How to Plan a Trip: Planning a trip abroad, whether it’s a short getaway or a longer adventure, can feel daunting, but it doesn’t have to be! This article will guide you through a straightforward step-by-step process to help make your travel planning stress-free, ensuring you cover all the essentials.
How to Plan a Trip
Ever felt overwhelmed by the idea of planning a trip? You’re not alone.
When it comes to planning travel, there’s a lot to consider: visas, transportation, accommodation, and even getting local currency. It can be quite stressful.
But here’s the irony—planning something meant to be a relaxing vacation shouldn’t be stressful. We’ve been through it too, many times.
We’ve learned a lot along the way and now we’re here to help.
In this article, we’ll show you how to plan a trip without the stress by providing a simple, step-by-step guide to ensure nothing is forgotten.
Here’s how to turn your travel dreams into reality.
So, whether you’re planning a two-week escape or an open-ended journey, these steps will take you from daydreaming to setting foot at your destination. You might even find that you enjoy planning your next trip. That’s a challenge!
Take a deep breath—we’re diving right in!
Step 1: Figure Out Your Travel Budget
Before you start planning, it’s crucial to assess your finances and determine how much you can afford to spend. This will influence many of the following steps, including where you can go and for how long.
This step might seem daunting, but we’ve broken it down so you can create your own personalized travel budget. We’re even sharing how we manage to travel while staying within our budget.
If you have time before your trip, follow these simple steps to save money for your adventure.
Step 2: Decide on Your Travel Style/Partner(s)
Is this a quick vacation, a three-week overseas trip, or long-term travel?
…And who’s coming with you?
Take a moment to consider—are you traveling solo or with a partner? A group of friends, or with your family and kids?
The answer to this question can shape your trip significantly. For instance, a solo trip to a honeymoon destination like Tahiti might not be ideal. Likewise, a party spot like Ibiza may not be the best choice for a family vacation.
Traveling Solo? It’s a liberating experience, and there are many fantastic cities around the world perfect for solo travelers.
Want a romantic getaway? Romance isn’t just for beaches and resorts. Check out our roundup of top romantic destinations for every type of couple, some of which might surprise you.
Looking for the perfect family vacation spot? There are amazing destinations worldwide that are great for kids!
If you’re planning to travel with a partner, make sure to ask these questions before booking your flights…
Step 3: Choose a Destination
This step may seem straightforward, especially if you already know where you want to go. But even if you have a destination in mind, there are still a few things to consider. If you’re unsure of where to go, you might want to start by looking at a map—seriously!
Take a map and start circling the cities, towns, or attractions you want to visit. Look for inspiration on Instagram. What do you want to do? What do you want to see and experience? When planning a route, we often consult recommendations from other trusted bloggers.
No need for paper maps—go digital! Here’s a tutorial on using Google My Maps. It’s a game-changer.
We also figure out how many nights we can stay in each place and how we’ll travel from one city to the next. You can find examples of our itineraries on our Itineraries page, and we recommend Lonely Planet guides for more ideas.
Once you’ve settled on a place or places…
Do Your Research
Don’t forget to check if the time of year you plan to travel is ideal. We’ve made the mistake of not doing enough research and it has negatively impacted our trips.
Ask yourself these questions to avoid potential issues:
- What will the weather be like?
- Will it be the wet season? Hurricane season? Unbearably hot?
- Is it peak tourist season? Low season?
- Will it be hard to find accommodations because of the season? Will crowds be an issue?
Doing a little research can save you from disappointments later on.
Step 4: Book Flights
Once you’ve decided on your destination and sorted out your visa, it’s time to book your flight!
Ask yourself: What airport will you fly into? Is it a round trip or are you flying out from a different place?
Tips for Finding the Best Flight Deals:
- Know When to Buy: There are different recommendations depending on your destinations.
- Break Up the Flight: Sometimes booking separate legs of a flight can be cheaper. For example, book a flight from Minneapolis to Seattle, and then Seattle to Japan, instead of a direct Minneapolis to Japan flight.
- Sign Up for Price Alerts: Many search engines offer alerts when fares drop.
- Use Travel Credit Cards: Some cards offer miles for purchases. Choose one that suits your travel needs.
Don’t forget to sign up for frequent flyer miles—many airlines share networks, and miles can sometimes be transferred.
When searching for flights, we like using Skyscanner because it allows you to search for the cheapest flights over an entire month.
Step 5: Book Accommodation
Depending on the length of your trip, you might want to book all accommodations in advance, or just a few nights at a time.
For a short trip, booking in advance can save time and ensure you get a place to stay. For long-term travel, you might prefer to book as you go.
We consider several factors when booking accommodations:
- Location: Researching things to do in the area helps us decide the best location for our stay.
- Transportation: Consider the city’s walkability and transportation options before choosing where to stay.
- Length of Stay: For longer stays, we prefer places that feel like home, often booking apartment-style rentals through Airbnb or Booking.
Check out our resources for booking accommodations based on the region you’re traveling to:
- Asia: Booking or Agoda
- Europe: Booking, Airbnb, or Hostelworld
- USA: Airbnb
This guide simplifies the process of planning a trip, helping you transform your travel dreams into reality with ease and confidence.