If you ask me to choose between going on a trip and planning the actual trip, I would rather pack 10 suitcases than plan an entire trip. However, I understand that planning is an inevitable part of a trip, and if done meticulously, you stand to have a memorable adventure for your current and future trips. But here’s a detailed guide to help you plan a perfect trip.
Planning a trip is like writing an exam; you study and burn the midnight candle until D-day but you are still nervous until you see your results. You can research and plan your trip but anxiety and doubt can creep in until you get to your destination.
So, whether you are going on a solo trip, traveling with someone, or going on a family vacation, planning your trip carefully and thoroughly is a sure sign for a smooth vacation. For me, a perfect trip is a trip that is not stressful or leaves you with the feeling of visiting many places in a short amount of time.
Learning to plan your trip helps to enhance your travel experience. Now, that’s a benefit. One other benefit of planning your trip is that it helps you get the most out of your time and money by choosing places that align with your budget and goals, and also helps you stay organized. Planning your trip like a pro also allows you to take advantage of future discounts or deals that may help you save for your trip.
Now, you might ask, how do you plan a trip? Well, that’s what this blog post is for – a detailed guide to plan the perfect trip.
1. SELECT AND RESEARCH YOUR DESTINATION
No matter what part of the world you live in or if your travel passport gives you free access to visit visa-free countries, you still owe it to yourself to research your intended destination. You can’t just stroll into Switzerland without checking the language, culture, or prohibitions.
First, select your destination according to your budget, interests, or preferences. For example, consider if you want to have a calm vacation, an adventurous or outdoor experience, or activity-packed. Knowing these will help you choose a destination that fits your travel goal and budget.
Now that you have determined where you want to lounge for 5 or 8 days, pull out your notes and do your research. Here, try to consider their official language, what a typical day may look like, its accessibility to tourist attractions and basic amenities, the dos and don’ts, what to pack, if you need a visa, what vaccinations to take, etc. Researching your destination helps you narrow your options and evaluate everything you need to consider for this trip.
Pinterest, TikTok, YouTube, Skyscanner, and Facebook travel groups have a lot of content that can give you insights about your destination and help you plan the perfect trip.
Further reading: Solo Travel 101: How To Start Traveling Alone
2. CHOOSE YOUR TRAVEL DATE
Now that you have all the necessary information you need to visit your choice destination, your next step will be to pick your travel dates. Your travel dates should depend on your availability and what season you’d prefer to travel. For me, summers (July till August) and winters (December till February) are not my best travel periods. But for a ski lover, winters are the best periods whilst a hiking or nature lover will prefer summer vacations.
You should consider how long you would like to stay. There is no worldwide standard for how many days a trip or vacation should last, but the ideal duration for a perfect vacation should be around 7-8 days.
Planning your travel time will help you consider peak and off-peak tourist seasons, the temperature or seasons of the location, what to pack, and how to plan the rest of your itinerary.
3. CREATE AND PLAN A REALISTIC BUDGET
Sometimes, planning within a budget for a perfect trip can be done before you decide your destination. But your budget depends on if you travel solo or with a company. Either way, you can still visit expensive destinations like Monaco and plan your itinerary within a stipulated budget. Also, this helps you to know if you need to change your currency or use cash as always.
To plan the perfect trip, the budget for your trip should depend on:
- How long do you intend to stay (length of stay)
- Your choice of accommodation
- Attractions you plan to see
- Your feeding
- Transportation: to, within, and fro
- If you plan to shop on this trip
And a whole lot more you wish to add.
Having a budget will help you rule out unaffordable activities and factor in the important aspects of your trip. It will also help you determine how much to allocate to every activity and the maximum amount of money you wish to spend in a day and help you make better decisions during your trip.
4. PLANNING YOUR ITINERARY
After deciding your proposed destination and creating a budget, you should start planning your itinerary, that is, every aspect of your trip from your flights, feeding, and to the attractions you wish to visit.
Now that you have set a rough budget for this trip, it’s time to plan your finances. This is when you put aside the allocated budget for this trip or intentionally save it for this trip.
a. Plan your transportation
If you are traveling within the Schengen zone, buses are a good option to save on transportation. Whatever you choose, plan your dates and mode of transportation. Also, plan how to move around during your trip. If public transportation is accessible, you should use it to save money.
I recommend Kayak and Skyscanner for researching your flights but you should book directly with the airline in case of an inconvenience.
b. Plan your accommodation
If you travel alone, I recommend staying in hostels for safety. Whether you choose a hotel or hostel, research and find accommodations in your destination, find availability for your proposed dates, and choose one based on your budget. If you are traveling with a pet, find accommodations that are pet-friendly with amenities that cater to your pet. I recommend Booking.com and Airbnb when looking for where to stay, as it helps you to make informed choices based on guests’ reviews.
c. Budget your feeding and daily expenses
I advocate having breakfast at the hotel, eat well in the afternoon, and grab a fruit or snack in the evening to save money. Be open to try street food, food markets, or food stalls, as they can be cheaper than fine dining restaurants. Use Trip Advisor or Google Maps to find restaurants with good reviews in your destination, and to know their menu and prices.
d. Create and plan a flexible itinerary
Make a list of attractions and sites you would want to visit while on your trip, plan your visits, and create a flexible plan to fit in any activity that may come up on your trip. Use resources like TripAdvisor, Booking.com, and Google to find attractions in your destination.
Further reading: 47+ Travel Hacks and Tips for A Perfect Trip
5. START BOOKING
You have done the legwork, but you need to secure your plans immediately. Use this time to book and make reservations on everything you have planned for this trip.
Book your flights, secure your accommodation, reserve other forms of transportation that you will need during your trip – car rental, book your tours, and any activities you have planned for the vacation, etc. Whatever you have planned on your list, now is the time to make a reservation.
6. TIME TO PACK
Sometimes, the excitement of planning a trip can take away the need to plan your packing.
As a rule of thumb, pack according to season, landscape, and cultural background of your destination. For example, throw in an abaya and headscarf if you are visiting Dubai. So, to properly pack according to your trip, make a list of clothing and items you will need for this trip. If you plan on hiking, don’t forget your hiking shoes.
Also, throw in essentials like a mini first aid kit, disposable towels to wipe your hands, a travel power bank, a safety item like pepper spray, and others. Pack accordingly, but don’t overpack.
BUDGET FRIENDLY TIPS TO PLAN A PERFECT TRIP
Now that we know the basics, here are some tips I’d like to offer while you are planning your perfect trip:
- Budget for insurance: If you have insurance that does not cover you outside your home region, you might need to plan for travel insurance, especially if you are taking a long trip.
- Check that you have the travel documents required for this trip: Apart from a visa, research and find out if there are other documents you might need to provide at the point of entry.
- Do you need to shop? If yes, set a budget and shop for any essential item you might need for this trip. Make repairs where needed and make adjustments to your packing essentials if necessary.
- Re-confirm your itinerary. Go through your travel plan again to ensure every task on that list is checked, and make the necessary calls where needed.
- Download resources or mobile applications that may be useful for this trip. Google Maps and Google Translate are two apps that are a must-have for any traveler – beginner or pro. Also, if you need a mobile network for your trip, check our e-sims that work for that region.
- Take cash. I don’t care if cashless policy is taking over the world right now, I highly recommend you take a reasonable amount of cash on you. Trust me, you do not want to be swiping your card at every kiosk and joint. If you need to change your currency, do so before entering the country.
- Look out for free entry times for your planned attraction and plan to save on discounts.
- Do not be shy to try street foods and food stalls, as long as they maintain hygiene. It will help you save money.
CONCLUSION
And just like that, you know how to plan the perfect trip from start to finish!
In all, ensure that you are vigilant of your surroundings and stay safe during your trip. Pick destinations that interest you (not social media frenzy), pick activities you will enjoy, and don’t be afraid to try new things.
Use resources available online and offline to plan your trips effectively, and be flexible when planning your itinerary.
Most importantly, your goal is to enjoy yourself and get the most out of your time while traveling.
What other travel trips do you have to share?
Happy travels!
