVITIES

I like to look up the activities prior to booking my accommodations so I have the option of being close to what I want to do. But it’s up to you on which you want to plan first. I like making a list of all the possible activities I want to do and then group the ones that are closer together.

Step 5

Step 6:

BOOK ACCOMMODATIONS

Step 6

This can be a long process if you want to find the perfect place to fit your needs. Once again, online directories are good resources to search for hotels. If you’re considering an apartment or condo rental, AirBnb is one of the most popular options because they off something a little more homey and private. I like hotels because of all the amenities they offer, there's something about walking into a fresh, air-conditioned hotel room with a view that is just so satisfying. And they clean your room for you! TripAdvisor is one of the best search engines because it offers tons of reviews and a good amount of photos so you can get a good idea of the accommodation. Here are a list of sites you can use:

TripAdvisor - Probably the best resource for all types of accommodations.
Hostelworld - Great for finding cheap, affordable hostels with wide selection.
AirBnb - Extremely popular for finding more comforting and intimate housing options.
Booking.com - Search engine for finding budget accommodations. Has extensive inventory and deals to offer.

In addition to reading the favorable reviews, I tend to read more of the bad reviews so see what patterns come up the most often and are reliable indicators of the hotel. Here are some of the factors I look for:

On-site amenities like free Wifi, A/C, hot showers or good water pressure, pools, or fitness center.
Noise issues
Free breakfast
No cleanliness issues or bedbugs
Distance to city center/commercial districts, public transportation, or desired activities
Watch for extra fees

Step 7:

LOGISTICAL TASKS

This is where you do all of the little things in order to make your trip go smoothly. They’re mundane, but necessary tasks. Here are some of them to keep in mind:

Inform credit card companies, work, family, friends, bills, etc.
Any vaccines or visa requirements. CDC website is a great resource: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel
Rental cars
Carry copies of identification and screenshot transportation / accommodations in case there is no internet where you are.

Step 7

Step 8:

RESEARCH, RESEARCH, RESEARCH!!

Step 8

When I travel I like to plan my days ahead so instead of being stuck in my room for hours thinking about what to do next, I’ll have all of that information readily available and all I need to do is decide. I will usually have a look at the locations of all my activities and group the ones that are closer together, then use that for a day’s itinerary. MapsMe is a great mobile tool for mapping out all the activities and locations you have in mind, and does not require internet to access. Make no mistake, researching ahead can save you a lot stress and anxiety! Here's some more useful information to look up:

Transportation to/from airport
Costs
Hours of operation

Step 9:

BUY TRAVEL INSURANCE

This is a step that I think most people forget or don’t even know. It seems a bit superfluous because what do you need travel insurance for, it’s not like you’ll use it, right? You’d be surprised of how useful it can be, especially for international trips. It doesn’t just cover medical costs, but if your camera or laptop breaks, your flight gets canceled, or anything gets stolen, travel insurance will reimburse you. When my girlfriend and I were traveling in Marrakech, her phone was stolen and she got the costs completely covered.

The thing is, you never know what might happen on a trip. It’s true you might never need to use it, but better to be safe than sorry. And it costs only a few dollars a day. I feel much better on my trips knowing that I’m insured in case there’s an emergency or something unexpected happens. The provider I use is World Nomads, it’s simple and painless to sign up. You enter some basic information and the details of your trip and they’ll give you a quote based off where you’re going and length of stay. For example, staying a month in Thailand can cost somewhere around $130-$200 USD depending on what type of plan you want.

Step 10:

PACK

Remember, less is more! You’ll want to bring everything for every occasion but doing this will leave a lot of your items unused and just taking up space. And you’ll probably end up buying things to bring back home too.

I’ll be coming out with another article with packing lists for different occasions. But for now, try to just pack the essentials, with only a few of those creature comforts that you can’t live without. And be wary of bulky items because they can really be a nuisance.

Step 9

Step 10

Step 11:

GO!

I really wished that there were only 10 steps so it could be a nice round number but alas, it wasn’t meant to be. That doesn’t mean you still can’t enjoy your trip! It’s a long process but hopefully by following this guide you were able to properly prepare and plan through all the necessary steps for a smooth travel experience. If there's anything I forgot, please feel free to send me a message and I'll include it!

My final tip is to relax! There will be times where things inevitably won’t go your way and stress/anxiety will take over. But remember, it’s not the end of the world and everything will be all right. You don’t want to ruin your whole trip experience over one bad event. After all, you did all this planning and spent a lot for a memorable time, so make the most out of what you have.

Step 11

Resources: