Easy 10 Step Guide to Planning Your Next Trip
Planning a vacation can be SO exciting but it can also be incredibly daunting. I know it can be easy to get overwhelmed – you have a lot of decisions and choices to make. As someone who still gets overwhelmed herself, I completely understand.
After more than 10 years of traveling, I’ve planned A LOT of trips for myself, friends and family. I’m not going to lie, in the beginning, it was hard. I definitely learned a lot of things the hard way. However, it’s helped me develop an efficient process the ensures I don’t miss anything important during my trip planning process. The last thing I want to do is get to a destination and have forgotten something. And I bet you don’t either!
I’m sharing my 10 step guide to planning a trip so that you too can begin to build your process. So that you have a starting point. It will help you plan for any type of trip, no matter the length! Just follow the process and you’ll be a pro before you know it!
Decide Where to Go
Are you thinking about a long weekend trip to see friends and family? Or a week long skiing holiday for example? The first step is knowing where you would like to travel. Something that I have always found useful is to write things down. I keep a list of destinations I’d like to visit on my phone, so when the time comes, I can just look at my list and pick a destination out.
Plan A Budget
Having a budget or a plan in place to save money for your vacation is also super important. This can also be a determining factor for when you go on a vacation. Deciding how long you need to save will affect when you can leave your vacation.
One of my personal tips for saving money, specifically for travel, is to have a savings account set aside JUST for travel. Every week, I have an automatic transfer from my Checking account to this Savings account. This number is up to you; it can be as big or small as you want. That way, I’m always saving and don’t freak out when I decide to go on a long vacation where I would need a larger than normal budget. I already have money saved up!
When to Travel
When thinking about when to travel, I am a BIG fan of utilizing Holidays to maximize the amount of time I can be away. Since I also have a full time job, planning my vacations around Holidays allows me to use less PTO. That’s because I count any Holidays as “free” days. Also, make sure to research the best time of year to visit the destination you’ve selected. You don’t want to find out too late that the time of year you’re going is actually a rainy season!
Flights and Hotels
My advice on this one is simple – use a search engine, for example, Skyskanner or Kayak (for flights) and Booking.com (for hotels). Also, it pays to join loyalty programs. Is there an airline that flies more frequently from your closest airport? For example, if you live in Atlanta, GA, that is a hub for Delta Airlines. I would highly recommend joining their Skymiles program so that you can earn miles for each flight that you take.
Similarly, I would research credit cards as well that offer a good point to purchase convergence program. These points you can convert into flights or hotel bookings! My personal favorite right now is the Chase Sapphire Card and American Express Delta Credit Card. If you’re interested in getting more information on Point hacking, The Points Guy is going to be your new best friend!
Build Your Itinerary
Now that you’ve decided on what time of year you’re traveling, you’ve purchased flights and booked hotels, start to plan a preliminary itinerary. I love to use Pinterest, Google, Instagram and Tik Tok to find inspiration. The itinerary doesn’t have to be done to the minute, you have got plenty of time of finalize details! Also, don’t forget, I can help as well! I’ve got quite a few blog posts already written that you can use as a reference. I haven’t written about all 50ish countries I’ve visited, but you can always send me a message – I’d be happy to help!
Passport, Visa and Vaccine Requirements
If you remember anything from my 10 step guide to planning a trip, remember this one! It is SUPER important! There are a lot of countries that require your passport to be valid for several months AFTER you visit. So double check that it hasn’t expired! You can absolutely get a new passport in less than a week if need be. The same thing applies for visa and vaccination requirements. Do your research! I find Google, the US State Department and the country I’m visiting governments’ websites to be the most helpful.
Local Customs and Etiquettes
Again, I cannot stress this enough – do you research ahead of time. Make sure you’re aware of what local customs or etiquettes. For example, if you are woman traveling to the Middle East, you want to make sure you’re dressing appropriately for the culture.
Pack Your Bags
They key to overpacking is to pack smart and efficiently. Think critically of what you will actually were on your trip. You have to ask yourself – am I realistically going to need to bring a different purse for every day when I wear the same purse for weeks? Also, make sure to check the weather ahead of time so you bring the right type of clothing, shoes and accessories. You don’t need a lot fancy bags or organizational things. The one ‘travel hack’ that I love to use, especially in winter, is compression bags. You can put your big winter jacket in one, push all of the air out, and it is not flat. So much easier to pack larger clothing items this way.
Sign Up For a Travel Credit Card
I mentioned already the perks of using or having a credit card that gives you points for flights or hotels. If you don’t have one, apply for one before your trip. Many cards have a minimum spend amount you need to reach before they’ll give you the points. But, what better way to meet that than on your vacation where you will be using one?
Again, my go to ones are the Chase Sapphire Card and American Express Delta Credit Card. Please know, I’m not advocating for opening many different cards just to get the points. Or opening a new card for every trip you take. Be responsible, be smart. You know what you can and cannot do money wise.
Enjoy Your Trip, but Stay Safe and Informed
Finally, we’re at the BEST part! It’s takeoff time and you’re on your way! Take time to enjoy it – you worked hard for this vacation. However, at the same time, make sure you’re remaining safe and informed. One way I do that, is that I send my full itinerary to a family member. This is for one of those ‘just in case’ moments. Set up bank and fraud alerts, research ground transportation and ridesharing, make copies of your passport, keep track of what you drink, use an RFID blocking wallet or bag – these are just a few other ways to stay safe and informed while travelling.
Checking off everything item on my list will help you feel better organized and prepared for your trip. I promise. No matter the type or length of trip you have planned, my 10 step guide to planning your trip will help you stay motivated as you explore!