Planning a Trip in 11 Steps
You might think that it is an easy thing to plan a trip, but to have a GREAT trip you need to think about details. There is a reason why there are so many travel companies that thrive because planning a great trip is very time consuming and might be hard.
I’ve been traveling since I was a child and only a couple of years ago I started to realize that buying tickets and just googling “what to see” is never enough for a great trip. Yes, you might have a fun trip, but when you come home after your trip, you realize that you missed some major attraction just because it was not on that list of “what to see” or because you didn’t have enough time to see it on your trip. I had that feeling when I haven’t experienced everything I was hoping for, and going back to the same country or city might not be an option because travelling is spendy. All that is happening because of bad planning.
)You have two choices, plan your trip yourself or contact a travel agent that will help you out with this. There are many companies that provide one of a kind travel experiences with full-day tours for the entire duration of the vacation and you won’t even need to think about transportation from and to the airport, for example: AAA Travel Services provides a lot of options around the world. These vacations aren’t cheap, but you will have the time of your life! ...but this post is not about that, we are going to go over planning a trip by yourself.
Planning steps:
Think where you want to go and what you want to experience.
First thing’s first, think about what you actually want to experience and gain from your trip. You need to think about things like whether you want to learn about the history and culture of the place? Connect with the locals? or you want to enjoy nightlife and local cuisine? Do you want to relax by the beach? And what about outdoor adventures? Do you want to go on any tours? Or take an adventure and look for hidden places? Based on that you will understand what kind of place you want to visit. Some places are better for historic sites (i.e. Rome, Jerusalem, etc.) than others, and some trips are more about the city experience like Dubai, or Singapore. All these things should be thought of before you buy tickets and decide to take some days off from work or school.
◦ If you are choosing a place based on a ticket price or just want to explore what is out there,
if you are flexible with a date, you may look for the cheapest tickets on various websites, for example: skyscanner.com. There is a way to “explore” the options by the month or a specific date. It will show you the cheapest destinations around the world for that date or dates.Research if you need a visa and make sure your passport is up to date.
Determine your budget and the length of the trip.
Do you think the perfect trip should be for a week? maybe two? Or just for the weekend? If you want to do a combination of things like hiking trails, trying new food, going out to a club, jet skiing or some other activity, going to museums and theaters, the trip must be very long because there is no way you can do all that over a weekend. I tried that, it never works. You don't want to rush on your trip either.Think about what places you want to see (historic sites, trails, museums, restaurants, etc.). Based on your budget and the length of the trip now you can choose the top things to do. Create a list.
when you write down the things you want to do, plan your schedule for every day of the trip. This way you will know for sure how long your trip will be.
Now, you can look for a place to stay. I think this should be thought of before buying tickets because if you don't have a place to stay, it might get stressful.
◦ google, check travel blogs, ask your friends, check hashtags on instagram.Finally, you may buy tickets if flying or getting there by bus or train. If you are driving, put some money aside for gas.
Make reservations (tours and restaurants for dining) before you arrive at your destination because if you are travelling on the weekends popular places are usually booked in advance.
Research about currency exchange if you are planning on using cash instead of credit cards.
Notify your bank and cell phone company that you are traveling.
Pack your bags. Think about outfits if you are planning to do some photography. Get your first aid kit and toiletries, passport, camera, phone, charger, headphones for the plane, etc.
You are ready to go. Have an amazing trip ;)
I recommend everyone to read basic historic facts about the place you are planning to visit, so it would be a more exciting experience. Get Inspired!
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Pictures from istockphoto.com
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I to have done a lot of travelling and thats all great advise
Excellent post
thank you! :)
your welcome
The best trips i had was the not planned one :D
that's great :) as I said , i'm sure you can have fun without planning :) but personally for me it is very important to see everything historic about the country and experience its culture.
I like and enjoyed your post ! Keep publishing interesting and informative articles.
If you wish, you can check my posts @laughingshots.
https://steemit.com/life/@laughingshots/woman-gives-birth-standing-up-in-busy-street-in-china
Keep steeming. Cheers !!!
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Nice Post- and very good reminders, it is sometimes stressful to go away somewhere, and it is so easy to lose track! upvoted and following #steemusa
thank you. yes, I always forget my headphones or forget to call bank and cell phone provider. I feel like I need to read this myself before I leave for the trip lol
Lol!
Yes, I like your trip tips - it is pretty good idea to Notify your bank and cell phone company that you're going, so they don't put a hold on your credit.
Of course, it is good to have an Itinerary printed out, to help keep one 'on track'. Especially if you have group members or family with you, so they can KNOW what's coming up .
I feel it's also important (During the Research & Planning phase ) to check on ea. country/destinations for ' Safety concerns' ♦♦ These could be hazards due to mosquitos/health, or merely the fact there are REBELS in the area !
NOTE: As to #restaurants, IF any member of yr Party has special needs (for Gluten-free food items or is Allergic) then Someone better research this ahead of time .
I have an Insightful 'Packing Tips' post that CAN Help people too :
It's "Travel Tips and Quips: 21 Packing Tips To Save Time and Be Hassle Free"
This post has received a 4.38 % upvote from @upgoater thanks to: @ella-kay.