As the weather gets warmer, I know we’re all dreaming of travelling safely again. Many of us are craving some much-needed R&R, adventure, or a combination of both. Planning for a trip doesn’t have to be overly complicated. Whether it’s a day trip, a weekend road trip, or a long getaway, there are simple steps you can follow to ensure you get the most out of your trip.
Trip planning may look a little different for everyone. Some prefer to do a little research and go with the flow, while others like things to be detailed and scheduled. No matter what your preference may be, you can follow these steps below to your liking. If you’re travelling with friends, family, or your partner, you can assign each person a task to lighten to load! Here are 3 simple steps for planning your next trip.
1) Research There are so many wonderful deals, discounts, and tips available online for travellers. Researching beforehand gives you helpful information that’ll help you navigate your trip so it’s as smooth as possible. I enjoy reading reviews for hotels, comparing prices, and finding which days are cheaper to travel. If you don’t want to spend all your time reading, consider watching YouTube videos. The less time you spend wondering what to pack, where to park, or if that museum you’d like to visit is open, the more time you get to spend having fun on your vacation.
Example of things to research…
– Estimated cost of airfare, accommodation, transportation, and activities.
– Vacation packages/bundles and if they better suit your budget and plans.
– If your credit card/insurance plan already offers travel insurance.
– Hours of operation and admission fees of places you’d like to visit.
– The best days to travel to take advantage of savings.
– Safety, weather, exchange rate, and public holidays.
– What free activities available in the area.
2) Create Your List Now that you’ve done your research, it’s time to start planning. Create a list of places you’d like to visit, such as shopping areas, tourist attractions, national parks, restaurants, etc. I used to like the element of surprise and going with the flow but found that I missed a lot of cool spots along the way. Now, I pinpoint the places that I’d like to visit on a map and create my travel days by grouping activities that are close together in proximity. That way you save money on transportation and you’re not going back and forth visiting the same area on your trip. Creating a list ensures you get to experience everything that you’ve wanted, while still making time for surprises along the way.
3) Expect the Unexpected We’ve all experienced delays and setbacks while travelling but thankfully there are ways to plan for those situations as well. While we can’t predict the outcome of these setbacks, we can come prepared as possible. Especially with new health measures, it’s important to be informed and understand what is required beforehand.
Some things to consider include…
– Arrive early. Leave enough time for potential delays such as traffic, weather, etc.
– Purchase or check that you have valid travel insurance and what it includes.
– Checking travel warnings and health notices of the destination beforehand.
– Download your airline’s app to get up to date notifications on boarding/delays.
– Packing extra clothing for unexpected weather conditions or missing luggage.
– Carry an extra form of payment in case your main form of payment is declined.
– Carry essentials such as extra copies of identification, emergency numbers, etc.
In order to have the best travel experience, it’s important to be prepared. While obstacles may still occur, we can face them with confidence as we’ve become acquainted with what may arise during our research. For more tips on travel and packing, visit my tag here. Are you looking forward to your next trip? If so, where’d you like to go? Share your thoughts!
I haven’t traveled anywhere in such a long time I would definitely need this refresher — great tips!
Same! I miss travelling and hope we can all do so safely this summer. Thank you for reading Molly!
So true! And these are the things I do every time I planned to travel somewhere. I miss traveling. Thank you for sharing.
I miss travelling too! I hope we can both enjoy some trips this summer. Thank you for reading Fadima!
Being organised and making lists are what help me day-to-day so I definitely see the value of this when travelling! I always find travelling stressful, but plenty of research and planning for each outcome helps that x
Absolutely! Being organized is incredibly helpful, especially with how many restrictions and paperwork is needed to travel. Thank you for reading Caroline!
I’m going on a trip soon and this will be very helpful. I need to make sure to note these so I won’t forget. Thank you for sharing!
How exciting! I hope you have a wonderful time. Thank you for reading Fransic!
Great travel tips!
Thank you! I hope you’re having a great week!
Some great tips, I always rely on my lists 🙂 love that you included additional things to consider too!
Thank you for reading Anika!
Such good point, I especially love ‘expect the unexpected’. There’s always more chaos than you think beforehand, so being on time and preparing will help, but in the end you need to be ready to make changes where possible!
Definitely! It’s so helpful when travelling, the last thing we want is to be stressed out. Thanks for reading Lisa!
Great! Thanks for sharing stunning tips. Life is a journey, enjoy the trip. enjoying every step along the way. It is all those little steps that make the journey complete. Life is a journey, travel it well
Thank you for reading Maria! I hope you’re having a great week!
Great information and tips I would also recommend. Looking forward to my first trip since 2019 in a few weeks and enjoying the planning process. Thanks for sharing.
How exciting! I hope you have a wonderful time Jodie. Thanks for reading!
I love to plan trips. I don’t know I’ll be planning my next trip, but these tips are very helpful.
Thank you Wendy! I love planning trips too. I hope we can all safely travel again soon!
In my few experiences traveling, something unexpected always comes up so being fluid and well-researched always pays off! Love your tips for making a list in order to travel the best route possible too. 🙂
Yes, it always pays off! Thank you for reading Jaya!
These are really valid points to help you plan your next trip. I don’t know where I want to go but I would like to travel. Thank you for sharing your points!
Lauren – bournemouthgirl
Thank you for reading Lauren!
Travel insurance is so important now that the EU card is no longer valid for UK people. Thanks for these suggestions.
I had no idea it was no longer valid for people in the UK. Travel insurance is a must. Thank you for reading Jamie!
You’ve shared so many awesome tips here. It’s true that being prepared is key. Like you, I used to go with the flow, but I’d get home and read about something I’d missed in that destination. How we have a rough itinerary, our must-see’s and a few places we might visit if we get there and it’s randomly closed. I’ve not been on a plane since just before the pandemic, but we’re having a big family trip to Sydney, Brisbane and the Gold Coast after Christmas nest year, so we’ll be flying. While I’m nervous, I’m excited too 🙂
Same! I can’t count the amount of times I’ve come home and realized how many places I’ve missed. The big family trip sounds so exciting. What a great trip to look forward to! Thank you for reading Lindsay!