Key travel tips you need to know โ€” whether youโ€™re a first-time or frequent traveler

Clint Henderson

The holiday travel season is fully upon us. The Transportation Security Administration expects to screen a record number of passengers this Christmas, and the TSA already broke a daily record. They screened a whopping 2.9 million travelers on Nov. 26, 2023, alone ... the most passengers ever screened in a single day.

As millions of travelers take trips by plane , cruise ship or road , we've gathered some essential travel tips on how best to book and enjoy your journeys.

Whether you're an occasional road-tripper or a frequent globe-trotter, these TPG-backed top travel tips can help you avoid unnecessary headaches when you spend time away from home.

How to find travel deals

tips for travel planning

Flexibility is key when it comes to finding cheap airfare any time of year.

Changing your arrival or departure date by a single day can save you hundreds of dollars on airfare. If you don't mind altering your family's plans slightly, consider booking travel directly on major holidays like the Fourth of July, Thanksgiving and Christmas for cheaper prices and thinner airport crowds.

One of our favorite tools at TPG for finding deals is Google Flights . You can use the search field to find the cheapest (or best) flights. Google will also give you a historical view of how prices have ranged and will even send you email alerts if fares jump or drop on specific routes you've selected.

It also has some fun tools you can use to find a cheap destination. By clicking the "Explore" button on the sidebar and putting your departure airport, Google will give you a map or list view of the most wallet-friendly destinations.

tips for travel planning

However, Google isn't the only place to find deals: TPG publishes regular deal alerts. You can sign up for Twitter alerts and subscribe to our daily newsletter for the latest deals news.

Don't sleep on mileage awards, either. If you've been hoarding miles during the pandemic, it's time to spend them. Cash prices are high, so it can be a good time to burn those miles.

No matter how much you think you know about redeeming miles for flights , there are always new tips and tricks for turning those earnings into dream trips. Turn to TPG for guidance on sweet spots for redemptions. Sites like ExpertFlyer (part of Red Ventures, like TPG) supply additional redemption ideas or even business class upgrade inventory.

You may even want to consult a travel agent to get access to special deals that aren't available anywhere else. Travel agents can sometimes get you extra perks at hotels or even cheaper business-class airfare to your dream destination.

Be your own best advocate

Since there are still air traffic controller shortages and little room for error in the system these days, travelers have to be their own best advocates.

There are ways to get ahead of any possible travel nightmares.

First, be smart when booking. Try to find a nonstop flight rather than one with connections, even if it costs a little more. You'll eliminate the risk of missing connections and lessen the chance of having your luggage go in a different direction than you during a transfer.

You could also take one of the first flights of the day, as those are least likely to face afternoon thunderstorms and most likely to depart on time. Read our article 5 reasons to book the first flight of the day for all the data.

Related: Your flight is canceled or delayed โ€“ here's what you should do next

Download your airline's mobile app to keep track of potential flight delays in real time. The airline app is a secret weapon in case things go wrong. Not only will you know when boarding starts, but you'll also learn of any delays first. Some airlines allow you to even rebook yourself in the app.

If your flight is canceled, you'll want to beat everyone else on your flight who is also looking to get rebooked.

We recommend heading for the customer service desk (or lounge desk if you have access). You could also get on the phone with the airline or contact them via social media if there's a delay . Sometimes, an airline's Twitter representative will help you faster than a phone or in-person agent can. You have to use every tool at your disposal when things go south.

Many airlines also now have live chat capabilities to help navigate delays and cancellations.

I always have an alternate plan (or two) in the back of my mind in case a flight gets canceled or delayed. I also look to see what other airlines are flying the route I'm booked in case something goes awry. This way, I'll know what to ask for if I need to be rebooked.

Also, save all the receipts for the expenses you incur during delays or cancellations. You'll want excellent documentation in the case of meltdowns like the one Southwest passengers experienced during the holidays .

If you're stuck at an airport for an extended period, seek out your airport's secret quiet spaces for a brief escape from the travel chaos.

Get Global Entry and/or TSA PreCheck

tips for travel planning

One of our favorite ways to speed through the airport and avoid those summertime mega lines is via Trusted Traveler programs like TSA PreCheck and Global Entry .

Essentially, the government pre-screens you for security and thus you save a bit of time during your travels. You'll need to apply ahead of time and pay a fee. The great news, however, is that many credit cards will give you a statement credit for these fees. TSA PreCheck is a $78 application fee for five years, and Global Entry is $100.

Related: 7 ways to get Global Entry, TSA PreCheck and/or Clear for free

TSA PreCheck allows you to speed through airport security without removing your shoes, laptops or liquids. With Global Entry , you can breeze through customs when you return from an international trip.

If you have the time, going for Global Entry rather than simply TSA PreCheck makes sense. Global Entry requires an interview with Customs and Border Patrol ahead of time, but once you're approved, TSA PreCheck will be included.

Get Clear for the ultimate security trifecta

tips for travel planning

The other security tool we recommend you have in your travel toolbelt is Clear .

Related: Why you should get TSA PreCheck and Clear

The expedited security program allows you to bypass long security lines by using a separate lane at many airports. You'll approach a kiosk where your identity is confirmed via an iris scan or fingerprint. A Clear employee will then escort you to the front of the security screening line.

A Clear membership combined with TSA PreCheck will enable you to go to even shorter lines at some airports with designated Clear/PreCheck lines. Clear isn't perfect at all airports where it's so popular, and there are now long lines (cough, Atlanta). However, it will still generally lead to shorter lines overall.

Related: Guide to using the Amex Platinum Clear benefit

Make copies of your important documents

Make digital and hard copies of all your important travel-related documents. Start by photographing your driver's license, your state ID and/or your passport.

You should have copies of your IDs in your phone's library in case you get separated from the actual document. Sometimes, it also helps in a pinch if you are asked for ID, and you didn't bring the hard copy. For example, I was recently asked for my ID to enter One Vanderbilt to have dinner at the new American Express Centurion Lounge in New York. The receptionist would have accepted a photograph of the ID if I didn't have the physical document.

TPG also recommends having an actual photocopy in a separate place. Editor Kristy Tolley says she stores a hard copy in a separate place from where she keeps her passport in case she loses a bag. "I also leave a copy of it at home if I'm traveling alone," she said.

Check expiration dates

tips for travel planning

If you aren't 100% certain of the expiration date of your passport and other travel documents, go check them now. Renewing passports takes time, and some countries require six months of future passport validity to allow entry. Remember that child passports expire every five years, which can sneak up on you.

Related: How and when to renew your passport

Double-checking the expiration dates for your driver's licenses and state IDs is also a good idea. Remember that TSA checks the expiration dates on your documents when they screen you for security. Don't forget to check the expiration dates for your Trusted Traveler programs like Global Entry, Clear and TSA PreCheck, too. It can take a while to get a Global Entry interview appointment if you need one to renew.

Few things are worse than getting to the front of the security line and realizing the PreCheck mark is gone from your boarding pass.

Finally, check the entry requirements if you are traveling internationally. Some countries require visas that you must acquire before arrival.

Consider travel protection

When booking your travel, try to use a credit card that offers some built-in travel protection . Many credit cards, including TPG favorites like the Chase Sapphire Reserve or The Platinum Cardยฎ from American Express , offer this when you use those cards to purchase your airfare and similar.

Related: Best credit cards for trip delays and cancellations

If the coverage offered by your credit card isn't enough, you might also want to purchase travel insurance . These policies can sometimes go beyond trip cancellations to cover things like medical evacuations. Warning: Read the fine print on any extra policies very carefully to ensure it covers the situations that matter the most to you.

Those who frequently travel abroad may want to consider purchasing an annual travel insurance policy instead of buying one on a trip-by-trip basis. Some TPG staffers purchase annual policies because of the cost savings for multiple trips. Some will find having an annual policy is easier than juggling separate policies or various credit card coverage terms and conditions.

Tips for your luggage

tips for travel planning

TPG has a ton of tips when it comes to luggage.

First and foremost, try to be on "team carry-on" whenever possible. If you don't check baggage, you are much less likely to become separated from it. Many of us at TPG refuse to check luggage except under extreme circumstances.

Of course, other folks with families or those embarking on long journeys may still want to check bags. If that's the case for you, you can still do many things to lessen the chance you get separated from your stuff. For example, make sure your luggage is in good working order, your contact info is attached, the bag is within the weight limits, you get to the airport early (but not too early) to check it and confirm your luggage is tagged to the right destination or connection.

Related: 7 tips to keep the airline from losing your luggage

After last year's baggage delays and luggage disasters , we strongly suggest you put Apple AirTags (or the Android equivalent ) into your luggage so you can track your items if they go missing .

If you check a bag, keep extra medicine or medical supplies in your carry-on bag in case your luggage goes missing or gets delayed. "As a diabetic, I keep a tiny emergency kit in my backpack with enough supplies to keep me going in an emergency," TPG writer Tanner Saunders said.

Former TPG credit card writer Ryan Smith also offered words of advice regarding luggage. "The last items you pack in your carry-on will be most accessible, so use this for your passport, ID, ticket, headphones or whatever else you need during the trip," he said. By making sure those items you'll use most are easiest to reach, you'll save yourself the hassle of having to dig around (or partially unpack) your bag to grab what you need.

Finally, be sure and get compensated if your bags are late or lost. Many airlines will give you points or even cash for delayed bags, and the government has rules on compensation if your bags are lost.

Staying safe on your journeys

tips for travel planning

From potentially getting robbed while on the road to experiencing bad weather or natural disasters while traveling, there are many scenarios that could arise when you're away from home.

To mitigate those risks, pay attention to U.S. Department of State warnings about a destination you plan to visit and check local sources for the latest news from that country or region for additional context. Although the State Department tends to err on the side of caution with its warnings, it's still best to be aware of what you may face during your trip.

Also, know the local number in case of emergencies. In many places, including Mexico and much of Europe, if you dial 9-1-1 on your cellphone, you will be connected to emergency services just like in the U.S. However, you should know the local emergency numbers of whichever country you visit.

Let people at home know your itinerary and stay in touch with them throughout your trip. If something goes amiss, at least someone will know where you're supposed to be or the last place you visited.

If you're arriving at night, contact your hotel or home-share host to ask about the best way to get there at the time you're arriving and the safest ways to travel at night in that area.

Also, be strategic about how you check into a hotel. Some solo travelers request two keycards to imply someone else is on the trip. Giving thought to the hotel room's security swing bar can also make sense, with some taking steps like placing a hand towel over it to make it harder to dislodge from the outside.

Some final tips

tips for travel planning

  • For cruisers, TPG principal cruise writer Gene Sloan suggests arriving in port at least a day in advance (if not several days ahead of time). This will eliminate the risk of missing your ship's departure time and help you get acclimated to the local time zone.
  • When taking road trips to out-of-the-way destinations, go old school and bring paper maps with you or download offline maps from Google. Using a paper map or an offline version means you always have a way to navigate around your chosen destination, even if you lose cellular service.
  • One other note, you should reserve airport parking ahead of time during peak travel times. Some airport parking areas fill up fast around holidays, so reserving your spot ahead of time will save you from wasting time looking for a space when you need to catch a flight. You can also sometimes save by booking online in advance, too.

Bottom line

tips for travel planning

Whether you're fresh to the world of traveling or a seasoned expert, you can always learn new tips to maximize your time away from home. The more research and preparation you do before your trip, the better your experience will be โ€” especially if things go wrong, as they sometimes do.

Some of our favorite tools are deal alerts, Google Flights , sign-up bonuses and credit card rewards . Learn those tools and use them for better travel every time.

Remember that these days when things go wrong, you have to be your own best advocate. For more travel tips and tricks, read the stories below.

Related reading:

  • Your flight is delayed or canceled: Here's what to do next
  • The best travel credit cards
  • The 18 best places to travel in 2023
  • 6 real-life strategies you can use when your flight is canceled or delayed
  • 8 of the best credit cards for general travel purchases
  • Here's how to get through airport security faster
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50 Travel Tips T+L Editors Swear By

These 50 travel tips from the T+L staff will help you foray back to travel in style.ย 

Since 1971,ย Travel + Leisureย editors have followed one mission: to inform, inspire, and guide travelers to have deeper, more meaningful experiences. T+L's editors have traveled to countries all over the world, having flown, sailed, road tripped, and taken the train countless miles. They've visited small towns and big cities, hidden gems and popular destinations, beaches and mountains, and everything in between. With a breadth of knowledge about destinations around the globe, air travel, cruises, hotels, food and drinks, outdoor adventure, and more, they are able to take their real-world experience and provide readers with tried-and-tested trip ideas, in-depth intel, and inspiration at every point of a journey.

We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more .

Ever wondered how the professionals travel? The Travel + Leisure editors collectively bank a lot of miles, and we've tried every travel hack in the book ( packing cubes and apps that let you skip the line at immigration are just the tip of the iceberg). While we've learned a lot from our jetsetting lives, we've also made our fair share of mistakes. Fortunately, we've turned all of our travel lessons into tips for you โ€” so you can travel like a T+L editor โ€” and avoid some of the mistakes we've made in the past . From how to make a sneaky in-flight michelada to how to rack up travel points and get status on an airline, these 50 travel tips from the T+L staff will help you foray back to international travel in style.

Before You Go: Miles, Credit Cards, and Benefits

Frequent travelers should pick an airline and stick to it . Until recently, I would obviously just go online and get whatever flight was cheapest โ€” and that's still probably the best route for most leisure travelers. But if you're on the road a lot, especially for work or otherwise on someone else's dime, it makes sense to start building up some loyalty. Try to get status, familiarize yourself with partner airlines, and if it makes sense for you, open up a branded credit card. You'll be rewarded with perks like upgrades, free checked bags, and maybe even lounge access...not to mention miles, miles, miles. โ€” Hannah Walhout , Associate Editor

If you're just wanting to travel somewhere but flexible on when and where, use Skyscanner.com to search for cheap flights. Put in your origin city, select "Everywhere" as your destination, and choose your dates โ€” you can choose a whole month if you're flexible โ€” and you'll get a list of where in the world you can travel, in order of cheapest to most expensive flights, any time of year. โ€” Karen I. Chen , Editorial Producer

Look into airlines that offer extended stopovers in various destinations for no extra charge. Turkish Airlines offers a stopover program in Istanbul, and Icelandair offers a stopover program in Reykjavik. It's a great way to extend your trip without paying for an extra flight. โ€” Maya Kachroo-Levine , Contributing Digital Editor

Get a Chase Sapphire Reserve or American Express Platinum credit card. The yearly fees are high, but the benefits and rewards that offset the fees are worth it. With the Chase Sapphire Reserve, you get a $300 yearly credit toward any travel expenses, plus reimbursement of Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fees. With the Amex Platinum, you get a $200 hotel credit and monthly Uber credit, as well as CLEAR membership reimbursement. Best of all, each card gives you access to a global network of airport lounges, which has been one of my favorite perks of being a card member. Getting to spend a longer layover in an airport lounge with free drinks, food, and Wi-Fi โ€” not to mention the opportunity to take a shower (I was once stuck in an airport for an entire day) โ€” has been a game changer for international travel. โ€” Karen I. Chen , Editorial Producer

If you're going to pay the annual fee for a travel credit card, know how to use it to get the most for your money, and don't leave perks on the table. Some of the luxury travel credit cards come with a complimentary Priority Pass, which gets you into a selection of lounges around the world โ€” but you've got to follow through and sign up for Priority Pass. Many travel credit cards will also cover your Global Entry fee, but it's up to you to apply and get that Global Entry card. Take it from a financial editor turned travel writer โ€” you need to research the perks of your travel card, and then make sure you take full advantage. โ€” Maya Kachroo-Levine , Contributing Digital Editor

If you're in the airport more than a few times a year, TSA PreCheck is absolutely clutch. It's saved my behind on many occasions when I've cut my airport timing too close. (Plus, I've gotta be honest, it's nice to not have to take off your shoes.) That $100 for Global Entry actually covers PreCheck, too โ€” but if you're in the position to open a new line of credit, I'd recommend going with one of the many travel-oriented cards that offer both for free as a membership perk. โ€” Hannah Walhout , Associate Editor

This may sound super simple, but keep the apps of your preferred airlines in a folder on your phone. I am not someone who likes to keep unnecessary apps on their phone. But having an app that will keep your upcoming trips saved and will always allow you to have your boarding pass digitally before you arrive at the airport really makes me feel more organized. It also ensures you always have your mileage number on hand when booking a flight โ€” and after years of missing out on miles, I like to keep my account numbers handy so I never forget to input it when booking. โ€” Maya Kachroo-Levine , Contributing Digital Editor

If you travel abroad a fair amount, consider using T-Mobile as your cell phone carrier. Their mobile plans include unlimited international data and texting, which has been a life-saver when needing to reference Google Maps while roaming around a foreign city; call an Uber; or to look up opening hours for various attractions, restaurants, or shops. It's incredible to be able to touch down in a new location, turn on your phone, and be able to immediately start using the Internet without having to factor in contacting your mobile carrier and paying more for a global pass during your vacation. โ€” Karen I. Chen , Editorial Producer

Global Entry is cool, but it costs $100. Instead, download the Airside Mobile Passport app for free and use it to skirt customs and immigration lines, no memberships or hassles required. โ€” Paul Brady , Articles Editor

If you pay for Spotify, download your favorite playlists, podcasts, and albums directly to your phone so you always have at least a few things to listen to if you don't have Wi-Fi or cell service. โ€” Tanner Saunders , Experiences Editor

Nervous about flying? Try an app that predicts turbulence so you know exactly when to expect it.

As we get comfortable traveling internationally in the COVID-era, always check the latest entry regulations for the country you're heading to . Traveling in 2021 means thinking about things like planning your COVID test before returning to the U.S. and leaving extra time at the airports for entry mishaps. If the stress of COVID-era travel is getting to you while in transit, just stay calm, practice patience, and when in doubt, double check your research.

This is a tip I learned from a co-worker early in my career at T+L: The best way to save on a hotel room is very simple, and pretty old-school. First, do your research on the property you wish to book, and know what rates are going for across the major travel booking sites for your dates. Then, call the hotel directly and ask for the "cheapest nonrefundable rate." You may be able to negotiate against the deals you found online, since hotels pay a markup of up to 30% to booking sites and would prefer you book directly. And if that doesn't work, at least you'll know you're getting the lowest possible rate. โ€” Nina Ruggiero , Deputy Digital Editor

If I'm traveling to a new city and don't already have a hotel in mind, I always search the internet for new hotel openings. Booking a brand-new hotel can come with perks โ€” temporarily lower rates, for some; fewer guests, AKA more personalized service for you; and sparkling, brand-new facilities. It's nice to know you're among the first to use a bed or bath tub, and generally just cool to be able to say you were among the first to check out a new property. โ€” Nina Ruggiero , Deputy Digital Editor

When traveling with a group, consider booking a villa over a block of hotel rooms. There are a bunch of really amazing luxury villa rental sites out there โ€” The Thinking Traveller is my go-to for Europe, and WIMCO Villas for the Caribbean โ€” and some hotels offer villas on property as well. They may seem unattainable, but when you split the cost among your group, it may actually come out to less, and you'll enjoy having your own private space so much more. โ€” Nina Ruggiero , Deputy Digital Editor

We all know not all hotel rooms are created equal, but even within the same price category, some can be much better than others. So whenever I end up in a room I find particularly amazing, be it for the size, layout, or especially the view, I always take note of the room number so if I ever return (or need a recommendation for a friend), I'll know exactly which room to request. โ€” Nina Ruggiero , Deputy Digital Editor

Packing Tips and What to Bring

In my almost six years at T+L, I've tried every travel accessory under the sun โ€” packing cubes, bizarre travel pillows, compression socks, novel suitcases, you name it. Two still come with me on every flight. The first is a Smythson travel wallet , which is just as handy and elegant as everyone says. They're on sale right now, but if you miss the markdowns, stalk them on resale sites and you can find one for a song. The second is my Trtl travel pillow , which is divisive but for those who like it, nothing else will do. โ€” Lila Harron Battis , Senior Editor

Invest in a nice backpack if you travel a lot. It keeps your hands free at the airport. As someone who once favored a shoulder bag AND purse approach (what was I thinking?), walking through the airport without trying to juggle eight things in my hands is game-changing. If you're looking for a good travel backpack, my husband got me the Dagne Dover "Dakota" neoprene backpack โ€” an amazing birthday gift for the traveler in your life. โ€” Maya Kachroo-Levine , Contributing Digital Editor

Travel with a good-quality water bottle. Arrive at the airport with the water bottle empty, and fill it up after you go through security. It'll help you stay hydrated on your flight, and during your travels. โ€” Maya Kachroo-Levine , Contributing Digital Editor

Keep a picture of prescriptions or medications you take on your phone in case of an emergency. Hopefully you never have to use them but in case of an emergency it can make getting what you need so much better and potentially save a trip that could be a borderline disaster. (Trust me, this diabetic travel editor knows!) โ€” Tanner Saunders , Experiences Editor

Traveling with your license or ID card and passport as a backup โ€” even when flying domestic โ€” is a good idea, just in case. But accidents happen, and many don't know that if you do find yourself at a U.S. airport without a government-issued form of ID , you might still get on your flight. Just remain calm, look for any other item you may have with your name on it (prescription medication, credit cards, business cards, mail), and explain what happened to an airline rep. (If you're traveling with family members who share your last name, even better.) After an interview with a TSA agent to verify your identity, you could make it through. โ€” Nina Ruggiero , Deputy Digital Editor

Whether I'm packing for a long weekend or a two-week trip, I rely on packing cubes to keep my suitcase tidy and organized. They keep everything compact, so you can really maximize your suitcase space, and you'll never have to dig around to find that missing sock again. โ€” Elizabeth Rhodes , Associate Digital Editor

I always travel with a laundry bag so I can keep my used clothes separate from my fresh ones. It doesn't take up much space but it'll keep your clothes fresh the length of your trip. โ€” Sean Flynn , Contributing Editor

Opt for a soft-sided weekender or duffle as your main travel bag. It'll often squish into overhead/underseat/car trunk spaces where roller bags fear to go (and you'll never get asked to gate check it on smaller regional jets that inevitably run out of overhead space). โ€” Skye Senterfeit , Photo Editor

Bring your running shoes when traveling to a new destination. The absolute best way to see a city is to go on a morning run โ€” it helps you kick the jetlag, too. P.S., it's totally ok if that run is actually a walk โ€” mine often are. The most important thing is just to get up, get out there, and explore before the city wakes up. โ€” Maya Kachroo-Levine , Contributing Digital Editor

Invest in one or two bags you know you'll love to have on your body while exploring new places so you never have to worry about what to pack. For me, it's the Dior Saddle Pouch that sits secure across my chest and holds the essentials. Or, if I need a little more space (probably to carry a snack) I switch to a basic-but-stylish Supreme crossbody. They're both small enough to not cause any issues at events or museums and are a sort of security blanket when I'm out and about. โ€” Tanner Saunders , Experiences Editor

Never pack new shoes for a trip that involves a lot of walking. I've made this mistake countless times โ€” I find a pair of shoes I like right before I leave for a trip, wear them while touring a new city, and end up with painful blisters on day two. Break new shoes in ahead of time, and always pack blister pads and moleskin if you're prone to blisters like me! โ€” Elizabeth Rhodes , Associate Digital Editor

Pack slippers. Not only do they come in handy mid-flight, but they also help make any destination instantly feel like home. โ€” Stacey Leasca , Contributing Writer

Find an amazing walking shoe that can double as a great plane shoe to cut down on the number of shoes you need to pack. In general, your plane shoes should always be multi-purpose โ€” it just makes you a more economical packer.

For anyone carrying a camera that is not also a phone, my advice is to pack extra SD cards, camera batteries and a battery charger. It's a hard lesson to learn but if your camera battery dies and you have no idea where to buy the battery you need and you didn't pack the charger, you're missing out on capturing the special moments of your trip. Same goes for running out of memory on one SD card. Make sure your memory cards are cleared and batteries charged prior to departure so the photo taking can happen as soon as you get to your destination. โ€” Mariah Tyler , Visuals Editor

My biggest travel tip would be to never check a bag if you can help it. Packing lighter, i.e. in a carry-on suitcase, is helpful enough on its own: when you pare down your wardrobe and essentials, for example, you'll have more room to shop and, of course, less to lug around in airports and through city streets. Plus, you'll never have to wait in the chaos of the baggage carousel or deal with lost luggage again. โ€” Madeline Diamond , Ecommerce Writer

This is controversial: If you want to check a bag, just check the darn bag! Those of us in travel love to sing the virtues of packing light โ€” and, sure, there are benefits! โ€” but it's just not worth it if you're staying up until 2 a.m. the night before a flight stressed about packing. Throw it all in a bigger suitcase, stop fretting, and get some rest. Packing light is not worth losing sleep over. โ€” Lila Harron Battis , Senior Editor

I've been lucky enough to never have a bag go missing enroute to a destination, but that hasn't stopped me from packing a change of clothes in my carry-on. Just in case your bag is lost โ€” or even delayed for a few days โ€” a fresh set of clothes can carry you over until you have time to buy a new wardrobe while you wait for your bag to arrive. โ€” Sean Flynn , Contributing Editor

Designate one of your packing cubes for dirty laundry, so you can keep your already-worn clothes both organized and out of the way. And if you're looking for the perfect packing cubes, our editors have found the 13 best offerings .

Always keep your liquids in the same toiletry bag, so if a TSA agent needs you to remove them, you don't have to go digging around in your suitcase. These are our favorite, editor-selected toiletry cases.

If you're going on a long-haul trip, pack for only a week and then plan to do laundry.

Always pack a portable charger โ€” and every charging cord you'll need with it. You may even want to use a small case to keep all your charging accessories in one place.

On the Plane

For long-haul flights I keep a pouch filled with all of my in-flight essentials: ear plugs, chapstick, ibuprofen, sanitary wipes, cell phone charger, face cream, hydrating face masks (yes, I am one of those fliers), Liquid I.V. for helping to stay hydrated, and a pen (for when you inevitably have to fill out an immigration card before arrival). As soon as I board, I tuck the pouch in the seat-back pocket so all the things I might need are within easy reach without having to fumble through my bag underneath the seat or get up and open the overhead compartment. I leave the pouch packed between trips so I can just grab and throw it in my carry-on personal item when packing for my trip. โ€” Karen I. Chen , Editorial Producer

If you're prone to motion sickness, headaches, or other minor illnesses that are only exacerbated by travel anxieties, pack a little emergency wellness kit and stow it in your carry-on. You might never need it (and hopefully you won't), but having things like Dramamine, Pepcid, and a couple ibuprofens on hand can be the difference between the trip you've been dreaming of and one spent on the BRAT diet. โ€” Hillary Maglin , Assistant Digital Editor

The best thing you can wear on a plane is a plain white t-shirt that's easy to dress up with a nice jacket or dress down with trendy sweats. โ€” Tanner Saunders , Experiences Editor

My most truly unhinged airplane ritual is this: Bring a tiny travel bottle of Tajin and a packet of lemon or lime juice or citric acid in your travel bag, order a beer and a can of Bloody Mary mix on the plane, follow your heart, et voila: in-flight michelada. Fully ridiculous? Absolutely! But also kind of brilliant? I mean, if you like micheladas, then yes. โ€” Lila Harron Battis , Senior Editor

If you're someone who tends to swell when flying, try compression socks. We've rounded up the very best ones to buy.

Tips for When You're There

Pre-download maps. You never know when Wi-Fi or cell service will go down. Make sure you have a map handy when you need it most with apps like Maps.Me . The app allows you to download any map offline and save favorite destinations, so you can always get to where you need to be. โ€” Stacey Leasca , Contributing Writer

Whether you're planning a trip or just scrolling the internet for travel inspiration, utilize the labels in Google Maps to save the spots you want to visit. If I read about a new restaurant or a museum I'm excited to visit, I look up the location in Google Maps and flag it with the green "Want To Go" label. During the trip I reference it as a list of places to go, and if I loved it, I mark as a favorite. Long term, I'm building a map of all my favorite spots in the world and I love seeing the flags and stars when I'm in Maps. โ€” Mariah Tyler , Visuals Editor

Most cities have free walking tours, which I often try to join shortly after I first arrive in a city. They're a great way to get your bearings in a totally new place, learn some practical tips from someone who knows the city well (they're often led by locals), as well as gain a foundation of knowledge about the city's history and culture. โ€” Karen I. Chen , Editorial Producer

I've only recently learned this myself, but if the hotel or resort you're staying at has an on-property spa, take advantage of it! While it's tempting to hop off the plane and immediately start immersing yourself in a new, exciting location, taking the time to pause and de-stress with a massage or bath soak really sets the tone for vacation, and you'll be SO glad you did it. โ€” Hillary Maglin , Assistant Digital Editor

Pocket-sized city maps are a great โ€” and discreet! โ€” way to get your bearings without wrestling the big fold out maps so many tourists seem to favor. My favorites are these hybrid city and public transport map notebooks, that make it look like you're jotting down deep thoughts while you're really trying to figure out which train gets you back to your hotel. โ€” Skye Senterfeit , Photo Editor

If there's a country (or a continent) that you travel to often, buy a phone and computer charger made for their outlets. I travel to Europe specifically with an EU iPhone and Mac charger and it always relieves inevitable adapter stress. โ€” Maya Kachroo-Levine , Contributing Digital Editor

โ€‹โ€‹I always try to grab a small tourist map or a subway map when I arrive in a new city. I tend to get anxious if I don't understand the geography of where I am, especially in a new place, so I like to have a physical piece of paper I can study in my hotel room to get a sense of where I am and what neighborhoods are close by. โ€” Maya Kachroo-Levine , Contributing Digital Editor

In my estimation, most travel-related woes that affect the body or mind โ€” grumpiness, jet lag, just feeling not-quite-right โ€” rear their heads the most when we are either hungry or thirsty. So stay hydrated and bring a snack. โ€” Hannah Walhout , Associate Editor

If you're looking for a great Instagram caption while traveling , look up quotes about your specific destination .

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Nomadic Matt's Travel Site

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My Best 61 Travel Tips to Make You the World’s Savviest Traveler

61 Travel Tips to Make You the World's Savviest Traveler

Most people aren’t born savvy travelers. It’s something that only comes with on-the-road experience. Travel savviness is a process born of missed buses, foolish behavior, cultural unawareness, and countless tiny errors. Then, one day, you begin to seamlessly move through airports and integrate yourself into new cultures like a fish to water.

In the beginning, you just make a lot of travel mistakes.

But I want to help speed up the process and help you avoid my mistakes ( and I often make a lot of them ), so I put together this giant list of my best travel tips that cover everything under the sun to help you reach your full travel ninja potential.

I’ve learned these tips over the last sixteen years being a nomad.

These tips for traveling will have you saving money, sleeping better, getting off the beaten path more, meeting locals, and just being a better traveler.

So, without further ado, here are the best 61 travel tips in the world:

1. Always pack a towel. It’s the key to successful galactic hitchhiking – and plain common sense. You never know when you will need it, whether it’s at the beach, on a picnic, or just to dry off after a shower. While many hostels offer towels, you never know if they will or not, and carrying a small towel won’t add that much weight to your bag.

Make sure it’s a lightweight, quick-drying towel since regular towels are too bulky and heavy (and they take a long time to dry). Dry Fox travel towels are my favorite (use the code “nomadicmatt” for 15% off your purchase)!

Nomadic Matt posing for a photo in Hawaii while traveling

My favorite bag is the Flash Pack from REI . Other companies offering high-quality bags are Osprey, Nomatic, and MEC (for Canadians).

This article has more tips on finding the best travel backpack for your needs.

The same rule applies to suitcases. Don’t take a huge suitcase because they are a pain in the butt to lug around, especially if you’re traveling long term (short term, not so much). I like Level 8 suitcases. They are durable, quite spacious, nicely designed, and well-priced (luggage can be pretty damn expensive). Plus, they have a TSA lock built into the zipper. You can click here to learn more and buy one .

I also recommend packing cubes , which are essential if you’re going to be living out of a backpack for a few weeks (or months), or you just want to keep your suitcase better organized. They come in a variety of sizes, allowing you to store items big and small. They’re great for making it easy to find everything in your backpack or suitcase.

3. Pack light. Write down a list of essentials, cut it in half, and then only pack that! Plus, since you bought a small backpack like I said above, you won’t have much room for extra stuff anyways! Take half the clothes you think you will need…you won’t need as much as you think. It’s OK to wear the same t-shirt a few days in a row.

I love Unbound Merino , as their travel clothing can be worn daily for weeks without getting smelly. They are super light and they look sylish too. I really love the material, they’re comfortable, they hardly ever need a wash, and they last forever!

Click here for more packing tips .

4. But take extra socks. You’ll lose a bunch to laundry gremlins, wear and tear, and hiking so packing extra will come in handy. Take a few more than you need. Trust me on this. Nothing beats a fresh pair of socks!

A room of empty bunk beds in a hostel in Spain

Here’s a list of all my best hostels around the world . If you’re planning on backpacking Europe , it’s worth getting HostelPass , a card that gives you up to 20% off hostels throughout Europe. It’s a great way to save money, and they’re constantly adding new hostels too. I’ve always wanted something like this and so I’m glad it finally exists. Use code NOMADICMATT for 25% off.

6. Take an extra bank card and credit card with you Disasters happen and things get stolen or compromised. I once had a card duplicated and a freeze put on it. I couldn’t use it for the rest of my trip. I was very happy I had a backup. You don’t want to be stuck somewhere new without access to your funds. This happened to a friend once and they had to borrow money for me for weeks while they waited for their new card to arrive.

Here are some helpful articles on banking:

  • How to Avoid Banking Fees While Traveling
  • 22 Ways to Cut Your Expenses and Have Money for Travel
  • How to Pick the Best Travel Credit Card

7. Make sure to use no-fee bank cards. Don’t give banks your hard-earned money. Keep that for yourself and spend it on your travels. Get a credit card and debit card that doesn’t charge a foreign transaction fee or an ATM fee. Over the course of a long trip, the few dollars they take every time will really add up!

Here’s an article that will tell you how to do that.

8. Don’t fly direct. When booking flights, sometimes it is cheaper to fly in to airports close to your final destination, and then take a train, bus, or budget airline to where you need to go.

To use this method, find out how much it is to go directly to your destination. Then, look at prices to nearby airports. If the difference is more than $150 USD, I look to see how much it is to get from the second airport to my primary destination.

My favorite flight search engine is Skyscanner . This is my go-to website for finding cheap flights. It searches a lot of different airlines, including many of the budget carriers that larger sites miss.

Here are some more tips on finding cheap flights!

Nomadic Matt posing at the Villandry chateau in France during the summer

Here are some helpful articles on solo travel:

  • Why I Travel Alone
  • The Joy of Solo Travel
  • Travel: The Ultimate Personal Development Tool
  • How to Overcome Being Alone
  • Reading People: One Skill Travel Has Taught Me

10. Always visit the local tourism information center. This is probably one of the most underused travel tips in the world. Tourism information centers know about everything going on in town. They can point you to free activities, special events happening during your stay, and everything in between. They even offer discounts on attractions and transportation. It is their job to help you experience the destination better. It’s amazing how many travelers skip this when they are visiting somewhere but, as a savvy traveler, you know to use this resource!

11. Take free walking tours. Besides being free, these tours will give you a good orientation and background of the city you are visiting. I love, love, love taking walking tours when I travel. You pass the time, you get to pepper the guide with questions, and you get to learn so much about where you are. Here are some of my favorite walking tour companies around the world:

  • The Best Walking Tours in New York City
  • The Best Walking Tours in London
  • The Best Walking Tours in Paris
  • The Best Walking Tours in Berlin
  • The Best Walking Tours in Amsterdam

And while free walking tours are great, sometimes it’s worth it to take a paid walking tour if you’d like to dig deeper into a particular aspect of the destination. Walks is one of my favorite paid walking tour companies, offering in-depth history and cultural tours in cities around the world (especially Europe). Its small-group tours also tend to offer exclusive behind-the-scenes access you can’t get elsewhere.

For fellow foodies, Devour Food Tours has all kinds of amazing food tours around Europe.

12. Don’t be afraid to use a map. Looking like a tourist isn’t as bad as getting really lost and ending up in the wrong neighborhood. Don’t be afraid to use a map or ask for directions and look like a tourist. After all, you are one!

13. But don’t be afraid to get purposefully lost. Wandering aimlessly through a new city is a good way to get to know it, get off the beaten path, and away from the tourists. You might be surprised by the hidden gems you find. I like to wander around and try to find my way without using Google Maps. Travel is the art of discovery and you never know what cool little spot you’ll come across.

14. Ask hostel staff for information — even when you aren’t staying there. Hostel staff deal with budget travelers all day, every day. They know exactly where to go for cheap meals and attractions. They also tend to be locals so they know the city very well. Ask them for all sorts of information. Even if you aren’t staying in one, just pop in and ask for help. They’ll usually give it.

15. Sign up for flight deals. When it comes to travel, your flight(s) will likely be your biggest expense. Save money by signing up for flight deal websites. You’ll get epic flight deals straight to your inbox, saving you time and money. Also be sure to sign up for airline newsletters, since that is where they will announce their sales first. The best websites for finding travel deals are:

  • Going (formerly Scott’s Cheap Flights) – The BEST for upcoming US flight deals.
  • The Flight Deal – Great for global flight deals.
  • Holiday Pirates – The best for European flight deals.
  • Secret Flying – A great site for flight deals from around the world.

16. Don’t buy a money belt — they’re stupid. Thieves know they exist and being seen with one basically shouts, “Look at me, I’m a tourist with money! Rip me off!” The more you can blend in and act like a local, the easier it will be to get deals and avoid touts. If you’re worried about pickpockets, keep a better eye on your stuff!

17. When you go out, take only what you need. Limit the amount of cash and bank cards you carry with you when you go out, so if something does happen, you can easily recover. Never take more than one credit card or ATM card with you. My rule for cash is to limit what I carry to $50 USD.

18. Always carry a lock. Carry a small combination lock with you when you travel. They come in handy, especially when you stay in dorms. Most hostels use lockers, so budget travelers need to provide their own travel lock to keep stuff secured. While you can usually rent or buy them at hostels, it’s much cheaper just to buy one before you go. (Just don’t use one with keys because if you lose the keys, you’re screwed!)

19. Make extra copies of your passport and important documents. Don’t forget to e-mail a copy to yourself too. You never know when you might need to have some sort of documentation with you and might not want to carry your original. Additionally, if your passport gets stolen having a copy will come in handy for your police report.

20. Learn basic phrases in the native language of your destination. The locals will appreciate it and it will make your interactions easier. You don’t need to master the language but learning a few things like “Hello,” “Goodbye,” “Thank you!”, “Where’s the bathroom?” will go a long way to endearing yourself with the locals. They’ll like that you tried.

Here are some tips on how to learn a language .

Nomadic Matt reading a travel book at a desk

Here are some posts that highlight my favorite reads:

  • 13 Travel Books That Will Give You Serious Wanderlust
  • The Best Travel Books
  • 12 Books to Take You Around the World

22. Don’t be ashamed to walk into a Starbucks or McDonald’s. Sometimes familiarity is comforting and both places have free wifi and public restrooms you can use. (Just don’t eat the food at McDonald’s! That shit is gross and unhealthy for you! You can get it back home!). Libraries and most modern coffee shops also have free Wi-Fi too.

23. Always get behind business travelers when in security lines. They move fast since they are usually in a rush and travel light. They know the drill. Line up behind them as much as possible. You’ll speed through the line!

24. Never get behind families in airport security. They take forever. It’s not their fault. They just have a lot of stuff because of the kids. Try to avoid getting in lines with lots of kids. It’s going to take a while.

25. When you check in to the hotel, don’t be afraid to ask for an upgrade. They have a lot of flexibility when it comes to assigning upgrades at check-in. It never hurts to ask. Often times they can accommodate you if the hotel isn’t full. Just be super nice!

Note: If you stay in hotels frequently (or want to), it might be worth it to get a hotel credit card . You can earn points on your everyday spending at home and convert those points into free stays. The best cards come with status, making upgrades more likely too!

26. Write down your experiences. Even in this hyper-technological age, I think everyone needs to write more during their travels so they have something to look back on. I never leave home without a journal. Not only do I use them for work (I’m constantly taking notes and writing down ideas) but I also use them to keep track of my travels.

Simple travel journals work great for journaling during your trip as well as for writing down logistical information like directions, contact information, and language tips.

If you want a travel journal that isn’t just blank pages but rather has space for itinerary planning, places to jot notes in the local language, inspirational quotes, and more, grab our new travel journal. It was designed specifically with travelers in mind, so you can take notes as well as write down stories and reflections during your travels.

27. Lunchtime is the best time to visit historical sites. Be a contrarian. You’ll have fewer crowds getting in your way as big tour buses, groups, and most travelers head to lunch. It’s always best to visit an attraction super early, late, or when people eat. You’ll have even the most popular places to yourself!

28. Never eat in a touristy area or near a tourist attraction. As a general rule, I walk five blocks in either direction before I find a place to eat. The closer you are to tourist attractions the more you are going to pay and the worse the food (and service). Use websites like Yelp , Google Maps , or Open Rice to find some delicious and popular restaurants around you.

Additionally, never eat anywhere the menu is in like 6 languages! That means the restaurant is just for tourists!

29. Locals don’t eat out every night and neither should you. Go grocery shopping. You can learn a lot about locals’ diets by seeing the type of food they buy. Plus, it will save you a lot of money. You won’t regret it. Cook your food, save money, and surprise yourself!

30. Eat at expensive restaurants during lunch. Most expensive restaurants offer lunch specials featuring the same food they would serve for dinner but for a fraction of the cost! That’s the best time to eat out when you travel.

I share more tips on how to eat cheaply around the world here.

31. Pack a headlamp. This is a handy tool for both backpackers and anyone looking to do any hiking or camping. If you’re going to be staying in a hostel, having a headlamp is helpful when you need to check in or out but don’t want to disturb your fellow travelers by turning on the lights. They’re also helpful in emergencies.

32. Carry a basic first-aid kit. Accidents happen, so be prepared. I always take band-aids, antibacterial cream, and ointments for minor cuts and scrapes. You never know when you’re going to need it and you can’t always get it when you travel.

You can either assemble a first aid kit yourself ( here are some tips for doing so ), or purchase a pre-made kit online .

33. Don’t believe the cheap flight myths. Don’t drive yourself too crazy trying to get the absolute cheapest fare. There are a lot of myths online about how to find cheap flights, but there is no magic bullet or one secret ninja trick. It’s not cheaper to book on a particular day of the week, or if you search in an incognito window.

Spending five hours to try to save $10 will cause you a lot of stress. Once you find a flight deal that you’re happy with, book right away, as airfares change by the minute. Remember, you usually have a 24-hour window to cancel in case you need to.

Here are some article on how to save money on flights:

  • 5 Steps to Booking a Cheap Flight Online
  • How to Always Find a Cheap Flight
  • Where I Find the Best Travel Deals

34. Use Meetup, the sharing economy, and hospitality websites to meet locals. These websites will help you get an insider’s perspective on your destination by connecting you with locals in the places you visit. The sharing economy has changed the way people travel allowing you to meet locals, get off the tourist travel, and save mega money! It’s a triple win – and I use these resources all the time when I travel.

Here’s an article on how to use the sharing economy (and what websites to use) when you travel.

35. Be open to strangers. Not everyone bites. Say hi to people on the road. Turn strangers into friends. Remember they are just like you! They want to live a happy, full life and have hopes and dreams too! You never know. You just might make some lifelong friends.

36. But keep your guard up. Some people do bite, so keep a healthy level of suspicion. You don’t want to fall for any travel scams or get yourself into uncomfortable situations. Be open but cautious. Here is a list of travel scams to avoid.

A delicious, fresh Greek meal while looking out over the ocean in the Greek Islands

  • My Favorite Restaurants in Europe
  • The Best Places to Eat in NYC
  • How to Eat Cheap Around the World
  • 30+ Places to Eat in Tokyo
  • How to Eat Around the World on a Vegan Diet

38. Avoid taxis. They are always a budget buster. Never, ever take a taxi unless you absolutely have too!

39. Take a reusable water bottle through airport security and fill it up at your gate. Single-use plastics are common in a lot of countries around the world. They’re also polluting our oceans and destroying the environment. Drink from the tap when you can — you’ll save money and help the environment. If you’re going somewhere where you can’t drink the water, be sure to get a water bottle with a filter. I love Lifestraw .

40. Get city attraction cards. If you are going to visit a lot of museums and other attractions in a short period of time, a city pass is going to save you money on admission (plus most provide free public transportation too!).

41. Take pictures of your luggage and clothes. If your bag gets lost, this will help identify it more easily and speed up the process of having your travel insurance reimburse you.

42. Carry emergency cash. Because emergencies happen, like that time in Romania when I couldn’t find an ATM and needed money for the bus to the hostel. I usually try to keep around $200 USD in emergency cash in case something happens!

43. Get good shoes. You walk a lot when you travel. Don’t beat up your feet. Love them as much as they love you, and they’ll take you to amazing places.

My favorite shoes for traveling are Suavs shoes , which are versatile and durable. They’re comfortable and great for exploring a new city all day, but also look nice enough that you can dress them up if you want to at night.

44. Get vaccinated. Because falling prey to an illness in a foreign country is not fun — and many countries require you to get vaccinated in order to visit them. So regardless of your opinion on the subject, you just might have to.

Here is an article on how to stay healthy on the road.

45. Learn to haggle. Haggling is a fun, playful way of not getting charged the foreigner price. It’s the art of negotiating and one that will help you throughout all of life, not just at the market.

A TSA Pre-Check sign at a US airport

Here are some articles to help you get started with using points and miles:

  • Points and Miles 101: A Beginner’s Guide
  • How I Earn 1 Million Frequent Flier Miles Every Year
  • The Best Travel Credit Cards
  • The Ultimate Guide to Picking the Best Travel Credit Card

47. Take a jacket. Nights get chilly.

48. Eat street food! If you skip the street food, you miss out on culture . Don’t be scared. If you’re nervous, look for places where kids are eating. If it’s safe for them, it’s safe for you.

49. Get travel insurance. Travel insurance is the most important thing to get that you never want to use. If something goes wrong, you don’t want to be out thousands of dollars in bills. Travel insurance will be there if you get robbed, flights get canceled, you get sick or injured, or have to be sent home. It’s comprehensive and, for just a few dollars a day, one of the best investments you can get for a trip.

You may think you’re superman/woman but so did my friend who broke her arm, didn’t have insurance, and had to pay thousands out of pocket. Insurance was there when I had to replace my camera and when I popped an eardrum scuba diving! Get it! Here are some tips on how to find the best travel insurance.

My favorite companies are:

  • SafetyWing – A budget-friendly choice for travelers who need basic coverage. They are affordable, have great customer service, and make it easy to make a claim. If you’re on a tight budget, go with SafetyWing!
  • Insure My Trip – The best insurance for those over 70 years old.
  • Medjet – This is a membership program that provides emergency evacuation coverage should you get into a dire situation while traveling and be hospitalized. Medjet is meant to supplement your regular travel insurance.

50. Be patient. Things will work out in the end. No need to rush. You’ll get to where you are going in due time. Travel is about the journey, not the destination.

51. Be respectful. Locals are willing to help you out, but there’s probably a language barrier, so keep your cool when something doesn’t go your way. If you don’t, you’ll end up just looking like an asshole tourist.

52. Don’t over plan your trip. Let your days unfold naturally. Schedule two or three things and let the day fill in the rest on its own. It’s less stressful, and letting the day just take you is one of the best ways to travel. Here’s my advice on how not to over plan your travels!

53. Relax. See Be patient .

54. Be frugal — but not cheap. Don’t be pennywise but pound-foolish. Look for deals and don’t waste money, but don’t miss out on great experiences or walk 10 miles to save a couple of dollars. Time is money. Spend them both wisely.

55. Take earplugs. Anyone who has ever stayed in a hostel knows that earplugs are a necessity. Snorers are everywhere and you need your sleep.

But even if you’re not going to be in a hostel, they’re still helpful for sleeping well if your accommodation is located on a busy street, or for sleeping in buses, overnight trains, and other types of transportation. A good night’s sleep is priceless — be prepared!

These earplugs are reusable and work much better than the cheap foam ones, blocking out any distracting noises.

56. Always carry a power bank. Batteries die. Your good mood shouldn’t.

We all travel with numerous electronic devices like phones and tablets, but it can be hard to keep them all charged. An external battery solves that problem.

57. Remember that you’re not alone even if you’re traveling solo. Traveling alone never means you’re really alone. Wherever you go, there is a network of travelers who will be your friends, give you advice or tips, and help you out. They will guide you, point you in the right direction, and be your mentors. You aren’t out there on your own. You’ll make lots of friends and tons of memories.

If you’re not sure about traveling on your own for the first time, you can always join a group tour, such as those we offer at The Nomadic Network . I’ve designed all the itineraries myself to ensure they cover the highlights, get you off the tourist trail, and connect you with friends and locals.

Christmas dinner in Ko Lipe with new friends

59. Pre-book your tickets to attractions, activities, and excursions online. If you’re planning to do any activities or excursions on your trip, book them online. Companies usually offer a discounted price when compared to buying in person. Not only that but you’ll be able to pay with a credit card, giving you some extra protection as well as more travel points!

Many major attractions also allow you to reserve your spot and skip the line. Always look online to see if this is an option. This will you to avoid wasting time in multi-hour lines and go right in. I’ve seen people wait hours for the Paris Catacombs, Louvre, London Churchill War Rooms, churches, temples, historic fortresses, and more. Pre-book the day before, skip the line, get to see more during your day!

Get Your Guide is my favorite place to book activities in advance. It’s a huge online marketplace for tours and excursions, with tons of options in cities all around the world, including skip-the-line attraction tickets, cooking classes, walking tours, and more!

60. Avoid TripAdvisor. TripAdvisor is fine when you need opening hours or an address, but when it comes to reviews I ignore it completely. People always leave a negative review when something bad happens but rarely leave a positive review when something good happens so the reviews tend to be skewed.

On top of that, it’s very easy to create fake reviews and make a place seem better than it is. Many hotels and restaurants hire firms to artificially inflate their reviews on the platform. Additionally, TripAdvisor has been known to take down reviews that are overly negative as well as reviews on sexual assault. Use TripAdvisor with caution. Or better yet, don’t use it at all.

61. Finally, wear sunscreen. For as the Baz Luhrmann song “Everybody’s Free (To Wear Sunscreen)” goes:

If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists Whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable Than my own meandering experience.

Book Your Trip: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner . It’s my favorite search engine because it searches websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is being left unturned.

Book Your Accommodation You can book your hostel with Hostelworld . If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as it consistently returns the cheapest rates for guesthouses and hotels.

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

  • SafetyWing (best for everyone)
  • Insure My Trip (for those 70 and over)
  • Medjet (for additional evacuation coverage)

Want to Travel for Free? Travel credit cards allow you to earn points that can be redeemed for free flights and accommodation โ€” all without any extra spending. Check out my guide to picking the right card and my current favorites to get started and see the latest best deals.

Need Help Finding Activities for Your Trip? Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace where you can find cool walking tours, fun excursions, skip-the-line tickets, private guides, and more.

Ready to Book Your Trip? Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use when I travel. They are the best in class and you can’t go wrong using them on your trip.

Got a comment on this article? Join the conversation on Facebook , Instagram , or Twitter and share your thoughts!

Disclosure: Please note that some of the links above may be affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you make a purchase. I recommend only products and companies I use and the income goes to keeping the site community supported and ad free.

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The Ultimate Guide to Trip Planning: Adventure Awaits!

  • Short, impactful experiences are a top choice for travelers.
  • Kickstart your planning 12 weeks in advance, with flight bookings leading the way.
  • Personalized experiences are the current rage, trumping cookie-cutter vacations.
  • Listen to the experts; it’s about the journey, not just the destination.
  • “Traveling โ€“ it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller.” – Ibn Battuta

Why Travelers Love Short, Impactful Experiences

Stats don’t lie.

According to a report by TrekkSoft, a whopping 82% of bookings made through their platform in 2019 were for experiences lasting less than a day. This trend showcases a clear shift towards travelers valuing quality over quantity. It’s not just about how long you’re away, but the memories you make during that time.

Your Trip-Planning Blueprint

Starting line: 12 weeks out.

The foundation of a great trip? Solid planning. As revealed, preparations can often commence up to 12 weeks ahead of your trip. Most voyagers secure their flight tickets first, followed closely by accommodations.

Remember: early birds get not just the worm, but also the best deals!

Going Beyond the Brochures

Trends suggest a rising demand for unique, custom-made itineraries. Gone are the days of generic travel packages. Nowadays, it’s all about curated experiences tailored to individual preferences. Whether it’s midnight street food hunting in Bangkok or secret speakeasy bars in NYC, itโ€™s all about those secret insider gems.

How to Plan a Trip: A Step-by-Step Guide

Embarking on a journey? Whether it’s a short getaway or a long expedition, careful planning can make your experience smoother and more enjoyable. Here’s a comprehensive guide to ensure you’ve got all bases covered:

1. Define Your Travel Goals

  • Purpose: Decide if you’re traveling for relaxation, adventure, cultural exploration, or something else.
  • Duration: Determine the length of your stay.

2. Research Your Destination

  • Cultural norms: Are there any local customs you should be aware of?
  • Weather: What will the weather be like during your visit? This will affect your packing.
  • Safety: Check for travel advisories related to health or political situations.

3. Set a Budget

  • Accommodations: Consider hotels, hostels, or vacation rentals.
  • Transportation: Decide between flights, trains, buses, or renting a car.
  • Activities: Factor in entrance fees to attractions, guided tours, etc.
  • Food: Remember to budget for meals, snacks, and beverages.
  • Miscellaneous: Always keep a buffer for unexpected expenses.

4. Book Transportation

  • Compare prices: Use comparison websites to get the best deals.
  • Seat selection: If you’re picky about seating, book in advance.
  • Visas: Ensure you have the necessary visas or travel permissions.

5. Secure Accommodations

  • Location: Stay centrally to minimize transportation costs.
  • Reviews: Read user reviews to know what to expect.
  • Amenities: Do you need free WiFi, breakfast, a pool, etc.?

6. Create an Itinerary

  • Must-sees: Prioritize the top attractions or experiences.
  • Timing: Avoid overstuffing your days.
  • Flexibility: Leave room for spontaneous activities or changes.

7. Pack Smartly

  • Essentials: Passport, tickets, medicines, chargers, etc.
  • Clothing: Consider the weather and local customs.
  • Limit luggage: Pack versatile items and avoid overpacking.

8. Plan Your Meals

  • Local cuisine: Research local dishes to try.
  • Allergies: If you have dietary restrictions, learn how to communicate them in the local language.

9. Stay Connected

  • SIM cards: Consider buying a local SIM or an international roaming plan.
  • Offline maps: Download offline maps of the areas you’ll be visiting.
  • Translation apps: Helpful if you’re visiting a country where you don’t speak the language.

10. Get Travel Insurance

  • Coverage: Ensure it covers medical emergencies, cancellations, lost luggage, etc.
  • Duration: Make sure the insurance covers your entire trip duration.

11. Inform Close Ones

  • Safety: Let a close friend or family member know your itinerary.
  • Regular check-ins: Plan regular check-ins to ensure your safety .

12. Prepare for Departure

  • Documents: Keep copies of important documents.
  • Currency: Exchange some local currency for initial expenses.
  • Transport: Know how you’ll get from the airport to your accommodation.

Expert-Approved Tips for a Stellar Trip

Rick Steves , a travel connoisseur, puts it perfectly, “Plan your itinerary to spend your time efficiently. Minimize your time in transit, and you’ll see more and enjoy your trip more.” Smart planning is the difference between seeing a place and truly experiencing it. Flora Goodwin’s two cents? Always have a plan, but never shy away from impromptu detoursโ€”they often lead to the most unforgettable memories.

Challenging Assumptions

Ever thought about combining business with pleasure? The line between business travel and leisure trips is blurring. Next time you’re on a trip, consider extending your stay. Explore local markets, cultural landmarks, or even nearby cities. Floraโ€™s secret tip? Local eateries often offer a more authentic taste of a place than any guidebook can.

What’s the best time to start planning a trip? Begin preparations around 12 weeks before your departure, starting with flight bookings.

Are short trips worth it? Absolutely! Statistics show travelers are leaning more towards short, meaningful experiences.

Why are personalized trips trending? Travelers are seeking unique experiences, valuing authenticity over generic vacation packages.

How can I ensure efficient travel? Expert Rick Steves suggests focusing on minimizing transit times for a more enriched experience.

Any tips for business travelers? Consider extending your business trips. Explore the city, its culture, and indulge in local delicacies.

Concluding Thoughts

Embrace the journey of planning as much as the trip itself. With the right approach, prepping for your adventure can be as thrilling as the voyage. Dive into research, seek unique experiences, and above all, enjoy every moment.Travel planning might seem daunting, but breaking it down step by step makes the process manageable. Remember, while planning is essential, leave room for spontaneity. Sometimes, the most memorable experiences come from the unexpected. Safe travels! ๐ŸŒ

Remember: the world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.

  • TrekkSoft Travel Report, 2019.
  • Rick Stevesโ€™ Europe – Travel Tips.
  • Flora Goodwinโ€™s Secret Travel Diaries.

This post is also available in: English

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One response to “The Ultimate Guide to Trip Planning: Adventure Awaits!”

Charming Deborah Green, your take on the art of preserving vintage postcards really took me back to my grandmother’s attic where I found my first postcard collection. The joy and nostalgia are unparalleled! How do you navigate preserving postcards with handwritten notes on the back? Do you think different inks require different preservation methods?๐Ÿ’ญ From my experience, I’ve noticed that some inks fade more quickly than others, and would love to hear your thoughts. Let’s not forget about the stamps, they add a unique historical context that could be explored further. Have a splendid day!

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Plan, Ready, Go

How to Plan a Trip for Beginners (5 Easy Steps)

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Planning a trip can seem overwhelming to beginners, but I promise you that itโ€™s simple. You only need to do a few things to plan a tripโ€ฆand a great trip at that!

Keeping things simple will help you keep the nerves at bay and make your overall experience more smooth.

Thereโ€™s no need to overthink your travel plans. You donโ€™t need to follow an 11- or 18-step plan to learn how to plan a trip.

overhead view of a couple using a paper map to plan a trip

So if you want to easily plan a trip without any drama, just keep reading!

To get started planning your trip, grab your FREE printable travel planner here.

This post includes affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.  See disclaimer.

#1. Choose your trip destination

First, you need to decide on where you want to goโ€ฆwhich can sometimes be a difficult task since there are thousands of travel destinations all over the world.

Keep in mind that certain destinations will require a little (or a lot!) more research or pre-travel prep than other destinations (such as visa or vaccination requirements). They make for more complicated travel planning.

If youโ€™re planning your first trip, I highly recommend that you keep your first destination simple. You can always make more complicated plans for your next trip.

Consider trying:

  • A domestic trip
  • A destination just a few hoursโ€™ drive from your home
  • A simple weekend getaway

When choosing a destination , cost is often going to be a major factor. You can choose your destination and then set your travel budget or choose your destination based on a travel budget youโ€™ve already set.

Either option is a viable choice.

We tend to start planning trips up to two years out and weโ€™ll set our budget based on where we want to go and how much time we have to save up the money we think weโ€™ll need.

This leads me to one of my favorite travel tips (which also doubles as a personal finance tip: do not go into debt to travel. Only spend the money that you have.

For more help with budget travel, see my article outlining all my best practical tips for affording more travel .

For more help with building your travel budget, check out this post on creating a travel budget that works for you . It includes basic guidance for how much of your travel budget to allot for certain expenses such as transportation, accommodations, food, activities, etc.

Or sometimes we find we have some extra time and money and weโ€™ll choose our trip destination and trip length based on the money we have available.

For help with choosing your travel destination, you can:

  • Brainstorm a list of places youโ€™ve always wanted to visit. Inviting your travel companion(s) to give their input is a great way to get them involved in the planning process.
  • Check out Pinterest for inspiration
  • Read your favorite travel blogs (hint hint)
  • Ask friends and family about their favorite trips
  • Do Google searches for ideas such as โ€œAffordable beach vacations in the U.S.โ€ or โ€œbest family vacation destinations in Europe.โ€
  • Consult with travel guidebooks

Once youโ€™ve chosen your destination for your perfect trip, youโ€™re ready to get on with planning your trip.

mockup image of a free printable travel planner

#2. Decide how you want to get there

Once youโ€™ve chosen your travel destination, youโ€™ll need to make arrangements for getting there.

Now, sometimes there will be only one obvious transportation option for your destination. But sometimes there are non-obvious options such as taking a cruise to Hawaii instead of flying or traveling by bus or train.

If you live in the โ€œlower 48โ€ in the U.S., more often than not youโ€™ll be flying or driving to your destination. We generally prefer to stick closer to home and drive for short trips. For a long trip, we’re always willing to fly.

Google Flights

My go-to site when I start my trip planning is Google Flights .

Use the โ€œExploreโ€ tool to browse for great deals from your chosen departure airport. Youโ€™ll get the best resultsโ€ฏif your travel dates are flexibleโ€ฆthough thisโ€ฏcan be saidโ€ฏof anyโ€ฏcheap flight tool.โ€ฏ

See my post on how to use Google Flights for more information.

Formerly Scottโ€™s Cheap Flights,  Going  is a flight deals subscription service that sends travel deals straight to your email inbox. And Premium members get weekend getaway deals in addition to amazing deals on international and domestic flights.

In my opinion, a  Going Premium subscription  is well worth the money and is the best way to get the best deals on flights especially if you have flexible travel dates and want to see a new place. I especially highly recommend Going for international travel (from the U.S.).

You can even try it for free for two weeks to decide if you think itโ€™s worth the money.

For more about this service, see my full  review of Going .

Secret Flying

Another great resource for finding amazing deals on flights (including error fares) is Secret Flying . Secret Flying is totally free.

You sign up for alerts on their website , but they donโ€™t offer alerts from any airport you want in the U.S. But they do offer alerts from airports outside the United States, unlike Going

Another tool in my trip-planning arsenal is the Hopper app . Hopper predicts prices to help you decide whether you should book now or wait for a better deal to come along. I like to use Hopper when my travel dates arenโ€™t as flexible, but I have time to wait for prices to improve before I book.

For more details about all the options for pricing flights, see my full post on how to save money on flights .

woman sleeping in an airplane window seat

I love driving to our travel destinations whenever we can. No airport security. No worrying about missing connections, etc.

I also love that I can be a lot less fussy about my packing. If it fits in the car, it can go.

Not to further complicate things, but you might also want to fly to your first destination and then road trip from there to see a few cities. This does make travel planning more complicated, but if you opt to do that youโ€™ll want to look into renting a car.

A less complicated option is to choose one destination to serve as your “home base” and then day trip from that one location to see more of the area.

AutoSlash Find a great deal on rental cars withโ€ฏ AutoSlash .โ€ฏYou canโ€ฏalsoโ€ฏuseโ€ฏAutoSlashโ€ฏto track your rental, and theyโ€™ll notify you of price drops.โ€ฏ

Costco Travel If you have a Costco membership, you can also find great deals on rental cars through Costco Travel . I always check both.

I used to always get the best deal through AutoSlash, but lately, Costco has been offering me the best price.

Employee or association discounts Check with your employer or your alma materโ€™s alumni association to see if they offer any rental car discounts you can take advantage of.

For more help with your road trip, check out:

  • Things to do on a long road trip to pass the time
  • Great road trip questions to spark fun conversation
  • Entertaining road trip trivia & questions

Romantic couple is standing near green retro car on the beach.

#3. Figure out where to stay

Now that you know where youโ€™re going and how to get there, you can decide where youโ€™re going to stay once youโ€™re there.

Unless you want to travel on a shoestring, you can bypass the typical โ€œgap yearโ€ options like hostels and couchsurfing.

Your main options then will be to stay in a hotel (or resort, inn, or bed & breakfast) or use a vacation rental through a platform like Vrbo or Airbnb.

The choice of staying at a hotel, inn, or resort will depend a lot on how you like to vacation and what youโ€™re looking for as far as amenities.

Those who travel regularly might choose a major hotel brand to frequent so that they can earn points for their stays and loyalty status for access to more amenities and upgrades.

View of The Inn on Biltmore Estate in winter

Vacation rental

Using a vacation rental can often (but not always) save you money.

Keep in mind when looking at options on Vrbo or Airbnb that the added fees can be significant, meaning that at some destinations or for shorter stays a hotel might cost you less money per night.

And there are plenty of affordable hotels that offer helpful amenities like free breakfast.

On the other hand, your vacation rental will typically come with a full kitchen, allowing you to bypass eating meals out at restaurants if you wish, which can also mean significant savings in your travel budget.

Vacation rentals are also a great option if youโ€™re traveling with a large group that would require multiple hotel rooms. Dividing the cost of a larger vacation rental home with several bedrooms will very often save money over booking multiple hotel rooms.

There are websites (like booking.com ) that allow you to look for a wide variety of accommodation options at the same time: hotels, inns, B&Bs, condo rentals, homestays, etc); however, a downside with using a site such as booking.com is that choices can be overwhelming, making it difficult to make a decision.

My recommendation for new or anxious travelers who are having difficulty choosing a place to stay is to:

  • Use a map to choose an area or two in your destination where you would like to stay
  • Set your budget
  • Do a little research to find 3 or 4 accommodation options in a location you like and that are within your budget then stop searching there
  • Compare the amenities of those options and book

#4. Choose what you want to do

Now that youโ€™ve settled on where youโ€™re staying at your destination, you need to make some decisions about what you want to do on your trip.

What do you enjoy doing when you travel?

  • Popular tourist attractions
  • Theme parks
  • Guided behind-the-scenes tours
  • Walking tours
  • Arts performances
  • Outdoor activities
  • Historical sites
  • Natural sites
  • National parks
  • Scenic drives

There are so many options!

Large fountain at the gardens in Versailles

Depending on your destination this may require a fair amount of research and pre-booking tickets or tours. Or it could be as simple as just brainstorming a few ideas for things to do if you get bored.

Here are a few tips for building out your itinerary:

  • Be honest with yourself about what your โ€œmust-doโ€ attractions and activities are. Prioritize the most important thing early in your itinerary then add in any lower priority items.
  • Donโ€™t overbook your itinerary. Make sure to give yourself some breathing room between activities to account for travel delays, rescheduling for bad weather, etc.
  • For longer trips, give yourself half a day or a full day with no pre-booked activities so you can get some extra rest, go back to a spot you enjoyed, or accommodate any extra sites/activities you discover at your destination.

See my post on planning a travel itinerary to learn about the exact process I follow when I plan my trips.

#5. Build your packing list

With your itinerary built, itโ€™s time to figure out what you want to take with you on your trip.

Your packing list will be a reflection of your destination, the season/weather during the time of year you’re traveling, and your planned activities among other things.

And don’t forget to pack your important documents such as your passport, etc.

Hereโ€™s more help to get you packed and out the door:

  • Travel Light Packing List for a Week (in a Carry-on)
  • The Best Carry-on Packing Tips for Traveling Light
  • How to Pack Toiletries in a Carry-on Bag
  • Weekend Packing List (For Any Kind of Getaway)

top view of a carry-on bag packed for a week

Other things to consider before you travel

While we just went through all the major steps you need to take to plan your trip, depending upon your destination and personal life situation there may be other things you may need to take care of before you leave town.

Visa, travel advisories

If you are traveling out of the country, you must understand what the entry or visa requirements (if any) are for your destination.

Donโ€™t be like the honeymooning bride who didnโ€™t know that her passport needed to be valid for three months beyond her planned date of departure from France at the end of her trip. It would have taken her literally two minutes to find that information and avoid the heartbreak of not being able to take her honeymoon. 

Youโ€™ll also want to be aware of any travel advisories or health requirements/recommendations. U.S. citizens traveling internationally should check the U.S. Department of State website for helpful information.

Travel insurance

When you travel, itโ€™s a good idea to purchase travel insurance in case something goes wrong.

We use World Nomads for peace of mind whenever we travel internationally.

Miscellaneous considerations

Other things you may need to think about as you plan your trip could include:

  • Arranging care for pets
  • Arranging for your mail to be picked up or held
  • Making sure that you donโ€™t miss any bill due dates while you travel

Final thoughts onโ€ฏplanning a trip

Traveling for the first time or planning a trip yourself for the first time can seem scary, but itโ€™s actually a pretty simple process.

Certainly, some kinds of trips are more complicated than others or destinations that require more advanced prep before you visit, but beginners and anxious travelers can still plan wonderful trips on their own.

Just remember that you only need a few things to have a great trip: a destination, a way to get there, some place to stay, and things to do.

More articles to help you plan a trip

  • Essential travel planning resources
  • The best travel guides (books and online resources)
  • Find the best personal item bag for you  

Pin this post!  

How to plan a trip. Planning a trip for beginners.

Darcy Vierow is a busy professional and travel planning expert with years of experience maximizing travel with limited time and on a less-than-average salary. Her tips have been published by Forbes, MSN.com, Yahoo! News, Yahoo! Finance, Aol, Newsbreak and GOBankingRates. Read more about Darcy Vierow .

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Travel Planning Tips: the Easy and Organized Method

By: Author Aly Smalls

Posted on Published: May 8, 2019  - Last updated: October 23, 2023

Travel Planning Tips: the Easy and Organized Method

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You’re going on a holiday! Or planning to take one. Awesome and exciting news, but now what? There is so much information out there these days. Between Pinterest, Instagram, travel blogs, youtube and review sites like TripAdvisor, travel planning can get overwhelming fast. While having access to millions of pieces of valuable information is great, sometimes it’s too much.

In this post, I’m sharing my go-to resources and step-by-step guide to planning any trip, vacation or holiday . Whether it’s a weekend getaway or a 6-week holiday, this method will work for you.

Travel planning can become overwhelming very quickly if you don’t have a method to stay organized and stay motivated.

Each time I’m planning to travel myself, I always start with referencing this list of tips I’ve collected from planning my own trips and holidays over the last several years.

Before I get into it, I should qualify myself so that you can determine whether I’m legitimate enough to be sharing my advice! In the last 5 years, I’ve solely planned and taken several 5-week trips to southeast Asia and Europe.

And for the last 10 years I’ve been frequently travelling western Canada, the United States and enjoyed several trips to Mexico .

And as my home base is just a few hours’ drive from both Banff National Park and Jasper National Park, I frequently visit these beloved gems several times a year.

tips for travel planning

Whether it’s a weekend road trip or a bucket list holiday, I’m sharing my best travel planning tips, tricks and advice for any trip you’re taking.

Some links in this post contain affiliate links. If you click one of them, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

The Most Exciting Part of Travel Planning: Inspiration

There are different reasons for choosing when and where to go on a trip, so it’s important to identify where you fit in to help you stay organized and within your scope. First, ask yourself where you’re at:

Do you have a weekend, a week or more to go somewhere but you need to choose a destination from scratch?

Are you building a trip around a set itinerary? Perhaps you’re already travelling to visit friends & family or headed somewhere for business

Are you planning a trip around a unique or favorite place to stay? You’d be surprised how often this happens! Sometimes you find a cool Airbnb, somewhere to go glamping or even just a favorite hotel.

Are you planning a trip around cheap flights you booked?

I’ve fit into each one of these situations and there are different timelines and planning involved with each.

I bring this up at the beginning, because many people get excited about a trip or get a burst of inspiration, but then get burnt out with trip planning quickly.

So let’s dive into my travel planning method and resources below!

a girl with a black hat points to a spot on the map

You Might Also Like: Responsible Travel – How to Make the World a Better Place

How to Research for Your Trip

Research is the beginning stage of planning any trip, and often the most exciting. So once you’ve decided where you’ll be traveling, how do you find out what kinds of things you can do?

I like to get a sense of a destination from across different platforms online.

Use different websites and apps to help you get a better sense of what types of activities and sights there are for the type of travel style you’re interested in.

Pinterest: My Number 1 Site for Travel Research

My first stop in doing any travel planning is Pinterest. Pinterest is basically a visual search engine and it’s full of extensive travel posts and articles by fellow travel bloggers.

Start with a broad search, such as typing in the name of the city or country you’re planning to visit. You’ll notice that Pinterest will then recommend more categories to help you narrow down your search.

I usually read the first few posts that capture my attention and then continue to narrow down my search based on what I find out in my research.

Tip for staying organized and motivated when travel planning:

The best thing about Pinterest is that you can save the ideas to your own travel planning boards . Then you can refer back to them at a later time.

It’s easy to get overloaded with information and forget important details.

Create specific travel boards on your Pinterest profile with all the great articles you read so that you can reference them later. Doing this keeps me from going crazy!

a screen shot of a pinterest travel board

You can also invite your friends to collaborate and view your boards.

So if you’re traveling with friends and creating an itinerary together, you can easily save and share great travel articles about your upcoming destination.

Instagram for Travel Research

I also love using Instagram for researching my travel plans. You can search via geotags or hashtags for your upcoming destination. This provides another angle to the information you’re seeking.

It’s also one of the best trip planning resources for finding timely information. For example, some blog posts or reviews can be a year or two old (or more) by the time you’re reading them.

But you can search Instagram in chronological order.

And Instagram has grown so much in the last couple years that more and more users are now posting great tips and information to complement the photo they post, so you can actually learn a lot of great tips this way.

Google Reviews and TripAdvisor

When you’ve determined activities or places to visit, I love using Google reviews and TripAdvisor to read more information. I use both of these platforms regularly in two ways:

To determine if something is worth visiting or not; and

To read up on all traveler tips about how to have the best experience.

TripAdvisor not only has reviews, they have forums for every destination. I usually browse through the destination forums or search for something specific.

You can even pose your own questions that are usually promptly answered by destination experts.

Another great feature over at TripAdvisor is the all new trip planning element.

You can now save activities and information to your profile to keep all your ideas in one place. This can also be shared with your friends and family.

How to Determine Your Travel Budget

tips for travel planning

Now that you’ve got an overview of your destination and the types of activities you want to do, it’s time to think about your budget for the trip.

At this point in your trip planning process, you should start to gather a sense of what things cost and what your budget should be. Doing this will help the rest of your trip planning at this stage.

Depending on what your budget is or how much you plan to spend (or not spend) will help you narrow down your itinerary and help you pull things together.

Transportation: Think About ALL Costs

Whether you’re flying to your destination or taking a road trip, there are always extra costs. Plan for them!

If you’re flying, you might need to either rent a car, or take a taxi, Uber or Lyft. Or you might need to hop on group tours or bus tours. These all cost different amounts.

If you’re driving or taking a road trip, keep in mind that fuel prices can differ significantly from state to state or province to province.

Remember that if you’re traveling to or within Europe and you’re thinking about renting a car, most vehicles are manual transmission and you’ll have to pay extra for an automatic transmission vehicle.

If you’re traveling to a city with an excellent subway or metro system, it’s usually worth buying tickets for the length of your visit (24hrs, 3-day pass, etc.).

the entrance to the metro in paris

Rome2Rio is probably the best site out there to determine the best method of transportation between destinations.

Plug in your ‘point a’ and ‘point b’ and it will tell you all your options for getting there and how long it will take.

Accommodation Tips for Developing Your Travel Budget

Start looking at accommodation prices. I always start with Booking.com to get a sense of what accommodation prices are looking like for my preferred travel dates.

What a lot of people don’t know about using Booking.com is that you can search specifically by Villas , Guest Houses , B&Bs and apartment style accommodations.

Then I usually check Airbnb, VRBO and Homeaway to round out my overall search and determine how much vacancy is still available.

Before I commit to hotel (or overall accommodation), I try to determine the best neighborhood/area to stay in. This has major budget implications.

Sometimes staying further away from the center of town is the best option for cheaper accommodations. But you also have to consider extra costs related to time & transportation to get back and fourth. Sometimes cheaper not always worth it. And sometimes it is.

One of the best things I love about using Booking.com is that many places offer free cancellation .

So if I’m still in my research phase and notice that there’s not a whole lot of vacancy, I like to scoop up rooms that allow for free accommodation and then I have a more peace of mind knowing that I have a bed booked but can change my mind if something better comes up.

tips for travel planning

I’ve booked everything from beach side Mexican villas, to off-grid cabins in the middle of the forest to cool hotels in Banff with underground hot tubs. All found on Booking.com !

How to Build Your Travel Itinerary

By this point you’ve pretty much decided where you’re going, how long and what types of things you want to see, do and eat.

One of my biggest travel planning tips is to not book too many things in advance!

If I try to pack too many things into each day before I’m at my destination, it’s almost always a let down. 2 reasons:

Either I end up doing it all and am too exhausted by the end of the day/week trying to cram it all in.

I can’t fit everything in like I had planned to and become disappointed in my travel planning abilities or myself as a traveler.

Sometimes, it’s hard to tell how long it will take you to travel between destinations. Sometimes you spend more time than you allowed in your schedule.

This could either be by choice because you end up loving the attraction/experience way more than you thought you would, or maybe lineups and queues were a lot longer than anticipated.

tips for travel planning

Story time to explain why this is my biggest travel tip!

Let me explain why I refuse to book and plan my entire itinerary in advance.

On my first visit to Paris , I was only visiting the city for about 3 days. In my first full day there, I had planned to visit L’Arc de Triomphe, the Eiffel Tower and the Notre Dame Cathedral (as well as a couple other places).

I stayed in Montmartre, which is gorgeous and a very Parisienne experience, but a longer ride on the metro from all of these famous Paris attractions.

The first stop of the day was L’Arc de Triomphe. As I got off at the correct metro station and started to make my way through the tunnels and up the street, there were federal police blocking every exit.

As it turns out, the french President was in town that day and was moments away from parading down the Champs-Élysées (the famous high-end shop-lined avenue that leads to the Arc).

French president waves at the crowd as he parades down a street in Paris

At that point, the Arc wasn’t accessible to the public until the President’s address was finished.

While I hadn’t planned to spend a lot of time in this area besides its main attraction, I figured it’s not very often that the president is in town. And as politicians are always fashionably late, I ended up hanging out here much longer than expected.

After leaving the area to beat the mass exodus of the crowds when the President was closing, we did end up making it to the Notre Dame and the Eiffel Tower.

But didn’t have time to visit the Arc, so that had to be moved to the next day. No big deal right? Well the next day we had planned to visit the Palace of Versailles. Ok, bump it to the following day.

Well, turns out the following day was Monday, which is the one day of the week when many museums are closed. Didn’t know this before visiting Paris!

tips for travel planning

After a couple of travel experiences similar to the one above, I now plan my trips accordingly. First, build your list of absolutely must-do activities and experiences .

Remember that there may not be time to cram everything in, so go through the exercise of what you don’t want to miss on the trip. Then make a second list of your ‘would like to do if there’s time’ list.

With your must-do list, check the hours of operation by a quick google search.

This is where I read more reviews to find out the best tips of what time of day to visit and things to bring with you, appropriate clothing attire, whether it’s cash only, etc.

My Favorite Travel Itinerary Tool

I love using Travelchime . It’s linked with Google Maps so you can save all of the places you want to visit (like restaurants and attractions) as well as your accommodations.

You can also make notes and share with your travel partner(s) so that everyone has access to the itinerary.

For my must-do list, I always book online ahead of time. This guarantees I won’t miss out, and you often save a little money by booking online ahead of time. Here are my favorite booking sites for short tours and day trips:

Urban Adventures offers unique day-tour itineraries. You can choose between food & drink tours, active tours and even create you own.

Get Your Guide is another great booking site where you can browse through all the available tours for the city or region you’re visiting.

At the very least, each of these sites are another great planning tool in your research phase .

It’s a great starting point to find out what kinds of awesome things you can experience!

a panoramic view of Paris with the Eiffel tower on the right hand side

When you’re building your second list of ‘things to do if there’s time’ I always look for free things to do. There are always free things like walking tours or street art, etc.

Pinterest is usually the best place for this. These are great things to know ahead of time to have on hand if you find yourself with some extra time and wanting to explore more of the area while sticking to your budget.

I do the same things with restaurants and types of food I want to try. Some places have famous restaurants that you’ll want to book a reservation ahead of time.

And sometimes I like to take a quick look at the top rated places to eat close to the ‘must-do’ attractions I’m visiting.

The reason I do this is I’m very prone to getting ‘hangry.’ I’m sure a lot of you have experienced this!

This hits me especially hard when I’m travelling because sometimes your days are so jam packed you get hungry at odd times and traveling on an empty stomach can be disastrous.

So I like to do some homework ahead of time because sometimes when you’re in the moment, it’s hard to know what’s good in the area, especially if there’s a language barrier.

If all else fails and I don’t have a good idea of where to eat, ask a local and this usually results in an amazing recommendation.

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The Best Travel Booking Resources

When you’re ready to book your flights, accommodations and tours or things to do, below is my list of trip planning resources and tips that I used every single time.

tips for travel planning

How to Book the Best Flight Deal

If you haven’t already booked your flight, get on Skyscanner now! I love using this site because it finds and compares all the best flight prices and will provide suggestions about where you can save money if you’re flexible with your schedule.

There are even a few secret hacks to help you get the best prices using this site.

Travel hack for finding cheapest flights : with Skyscanner you can select a whole month for your travel dates and it will automatically suggest the cheapest flight dates .

You can even select this option for finding the cheapest flights anywhere in the world if you’re looking for some wanderlust inspiration!

My number one flight booking tip: download the Skyscanner app now ! Trust me on this one. Download the app and set your alerts (found in the top left corner when the app is open).

It will monitor and track prices and notify you when a good price comes up for the destination or dates you want.

screenshot of the skyscanner app

Secret tip for checking in for your flight: arrive at the airport nice and early. Instead of going to the automated kiosks to print your boarding pass, wait patiently in line to speak with one of the agents to assist you with check-in. Always be friendly and efficient.

Politely ask if it’s a full flight. If it’s not, you could again politely ask if an upgraded (or better) seat is available.

Sometimes you might not always get upgraded, but sometimes they will find you a row in which you’ll be the only passenger. This is still a good outcome in my opinion!

The Easiest Sites to Use to Book Your Accommodations

Booking.com is my go-to site for booking accommodation. If I’m looking for a hotel, it always seems to have the lowest rates, the most options and many include free-cancellation to allow a little more flexibility.

My best tip for find great places to stay: use the map feature. Sometimes if you’re unfamiliar with an area, it’s hard to tell where things are located within proximity to each other.

Use the map feature and zoom out and move it around to open up more options of surrounding areas that might work for your trip.

If I’m looking for something a little more ‘homey’ or unique, I always head over to Airbnb and VRBO . You can find great deals with both of these services.

For instance, on a recent trip to Las Vegas, my friends and I opted to rent a house through VRBO . As there were 10 of us, it worked out to be around $25USD per person per night!

Check out my complete guide and 12 tips to choosing the best vacation rental (including money saving tips)!

tips for travel planning

You Might Also Like: How to Tackle Pre-Travel Anxiety

Things To Do a Week Before Departure

Start packing! To avoid over-packing, I like to lay out everything I want to bring.

Then I look at it and realize that I have way too much, so over the course of a couple of days I challenge myself to reduce my pile to half! It’s also a good time to make sure you’ve packed important travel accessories to make your trip go that much smoother.

Download Google Maps for the city, road trip route or region that you’re visiting. Why? So that you can access it offline , as you may not have Wifi right away.

On Google Maps, save or star your accommodation so you can show your Uber driver easily if you’re traveling somewhere that there might be a language barrier.

If you want to guarantee Wifi access, consider purchasing or renting a pocket wifi device, like Skyroam . You can connect up to 5 devices and you can carry your wifi with you everywhere you go. Perfect for when you’re on a train or a long road trip and would like to do some travel planning!

Buy your travel insurance . No one likes to buy travel insurance, but for the extra few dollars, the peace of mind is worth it.

I use World Nomads on my trips to Europe and Southeast Asia. You can choose between standard and explorer plans, and pricing is different based on where you’re going how long you’ll be travelling.

It takes 2 seconds to get a quote , so you might as well plug in your details and then you can always decide later.

World Nomads is a great fit for the adventurous or active traveler , because they cover specific activities and sports equipment.

A Recap of Travel Planning Websites and Apps I Use:

Travel research:.

Pinterest , Instagram , TripAdvisor , Google Reviews

Transportation:

Uber and Lyft , Rome2Rio

Accommodations:

Booking.com , VRBO , Airbnb

Travel Itineraries and Tours:

Travelchime , Get Your Guide , Urban Adventures

Travel Insurance:

World Nomads

If you liked this post, feel free to save it to your travel planning board!

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10-Step Guide for Planning a Trip

Home | Travel | 10-Step Guide for Planning a Trip

When traveling abroad, get a policy from one of the  best travel insurance companies . Y ou can get a  15% discount   on Heymondo , the only insurance that pays medical bills upfront for you, HERE!

Planning a trip can be stressful if youโ€™re not sure where to start or youโ€™re afraid youโ€™ll forget something important.

I have to admit that I love travel planning , but part of that is because I use a detailed checklist and the most helpful websites. So, if you donโ€™t know how to organize a trip and you want to avoid feeling overwhelmed, Iโ€™ll help you out with this guide. Below, Iโ€™ll share the steps I typically follow as well as the best apps and websites to book your flights, tours, and accommodation so you can travel cheaply .

Guide to planning a trip in 10 easy steps

These are the steps that I always follow when Iโ€™m planning a trip , although I might skip one or two depending on the type of trip and where Iโ€™m going:

  • Search for flights
  • Apply for a visa
  • Book the accommodation
  • Set up your transportation
  • Decide which attractions to visit
  • Book a tour
  • Get travel insurance
  • Apply for a commission-free credit card
  • Buy a SIM card
  • Pack your suitcase

Remember that, depending on the destination and your reason for traveling, you may not need to do all these steps. So, rather than worrying about checking off a long to-do list, enjoy the process of planning your trip itinerary . For me, making a travel plan is almost as much fun as traveling itself!

Things to do before planning a vacation

Before I give you a detailed look at my checklist for planning a trip , I want to point out that choosing your destination is the real starting point. Not only is deciding where to go an important part of any travel plan , but itโ€™s also a good idea to learn some crucial information about it. For example, you should research things like the best time to visit and what the weather will be like when you go.

Once youโ€™ve chosen a destination and you have a solid timeline for when youโ€™ll visit, you can begin the trip planning process. If you want some travel inspiration, here are some beautiful places to go, as well as some information about them:

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Best Countries in Central America

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Best countries to visit in Africa

tips for travel planning

Best countries in South America

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Best Caribbean Islands

1. Search for flights, the first step to planning a trip

Once youโ€™ve chosen your destination and travel dates, one of the first things to do to organize your trip is to look for flights. This is usually one of the most tedious steps, but you can make it much easier by reading our guide on how to find cheap flights .

Passenger waiting in airport terminal, planning for a trip

We always use Kiwi and Skyscanner since they make it super easy to find the best prices on flights. Moreover, if youโ€™re not sure where you want to travel but you want to take a cheap trip, you can choose the โ€œAnywhereโ€ option and see the best deals, listed from the lowest price from your selected airport.

Kiwi and Skyscanner also show you the cheapest dates to travel, which is extremely useful if you have flexibility in your trip plan calendar . Donโ€™t forget to activate flight alerts to receive notifications when a ticket price changes. That way, you can jump on the best deal before it runs out.

While I hope you donโ€™t have to use it, AirHelp is a handy website to turn to if your flight is canceled or delayed. This company handles the claims process for you, although they will take a commission fee from your compensation. You can learn more about how to get compensate for delayed flights  in our guide, where I show you how to get up to $600 in compensation .

2. Apply for a visa, a must-do when planning a trip abroad

Step number two of planning a trip is to check what type of documentation youโ€™ll need to enter the country youโ€™re traveling to. Even if you already have the proper paperwork, double-check that it wonโ€™t expire before or during your trip.

Passport and boarding pass, how to plan a trip

For example, if youโ€™re planning a vacation to Europe, you should be fine with a valid passport, and travel insurance for Europe . The same applies if youโ€™re visiting Australia, New Zealand, and most countries in South America. But be aware that most countries in Asia and Africa require a visa.

For those cases, I highly recommend going to the iVISA website to check what kind of documentation you need for your destination. Weโ€™ve used iVISA several times without any problems and consider it to be one of the best travel planning websites .

3. Book the accommodation, an important step in any trip plan

Another crucial part of organizing a trip is booking your accommodation. There are lots of trip planning apps to help with this, although we almost always use Booking . Here, you can find hotels, villas, apartments, and other types of lodging to suit any budget, which is why we consider it to be one of the best options.

Renaissance Bali Uluwatu Resort, best travel planning website

The main advantage of using Booking.com to plan our travels is that we can pay right on the website, and cancellations are usually free until 24 hours before the trip. Also, if you use the website frequently, you can upgrade to the Genius plan, which offers the best deals and discounts. So, if you want to find cheap hotels anywhere in the world, even if youโ€™re planning a multi-city trip , I highly recommend Booking.com .

4. Set up your transportation, an essential part of any travel plan

The next step in this trip planning checklist is to think about transportation once you get to your destination. You can either use public transportation or rent a car.

We prefer renting a vehicle because it grants us more freedom to explore places that might be off the beaten path. That said, some cities and countries have very good public transportation systems, so itโ€™s up to you. When creating your travel itinerary , think about the destination and what you want to do during your trip. That should help you decide whether or not to rent a car.

Friends on a road trip, create travel itinerary

If you decide to go with a rental, I recommend going through RentalCars . Without a doubt, this is the best option for renting a car, especially if youโ€™re not used to organizing road trips . A nice thing about RentalCars is that it shows you a comparison of different rental websites, so youโ€™re guaranteed to find the cheapest rental cars .

Of course, if your planned travel route is more like a cross-country trip, take a look at Motorhome Republic , which offers the best prices and conditions for motorhomes. Weโ€™ve used this app several times to plan trips around Iceland and the United States, and itโ€™s always been a positive experience.

Again, many cities and countries have great public transit networks, so if you plan on getting around by bus or train, you can get low ticket prices on Omio . Simply enter your destination, and the website will compare bus and train tickets from different companies to find the best deal for you. You can even search for the cheapest or fastest route. Flixbus is often listed on Omio since its prices are some of the lowest and they operate all over the world. Weโ€™ve used Flixbus on several trips around Europe, but you can also use Flixbus in the U.S., Canada, Brazil, and more.

Caleta de Sebo, La Graciosa, how to plan an international trip

Public transportation or renting a car, tips for planning a trip

Finally, you may be planning your vacation to an island destination like the Canary Islands, where ferry transport is more common. In that case, I recommend getting your tickets through Direct Ferries , which offers excellent ticket prices for all kinds of time slots. Weโ€™ve used this site for our trips to the Canary Islands and Indonesia.

To sum up, organizing your transportation can be a bit stressful, but these travel planning tips and websites will streamline the process for you .

5. Decide which attractions to visit, the most fun part of planning a trip

Among all the steps for planning a trip , choosing which attractions to visit is one the most enjoyable. Step number five in this travel planning checklist is looking at which attractions and activities (free and paid) are available at your destination.

If youโ€™re going to see a show or a concert, Hellotickets can be useful in reserving tickets in advance. That said, if youโ€™re visiting a city that has lots of things to do and offers attraction passes or cards, I recommend getting one. This way, you can access several top attractions while getting the maximum savings. So, if youโ€™re visiting a popular city, check if it offers the Sightseeing Pass , the City PASS , or the Go City pass.

Statue of Liberty, how to plan a road trip

Depending on the destination, some of these cards may also include certain tours or tickets for the sightseeing bus . So again, I highly recommend this option, especially if youโ€™re planning a vacation in a metropolitan city.

Regardless of where youโ€™re going, I suggest making a list of all the tourist attractions you want to visit to better organize your trip . Remember, itโ€™s usually better to focus on seeing things that really interest you, rather than trying to cram as many attractions as possible into your itinerary or planner .

6. Book a tour, a key step in many tourist plans

The next thing to do when planning for a trip is to book any tours youโ€™re going to take at your destination. A tour or excursion can help you discover little-known places and learn more history about the city youโ€™re visiting.

While not every destination calls for a detailed tour plan , some places are known for incredible excursions, like seeing the Northern Lights in Iceland, or taking a walking tour through New York.

Northern Lights, plan a trip or tourist plan

When weโ€™re creating a travel itinerary and we know we want to take a tour, there are two websites we use. First, Civitatis offers interesting excursions and some free tours around the world, while GetYourGuide has an extensive list of tours in practically any destination.

Using these online trip planner websites is super easy since all you have to do is enter your destination and hit the search button. You can filter the results by category, price, duration, and more, so theyโ€™re two of the best trip planning apps out there.

You donโ€™t want to skip this step, especially if youโ€™re not sure how to plan a trip or youโ€™re visiting a place for the first time. Booking a tour or two will help you make the most of your trip, and since a guide will lead you, itโ€™ll be an informative and entertaining experience.

7. Get travel insurance, something you canโ€™t forget when planning a trip

Another must-do when youโ€™re travel planning is to get travel insurance coverage.

Canadian Rockies at sunset, how to plan a vacation

No one likes to think about it, but unforeseen events can and do happen while traveling, and in those moments, having travel insurance makes all the difference. The worst-case scenario would be getting sick or hurt while abroad and not having any of your extra medical expenses covered.

Currently, we have annual multi-trip insurance with Heymondo , which is the best travel insurance on the market with the best coverage-to-price ratio. You can even get a travel discount with Heymondo just for being our reader.

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15% OFF your travel insurance

In addition to medical assistance for injury or illness, Heymondo covers baggage loss or delay, medical quarantine expenses, and more. Youโ€™ll also have Heymondoโ€™s 24/7 chat, which is available to help you should you run into an emergency while abroad.

I canโ€™t recommend travel insurance enough, and while itโ€™s probably the least enjoyable part of planning a trip , itโ€™s the most important. This is particularly true in countries like the U.S. or Japan, where medical treatment is very expensive. Plus, if you opt for trip cancellation insurance , youโ€™ll be covered if an unforeseen event prevents you from traveling.

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8. Get a no foreign transaction fee credit card, another important part of your trip plan

Another important thing to remember when planning your itinerary is to get a travel credit card . If youโ€™re going abroad, youโ€™ll want a card with no foreign transaction fees , so you can make payments or ATM withdrawals without the pesky currency exchange fees. Fortunately, you can take advantage of some great options on the market.

Passport and map, planning for a trip or tour

We use the Revolut debit card, which you can get for free and use at ATMs and stores around the world. With Revolut, you can withdraw up to $1,200 a month from foreign ATMs without fees, as well as exchange up to $1,000 a month.

We also carry a Wise credit card with us, which comes in handy when we need to withdraw more money and want to avoid extra fees. With Wise, you can spend money in over 50 currencies.

For more information about the Revolut card and the Wise card , I recommend reading our full reviews of each .

9. Buy an international SIM card, a must-do when you plan to travel

One of the most common concerns we hear about how to plan a trip is related to mobile data. Weโ€™ve looked at all the possible options for getting Internet for travel , and have found Holafly to be the best solution.

The Holafly eSIM card, which you can get here , is a prepaid digital SIM card that you can use to get Internet while abroad. Itโ€™s cheap, quick to arrive in your email inbox, and allows you to keep your number on WhatsApp and other mobile apps.

Person using phone in the mountains, how to plan a vacation

All you have to do is select the country youโ€™re planning a trip to and choose the best international SIM card for the number of days youโ€™ll be there. Depending on the destination, you can find cards for five to 90 days. After selecting your eSIM, youโ€™ll receive the digital card via email, and you can scan the QR code to activate it. This means you can even buy it when youโ€™re already abroad, so itโ€™s the most convenient option.

Thereโ€™s no doubt that the Holafly eSIM card is the best mobile data option, but you can learn more about it in our full review.

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5% OFF your international eSIM card

If your phone does not support eSIM cards , you can also opt for a physical SIM from SimOptions , which is another very good option.

10. Pack your suitcase, the last step when planning a trip

Now that youโ€™ve done all the tedious steps to plan your itinerary , all thatโ€™s left to do is pack your suitcase. If youโ€™re traveling for the first time or you need new luggage, youโ€™ll have no problems finding backpacks and suitcases on Amazon .

For longer trips, weโ€™ve been using this large suitcase (30 inches) for years, and it still holds up. When weโ€™re planning a trip for the weekend or the short term, we use this small suitcase (21 inches) and this carry-on bag .

If youโ€™re curious about how we plan for a backpacking trip , we follow the steps above and depend on this backpack (80L), which is ideal for longer trips. If youโ€™re taking a backpacking trip and want some tips, check out our guide on how to prepare a backpack for long-term travel.

Luggage set, how to organize a trip

Whether youโ€™re packing a suitcase or a backpack, remember to check the temperatures at your destination so you can bring the appropriate clothing and footwear. Also, donโ€™t forget your toiletries and a small first aid kit since even getting ibuprofen while abroad can be difficult. Other essentials you canโ€™t forget while planning your trip include your passport, wallet, phone charger, and power bank.

These days, you can keep most documents on your phone, but I still recommend bringing along physical copies of your boarding pass, reservations, and insurance policy just in case.

Finally, if you find yourself in a scenario where you donโ€™t have a place to keep your suitcase and you donโ€™t want to drag it around the city with you, you can opt for a luggage storage service. Weโ€™ve used Nannybag and Bounce a few times and it made all the difference in how enjoyable our trip was. I also recommend keeping Apple Airtags in your luggage so you can locate it in case it gets lost or stolen.

Bonus step: Pack your photography gear, an essential part of our tour planning

One of the best parts of traveling is seeing amazing landscapes and architecture, which brings me to my bonus travel planning tip . If you love photography as much as we do, donโ€™t forget to bring your camera and other gear with you. We always pack the essentials, especially for our photo tours , and we always keep our equipment well protected.

Photography gear, how to plan a family trip

If you don’t have travel photography gear , you have two options. You can buy what you need on Amazon or B&H Photo , or you can rent the equipment from LensRentals , which I recommend if youโ€™re only going to use it for that trip.

You can get all the details on where to rent camera gear in the U.S. in our guide. I think renting the equipment is a great idea if youโ€™re not a dedicated photographer and donโ€™t plan on using it too much. Plus, you save 15% in LensRentals with our code ATLAS15.

photography gear camera and lenses rental

Other tips when planning for a trip

Now you have all the top tips for planning a trip from start to finish. Before I say goodbye, I want to recommend some trip planning apps that can make organizing your trip even easier.

Maps.me has become a must-have travel app for us, even on our weekend getaways. This online travel planner app gives us maps of places all over the world, which we can access even when we lose Internet connection.

Another great tool is TravelSpend , which makes planning a trip with friends super easy since you can organize the travel expenses and determine who pays what.

Of course, travel planning is a process that takes time and effort, but if you follow the advice in this guide and use the websites I mentioned, itโ€™ll be much easier. If you have any questions or want to share your trip planning experiences or tips, leave me a comment below. Iโ€™d be happy to hear from you!

Until then, good luck, and have fun planning the trip of your dreams!

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49 Things You Need to Do to Plan Your Best Trip (Free Travel Research & Planning Checklist)

  • Updated: 01/02/2024

Before you jet off on your next adventure, ensure you have all your travel research and planning in order. To help, use this ultimate travel research checklist ย to guide you through the necessary steps for more enjoyable planning and a stress-minimized trip.

I love to travel, though I do not necessarily enjoy all the tedious steps required to get out the door and start having fun. So, I rely heavily on checklists like this planning list , a packing list , and a prep and close-the-house list ย to streamline my departure. Leaning on these saves me time and money and helps to avoid unexpected situations, making for worry-free trips. I hope they can do the same for you.

So, whether you are a seasoned traveler or a first-time adventurer, I have designed this travel research and planning guide to cover the things you must cross off your to-do list before leaving for a trip.ย 

From the fun stuff like flights, accommodation, and local attractionsโ€”to the necessary details, especially for more complicated international travel, like getting visas , knowing about local customs, and purchasing travel insurance , use this list to explore the world confident you have things covered.ย 

Table Of Contents

Download your free travel planning checklist here.

Prefer not to print? Jump to my explanation of the 14 stages of trip planning ย with 49 separate things you should do below. Otherwise, click the image beneath to access and print my free Travel Planning Checklist .

The Importance of Travel Research

Before setting off on any adventure, it is crucial to do your research. Travel research helps you gather information about your destination, allowing you to make informed decision s and avoid unnecessary stress. By taking the time to research and plan, you can uncover hidden gems, know about local events, find the best deals, and arrange your itinerary to maximize your trip enjoyment.ย 

Plus, conducting research helps travelers be more thoughtful and respectful visitors by being aware of local customs.

Sign up for my monthly Discovery Newsletter & get a free Trip Budget Calculator !

Learn how to further simplify your trip research, planning, and organization for every stage of your trip in โ€œ 5 Proven Ways to Simplify and Organize Your Travel Research .โ€

When to Start Planning a Trip

When is the ideal time to start planning a trip? Whenever you decide to go! Thoughโ€”several months, or at least six months in advance , is generally best.

However, some destinations, like high-demand national parks with limited visitor and lodging capacity, may require planning up to 12 months or more in advance.ย 

Plus, it depends who is traveling . Solo or couple travelers can more easily plan last-minute trips as they tend to have more schedule flexibility (i.e., not following family school break schedules) and can choose from more affordable double or single-room lodging options, which tend to be more abundant.

Because families usually require more of everything , from plane tickets to more spacious lodging and even bigger rental cars, planning further in advance becomes more necessary, especially as it allows them to secure the best of these resources at the best pricing. If you are a family traveler or part of a big multi-generational group, you will want to begin planning further in advanceโ€”six months to a year is ideal.

14 Stages of Trip Planning & 49 Tips

How you follow these 14 stages of travel planning depends on how long you have before you depart for your trip and your comfort level with leaving things to the last minute.ย 

Because I do not enjoy the feeling of big to-dos being undone or last-minute scrambles, I aim to complete all 14 stages of travel planning anywhere from one to several months in advance. Alternatively, you may feel more comfortable playing your timeframes looser.ย 

Step 1: Decide on Your Destination (7 Questions)

Step 2: International Travel: Understand Visa & Vaccination Requirements & Travel Restrictions/Warnings (4 Tips)

Step 3: On Budgeting, Know What You Can Spend (Budget Template)

Step 4: Set a High-Level Itinerary (Get Shortcuts)

Step 5: getting there, find the best deals on airfare (3 resources).

Step 6: Getting Around, Rental Cars & Local Transportation Options (6 Tips)

Step 7: Choose Where to Stay (Shortcuts & Resources)

Step 8: Decide, Save & Book the Things You Want to Do (4 Tips)

Step 9: Focus on Food, Reserve Restaurants & Learn About Local Dishes (2 Recommendations)

Step 10: Create, Update & Finalize a Detailed Trip Itinerary (Resources)

Step 11: Plan for Emergencies & Unexpected Situations (3 Tips)

Step 12: Packing & Prepping Your Home Before Your Trip (Resources)

Step 13: Make Your Finances Accessible on Domestic & International Trips (13 Tips)

Step 14: Stay Connected While You Travel (Resources)

You may have several destinations in mind for an upcoming tripโ€”or none at all. To get assistance narrowing down your options, consider your travel wants, needs, and limitations by answering the seven questions below to help you figure this out.

How long do you have to travel?

Your work and school schedules or family obligations may dictate the duration of your travel. Or perhaps budget ย constraints cap the number of your away-from-home vacation days.

So, before you choose where to go, know how long you can spend there. If your holiday break is limited, you will want to minimize the time or expense of transportation, guiding you to pick closer destinations or places with direct flights.

What do you want to do?

Do you want a warm week lounging on the beach within reach of an easy and affordable nonstop flight? Or are you looking for a city trip with cultural activities? Perhaps the pull of nature is strong, and you want a hiking adventure? Or a bit of all of the above? Know what experiences you or your group would like to have during your time away and pick a place that meets it best.

This question is linked to the one above but digs deeper. Confirm your potential destination offers the right breadth and depth of activities and cultural or culinary highlights. Are there enough things to do and experience to last your trip and meet your wants and needs? Determine whether these options will make for an ideal visit.ย 

How to get there?

Explore how to get to your potential destination. Does getting there require a multi-day drive? Or a flight with a long layover? Gain a high-level idea of the time and cost involved with the โ€œgetting thereโ€ part of travel and confirm your time off can easily accommodate long transit times if required. Then, further dive into this step by learning your best options for getting around ย once you arrive, here .

When is the best time to go?

To avoid destinations during their rainy seasons and less ideal temperature times, look up historical weather averages for your potential vacation spot before you commit. Use a helpful site like SunHeron ย to look at month-by-month temperatures and rainfall for nearly any destination. Doing this will give you a better chance of having the weather be a helper for a great experience instead of a hindrance

What do you want to pay?

It is never fun to start digging into a trip to an incredible place only to realize a few steps in that you cannot afford it. This exact situation happened to us. Several summers ago, we did not plan far enough in advance for a family summer trip to pricey Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Limited availability and expensive lodging options forced us to backtrack and find a more budget-friendly alternative destinationโ€”surprisingly, Vail, Colorado.

So, before committing to a spot, set your budget , then do quick hit searches on the costs of available transportation, lodging, activities, and dining to confirm they fit what you can afford.

Is it safe?

Ensuring your health and safety during your trip should be a top priority, especially when visiting an international destination and you are unfamiliar with the customs and language. Before you go, look up travel warnings , read recent traveler accounts on blogs or social media channels, and even message the account owners with your safety questions. Then, check the local news sites.

Gathering information about recent on-the-ground experiences will help you decide if this destination is right for you.

Step 2: International Travel: Understand Visa & Vaccination Requirements & Travel Restrictions/Warnings (4 Tips)

This step is for international travel. Before buying your plane tickets, understand entry requirements related to passports and visas, if applicable.ย 

Ensure you have an up-to-date passport & learn about visa requirements.

For international travel, always ensure your passport will not expire soon and it will be valid for your dates of entry. A good rule of thumb is your passport should be valid for six months after entry . However, sometimes it is less. Confirm exact entry requirements by researching this with the official government customs and tourism organization for the country you plan to visit.

A quick online search should get you the answers you need. For US travelers, check and confirm destination requirements on the helpful โ€œ Learn About Your Destinationโ€ page of the US State Department website.

If your passport is expired or set to expire within a validity window, like six months, take immediate steps to renew it. In the US, obtaining a new one can take weeks, if not several months. Get all the details you need about obtaining and renewing US Passports here .

Review travel advisories, security alerts, vaccination & other health requirements.

For US citizens planning to travel abroad, search for your destination on the US State Department website , look for travel advisories, security alerts, and detailed information about health matters, including links to vaccination requirements. Or go directly to the US Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) Destinations page for extensive health recommendations.

Additionally, maintain your safety by booking lodging ย in busier and well-known areas and following the tips I recommend here ย to prepare for unexpected emergencies .

If traveling to Europe, know about EITAS, a coming-soon travel permit requirement.

Also, if you plan to travel to Europe, learn about the new electronic travel authorization (ETIAS) for visiting Europe. This coming-soon authorization is not a visa. It is a travel permit. As non-EU Schengen members, US travelers must eventually apply for this new travel authorization before entering Europe.

US travelers, enroll in STEP.

For US travelers for an extra measure of security and safety, consider enrolling your trip with the US State Department as part of their Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, or STEP . Doing this will share your travel status with the US government which will allow you to receive important safety information about your destination country and help the US Embassy contact you in an emergency. Enroll here.ย 

Step 3: On Budgeting, Know What You Can Spend

Does your budget determine where you can go? Or does your destination determine your budget?ย 

An essential part of your travel planning is being realistic about what you can afford . There are few better ways to ruin the effect of a top-notch vacation than to return home after it, realizing you overspent, and then having to contend with the pain of outsize credit card debt and the regret that comes with it.ย 

Instead, book a trip to a place that meets you where your money is. Memorable travel experiences do not have to cost a fortune.

Use a budget calculator like the one I provide for free with signups to my monthly Discovery travel newsletter , shown above. Or create your own budget that includes the major expense items like transportation, lodging, activities, meals, and incidentals that cover anything from souvenirs to travel insurance to pet sitting.

Once you decide on your destination , determine if you will stay in one place or move around and make multiple stops. Will your path of travel be circularโ€”where you end up in the original place you began so that you are flying into and out of the same airport? Or will it be linear? A linear path means you will fly to one destination and return home from anotherโ€”requiring plane tickets commonly referred to in the travel industry as open jaw tickets.ย 

Your budget and available vacation time may dictate staying in one place. Or it will allow you to include several different stops in one trip.ย  Get shortcuts to quickly determine a high-level itinerary for any destination in this article .

Flights and related on-the-ground transportation costs can often be the most significant expenses of any trip.ย 

To find the best airfare deals, compare prices across multiple airlines. Consider flexible travel dates to take advantage of cheaper fares and rates. Additionally, look to redeem frequent flier miles or sign up for travel credit cards that give you miles bonuses.

Maximize your savings by learning to find the best fare deals using Google Flights Explore and Google Flights price tracker . Or read this overview of how to track down the best airfare deals .

Step 6: Getting Around, Rental Cars & Local Transportation Options (6 Tips)

Familiarize yourself with these six transportation tips for taxis, public transit, rental cars, and safe walking routes applicable to any new destination.

Plan for how to get around.

Knowing in advance how you plan to get around your vacation spot will impact where you decide to book your lodging . If you plan to rent a car and drive, you will want vacation accommodation that provides easy vehicle accessโ€”and ideally nearby and free parking. Or, if you plan to rely on ride shares and public transportation, you may want to ensure close lodging proximity to taxi stands or train or bus stops.ย 

Familiarize yourself with local transportation options.

Before you arrive at your destination, familiarize yourself with the local transportation . Research different options, such as public buses, trains, ride shares, and taxis, to determine the most convenient and cost-effective ways to get around. These alternatives can be very different in international destinations.ย 

For example, the most recommended rideshare in Malta, which we visited for a spring break trip , was Bolt, followed by a few others I was unfamiliar with, like eCabs and Ryde.

If you learn about these things in advance, you can pre-download the apps , set up an account, and link payment methods before you arrive. Additionally, consider purchasing local transportation cards or passes, as these often offer discounted rates for multiple journeys.

Get rental car tips & gather resources.

If you plan to rent a car, review these 15 rental car tips which will save you money, reduce potential hassles, and explain how to get complimentary upgrades. Then, understand whether you need to buy rental car insurance โ€”something that even the most experienced travelers get confused byโ€”with this thorough overview .

When traveling internationally, research to find out if you need an international driving permit for your destination. If you do, get this permit in advance, as sometimes the paperwork may take a few weeks. Check to see if you need an international driving permit via this helpful article .ย 

Learn the (local) rules of the road.

For any international travelers, you will want to familiarize yourself with the local driving rules in the country you plan to drive in advance. Doing so can help you avoid unintentional penalties and minimize the chance of on-the-road incidents.ย 

US travelers can understand driver safety abroad by referencing this State Department page . This page provides helpful country links and outlines local driving rulesโ€”from default speed limits to signaling requirements to where to park.

Consider pre-booking an airport pickup.

Especially for international trips, if you do not feel confident about your understanding of local transportation options, make things easy for yourself upon arrival. Consider requesting your lodging to arrange a pickup for you . This reserved ride will likely be more expensive, though it will give you peace of mind that you will not get things โ€œwrongโ€ when you arrive.

Then, when at your destination, ask for assistance from your accommodation manager or concierge to help better explain your on-the-ground transportation options .

After an international overnight flight, our family sometimes pre-books airport taxis, as we did on a visit to Rome . When exhausted and running on empty from a long and likely sleepless flight, it is a relief to know our in-town transportation is reliably taken care of.ย 

Know safe walking routes.

If you plan to explore a new destination on foot, familiarize yourself with safe walking paths . Research this ahead of time. Or ask once at your accommodation. The front desk staff and management, who generally live locally, are a valuable resource for sharing the best routes, areas, and times for moving around safely.

Step 7: Choose Where to Stay (Shortcuts & Resources)

Pinpointing the right location for lodging is never easy. To figure it out fastโ€”my first stop is to use the โ€œ Where to stay โ€ button on Google Hotels , which will show neighborhood-by-neighborhood descriptions and ratings for all major destinations, allowing you to quickly zero in on the right neighborhood for you to stay in. See where to find it in the quick clip below.

Alternatively, run an AI or online search on โ€œ best places to stay in [your destination] ” and review the results. Or, reference up-to-date travel guidebooks , which generally provide a helpful point of view on the best areas to stay.ย 

Additionally, since I find great lodging in top locations has an outsize positive impact on our travel experiences, I put a lot of effort into finding the best places to stay.ย 

Get tips on how to do this for your lodging searches in this article .

Step 8: Decide, Save & Book the Things You Want to Do (4 Tips)

Now that you have the framework of your trip set, it is time for the most fun partโ€”figuring out things you want to do once you get there.

Search for things to do online.

If your best trip experience includes seeing top attractions and activities, you will want to research the top things to do in a destination that best fits your interests. Run AI searches or look online for โ€œthings to do in [your destination].”

Travel blogs, social media, and sites like Pinterest or Reddit are helpful for this. Or read a guidebook ย or visit Google Travel , searching your destination to get an idea about the top attractions and get recommendations for more things to see or do.

To determine what you want to do most, read reviews from fellow travelers to understand what to expect. Then, consider purchasing tickets or making reservations for the most popular attractions to avoid long queues and secure your spot.

Save your favorites.

My preferred way to keep track of things I want to do in a destination is to save them to a custom list in Google Maps . Doing this gives me quick access to my favorites on my mobile phone via my Google Maps app while traveling. I share why and how to create similar custom lists in this article .ย 

Check out the guided activity and tour options.

Another good way to round out your research for what to do in any area is by checking out tour booking sites like Viator , Get Your Guide or Airbnb Experiences . Use them to look at the top-rated experiences for your destination. You might discover a cooking class, photo tour, guided hike, history walk, and so much moreโ€”activities that could be one of the more memorable parts of your vacation.

Ask for recommendations.

Before your trip, ask your friends, family, and acquaintances for suggestions for what to do in your planned destination if they have already been there.ย 

And then, when your trip is here, and you finally and excitingly arriveโ€” connect and chat with your lodging managers, taxi drivers, tour guides, servers, and any other locals you can befriend to ask for their recommendations.ย 

By doing this, we have learned about many things we would have missed if we did not connect with locals, like off-the-radar restaurants, event-related parades, holiday processionals, or the best spots to catch sunsets. While traveling, we value these local recommendations so highly that we often will reshape our entire plan for how we spend a day to accommodate them.ย 

Step 9: Focus on Food - Reserve Restaurants & Learn About Local Dishes (2 Recommendations)

Does your culinary experience matter to you on vacation? I have a food blogger and cookbook author friend who makes researching places to eat and reserving restaurants her immediate third activity after booking airfare and lodging for any trip. So, if incorporating an epicurean experience into your travel is important, include the two steps below in your pre-trip planning.

Make restaurant reservations.

Search online to get a list of top eateries in your destination. Reference Google Maps, articles, blog posts, or run AI inquiries. Or ask other travelers who have been to the area recently, as they are always happy to share their favorites.

Prioritize the places you want to eat and make reservations. If you cannot do this in advance online, do not sweat it. Do it in person when you arrive. Or ask your lodging for dining recommendations and assistance with booking reservations.

Learn about the food before you go.

Although international trips provide ample opportunities for new food experiences, you do not have to go far from home to indulge in regional food specialties while on vacation. For example, on a fall getaway to Door County, Wisconsin , near our hometown of Chicago, we were sure to order cheese curds, a Badger State specialty, paired with local brews.ย 

Before your trip, search online for โ€œbest food to eat in [your destination]โ€ to see what tops the list. On a spring trip to Rome , it was Jerusalem artichokes. When in Malta , it was a rabbit dish and many other unfamiliar foods.

Eating at different places and trying new dishes, drinks, and snacks can be one of the most memorable aspects of your travel. To get a head start, take a global tour from these food guide and cookbook recommendations .

Step 10: Create, Update & Finalize a Detailed Trip Itinerary (Resources)

Now that you have your transportation, lodging, activities, and possibly even your dining planned or loosely set, it is time to put it all down to paper.ย 

Use an online app like TripIt to keep track of your bookings and day-to-day plans. Or go semi-old school like I do and put it in an Excel document . Since I have yet to find an app that functions exactly how I want, I created my own itinerary framework that includes all the elements I prefer.

I share this free framework ย downloadable in four file types in this article . In it, I also link to more places to find free or affordable trip itinerary templates.ย 

Then, for safety purposes , share your itinerary with family and friends so they know where you will be when you are away from home.

Step 11: Plan for Emergencies & Unexpected Situations (3 Tips)

Follow these three recommendations to help you avoid or quickly recover from emergencies and unexpected situations while traveling.

Conduct practical safety prep.

Before each trip, familiarize yourself with local emergency service numbers and healthcare facilities in your planned destination. When traveling internationallyโ€”particularly to an area at risk for conflict, know where to find your local embassy or consulate.ย 

Additionally, ensure your family and friends know where you are going and how to reach you. If you created a detailed itinerary ย share it with them. Then, continue to check in throughout the trip.

Buy travel insurance.

It is an extra expense every traveler would love to skip. However, given the cost of your vacation and what is at riskโ€”your trip budget, your health, and your propertyโ€”the cost of travel insurance should be considered an essential and non-negotiable expense, especially for international trips.

Read about why to get travel insurance and where to find it in this article .

My preferred resource for buying travel insurance is InsureMyTrip , an online travel insurance agent and search engine that I use to shop policies from different insurers, buying from the ones with the highest user ratings.

Know what to do in case of theft.

Do you have a plan for what to do in case your wallet, phone, computer, or passport is taken or goes missing? Do you know how to protect your sensitive data? Or how to quickly replace credit cards or a phone? Or get a replacement passport so you can get home?

If not, familiarize yourself with these steps in case your phone goes missing , or read this account of a traveler who had to navigate getting her phone stolen out of her hand in Cartagena, Colombia.

Then, make front-and-back print and digital copies of all IDs, passports, credit cards, and travel insurance policies, keeping copies easily accessible in case of emergency, theft, or loss. Share copies of all items with a trusted friend or family member who can quickly send them back to you if needed.

Step 12: Packing & Prepping Your Home Before Your Trip (Resources)

Taking care to pack efficiently will make your trip a more comfortable one. Before you go, research weather conditions at your destination and plan accordingly. Make a checklist of essential items, such as toiletries, medication, electronics, and travel adapters. Pack versatile clothing items that can be mixed and matched for different occasions and temperatures. And remember a travel first aid kit with essential medical supplies.

Because I bring many repeat items every time we travel, I spent a year carefully crafting, updating, and tweaking a universal and printable packing list to reuse for every trip. Using this helps me avoid โ€œrecreating the (packing) wheelโ€ every time I leave home, which helps save time and minimizes prep.ย 

Access, download, and print this universal packing list , which includes a comprehensive medical kit, here .ย 

Additionally, since I am a fan of checklists and streamlining tasks, I created a second checklist to close the house and prep for packingโ€”that includes to-do items like buying trip-specific gear or picking up medical prescriptions in advance to avoid last-minute scrambles. Check out the list here.ย 

If you are new to traveling and packing, get 25 of my best packing tips that I follow for every trip.

Step 13: Make Your Finances Accessible on Domestic & International Trips (13 Tips)

Before you go on any trip, be sure to have a plan for how to pay for all expenses, access your cash, and use your credit cards.

On domestic trips: two tips on spending and cash.

If your getaway is domestic, this step should be relatively easy, as how you spend will be similar to what you do at home. However, there are two things you may want to consider before you leave. Getting extra cash from a local no-fee ATM and ensuring you have up-to-date logins with mobile pay apps like Zelle or Venmo.ย 

Even in this age of high connectivity, it is still relatively easy to encounter a market vendor, fair, or pop-up snack shop that does not accept credit cards. So, you will want a cash supply handy . Doing this will help you avoid unnecessary and out-of-the-way stops at high-fee and out-of-network ATMs. Sometimes, vendors will also accept mobile payments from apps like Venmo or Zelle.ย 

For example, during a recent domestic trip to New Orleans, our family enjoyed listening to musicians who accepted tips via Venmo, allowing us to scan their QR code and drop some cashโ€”in appreciation of their talent and time. So, before you leave for your trip, if you use these apps, ensure you are actively logged in and can access your accounts.

On international trips: 11 tips for spending, credit cards, cash, and safety.

Prearranging and maintaining comprehensive and secure financial access requires a few more steps when traveling internationally. Here is a list of 10 things you will want to plan for:ย 

1. Determine which credit card(s) you plan to use . Ideally, choose the one(s) that offers the lowest, or zero, foreign transaction fees.

2. If you use a mobile hands-free payment like Apple Pay, ensure your default credit card linked to your mobile payment account is the card with the lowest foreign transaction fees.ย 

3. For travelers who do not already use a hands-free payment method like Apple Pay, consider setting it up, as it is a convenient wallet-free way to pay when traveling. Keeping your wallet tucked away may also make you less of a target for potential pickpockets who tend to mark international travelers.

4. If you plan to use a credit card while traveling internationally, process your transactions in the local currency . At the point-of-sale, avoid converting the transaction to your home currency since this often translates into a less advantageous exchange rate.ย 

5. Know the currency exchange rate between your home and destination country before you leave homeโ€”this will help you better manage your spending and budget. Download a currency converter app like XE , to easily translate local prices to your home currency.

6. Plan to take out the local country currency from an ATM when you arrive. Some travelers prefer to pre-buy foreign currency at their local hometown bank before they leave for their trip. However, we are always comfortable doing this at the airport upon arrival.

Know which local ATMs offer the lowest fees for international visitors for cash withdrawals and which charge the highestโ€”and should be avoided. Visit traveler forums and social media groups , or read guidebooks ย to learn this information.

7. Bring back up cash in your own currency , which you can exchange in an emergency. Include small bills if you can. You can often use these in a pinch for tips and when you run short on small denominations of local cash. However, local currencyโ€”depending on the countryโ€”is generally preferred.

8. Remove all unnecessary credit , identity, membership, and banking cards from your wallet that you do not plan to use while traveling and store them safely at home. Doing this is preventative in case of wallet loss or theft. Keeping so many cards at home means you will have fewer to cancel or replace.

9. Make copies of both sides of your banking and credit cards . Keep print or digital copies accessible. For a backupโ€” share them with a friend or family member who will be staying home and can send them to you in the event of loss or theft.ย 

10. Have a plan for keeping your wallet and valuables safe while on your trip. Assume on an international trip, you may be a target for pickpockets. Make it difficult for would-be thieves by using secure carrying bags and backpacks with zippered pockets.

Practice never leaving your personal items unattended or on the back of chairs. If you need to set a bag down, wrap a strap securely around a leg or arm. Also, ensure all openings are fully zipped and face inward toward your body. Depending on your destination, consider sewing hidden interior pockets to pants or using money belts under clothes to keep cash and IDs secure.

Another helpful step you can take includes being aware of your surroundings and avoiding being distracted in public by your phone while traveling. It is relatively easy for a cyclist or motorcycle rider to whip by and grab an unlocked phone from unsuspecting hands.

11. Finally, before you go, move ample cash into your checking or ATM-linked account to fund your trip and to fully process automatic bill withdrawals to eliminate the possibility of overdrafts or other unpleasant financial surprises that could happen while you are away. If you do not have auto bill payments set up, pre-pay all upcoming bills before you leave.

Note: Many credit cards and banks no longer require you to alert them when you plan to leave the country as they track trip-related purchases like plane tickets, taxis, and hotel bookings.ย 

However, check with your banking and credit card companies before you go to understand their travel recommendations and to avoid possible suspicious-activity freezes on your accounts.

This step is easy for domestic journeys, as depending on your data plan, you can ideally use your mobile phone to text and call to stay in touch like you would at home.ย 

However, constant connectivity gets more complicated for international trips. When traveling abroad, you want to determine how you plan to use your mobile phone .

Will you stay off-network and use it only when connected to Wi-Fi? Or pay a daily network international roaming feeโ€”up to a pricey $10 per day with networks like Verizon? Or, instead, buy a data plan from a local network using e-sim technology?

Does this feel complicated? Even to me, a regular international traveler, and othersโ€”it does also. Based on your budget and connectivity needs, you will want to figure out which way of staying connected is right for you. To decide, price out international plans from your mobile carrier and then learn more about going the eSIM route with info in this helpful article .

Once you know how you plan to stay in touch, download apps you anticipate you may need to use. When traveling internationally, this may include downloading Whatโ€™sApp , a global messaging app and voice-over-IP service heavily used outside of the United States.ย 

When abroad, I frequently use this app to communicate with lodging contacts and tour guides and to confirm reservations.

Additionally, be sure to have all lodging or tour booking apps downloaded and updated on your phone. You will want to access the messaging functionality within apps like Airbnb, Booking.com, or other hotel apps, which you may need to use to send and receive communications.ย 

Hands-down, thorough travel research is the key to a stress-free adventure. By taking time to gather destination information so you can make informed planning decisions, you can ensure a smooth and memory-making journey.ย 

From researching your destination and finding the best deals to understanding local customs and preparing essential travel documents, each step plays a vital role in creating your best travel experience.

So, before you embark on your next adventure, check off the items on this ultimate travel research checklist. With research and planning complete, you can explore the world with confidence and peace of mind. The more you know, the better prepared you will be for any unexpected challenges or opportunities that come your way. Happy travels!

Related Reading

If you are searching for more travel planning assistance to help you save time and money and to stay organized, check out the related articles below.

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Additional Trip Planning Resources

To further help you with travel planning, I share my go-to resources for every trip below.ย 

Google Flights. Save money and time by searching this free flight search engine for affordable and direct flight options. Learn more about why to use it here .ย 

Google Hotels . Use its โ€œWhere to stayโ€ button to discover which neighborhood to stay in and which hotel to book. Learn more in this video clip .ย 

Booking.com. You will love its more flexible cancellation and payment options, user reviews, discounts, and easy-to-use interface for hotels and rentals.

Viator , Get Your Guide , & Airbnb Experiences . Search any of these tour and experience booking platforms to find and pre-purchase highly rated guided activities.

Google Travel Things to Do & Google Maps . Discover more travel things to do on Google Travel, then record the places you want to visit on your own Google Maps lists.ย 

AllTrails . Use AllTrails to find top hiking and biking trails. Get up-to-date route info, like trail difficulty ratings, what to expect, user reviews, and access points. Sign up for ย  AllTrails+ to download offline maps.

Guide Along . For U.S. road trips and National Parks. Download these 5-star self-guided audio tours that are GPS-compatible and work offline. Hear stories, fascinating facts, and tips for visiting. We loved theย  Glacier National Park tour .

Insure My Trip. Stay protected using this online travel insurance agent and search engine to shop policies from different insurers. Buy from the ones with the highest user ratings. Learn why to buy it here .ย 

Want to know the 15 travel apps I have downloaded and updated for every trip? Check them out here .

Janice Moskoff in front of doorway in Valletta, Malta. (Credit: Danielle Cassar)

About the author: ย Janice Moskoff is a travel writer and blogger who loves hiking, exploring the world, and reading. She writes to inspire travel-loving families, adult friends, and couples on her blog,ย  Gather and Go Travel . Check outย  her bio , learn how she becameย  a blogger , and discover how toย  work with her . Sign up for her monthlyย  Discovery Newsletter ย to get her latest travel recommendations andย  how-to’s .

Love to travel? Sign up for m y monthly Gather & Go Travel Discovery Newsletter and get a free trip budget calculator .

Affiliate Disclosure: Some of the links on this page may be affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you make a purchase. I only recommend products and companies I use. And the income goes to keeping the site community-supported and ads minimal.

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  • Split-Ticketing
  • One-Way Return Tickets
  • Hidden-City Ticketing
  • More Strategies
  • Budget Airline Guide
  • Cheap Transportation Guide
  • Cheap Accommodation Guide
  • Top Budget Travel Tips
  • Travel Blog

Travel Planning

Planning your own trip can seem like a daunting task, especially if you’ve never done it before, but with this guide, you’ll be a travel expert in no time!ย 

Make sure to read this entire page before booking anything

Now, there are three main things to consider when planning your own trip:

Destinations

Rio de Janeiro from above with a view of the city, water, and mountains in the background

Transportation

A plane's wing as seen by the traveler from the window seat with the sun shining in the background

Accommodation

Clean hotel room with balcony door open to show an ocean view for travelers

– The first thing you have to do is pick where you want to go!ย  If you already have a place in mind (and you’ve checked to make sure you meet the Visa & Vaccination requirements to go there), then go ahead and move on to transportation.ย  Otherwise, check out the Destination Guides to find the perfect destination for your getaway!

– Once you have your destination picked, you’ll need to think about how you’re going to get there and how you’re going to get around (if you’re going to more than one destination).ย  From planes to trains to automobiles, check out the Transportation Guide for the ultimate guide to transportation!

– And if you’ve found the perfect method of transportation, then you’re going to need a place to stay.ย  These days, there are more options than ever for accommodation so make sure you check out the Accommodation Guide to find the right one for your trip!

But before you do any of that…

There are also some other important things to take into account when planning your trip:

Visas & Vaccinations

An open French traveler's passport with visas and stamps

Budget Traveling

A budget traveler with a travel backpack on a rooftop observing the city in front of them

– Depending on where you’re from and where you’re going, you may need to get a tourist visa.ย  You may also need to get vaccinated as some destinations require vaccination records for certain viruses. This is all part of choosing a destination and a very important step to consider before booking any part of your trip so be sure to check out the Guide to Visas & Vaccinations to ensure you won’t get turned away when you arrive at your destination!

– Another important thing to consider is travel insurance.ย  You may already be covered by your benefits from work or your credit card, but if you are not, it is definitely something to look into as travel insurance can be the difference between an inexpensive vacation and a debt-inducing one.ย  Check out the Guide to Travel Insurance for more information!

– And not just reserved for recent graduates on a gap year, budget traveling is something that everyone should consider, especially if you really want to save money on your travels.ย  From learning what you need to go all-out backpacking across continents to simply finding the cheapest options possible for your travels, there is something for everyone in the Budget Traveling Guide !

And a few more things to prepare for:

Money Management

A budget traveler managing the money in their wallet

Travel Accessories

Travel Planning

Packing Your Bags

A suitcase full of clothes that a traveler has packed for their trip

– Thinking about how you’re going to handle money while you’re abroad is super important.ย  Being well-prepared could mean saving money on unnecessary fees and also getting points that make future travel cheaper.ย  Everything from debit & credit cards to the best ways to get cash while abroad is discussed in the Guide to Money Management While Traveling .

– Some travel accessories are absolutely vital when you’re on your trip whereas others are simply useful to have.ย  I give you the low-down on all of them, including Travel-Ready Phones and Prepaid SIM Cards , in the Guide to the Top Travel Accessories .

– Knowing how to pack your bags efficiently can mean avoiding expensive luggage fees and carrying around more than you need to.ย  I tell you what you need to bring and show you how to pack so that you can bring everything you need with you and still travel light in the Guide to Packing For Your Trip .

And if you want all the information laid out for you in a step-by-step guide, click below!

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Where Are Those Morgans

How To Plan A Trip: Easy 15 Step Travel + Vacation Planner

By: Author Mark and Kristen Morgan

Posted on Published: July 17, 2019  - Last updated: December 31, 2023

Categories Travel Planning Blog

How To Plan A Trip: Easy 15 Step Travel + Vacation Planner

This ultimate how to plan a trip guide will transform your destination daydreams into travel reality within just 15 easy-to-follow steps.

Adventure is calling! But where should you go? How do you get there? And what do you need to organize before you leave home?

This one-stop travel planning resource covers all you need to know about preparing for any trip.

But how can you trust us to cover all of the important travel planning aspects?

The goal is to walk you through 15 simple and stress free steps, from ideas to bookings and from packing to walking out the door. We’ll take you on a journey from idea to reality.

Personally, when we plan a trip, we know that breaking the process up into sections works best. We feel less overwhelmed when we plan in manageable pieces.

Follow the steps in this guide and you’ll see just how easy planning a trip can be. Let’s travel plan!

The Travel Planning Rollercoaster

tips for travel planning

Planning any vacation is like being on a rollercoaster called the Emotion Overload. In the beginning the rollercoaster climbs slowly, building your excitement before plummeting into overwhelmed anxiety.

The second climb is determination and hard work, followed by a loop de loop as information spins around your brain in circles.

And just when it seems the ride will never end, the carriage comes to an abrupt halt: your plans are finally ready.

Break Up Planning A Trip Into 3 Sections

We are all different. Genetics, personality traits, habits and attitudes make us all unique. But although we are all unique, common patterns emerge among travelers.

Most long term travelers tend to book the first week or month in detail. Once comfortable with the whole idea of backpacker life, they tend to plan just a few days in advance each time they move.

Because who knows what might come up? Those taking shorter trips, such as a 2 week vacation, typically plan almost all specific details in advance.

Because who wants to lose valuable time planning what to do that day with just 2 weeks away from work

No matter how you prefer to travel or how long you intend to travel, the planning process can always be broken down into 3 manageable sections. You will make life easier and less like your brain might explode.

Plan, Book And Pack

The three phases of how to plan a trip plan book and pack for travel

These 3 travel planning sections encompass the same repetitive processes we all follow, every time we travel. When we repeat them enough times, they become autonomous.

You plan your travel goals, you book the essentials, you pack your bags and you go.

But even when taken back to basics, each travel planning section can be time consuming, frustrating and overwhelming. We know from first hand experience when planning multiple long term travel routes.

The key is to break down each travel planning section into smaller, easier to accomplish steps. That way you will eliminate stress and feel the positive reinforcement each time you complete a step.

Follow the easily achievable steps listed below within each travel planning section. Begin to plan your trip in advance, take each step one at a time and we guarantee you will avoid feeling overwhelmed.

All you need to do then is watch your dream trip create itself before your eyes.

Need help with packing? You might like to use our ultimate travel packing resource .

Infographic How To Plan A Trip Ultimate Guide To Travel Planning In 15 Easy To Follow Steps

Section 1: Establish Your Travel Goals

Research is the key to good preparation read books find inspiration and begin to consider the basics

Let’s start at the beginning, the daydream stage.

You know it’s time for a vacation or a long term trip but right now you’re just floating ideas around.

Ask yourself these important travel planning questions (H and 5 W’s):

  • How much time will you spend traveling?
  • When do you want to leave?
  • Who will you travel with?
  • What shape are your finances in?
  • Where in the world do you want to go?
  • Why is it so difficult to save up for your trip?

This is one of our favorite parts of planning a trip because everything sounds wonderful! But before you can book or pack for your potential trip, you need to figure out the basics.

Research Is Key To Planning Effectively

The fundamentals of how to plan a trip begin and end with research.

Every aspect of your plans will require research, from booking flights to buying travel insurance and from packing your bags to visa requirements.

But research starts all the way back at the beginning, before e-tickets arrive in your iPhone wallet and you’re debating between packing your tan vs black shoes.

Research begins with deciding on the most basic of travel planning principles. But don’t confuse basic with a lack of importance. The goals you set at this stage will consequently shape your entire trip.

You will spend a lot of time on google, the same as we do before every trip. If you embrace the research you will do just fine.

By reading this post you are already well into establishing your travel goals and researching travel planning techniques.

That gives you a hand up over other travelers.

You will be more prepared and ultimately have a better trip. The first section of travel planning is designed for you to turn daydreams into actionable reality.

By the end of this section, you will know everything you need to know about the trip you’re going to take. Then, you can start booking!

Consider Your Travel Limitations

We don’t want to rain on your parade but it is critical at this point to manage your expectations and be aware of your travel limitations.

Every one of us is guilty of getting carried away in life, but when it comes to travel planning, be very careful not to take on more than you can chew. Or afford.

Our advice at this stage is to be honest and realistic about what you think is achievable.

  • Can you realistically finance a trip to country X and city Y with your budget?
  • Is it safe to go to hiking in National Park Z in Winter?
  • Do you really want to travel solo or would you prefer company?
  • Can you quit your job sooner and still afford your year around the world?
  • Are you able to squeeze and extra few holiday days out of your job?

How long do you intend to spend on the road?

1. How Much Time Do You Spend Traveling?

The thrill of choosing where you want to go on vacation or long term travel is by far the most exciting part of planning a trip. There’s no question about that.

However, before you conjure up your dream Vietnam itinerary or US road trip route , the first piece of the planning puzzle is determining how much time you have on your side.

Time is one aspect of life no amount of money can control.

  • On a short beach or hiking vacation from work, will you travel for 7 days, 10 days or 14 days?
  • Are you able to take a 3 month sabbatical to backpack South East Asia?
  • Or maybe you’ve been thinking about quitting your job to travel without an end date in mind?
  • Are your dates flexible or do you have to stick to specific timeframes?
  • Do you work remotely or at a physical location?
  • Are the kids back in school on Monday morning?

Carefully consider the time you have available and remember there are implications to consider with the amount of time you allocate for your trip.

Example : You will need more money to finance a 4 month trip when compared to 2 months. It sounds obvious, but the point is to ensure you get the balance right between time and travel funds.

Once you establish the amount of time and any specific dates you have to play with, move onto the next planning steps.

When do you want to leave on your adventure?

2. When Do You Plan To Leave On Your Trip?

The date you are aiming to leave on your trip is vitally important to your personal travel planning process.

Are you planning a trip way in advance? Or are you last minute planning? The subsequent steps will change focus depending on the answer to those questions.

For those planning a last minute spontaneous trip, you will need to double down and get to work.

Conversely, if you are planning a summer vacation that’s 6 months out, you can relax and take each of the plan a trip step slowly.

It is important to remember that people work more efficiently in different ways.

For us, Kristen works more efficiently when planning early and taking things at a gentle pace, whereas Mark works best under pressure with the clock ticking.

Timing Is Crucial

Consider the timing of your proposed trip.

You will have to account for high, shoulder or low season as well as weather conditions for the time of year you visit and finances will be impacted by how well you plan your leaving date.

Example : Your trip is shaping up to be a 3 week European adventure in Summer. You better believe it is going to cost you! Would you be better off planning to leave in Spring or Fall to suit your budget more appropriately?

If you plan to quit your job in 6 months and travel the world for a year, now is the time to get stuck into planning. A year is a long time and the world is a big place.

Leaving a trip like this until the last minute means you could risk missing out on once in a lifetime opportunities.

Working out the most effective time leave on your adventure gives you the framework to set achievable planning and financial  goals . 

Remind yourself of the 7 P’s of planning: Piss Poor Planning Promotes Piss Poor Performance.

Mark and Kristen at Sioux Falls south Dakota waterfall

3. Who Do You Plan To Travel With?

Chances are high you already know exactly who you will travel with before you begin to plan a trip. Maybe you’re going on a family holiday or a romantic couples weekend getaway ?

In which case, your travel partners are nailed on. The same applies for us. We always travel as a couple which makes Step 3 obsolete when we plan a trip. 

However, many travelers planning trips are undecided between exploring solo or with a friend.

Our world adventures have enabled us to meet hundreds of others traveling. Solo travelers and those traveling as couples or larger groups.

There are pros and cons to all types of travel, just like most things in life.

The important thing to understand for first time travelers who feel anxious about traveling solo is that you will meet people along the way. Even as a couple, you will meet dozens of other couples on longer trips, particularly in Asia and South America.

So, don’t be afraid to plan your dream trip if you don’t have anyone to travel with initially, you will make a ton of friends on the road.

What shape are your finances in? Understanding your travel budget and limitations will help with planning your next adventure

4. What Shape Are Your Finances In?

Working out a rough travel budget is arguably the most important aspect of planning any trip. That remains true if you are leaving tomorrow or in a year.

Take a cautious approach rather than an overly optimistic approach. You will spend more money than you think, trust us on that one.

It’s better to have money left over than run out of cash a long way from home. We’ve seen it happen.

  • How much money do you currently have saved up for your trip?
  • How much money can you save between now and the date you plan to leave?
  • Do you need to get a second job or a second income to bulk your budget out?
  • Do you have any cash in reserve in case of emergency?

Before you start dreaming of your 2 week luxury beach vacation to the Maldives or 3 months backpacking through Australia and New Zealand, you need to be realistic about your budget.

Travel Smarter, Not Harder

A good rule of thumb is to consider yours destinations around your budget.

Instead, consider your budget and travel to a place where that same amount of money will allow you to have a much better experience.

See how much we spent in 1 month in Vietnam to use as a reference for travel costs.

If you are planning a short vacation, you will have much more control over finances. You know you’re going to get paid from your job again, so a splurge isn’t out of the question.

In contrast, long term travelers will constantly be checking finances. Once they leave for their trip – that digital bank balance value will decrease every single day until the end.

Travel Tip : When planning a trip around your budget, always always always leave some room for buffer in case of emergency. We’re all used to living to our means and it’s easy to plan down to the last penny but trust us, you never know when you might need a spare US$ 100.

Where Do You Want To Go? Look at maps, your atlas, google maps and begin to formulate a travel route

5. Where Do You Plan To Travel?

Now and only now, despite wanting nothing else but to start planning your travel itinerary. It is time to plan your travel destination and route.

You will thank us for leaving you hanging this long because now you have a firm grasp on your travel budget, whether you will be traveling alone or with a group, how long you can travel for and when you want to leave.

Here are some of our top travel inspiration suggestions :

  • Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks in Wyoming, USA.
  • Budapest is a wonderful European city break.
  • New York State Parks like Letchworth and Buttermilk Falls are perfect day trips.
  • The Atacama Desert in Chile is mind blowing.
  • Los Angeles , San Francisco and San Diego are awesome cities to discover.
  • Andalusia in Spain is a stunning region to explore.
  • Pacific Coast Highway , Utah and South Dakota  are epic road trips.

The beauty of leaving this step until you know your budget is having the ability to plan your vacation or itinerary with a clear understanding of which places are feasible and which places you will have to exclude based on price, distance, safety and so on.

Planning travel itineraries takes a lot of work. We find it to be our favorite and least favorite part of traveling – in equal measure! Excitement and frustration.

It is vital you consider public transport routes, airports, safety, hotel availability, time of year, activities on offer, food and so much more.

Choosing A Travel Route

A question we often get asked is: “How do you know where you want to go?”

We do something our ancestors have been doing for over 2000 years: Look at a map!

Seriously, buy a huge map and stick it on your wall. Study each continent and indicate places you would love to visit using pins or colored sticky notes.

If looking at maps doesn’t help, here are some excellent alternatives to find travel inspiration:

  • Read the wide range of destinations we write about on our travel blog !
  • Read other blogs too. There are hundreds of fantastic first hand resources on the internet written by people who have been to the places you want to visit.
  • Change up your google searches to ‘the best place to travel in X year’ or ‘the most obscure travel destinations’.
  • Be creative, look for specific events, festivals or concerts around the world.

Once you have a shortlist of dream destinations, fire up google maps and prepare to lose yourself for hours. Design mock travel itineraries lasting 10 days, 2 weeks, a month, 3 months or however long you plan to travel.

Money currency from around the world - it is difficult to save for travel and a long trip

6. Why Is It So Hard To Save For Your Trip?

You’ve meticulously planned your next adventure. Now, you need to stump up the cash to pay for it.

Whether you are going on a one week trekking holiday, a one month live aboard scuba diving course or traveling through Africa and the Middle East for six months, you will need to save up enough money to pay for the pleasure.

You already worked out your finances and travel plans in steps 4 and 5, so you have an actionable target to reach. Is your departure date 3 months away? 6 months? A year?

However far ahead you plan to leave, you might need to put a savings process in place to make up the difference.

Saving for vacations or long term travel is HARD. Your excitement is at fever pitch but time seems to stand still. Days at work start to drag more and more the closer you get to the big day.

Be Disciplined

The key to financial success can be found in one simple word, Discipline .

It’s easy to start well with the best intentions but it’s equally as easy to lose focus. Put yourself on a strict no-spending regime if you don’t have the money in savings to pay for travel costs in advance.

Make judgement calls on every single expenditure – is it want or need? Do you want that thing or do you genuinely need it?

If it’s a want, don’t spend the money, save it. Be disciplined .

Once your bank account begins to swell, fight the temptation to ‘treat yourself’. If you think you won’t be tempted, think again. 

That 80″ TV you wanted is only US$ 1,000 and you now have 10 of those saved for your trip – can you get by on US$ 9,000?

No you can’t! Put the TV back! Be disciplined .

Plan A Trip Section 1 Complete: Your Tentative Travel Plans Are In Place

You are officially one third of the way towards being travel ready.

There are more challenges to come but you’ve nailed down the hardest part of travel planning.

Narrowing down where to visit and formulating the perfect itinerary is by far the most difficult part of planning a trip for us.

The word perfect was used for a reason, we both have FOMO (fear of missing out) so it takes us an age to finalize our trips.

With the whole world as your travel option, deciding where to go and where not to go can be overwhelming.

Personally, we just take it one step at a time based on our budget and places on our travel bucket list. We systematically include and exclude places, activities and routes until we agree on a winning formula.

Do not feel disheartened when you think you’ve cracked your route and budget but for whatever reason it just doesn’t work out. Go back to the drawing board and start again fresh. You will end up with an even better itinerary.

Section 2: Take Action + Book

Book Your Adventure scrabble tiles with instamax photos around the United State - section 2 of planning a trip begins with making some bookings to seal the deal

We can all daydream about vacations or backpacking the world for a year. Or imagine ourselves lounging on a beautiful powdery white sand beach in Thailand  and hiking into the Grand Canyon .

But until you bite the bullet, until you commit by clicking the buy now button on flights and hotels, a dream is all it will be.

Once you take that giant leap, it becomes tangible.

How many times have you planned a travel route mentally and thought about how amazing it would be and all the things you would do on your trip only to snap back to reality in the office?

Be brave and courageous. Take the plunge and book the important elements of your travel plan. Does this sound like a good story?

“Well, I was going to book a life changing 3 month backpacking trip through South America, but didn’t bother in the end.” That sounds like missed opportunity to us!

Myths About Booking In Advance

Like many other things in life, travel planning gets easier with experience. You learn which aspects of the way you planned and booked your trip worked and which aspects caused problems or lost you money.

However, one thing even the most savvy or accomplished traveler doesn’t always get right is how much of the trip to book in advance.

Here’s the problem travelers face on every trip:

If you book in advance, you plan ahead, book all hotels, buses, trains, activities and flights on your trip.

But what happens? You have no flexibility. If you love a place, you can’t stay longer. If you hate a place, you can’t leave immediately.

And if you don’t book in advance, you plan nothing and have complete flexibility. But you spend all of your travel days booking the next place to stay that night or your flight the next day.

Last minute flights and hotels will have far fewer options and may have seriously inflated prices.

How To Successfully Book A Trip

Here are a few tips to help you book your next trip:

  • Find the perfect balance between being organized and flexible.
  • Book all of your major trans-continental long haul flights before you leave home.
  • Book any hotel splurges you have identified.
  • Book any bucket list activities (such as W Trek in Chile) in advance.
  • Leave the rest of your trip open ended.

We meet travelers with binders full of confirmation documents who prefer to plan the entire trip down to the ground, even dinner reservations.

Then there are those who prefer to book nothing more than a one way flight and decide everything on the fly (pun intended).

There is no one size fits all best practice or answer to this relentless travel quandary. It depends entirely on your own preferred travel style.

Plane wing over Vietnam booking flights as part of trip planning

7. Book Your Major Flights To Seal The Deal

Now the real work can begin.

Booking your first flight is the single most exciting and nerve racking moment of travel planning. In one single moment of commitment, you turn your daydream into a reality.

There are numerous flight searching platforms and you can use any you prefer. We personally use – every time we fly and recommend to our friends and family:  Skyscanner .

We’ve used each of the major flight search engines and we find Skyscanner to offer the easiest user experience, have the most flight options and consistently lowest prices.

But our favorite aspects of Skyscanner are having the ability (and flexibility) to search for flights by whole month and whole country.

Example: Let’s say you want to fly New York to London.

Instead of selecting an exact date with +/- 3 days (which is what most flight searches offer) you can select by whole month of May for example.

A flight calendar will show the prices of flights on every day that month and between all airports in New York / London.

Check flights with Skyscanner here and start searching for your next flight.

Avoid Flight Price Myths

Booking flights can go one of two ways:

  • You prefer to search for a flight, find one at a price you feel is fair and book it. 
  • You are the type who prefers flight price roulette, playing the algorithm game.

But the thing is you can save money on flights if you put in some research and effort. That being said, there are a lot of myths and legends about booking flights.

Booking International flights on a Tuesday or domestic flights on a Sunday will save big money. Not necessarily true. Prices fluctuate many times a day, week and month.

Clearing cookies and searching incognito will save money. Unfortunately not, no evidence to support that.

Quick Tips On Booking Flights

Our number one tip for booking flights is to be flexible. That’s the way you will save big money.

Look at prices around the dates you want to fly using Skyscanner, you will see how drastically different they can be.

Book your long haul flights as far in advance as possible. The last thing you want is a mammoth cost on your flight home.

Keep an eye on prices 9 months in advance, 6 months 3 months in advance, 1 month in advance and last minute. Watch how much they fluctuate over time.

Research thoroughly, search regularly and build up patterns of prices.

Put flight alerts on specific flights of interest to you. You will receive notifications of changes.

If you see a flight you want and it’s cheap, book it! Don’t wait for it drop by US$ 5 because you’ll find it will go up by US$ 50 instead. Know the right time to pull the trigger.

Flight booking search engines are built on algorithms like everything else online. The key is not to outsmart them, just work them to your advantage.

READ MORE : How to book cheap flight when you travel

Booking ground transport like trains and buses is all part of the planning stages for travel trains in austria

8. Book Ground Transport

Booking ground transport in advance depends on where in the world you are traveling, the timing of your trip, the length of your trip and how rigid and flexible you plan to travel.

Example : When we traveled 3 months in South America, we booked a 24 hour bus from Bariloche to El Chalten in Argentina before we left the UK. But we did not book any sleeper buses or trains in Vietnam in advance.

We visited Argentina in January, during Peak Season. Flights from Bariloche to El Calafate were expensive (and a bus to El Chalten is required) so we took the much cheaper bus.

The bus books up in advance and we wanted to guarantee seats so we booked in advance.

Conversely, we visited Northern and Central Vietnam in October and knew we would be able to jump on any bus or train we wanted. No need to sacrifice flexibility.

Most Cost Effective Transport Methods By Region

  • Europe – Cheap budget flights with Ryanair, EasyJet etc between countries / Trains within countries.
  • SE Asia – Cheap flights with Jetstar, VietJet, AirAsia, Scoot, LionAir, TigerAir etc between countries / Sleeper Trains & Buses within countries.
  • South America – Flights hit and miss for price. We found Chile and Peru had cheaper flights than Argentina. Best way to get around is by Bus but be aware, some of them are LONG!
  • North America – Road trip is the best way to explore. Buy a cheap second hand car or hire a car drive point A to B. Trains and domestic flights are expensive. Traveling by bus is a cheap option but not a great one.

The take home is to understand the region you plan to travel through.

How are public transport prices impacted by season? Variations in prices if booking in advance vs last minute?

Example : Let’s say you’re traveling Europe by train but not Interrailing. Booking trains in advance WILL save you money. Do not leave European train bookings until the last minute.

By researching and understanding these things, you can quite literally rescue your travel budget from total annihilation.

If you prefer to drive yourself around a new place to taking public transport, always check prices for hire cars with Rental Cars for most options and best value.

white hotel and blue pool in greece book accommodations hotels and hostels for travel

9. Book Accommodation

Booking accommodation can be both extremely rewarding and extremely frustrating.

Some travelers embrace the best deals hunt, whereas others despise losing time trawling through endless lists of hotel prices.

As with all other aspects of travel planning, the key is to find the right balance between how much time you invest and how much money you can save.

There are a limited amount of flights you can choose between, right?

It’s the opposite for accommodation, there are SO many options for where you will sleep at night, no matter where you travel.

If you let it, this process will overwhelm you within seconds. How do you choose between 1000 hotels? When do you stop searching for an even better deal?

The scenario of your trip will affect the benefits of booking hotels in advance.

Example : Beach vacations and resort hotel complexes can go either way. Sometimes you can pick up big money saving last minute deals. It’s a risk but it can pay off.

However, if you’re on a tight budget and backpacking for a month through Thailand in low or shoulder season, it would be worth turning up in person to negotiate a better deal.

Use Hotel Booking Search Engines

Something we find fascinating when we meet travelers on the road is the diversity of platforms everyone uses to book accommodation.

Some swear by Airbnb, others use Agoda or Hostelworld and a high proportion use Booking.com. Personally, we use Booking.com to book our hotels.

We have been using Booking for years and still to this day we are staggered by how many hotel owners pull faces at us or make comments like ‘wow, you guys must have that booking genius thing, this is the lowest price I’ve seen.

We do have Booking Genius Level 3 and you can have it too by simply creating a free account and booking your hotels with Booking.com .

The same applies to Hotels.com, Agoda, Airbnb, Priceline and many others. Find a hotel booking service you like, create an account and reap the loyalty benefits.

That’s not to say hotel search engines have the best prices period.

We ask certain hotels for a price directly and if it’s more than what we can see on our Booking.com app, we simply book a room on our app right at the check in desk.

Quick Tips For Booking Hotels

Similarly to booking ground transport at the trip planning stages, we only book certain hotels in advance before we travel.

Typically, we will book hotels as we go to allow total flexibility. However, there are three scenarios when we book hotels in advance:

  • If we plan to visit a big city like London, New York City , Hong Kong or Dubai in shoulder or high season.
  • When planning itineraries including rural N ational Park s with limited hotel options.
  • Big splurges on a luxury hotel so our travel budget doesn’t take a huge mid-trip pounding.

When searching for hotels, always use filters and sorting to cut through the crap and display exactly what you are interested in.

Search engines by default will display hotels based on featured. So what is featured?

It is hotel search engines listing hotels in their own order, but we like to sort by user rating and review count.

If a hotel has 2,500 reviews and a guest review score of 8.7, we would add it to our shortlist.

Once we have enough hotels in a shortlist we look at their locations, nearby amenities, nearby major attractions and transport hubs etc.

READ MORE : How to book cheap hotels for travel

Bucket List travel destinations like machu picchu in peru are a great way to plan a trip based around your dream travel aspirations

10. Book Bucket List Experiences

Your final bookings at this stage of planning your trip are reserved for any bucket list experiences.

You’ve planned a route through a country or continent, so you should know all of the bucket list places you will be visiting. However, unless you research thoroughly, there’s a small chance you might miss something.

Life is about learning from mistakes.

One of ours when traveling Europe was when we visited Interlaken and Grindelwald in Switzerland but we hadn’t researched things to do before hand.

So we didn’t know about the Jungfrau rack railway line through the Eiger to the top of Europe at 3,454m. Once we discovered it, we’d already spent our allocated budget which isn’t difficult in Switzerland.

Plan major activities ahead. Make a spreadsheet or a checklist, even book some ahead of time if you have to or prefer to plan your whole trip in advance.

The more planning you do in advance, the less you will miss on the road. There are times when you will have no choice but to plan months ahead.

A few examples are the W trek in Torres del Paine (Chile), Half Dome hike at Yosemite National Park (California) and hiking down the Narrows at Zion National Park (Utah).

Not planning ahead will result in missing something epic. If you don’t typically plan things like this in advance, now is the time to learn some new core skills.

Section 2 Complete: Major Bookings Are Made

You’re almost over the hill and it’s plain sailing from here. The hard work has paid off, now all that’s left is preparing and packing for the adventure that awaits you.

Booking flights, transport, hotels and activities is part of the travel planning experience.

Try to enjoy the process. If you feel overwhelmed at any point, step away for a few hours or days. That is a tried and tested method of successfully planning a trip.

There have been times where we’ve had to walk away from planning for a day or two.

Remember, you can book hotels anywhere at any time, you don’t always have to book your entire trip before you leave. 

If there’s one particular leg of your journey where you can’t quite make transport work or there are no cheap hotels available, just go back a few steps and alter your route accordingly.

This is a common travel planning stumbling block. 

It can be infuriating to have a route perfected, only for something not to work and find yourself back at the drawing board.

But consider this, would you rather be at home with this problem? Or in a foreign city with no idea where to go next, how to get there or where to sleep that night?

W trek in patagonia chile mark and kristen with backpacks on

Section 3: Prepare And Pack

You’re on the home stretch. There are just a few important admin tasks to complete before you can finally say you are ready to leave on your trip.

Get stuck into these last few steps as soon as possible, tick the boxes, put your feet up and enjoy a nice cup of Yorkshire tea.

Section 3 of travel planning is about giving yourself the best return on your expenses, travel safety, insuring your property and packing the right gear for your trip. 

It would be easy to switch off once you’ve secured your important bookings but you would be shooting yourself in the foot.

Instead, keep the ball rolling into this final section. Use the momentum to make the best choices possible as you complete your travel planning process.

Travel Credit Cards are the best cards to pick up before leaving on any vacation

11. Travel Rewards Credit Cards

You might be from a country where paying with debit and credit cards is the norm. Heck, you probably even pay for things with your phone these days.

However, when you travel through certain regions, such as parts of South East Asia, you won’t always be able to pay for goods and services with your cards.

Cash is often king in developing countries or countries with few tourists.

Example : We spent a month traveling North/Central Vietnam and can count on 1 hand the amount of times we paid for anything using a credit card. In order to withdraw cash from ATM’s without incurring a fee, we used our travel rewards credit card.

So, aside from always carrying a handful of US dollars in cash as a safety net, here’s the best money saving advice for any trip you ever take abroad, limit the amount you use your debit card.

If you use your debit account, you can kiss goodbye to your travel budget. The local bank will charge you a fee and your bank at home will charge you a hefty fee. Double whammy. Not fun.

What To Do Before Your Trip

Sign up for a no foreign transaction fee on all withdrawals and purchases travel rewards credit card.

On longer trips you will be taking money out of ATM’s regularly. Local ATM withdrawals will yield better exchange rates than airport exchanges.

Always choose local currency when withdrawing money, not your home country currency.

Research the best travel rewards card before you leave on your trip. Residents of the US are fortunate because competition is fierce, which drives fantastic offers on travel credit cards.

At a minimum, you should be able to pick up a travel rewards credit card giving you 1.5% cash back on all purchases and withdrawals.

Some offer points instead of cash back, which can be saved and used to pay for a flight later in your trip. Look for any special points and bonuses for spending X amount of money in Y amount of time.

Choose the card that offers the best perks for your travel style.

Example : Bank A will give you 1,500 points bonus if you spend US$ 3,000 within 90 days. Those bonus points equal US$ 150 that you can put towards a flight.

Downtown Pittsburgh Pennsylvania from an overlook tell the banks so your credit cards don't get blocked!

12. Tell The Bank About Your Travel Plans

It would blow your mind if we told you the amount of people we meet traveling the world who have experienced blocked credit cards.

Blocked cards in turn lead to no money and expensive phone calls back home to unblock said cards.

The banks are doing it for your protection but when you’re stuck in the back of beyond and can’t pay for anything or withdraw money, you will be in trouble.

Example : You have a Bank of America checking account, a Capital One Venture travel rewards card and an American Express travel card, you need to tell every one of those banks what your rough travel plans are.

It doesn’t hurt to keep them updated as you travel because plans can change.

We will contact our banks each time we move to a new continent and give them a rough idea of the countries we intend to visit, plus an estimated duration. Remember the 7 P’s of planning.

Suitcase and Tag with Travel Insurance always travel with protection in case of emergency

13. Get Travel Insurance

We’re not going to frighten you into buying travel insurance with gruesome tales. We’re simply going to say it is not worth the risk to travel without insurance.

You may be debating running the risk because insurance can be expensive.

We understand, it’s a bit of a blow when you think all your costs are nailed on the head and you see how much travel insurance is going to set you back.

But believe us, skipping it is not the smart move. Especially if you are backpacking for longer periods. Knock on wood, nothing serious has happened to us yet on the road.

No lost backpacks, no serious injuries, no muggings. But that could change at any moment, all it takes is being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Travel Insurance Is Worth The Peace Of Mind

Could you imagine the cost involved in being repatriated to America with a serious illness or injury sustained on the other side of the planet? No insurance would leave you in financial despair for years.

Example : You’ve just bought a brand new Sony A7R IV mirrorless camera for US$ 3,000 for your trip and you lose it or have it stolen on your first day traveling. You don’t have insurance. Imagine the pain!

There are plenty of travel insurance providers, such as Allianz, AIG and Travelex but right now we use and highly recommend World Nomads.

The company was created by travelers for travelers and they will tailor an insurance plan to suit your trip. You can get a free quote and choose between Standard or Explorer plans.

Be sure to do your own research but use World Nomads as your reference. See if you can get better coverage.

Always check hotels and flights for last minute deals

14. Check For Last Minute Travel Bargains

This is where we hope you don’t find an amazing last minute deal that’s US$ 200 cheaper than what you booked back in section 2.

Last minute deals are a gamble. Sometimes they pay off but mostly, they don’t. Never leave any of your major flight routes or bucket list activities until the last minute.

It’s always worth keeping an eye on hotel and flight prices, even for things you already booked that may include free cancellations or free changes to the booking.

If you can pick up the odd money saving last minute bargain, great. But don’t leave your entire trip to chance.

In the days leading up to your departure, check prices on (non-major) flights, trains, hotels and tours that you are interested in taking.

There are always flash sales on things, it’s often a case of being fortunate enough to stumble across them at the right time.

Here’s something important to remember if you started planning your trip months ago. High season might have moved into shoulder season or low season in a place you want to go.

But be aware that the opposite may also occur.

You could have planned on last minute deals because when you were researching the prices looked amazing, only to have unwittingly transitioned into peak season for the place you are visiting.

Last minute deals are going to cost you and your options will be greatly diminished in peak season.

3 osprey backpacks and one sony camera case on pattaya beach in koh lipe thailand pack bags

15. Pack Yours Bags It’s Time To Leave

Your travel plans are in place, you’ve booked the important things and prepared efficiently. All you need to do now is pick the perfect backpack and fill it with the right gear for your destination.

If you think you can handle traveling with just 40L of space which means you can carry on to flights, don’t miss this review of our top rated travel backpack, Osprey Farpoint 40 .

For those who will carry a larger main pack and need a second smaller backpack to carry on, read our review of the innovative and versatile backpack perfect for travel photographers:  Peak Design Everyday Backpack .

We won’t go into a huge amount of detail with this planning step. Instead, you can find all you need to know about packing for your trips in our detailed  Travel Packing resource.

Here are a few addition packing tips for your trip:

  • Be sure to pack according to where you’re going. If there are varying climates on your itinerary, pack for warm and cold weather conditions, even if that means taking a bigger backpack.
  • Pack carefully, make sure every single item is fit for multi-purpose use. Do not pack fancy shirts and jeans if you will only use them once, you will end up throwing them out half way through your trip.
  • We all have our own dress styles and preferences but our best advice for packing is to take plenty of comfortable gear.

Just remember, the most successful travel planners are the ones who can accept when they need to take a few steps back in order to take many steps forward.

More Travel Resources

  • E-Books – Shop our travel guidebooks
  • Packing List – The ultimate travel packing list
  • Gifts – The best gifts for a traveler

Want more travel content?  Head to our  Travel Blog to discover new destinations around the world.

We hope these 15 steps help you plan the perfect trip!

Please let us know if you have any questions about this trip planning guide in the comments below.

Happy Travels ,

Mark and Kristen

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Mark and Kristen Morgan are travel, hiking and photography experts. Over the last 6 years traveling full time, they have explored more than 40 countries and 30 US states.

Where Are Those Morgans has been featured in USA Today, Gestalten, Get Your Guide, CityPASS and Condé Nast Traveler along with various other publications. Read more about us .

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The Places Where We Go

33ย Expert Travel Planning Tips From Adventurous Travel Bloggers

Many of us share dreams of exploring the world, experiencing new cultures, and embarking on thrilling adventures. However, turning these dreams into reality requires meticulous planning and insider knowledge. That’s where expert planning tips can help.

Weโ€™ve been planning trips and exploring the world for a long time – and weโ€™ve developed checklists and processes that work for us. Recently, we reached out to the travel blogging community to get even more ideas for travel planning.

In this post, weโ€™re bringing you an expert travel planning tips compilation from our friends in the travel blogging community.  Weโ€™re gathering the wisdom of the crowd to give you inspiration and advice for planning your future travel adventures.

The Places Where We Go contains affiliate links and is a member of the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you when you purchase using one of these Amazon links.ย  Read our disclaimer and privacy policy for more information.

Traverse With Taylor โ€“ Expert Travel Planning Tips

Traverse With Taylor cover image

Taylor Beal runs the travel blog Traverse with Taylor , which is focused on helping people travel Europe easily and confidently with some creative itineraries. Taylorโ€™s blog focuses on Scotland & Amsterdam.  

Emphasize Experiencing Moments

Taylor says, โ€œMy biggest tip is to stop trying to fit everything in. With countries in Europe being so close together, itโ€™s easy to try to hop from place to place, seeing all of the things on your list! But travel isnโ€™t about checking things off of a list; travel is about experiencing moments. So stop planning everything down to the minute and spend some time wandering. The feedback I often get is that those days where โ€œnothingโ€ was planned were the most memorable!โ€

Plan Details From Big to Small

Start planning big. Then, do the details. It quickly gets overwhelming if you try to do it all at once. Find your dates and places, for example. Then, narrow down how you will get from place to place. And only once youโ€™ve handled the big ticket items, worry about what to do and see, where to eat, etc. 

Plan For Travel Days

And donโ€™t forget to budget for travel days! So many people account for delicious meals or their favorite souvenirs theyโ€™re dying to pick up. But donโ€™t forget- even when flying across the country or taking a train, you still need meals! And drinks and snacks and whatever else! Budget for these days, too. 

S olo Women RV โ€“ Expert Travel Planning Tips

Kathy Belge SoloWomenRV

Kathy Belge runs the travel blog and podcast, Solo Women RV – providing helpful tips and information for women RVers, campers and vanlifers.  Sheโ€™s been traveling solo for years and in 2018 bought her first RV and hasnโ€™t looked back. 

Sheโ€™s crisscrossed the West Coast and loves camping and hiking in her home state of Oregon. Her passion is encouraging other women to get out and explore more, especially in nature. She travels in a 2000 Chinook concourse with her adventure kitty, Tucker. You can follow her adventures at  solowomenrv.com  or on the Solo Women RV podcast . 

Consider Chat GPT for Travel Planning

Kathy says, “At the suggestion of a friend, I recently used Chat GPT to help me plan a trip. I was driving from Oregon to Arizona in my RV. I asked for help planning a route where I knew a few key places I wanted to stop and input the number of hours I wanted to drive daily. I also asked it to help me find free places to camp at night. I was pleasantly surprised by the results I got.”

“Within a few minutes, I had a general route with suggestions of where to stop each night. I had to ask a few times for it to give me specific places for free camping with addresses or locations.  It was a good starting point for me to investigate further. I then got out my map and favorite camping apps to complete the planning process.” 

Hiking The Alps โ€“ Expert Travel Planning Tips

Hiking The Alps picture from website

Our next contributor, Linda Bluemel, is at Hiking the Alps . 

Linda’s travel and hiking blog. Hiking the Alps focuses on destinations, hiking, and outdoor activities in the European Alps.

Try the Komoot App for Planning Outdoor Activities

Lindaโ€™s tip is to use the Komoot App to plan outdoor activities. The App is free but has a paid option to add offline maps and other features. You can plan and record hikes, bike tours, runs, etc, and share everything on social platforms or your blog.

Sand and Elevatio n โ€“ Expert Travel Planning Tips

Meeshka Brand - Sand and Elevation.com

Meeshka Brand runs the travel blog Sand and Elevation.

Sand & Elevation is an outdoor travel blog with helpful guides for exploring the Pacific Northwest’s beaches, mountains, and other wild and inspiring places.

Book Add-On Experiences Early

As soon as you book your accommodation, book your massages, tours, etc, with the hotel immediately! You can cancel later if you change your mind. But if you wait to do this until two weeks before you leave, often, theyโ€™re already booked.

Learn About Your Destination Before Your Trip

Before your trip, take some time to learn a few things about your destination. Maybe itโ€™s a placeโ€™s history, landmarks, or a particular dish worth knowing a thing or two about ahead of time. This knowledge enriches your experience of a place and helps with small talk when youโ€™re there.

W ayless Travelers โ€“ Expert Travel Planning Tips

Wayless Travelers

Ryan Chan is the founder and writer at W ayless Travelers .

  Wayless Travelers  is a blog that seeks to inspire others to get off the beaten path and discover the myriad of marvels from around the world. The blog shares incredible adventures, from scuba diving in the deep with sharks to hiking high up into the Himalayan peaks

Map Out Your Points of Interest

When researching a country and planning a trip, it helps tremendously to map all the points of interest on Google Maps by clicking the “save” button. In this way, after browsing the top cities to visit or things to do, I can easily visualize in Google Maps which areas have the highest concentration of activities I want. This way, it can help me decide which places to visit and give a hint on how long I will need to stay there to experience all the main activities.

It also helps me decide between two regions/cities if I only have time for one. The same can apply when deciding between visiting two countries. The more points on the map for that country, the more exciting things there are for me to see!

Keep Details on a Spreadsheet

When I get further into travel planning, I find it very useful to make an Excel sheet calendar showing each date, some of the activities I would want to do, and my accommodation information. This is particularly useful to account for and visualize the actual days in each place.

For example, I plan to spend four days in Bangkok and assume that staying from February 1-4 would fulfill that. However, when we account for the fact that the plane arrives on the 1st at night, and then I need to check out on the 4th, I only have two full days. Putting it in the calendar, accounting for the transport days, and inputting some activities into each day makes it far easier to visualize if you have enough time at each destination.

T wo Empty Passports โ€“ Expert Travel Planning Tips

Two Empty Passports

Robyn Dirkโ€™s travel blog is  T wo Empty Passports , providing detailed travel itineraries that focus on experiencing different cultures and discovering lesser-visited destinations for slow-minded travelers or those with chronic pain, illness, and other hidden disabilities.

Robynโ€™s goal is to show others how to adjust their travel style so they can make their dreams of travel a reality!

Add an Extra Day in Large Cities

Whether you enjoy slow travel, struggle with chronic pain, or have reduced mobility, your physical capabilities, energy, and pain levels should factor into your daily itinerary.

Make a list of things to do at your destination. Then, consider the size of the city, the distance between sights, your pain or energy levels, and how to plan to get around the city. This can help you decide how much time you need to get to and enjoy each sight.

Pay attention to how many days others recommend spending in your destination, too. If they recommend three days, add a 4th day to your itinerary.

This extra day removes the pressure and time constraints on your body and allows you time to rest and manage your pain. It also allows you time to wander off the tourist path, discover what makes the city unique, and travel at a more relaxed pace.

Consider Renting a Mobility Aid

If you struggle with limited mobility because of a hidden disability like fibromyalgia or experience fatigue because of a chronic illness, consider renting a mobility aid for the duration of your trip. This can be the best thing you can do to ensure a relaxing holiday.

Many worldwide destinations, like Amsterdam, Paris, or Tokyo, make it easy to rent a mobility aid, like a wheelchair, for single and multiple-day trips. For example, I rented a wheelchair for my five-week trip to Japan. The service was fantastic, the cost was minimal, and it was delivered to my hotel. Super easy!

If you donโ€™t require an aid for your entire trip, know that you can rent or borrow a wheelchair in most museums, theme parks, galleries, shopping malls, and airports worldwide.

Check the tourism board or your destination to learn more about wheelchair rentals for your trip.

On To New Adventures โ€“ Expert Travel Planning Tipsย 

On To New Adventures

Linda Egeler is the owner of On To New Adventures Travel blog.

On To New Adventures is a travel blog focusing on the Traverse City and northern Michigan region.

The blog shares stories about traveling abroad, new experiences, and engaging with people who live in remote destinations.

Seek Out Advice From Locals

Our top travel tip: donโ€™t overschedule every minute of your trip whenever possible.  Intentionally set aside a few hours, or even a full day, where you can โ€œlive like a local.โ€ 

Asking residents about their favorite places to eat, where they hang out in their free time, or an off-the-beaten-path experience has led us to some truly memorable hidden gems that we never would have discovered on our own. We learn much more from interacting with people than from reading a guidebook or searching on Google!

We never would have stumbled across Icelandโ€™s incredibly delicious licorice if we hadnโ€™t asked a local for tips about signature gifts we could carry home to friends and family. While spending Christmas in San Juan Del Sur, Nicaragua, we enjoyed the higher-end restaurants recommended in our guidebook. 

But our most memorable meal came when we asked a person on the street where he liked to eat lunch. He walked with us for a few blocks to a neighborhood taco stand, where we enjoyed authentic, homemade tacos for a fraction of what youโ€™d pay in a restaurant.  And in Nova Scotia, we abandoned our plan for the day to go hiking with our affable B&B host. We accompanied him along a scenic trail with spectacular overlooks without a tourist in sight.

So there you have it!  Enhance your journey by gaining insider tips about a place from those who call it home.

Discover the Efficiency of Packing Cubes

Packing for a trip became much more efficient once we invested in a set of packing cubes. Packing cubes are zip containers that organize your belongings and fit inside your suitcase. They help compress clothing, therefore saving space in your luggage. They also keep clothing from shifting around during transit, reducing wrinkles.

Packing cubes also help you stay organized once you’ve reached your destination. Separating similar items into cubes keeps you from rummaging through your entire suitcase when looking for a particular item. The cubes can go right into a drawer without unpacking. The zippers around the top of the cube make it convenient to access your items.

I love my five-piece set by TravelWise. The mesh design allows you to see what’s inside easily. It makes it easy for you to locate your favorite pair of shorts and helps security travel agents check out your luggage without pawing through all of your loose clothing.

I was slow to jump on the packing cube craze, but now I can’t imagine traveling without them!

I’m also a big advocate of Apple Air tags for tracking lost luggage.

TravelWise Luggage Packing Organization Cubes 5 Pack, Black, 2 Small, 2 Medium, 1 Large

N ew England Wanderlust โ€“ Expert Travel Planning Tips

New England Wanderlust

Samantha Hamilton is the Creator & Writer at New England Wanderlust .

She has two top tips that she always recommends when giving people advice on upcoming epic trips.

Must-See Attractions Are Often Still Worth It

Social media can often make it feel like certain places are “overdone” and “too touristy,” but let’s face it: places like these are popular for a reason! Sure, not all the top-rated attractions around the world may be worth it for you, but if it’s your dream to see the Eiffel Tower in Paris, you shouldn’t be discouraged because people refer to it as “touristy.” Everyone is a tourist at some point in their lives, and this word isn’t always bad, nor should it prevent you from seeing everything in the world you want to see. Embrace being a tourist and do everything you want to do!

It’s Okay to Relax While Traveling!

When I first started to travel, I would cram my itinerary with activities all day long and leave virtually no time to wander around a new city or town to soak it all in. It’s okay if that’s your travel style, but I encourage everyone to schedule at least a half or full day in each destination where you have no plans and see where the day takes you. Grab lunch in a cafรฉ you stumbled upon, allow time to get lost, and experience the destination like a local. Since I’ve started doing this while traveling, I’ve gained a bigger appreciation for the destination and its people and have felt more rested and relaxed.

I also always say it’s okay to nap and rest while traveling. I used to feel so guilty about this because I was worried about the things I wouldn’t see if I spent any time napping. But international travel can be hard on the body, and even just an hour-long nap will allow you to feel more energized and probably enjoy the rest of your trip more than if you pushed through feeling tired and run-down. Keeping up with sleep is also a good way to keep your immune system strong and prevent catching colds while traveling!

O pen Road Odysseys โ€“ Expert Travel Planning Tips

Open-Road-Odysseys-Profile-Pic-Square

Stefanie Henne writes at Open Road Odysseys . Open Road Odysseys aims to inspire anyone with a desire for adventure that an unforgettable road trip IS possible no matter your budget or timeframe! Whether heading out for a weekend getaway or taking that bucket list trip of a lifetime, this blog has all the tools, tips, and knowledge you need to hit the open road and have an incredible vacation!

Get Your Car Inspected Prior to a Road Trip

If you are taking a road trip, make sure you get your car looked over by a mechanic before you head out. Get the oil changed, tires rotated, all fluids topped off, and windshield wipers checked. You don’t want to discover your vehicle has a problem once you are on the road.

Get Your Home Ready For Departure

Make a list of things you must do around your home before leaving. This could include putting your mail on hold, watering your plants, putting together a list of info for your pet sitter, or leaving a key with your neighbor. We tend to worry about these things when we are away, so creating a list ahead of time and ensuring the items are done will get your house in order before you go on vacation.

Life in Rural Franc e โ€“ Expert Travel Planning Tips

life-in-rural-france-kylie-lottie

Kylie Langโ€™s blog is Life in Rural France . Life in Rural France is all about French rural life, being an expat in France, and traveling around this amazing country โ€“ especially the South West region.

Her raison dโ€™รชtre is to help you discover the โ€˜real Franceโ€˜ with its culture, history, good food, and wonderful wine.

Plan a Mystery Day

Allocate one day of your trip as a ‘mystery day’ where you don’t plan anything in advance. Instead, on that day, ask locals for recommendations or choose activities based on local flyers or posters you come across. I’ve found that this leads to some lovely, unexpected, and memorable experiences not found in guidebooks.

Explore Local Markets Early in the Morning

Visiting local markets can be an excellent way to immerse yourself in the local culture, but try going early in the morning. This is when you’ll see local life’s real hustle and bustle, and you might get to interact with local vendors before the crowds arrive.

Writt en By Kel โ€“ Expert Travel Planning Tips

writtenbykel-kelena

Kelena Lee runs the travel blog Written By Kel .

Kelena is a part-time travel blogger with dreams of being a full-time travel blogger. Her blog is mostly about her home, Vancouver/British Columbia, but she also talks about Canada and occasionally other places she has visited.

Invest in a Long Raincoat

My first one is investing in a long raincoat if traveling to a rainy city or country. Nothing is worse than being thoroughly soaked from the legs down. I’m from Vancouver, or “Raincouver,” and I see all types of raincoats and jackets people wear. Usually, I found the people who do better in the rain are the ones with a longer raincoat. I have a longer raincoat and a normal short one. I love both, but I grab my longer one when it’s pouring out because it keeps me a lot drier.

Helly Hansen Women's Long Belfast Waterproof Windproof Breathable Raincoat Jacket with Hood, 597 Navy, Medium

Wear Your Heavy Clothes to the Airport

My second tip is to wear everything heavy or big to the airport so you only have a carry-on. Got a big jacket? Wear it on the plane. Packing a hoodie? Wear it on the plane. It will also save you space in your suitcase for other things.

Our Campfire Unplugged โ€“ Expert Travel Planning Tips

Our-Campfire-Unplugged

Michael Lynch is the chief navigator behind Our Campfire Unplugged . The quintessential weekend warriors squeeze every ounce of adventure into their days off.

They love sharing their adventures and learnings to help fellow RV travelers and explorers maximize their visits to some of America’s best National and State Parks!

Use a Large Paper Map or Atlas to Plan Your Travel Route

I love using paper for this initial planning process because I can visualize our route. I can plan the major stops where we will stay for several days and explore and the minor stops where we will stay overnight en route to our major destinations.

Utilize Online Resources to Understand the Good and Bad of Campgrounds

Campground websites often showcase the very best pictures on the best days ever. We view the web as our toolbox to validate the quality of the RV campground. Google, Yelp, Content Creators, and RV Life all help us secure excellent campgrounds for our adventures.

Learn to Use AllTrails to Plan Hiking Adventures Before Venturing into the Woods

Splurge on the paid version to save and download trails you want to hike before visiting the area. The best part about this feature is that once you are at the National Park or where your destination is, you can access your listing, begin navigation, and turn your phone to airplane mode and low battery to conserve power!

Defining Decade โ€“ Expert Travel Planning Tips

Olivia-McDonald_Defining-Decade

Olivia McDonald runs the blog Defining Decade . It’s a passport to a transformative journey through your twenties.

From wanderlust-inspiring adventures to actionable insights, join Olivia in making the most of this defining decade of life.

Download Travel Apps Before Traveling

Download your apps before you go: The key apps I recommend are local transport apps, for example, Uber, Kakao, or Grab, depending on your destination, Google Translate, Google Maps for downloading offline maps, Currency App, and your airline app for checking into flights and accessing entertainment. 

Travel Rewards Credit Card

Get a travel credit card to earn sign-up bonuses to redeem miles and points for free flights, flight upgrades, hotel stays, and more. Collecting points is how I can fly business class for free (excluding taxes), and let me tell you, itโ€™s a game changer!

Chaseย Sapphireย Preferred ย โ€“ Earnย  60,000 bonus points ย after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Click to learn about the current promotion offered by Chase.

Teach Travel Discover โ€“ Expert Travel Planning Tips

teach-travel-discover

Sully Montero is a Romance Travel Advisor with   Teach Travel Discove r .   Sully works with couples planning their destination weddings, honeymoons, or romantic getaways. Posts on the site are typically related to planning these romantic adventures, focusing on taking vacations or traveling based around romance or couples. 

She recently published a blog post titled   “ Planning a Romantic Getaway? Avoid These Mistakes When You Travel Together!” Sully shares two travel tips highlighted from the post regarding traveling with your partner.

Focus on Your Partner When Planning a Romantic Getaway

First, a perfect romantic getaway feels easy, seamless, and uncomplicated, and my advice for a smooth trip is to keep it simple. It can be tempting to book all the tours, plan all the excursions, and schedule every minute of your vacation time. But the point of romantic travel isnโ€™t the destination โ€“ itโ€™s your partner. When you avoid overscheduling, you encourage fun, flexibility, spontaneity – and all the romance those things bring!

Get Out of Your Comfort Zone

The best kind of romantic travel exposes you to new experiences. And who better to navigate those new experiences with than your partner? When you try new โ€“ and maybe even scary โ€“ things together as a couple, you improve communication, strengthen your bond, and excite your relationship. 

Voices of Travel โ€“ Expert Travel Planning Tips

Voices of Travel image

Nicoletta is the owner and author of Voices of Travel – travel itinerary and language blog. This blog helps people plan and organize travel itineraries. She provides many sample itineraries so her clients can skip the boring and time-consuming planning process, take the itinerary, and hit the road. Her blog also teaches travelers how to learn languages for travel in a fun and easy way to connect with locals and have better travel experiences.

Match Personal Interests with Destinations

Write down all your interests and look for activities in a destination you plan to visit that match your interests.

Plan the Days Needed For Each Destination

Use a paper and write down how many days you plan to spend in the destination (write 1. day, 2. day, 3. day – distribute all activities you want to do into the days)

Plan Efficient Ways to Get Between Locations During Travel

Research how to get from one place to another most efficiently so you can spend less time on the road and more time enjoying the activities – find travel passes in the country that will give you flexibility in your travel plans.

Wandering Michigan Wisconsin โ€“ Expert Travel Planning Tips

www.wanderingmichiganwisconsin.com

Mary Rowland runs the travel blog Wandering Michigan Wisconsin .

She is a Michigan native who now calls Central Wisconsin home and is excited to show you all that this area of the United States has to offer. Her site helps travelers looking for outdoor adventures or unique places in Michigan and Wisconsin.

Ferry Around Large Bodies of Water

Mary Rowland provides tips for travelers moving around large bodies of water. For example, traveling across Lake Michigan between Michigan and Wisconsin via a high-speed 2-1/2 hours car ferry is less stressful, especially from central Michigan to central Wisconsin.

The Places Where We Go โ€“ Expert Travel Planning Tips

Weโ€™re thankful for all of our contributors and the breadth of travel planning tips they brought to share with our community. And weโ€™d like to join this party too with a top tip.

Follow Your Roots

Listeners of our podcast will be familiar with our frequent travel itineraries influenced by our genealogical research. Hunting down who our ancestors were and where they lived has shaped our travel selections. We never would have visited Raglan Castle in Wales or the Trenchard Museum of RAF Halton without learning how our family’s personal story connects to these places. And there are many more similar destinations we’ve experienced following our roots.

So, we suggest exploring your personal story. You probably have ancestors whose journeys you can trace today. With the advent of DNA tools such as Ancestry.com, it’s never been easier to trace one’s lineage. Research your family tree and plan an adventure to see where your ancestors lived.

Commit Dates to Your Calendar

One of the best ways to ensure your dream travel happens is to mark off dates on your calendar reserved for your travel adventure.

Once you set the dates on your calendar, you can avoid booking conflicting appointments that will keep you from leaving home. Youโ€™ll know to tell others that youโ€™re unavailable during your reserved dates.  Then, you can begin the process of planning your trip.

Interestingly, we still have many places to discover close to home that we tell ourselves year after year; maybe weโ€™ll do it this year.  In our local backyard, a few examples that come to mind include sailing out to the Channel Islands, visiting a few local community museums, and logging more miles on the California Mission Trail.

All it takes is to set a marker on the calendar as the date to do planned activities.  OK โ€“ thatโ€™s it โ€“ calendar, here we come!

Thanks for reading this compilation of top travel planning tips. We hope you’ve picked up some helpful information to plan your future travel adventures.

Julie & Art #traveltips

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Art Dobrucki is a travel writer and podcast host for The Places Where We Go. With his wife Julie, they bring their travel stories to curious travelers to inspire adventures. Art is also a composer and keyboardist with several albums to his credit. Check out more information on our About Us page.

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Guide Your Travel

Travel Planning: 9 Steps To Set Up The Perfect Itinerary

tips for travel planning

Niklas Forstreuter

  • May 21, 2022

Travel planning can be a tedious and time-consuming process. Whether youโ€™re planning a weekend trip to a city, a two-week holiday in a beach town or a two-month backpacking trip youโ€™ll want to see as much as possible without wasting time or money. Over the years weโ€™ve developed a strategy for setting up the perfect itinerary and doing travel planning as effectively and quickly as possible. With these 9 steps planning your next trip will be easy and you wonโ€™t find yourself missing out on any attractions. If you usually struggle to set up an efficient itinerary or find yourself wishing youโ€™d have done more on your trip then this is the post for you. Keep reading to read or step by step travel planning guide to find out how to change the way you plan your trips.

This post may contain affiliate links, which means we’ll receive a commission if you purchase through our links at no extra cost to you. This helps us keep Guide Your Travel free and provide high-quality content for you. Please read the full disclaimer for more information.

tips for travel planning

WHY TRAVEL PLANNING MATTERS

Even if youโ€™re not a fan of spreadsheets and exact travel itineraries a bit of planning can really help give you the best travel experience. Most people either find themselves over-planning and never completing their itineraries or not doing any research at all and missing out on the best things to do and see. Have you ever sat in your hotel room googling what to do in the city youโ€™re visiting, wasting time and ending up disappointed when you run out of time to see everything? While you can definitely find fun things to do on the go you shouldnโ€™t rely on everything just working out. Just a few hours of planning will really take your trip to the next level.

Another reason why we love to encourage travellers to do their research before they go is to avoid disappointment. If youโ€™re flying to Bali expecting it to look like Eat Pray Love that will probably not be the case. If youโ€™ve carefully set up your itinerary and done some planning youโ€™ll know that Bali is actually quite touristy and that you should go to specific areas to find the tranquillity and peacefulness you might be looking for.

Read more about how we tend to idealise how places are supposed to look in the  first part of out Paradoxes of Tourism series here.

ARE THESE STEPS USEFUL FOR EVERY TRIP?

While we love travel planning (we think itโ€™s almost as fun as the actual trip) we do realise that not everyone does. Plus, over-planning might actually make your experience worse which youโ€™ll want to avoid of course. If you make your itinerary too packed and leave no time for spontaneous activities you might miss out on the best parts of travelling. Plus, travel is meant to inspire you to experience a new place. No one can truly enjoy the present if theyโ€™re constantly referring to a schedule.

This guide on how to set up your travel itinerary will mostly apply to trips where youโ€™re trying to see a lot in a short period of time. If youโ€™re on a two-week beach vacation to simply relax and enjoy yourself then too much planning will not be helpful. If youโ€™re number one goal for your trip is to get away for a bit then, by all means, ignore everything this article says and ditch the itineraries. However, you might still benefit from some research before you go. Even if youโ€™re only planning to lay by the pool or go to the beach the entire time you might find it interesting what there is to see and do around you just in case you get bored.

tips for travel planning

9 STEPS TO SET UP THE PERFECT ITINERARY

Here are 9 steps we love to use to plan and set up an itinerary.

drone shot aesthetic background white gray dots blobs shapes blue water boats walkway Guide your Travel blog

Let me save you time and effort when you’re travel planning! โžผ Best travel insurance? SafetyWing โžผ Best place to find cheap flights? Skyscanner โžผ Best bank & credit card for travellers? Wise โžผ Best travel backpack? Osprey Farpoint 70

1. PICK YOUR DESTINATION

The first step of travel planning is, of course, picking your destination. This will usually be an easy step if youโ€™ve already booked your flight or know you want to travel to a certain place. If youโ€™re not sure where youโ€™ll be going you should do some research online for fun new destinations to try.  Check out this blog post if youโ€™re stuck on this step.

Your destination choice will affect your itinerary a lot. Planning a trip to a larger city, for example, is usually more work than setting up an itinerary for a beach vacation. If youโ€™re planning to see multiple places on one trip now is the time to consider how long you want to spend in each one.

tips for travel planning

2. DECIDE YOUR TIME-FRAME

If youโ€™re planning a big trip you will most likely have limited time available. Itโ€™s important to keep in mind how much time youโ€™ll have to see a place when youโ€™re planning your itinerary. There is no use in planning a big trip when you only have a few days so set up your itinerary wisely.

3. CONSIDER WHERE YOUโ€™RE STAYING

Booking your accommodation and doing research for what you want to do in a certain place should go hand in hand. You donโ€™t want to blindly book a hotel or hostel in a new city without knowing first where the main attractions are. Consider your budget and always check if the accommodation youโ€™re choosing is close to public transport.

If youโ€™re not too worried about your budget you might be staying in a really nice hotel or apartment. For resort-style trips, youโ€™ll want to keep in mind that you might be spending a considerable amount of time at your hotel. This is important when you plan your itinerary so that you donโ€™t end up missing out on the amazing amenities youโ€™re paying for.

Always compare prices for hotels. We at Guide Your Travel prefer Booking.com , Agoda or Hostelworld for finding the best deals.

tips for travel planning

4. DO THE RESEARCH AND LOOK AT EXAMPLES

Now that you know where youโ€™re going, where youโ€™re staying and for how long itโ€™s time to do some research on the destination youโ€™re seeing. This is where travel blogs can be incredibly helpful. The advantage of doing travel research and planning online is that you can always find up-to-date and relevant information plus you can make use of reviews from people who have already been there. All for free!

Googling โ€œWhat to do inโ€ or โ€œThings to do inโ€ is really helpful and will show you tons of fun activities and must-see places. Looking at sample itineraries will also really help you get an idea of what is realistic to see in one day.

Travel Tips Blog Guide your Travel

5. MAKE A LIST

Next, we love to make a big list of all the things weโ€™re interested in seeing on our trip. This can be a very rough list with places you come across during your research. You can keep adding to it as you go. This list will be really helpful to organise yourself and make sure youโ€™re not missing out on anything. If you feel up for it you can create a subsection for places to eat which will be really helpful to refer to later if youโ€™re struggling to find a place for lunch or dinner.

tips for travel planning

6. MAKE A MAP

A list is great to get an overview of what you want to see but itโ€™s not the best way of planning an itinerary. You want to avoid wasting too much time on needless transportation between places so setting up your itinerary in an efficient way is really important. That way you avoid having to go back and forth between areas or forgetting to see a place while you are close by.

We usually take our list of things to do in a place and then transfer them to Google Maps. You can use the  โ€œMy Mapsโ€  function as a travel planning tool to make sure you always have your map with you everywhere you go and can keep it as a reference for the future. Our itineraries on  Guide your Travel  usually include such an interactive map that is easy to add to your phone. That way you get to skip all the previous steps and save yourself time with a ready-to-go map that includes all the important attractions.

Once youโ€™ve added all the items from your list onto a map you should have a pretty good idea where all the places of interest are. This is probably the most important step on this list and will truly help you set up an organised and efficient itinerary.

Check out the map of San Sebastiรกn below as an example.

Check out the best things to do in San Sebastian, Spain

7. LOOK AT TRANSPORT

Your next job is to look at your map and find out how far apart everything is and how youโ€™re going to get from Point A to Point B. Some distances you may be able to walk, for others you might need public transport or a car. Donโ€™t forget about places that are further away and might require a day-trip. If that is the case and youโ€™ll be spending an entire day getting to one attraction you might want to look at other places of interest nearby. That way you can see more things at once and get the most out of your trip.

tips for travel planning

8. SET PRIORITIES

Unfortunately, travellers rarely have enough time to see everything they want to see. Itโ€™s likely that your list of things to do is too long and youโ€™ll have to set some priorities. At this point itโ€™s really useful to colour code your list (and map) to get an idea of what you donโ€™t want to miss and what you could maybe leave out. You can still keep these ideas in your list for your next trip.

9. PLAN YOUR ITINERARY

Lastly, you finally have all the tools you need to set up your itinerary. Gather the points on your map into little groups of things you want to do in one day. Do some research on how long youโ€™ll approximately be spending at each one and whatโ€™s realistic to do in a day. Plan the things that are important to you first and add the others around them. Give big attractions their own day and donโ€™t plan to see the most important thing on the last day in case you canโ€™t for some reason. Most importantly, donโ€™t stress yourself out too much and avoid over-planning. Here are some tips to keep in mind while you plan your itinerary.

TIPS AND TRICKS FOR PLANNING YOUR TRIP

Be conservative.

Donโ€™t make your time-schedule too tight. If youโ€™re planning your day in 30-minute chunks starting at 7:00 am youโ€™re most likely doing something wrong. If youโ€™re running from place to place just to see everything wonโ€™t leave you with much time to enjoy any of it. Go back to step number 8 and take some things off your list if youโ€™re feeling like there wonโ€™t be enough time.

tips for travel planning

LEAVE ROOM FOR SPONTANEOUS ACTIVITIES

The best parts of travelling are often the things you didnโ€™t plan. Use these steps to plan a rough itinerary but avoid making a set time schedule. Youโ€™ll want to use your map and list to get a rough idea of which attractions are close together but not to plan your day minute by minute. Definitely leave room for spontaneous activities and unplanned exploring.

FACTOR IN TRANSPORT

Keep in mind how long it will take you to get from one place to another. This is especially important for day-trips. Again, over-stuffing your itinerary is not a good idea especially if youโ€™ll be spending a good chunk of your day on a bus or in a taxi.

Top tip: Looking for the best car rental deals? Check out Discover Cars

FACTOR IN DOWNTIME

Sightseeing is exhausting. Youโ€™ll most likely be too ambitious when planning your itinerary and will end up tired and unmotivated to go out and see more. Everyone knows that point of your trip when all you want to do is lie on your bed in the hotel room and not do anything for a few hours. Leaving some time in the afternoons to rest for a few hours can really help you regain that energy.

tips for travel planning

FACTOR IN BAD WEATHER

Itโ€™s useful to keep in mind which attractions can be seen during bad weather and which canโ€™t. When it comes closer to your trip and you can see the weather forecast you should take some time to adjust your itinerary if there is going to be rain.

FACTOR IN WAITING TIMES

If youโ€™re seeing big attractions like a famous landmark or a museum there will most likely be waiting times. These can be several hours and might mess up your plan for the day and itinerary. Always keep in mind that you might have to wait for a while before you go see a place.

tips for travel planning

FACTOR IN OPENING HOURS AND BUSY TIMES

Opening hours are another thing people tend to forget about when planning their itinerary. Some places close in the early afternoon or are only open on certain days of the week. Always do research on this before you go. Another thing to keep in mind is that every tourist will want to visit the main attractions during the same time of day. To avoid long waiting times and huge crowds you should make sure to visit popular places early in the morning.

LOOK AT THE WEEKDAYS AND SPECIAL EVENTS

Finally research public holidays or special events before you go. Opening hours might be different on those days which is good to keep in mind. In general, places are a lot more busy on the weekends so try to see the attractions that are important to you during the week. However, if youโ€™re planning to experience the local nightlife you should make sure to do so on the weekend for a more fun experience.

My most important travel tips and resources

Book your flights Skyscanner is the best website for finding cheap flights since it works like a search engine, so you can find the best deals across all airlines. Book hotels and hostels โ€ข Booking.com : Best worldwide โ€ข Agoda : Best in South East Asia โ€ข Hostelworld : Best for hostels Book tours, transport and rental cars โ€ข Viator : The best place to book tours, day trips and excursions for all budgets โ€ข 12Go : Great for ferries, trains, transfers and buses in South East Asia โ€ข Discover Cars : Best deals for rental cars around the word Get travel insurance Every traveller needs travel insurance, and I mean every single one. SafetyWing covers you in case of injury, illness or worse, and they’ve got your back if your bag is stolen, flights are cancelled or in case of a natural disaster. Pay abroad Ask any traveller, Wise is the best choice when it comes to sending money abroad. They’ve always got the best exchange rates, lowest fees, and their visa card is great for getting cash out or paying abroad. Things every traveller needs: โžผ Osprey Farpoint 70 Backpack Detachable daypack, ultra-light, durable and free repairs for life. There’s a reason why so many backpackers have this bag. โžผ Packing Cubes Packing cubes are a gamer changer, keeping your luggage organised and providing tons of extra space. โžผ Power bank There is nothing worse than running out of battery on an overnight bus journey or a long flight. With a power bank, you can charge your electronics on the go and make sure you’re always connected. โžผ Micro-fibre towel These lightweight towels are foldable, fast-drying, and, so useful when you’re travelling. โžผ You can find 15 more things every traveller needs here . Some might be a bit controversial, but I warned you!

Did I miss anything? If you have any questions or feel like something is missing from this post, please leave a comment below orย  contact me .

Niklas Forstreuter

Welcome to Guide your Travel!

tips for travel planning

Hi! Iโ€™m Victoria, a travel blogger from Germany and the author of Guide your Travel. I write about my favourite destinations in Europe, South East Asia and digital nomad life in Bali.

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tips for travel planning

Hi, I'm Victoria

Welcome to Guide your Travel – a blog about South East Asia and how to travel on a budget.

I’m a blogger, writer and photographer and love to introduce my favourite destinations to others and encourage them to see the world.

I’m originally from Germany but spent four years living in the UK, quite a bit of time in Spain and Malaysia, and am now travelling full time with a home base in Bali, Indonesia.

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  • Travel Tips

How To Plan A Trip: An Easy Travel Planning Guide

Published: November 16, 2023

Modified: December 28, 2023

by Rodi Kindle

  • Plan Your Trip

how-to-plan-a-trip-an-easy-travel-planning-guide

Introduction

Planning a trip can be both exciting and overwhelming. Whether you’re embarking on a solo adventure, a romantic getaway, or a family vacation, careful planning is crucial to ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience. From choosing the perfect destination to booking flights and accommodations, travel planning requires careful consideration of various factors. In this easy travel planning guide, we’ll walk you through the essential steps to plan your trip effectively.

Travel planning allows you to make the most of your time and resources, ensuring that you don’t miss out on any must-visit attractions or experiences. By following these recommendations and tips, you’ll be well-prepared to create a memorable and stress-free travel itinerary.

Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or this is your first time planning a trip, this guide will provide you with valuable insights and practical advice to help you make the most out of your travel experience. So, let’s dive into the essential steps of travel planning and get ready for your next adventure!

Step 1: Determine your destination

The first step in planning any trip is deciding on the destination. Consider your interests, preferences, and the type of experience you’re seeking. Do you want to relax on a tropical beach, explore historic landmarks, immerse yourself in a different culture, or embark on an outdoor adventure? Research various destinations and make a list of places that align with your interests.

Factors to consider when choosing a destination include the time of year, weather conditions, and your budget. If you’re traveling during peak tourist season, popular destinations may be crowded and prices for flights and accommodations could be higher. Alternatively, visiting during the off-peak season may offer more affordable options and fewer crowds.

Think about the distance you’re willing to travel and the transportation options available to reach your chosen destination. Consider whether you prefer a domestic or international trip, and take into account any visa requirements or travel restrictions.

Furthermore, take the time to research the safety and political situation of your potential destinations. Check for any travel advisories or warnings issued by your government, and read reviews from other travelers to gain insight into the current state of your desired location.

Ultimately, the choice of your destination should align with your interests, budget, and the kind of experience you’re looking for. Once you have narrowed down your options, you can move on to the next step of the planning process.

Step 2: Set a budget

Setting a budget is an essential step in travel planning as it helps you determine how much you can realistically spend on your trip. Consider your financial situation and allocate funds for transportation, accommodations, meals, activities, and any other expenses that may arise during your journey.

Start by determining how much you are willing to spend overall on your trip. This will give you a rough estimate of how much you can allocate to each aspect of your travel, such as flights, accommodation, and daily expenses.

Research the average costs of your chosen destination to get an idea of how much you need to budget. Take into account the cost of living, transportation, attractions, and dining options in the area. Consider whether you prefer a luxurious or budget-friendly experience, and adjust your budget accordingly.

Be sure to factor in any additional expenses such as travel insurance, visa fees, and transportation to and from the airport. It’s also important to set aside some extra funds for unexpected expenses or emergencies that may arise during your trip.

Consider ways to save money during your trip. Look for deals on flights and accommodations, consider alternative modes of transportation such as buses or trains, and opt for budget-friendly dining options like street food or local eateries.

Keep track of your expenses as you plan and throughout your journey. This will help you stay within your budget and make adjustments if necessary. Use online travel budget calculators or mobile apps to assist you in managing your finances effectively.

Remember, setting a budget allows you to plan your trip within your means and ensures that you can fully enjoy your travel experience without financial stress. So, take the time to assess your expenses and allocate your funds wisely before moving on to the next step of travel planning.

Step 3: Decide on the duration of your trip

Deciding on the duration of your trip is an important step in travel planning as it helps you determine how much time you can allocate to each destination and activity. Consider your schedule, budget, and the attractions you want to explore.

Start by assessing the amount of time you can take off from work or other commitments. Take into account any travel restrictions or visa limitations that may affect the duration of your trip.

If you have a specific destination in mind, research the recommended duration for visiting that location. Some places may require a longer stay to fully experience their culture, attractions, and activities, while others can be explored in a shorter timeframe.

Consider your travel pace and personal preferences. Do you prefer a leisurely trip with plenty of downtime, or do you prefer a fast-paced adventure packed with sightseeing? Factor in travel time and any jet lag that may affect your energy levels upon arrival.

If you plan to visit multiple destinations, allocate sufficient time for each location based on your interests and the activities you wish to engage in. Remember to account for travel time between destinations and consider the feasibility of fitting everything into your desired timeframe.

Keep in mind that a longer trip may require a larger budget due to increased accommodation, dining, and transportation costs. Balance your desire to spend more time in certain locations with the overall cost of your trip.

Once you have determined the duration of your trip, you can move on to the next steps of travel planning, such as researching and gathering information about your chosen destinations and booking flights or transportation.

Remember, the duration of your trip should align with your interests, budget, and available time off. So, take the time to carefully consider these factors to ensure a well-balanced travel experience.

Step 4: Research and gather information about your destination

Researching and gathering information about your destination is a crucial step in travel planning. It allows you to familiarize yourself with the local culture, attractions, customs, and practical information essential for a smooth and enriching travel experience.

Start by reading travel guides, online resources, and blogs to gather insights about your chosen destination. Look for information about popular tourist sites, local customs, transportation options, safety precautions, and visa requirements.

Check out travel forums and social media groups to connect with fellow travelers who have been to your destination. Seek their advice, recommendations, and firsthand experiences to gain valuable insights and tips.

Research the best time to visit your destination. Consider factors such as weather conditions, peak tourist seasons, and any festivals or events that may be happening during your trip. This information will help you plan your itinerary and determine which attractions or activities to prioritize.

Learn about the local culture and customs. Familiarize yourself with local greetings, etiquette, clothing norms, and any specific cultural practices or taboos. This will help you show respect to the local community and avoid any cultural misunderstandings.

Research transportation options within your destination. Find out about public transportation systems, availability of rental cars, and the cost of taxis or ridesharing services. Knowing how to get around will help you save time and money during your trip.

Look for recommendations on accommodations, dining options, and local cuisines. Read reviews and compare prices to find the best options that fit your preferences and budget. Consider the proximity of your accommodation to major attractions and amenities.

Make a list of the top attractions and activities you want to experience. Prioritize them based on your interests and available time. Research entry fees, operating hours, and any restrictions or reservations required for certain attractions.

By conducting thorough research and gathering information about your destination, you’ll be well-prepared to create an itinerary, make informed decisions, and make the most out of your travel experience.

So take the time to delve into the details and immerse yourself in the charm and wonders your chosen destination has to offer.

Step 5: Book flights or transportation

Once you have determined your destination and gathered information about it, it’s time to book your flights or transportation. This step is crucial, as it often affects your budget and can impact the overall logistics of your trip.

If you’re planning to travel by air, start by researching flights to your destination. Use flight comparison websites or online travel agencies to find the best deals and compare prices. Consider factors such as flight duration, layovers, and airline reputation.

Flexibility in your travel dates can help you find cheaper flights. Consider flying during off-peak seasons or on weekdays, as prices tend to be lower during these times. Be sure to book your flights well in advance to secure the best rates.

If you’re traveling by other means of transportation, such as trains, buses, or ferries, research the schedules, fares, and availability. Look for reliable booking platforms or official websites of transportation providers to make your reservations.

Consider the proximity of your accommodation to the airport or transportation hubs. It’s convenient to choose accommodations that offer easy access to public transportation or provide shuttle services to and from the airport.

When booking your flights or transportation, it’s essential to consider travel insurance. Travel insurance provides coverage for unexpected events such as flight cancellations, delays, or medical emergencies. Consider purchasing travel insurance to protect yourself and your investment.

Before finalizing your bookings, double-check the details to ensure accuracy. Verify the departure and arrival dates, times, and terminals. Make note of any luggage restrictions or additional fees that may apply.

Once your flights or transportation are booked, it’s a good idea to set up travel alerts or notifications to stay updated with any changes or delays. Save electronic copies of your itineraries, e-tickets, or reservation confirmations for easy access during your trip.

Booking your flights or transportation early ensures that you have the best options available and allows you to focus on other aspects of your travel planning.

So, take the time to research and make your bookings, ensuring a smooth and seamless journey to your destination.

Step 6: Find accommodation

Finding suitable accommodation is a crucial step in travel planning as it directly impacts your comfort and overall experience during your trip. Here are some steps to help you find the perfect accommodation.

1. Determine your budget: Set a budget for your accommodation. Consider how much you are willing to spend per night and allocate a portion of your overall trip budget to accommodations.

2. Research the options: Use online travel platforms and booking websites to explore various types of accommodations. Consider factors such as location, amenities, and reviews from previous guests.

3. Consider your preferences: Determine the type of accommodation that suits your needs. Options include hotels, hostels, guesthouses, vacation rentals, or even unconventional options such as homestays or house swaps.

4. Location: Consider the location of the accommodation in relation to your planned activities and attractions. It’s convenient to stay in a central location or near public transportation for easy access to the places you want to visit.

5. Read reviews: Take the time to read reviews from previous guests to get an understanding of the quality and service provided by the accommodation. Look out for any common issues or concerns mentioned in the reviews.

6. Compare prices: Compare prices of different accommodations that fit your criteria. Consider any added charges or fees, such as resort fees or taxes, when comparing prices to ensure you are getting the best value for your money.

7. Book in advance: Once you have found the perfect accommodation, book it as soon as possible to secure your reservation. Popular accommodations can fill up quickly, especially during peak seasons.

8. Check the cancellation policy: Before making your reservation, carefully read and understand the cancellation policy of the accommodation. This will help you navigate any potential changes or cancellations in your travel plans.

9. Contact the accommodation: If you have any specific requests or questions, reach out to the accommodation directly. This could include inquiries about special amenities, room preferences, or any other concerns you may have.

10. Confirm your booking: After making your reservation, double-check your booking confirmation for accuracy. Take note of any important information, such as check-in and check-out times or any special instructions given by the accommodation.

By following these steps, you can find the perfect accommodation that meets your needs, budget, and preferences, ensuring a comfortable and enjoyable stay during your trip.

So take the time to explore your options and secure your ideal accommodation in advance.

Step 7: Create an itinerary

Creating an itinerary is an essential step in travel planning as it helps you organize your time, prioritize your activities, and make the most out of your trip. Here’s how to create an effective itinerary:

1. Identify your must-see attractions: Make a list of the top attractions or activities you don’t want to miss in your chosen destination. Research their opening hours, ticket prices, and any specific requirements.

2. Consider time and logistics: Take into account the duration of your trip and the time it takes to travel between attractions. Be realistic about how many activities you can fit into each day, allowing for breaks and downtime.

3. Prioritize your interests: Determine your main areas of interest – whether it’s historical sites, museums, outdoor activities, or cultural experiences. Allocate more time for the activities or attractions that align with your interests.

4. Plan for flexibility: While it’s important to have a schedule, leave room for spontaneity and unexpected discoveries. It’s impossible to predict everything, so allow yourself time to explore and embrace new experiences.

5. Group activities by proximity: Cluster activities or attractions that are located close to each other. This will help you maximize your time and reduce travel time between destinations.

6. Consider the local culture: Take into account any cultural or religious practices that may affect the opening hours or availability of certain attractions. Plan your itinerary accordingly to make the most of your visit.

7. Explore local cuisine: Include time for trying local dishes and exploring different dining options. Research popular local foods or restaurants in each area you plan to visit and add them to your itinerary.

8. Pace yourself: Avoid overloading your itinerary with too many activities in a short amount of time. Give yourself time to relax and enjoy the surroundings. Remember, quality experiences are better than rushing through a long list of attractions.

9. Utilize travel apps and resources: Make use of travel apps or websites that offer itinerary planning tools or suggestions for your destination. These resources can help you create a well-structured and efficient itinerary.

10. Be mindful of your energy levels: Take into consideration your own energy levels and travel preferences. Avoid cramming too many strenuous activities in a row, and allow for rest or leisurely exploration.

Remember that an itinerary is a tool to guide you, but it’s okay to deviate from the plan if you discover new opportunities or if unexpected circumstances arise. Flexibility and spontaneity can lead to unexpected joy and memorable experiences.

So, take the time to create a thoughtful and well-balanced itinerary that allows you to fully enjoy your trip and make the most out of your chosen destination.

Step 8: Pack your bags

Packing your bags is a crucial step in travel planning, ensuring that you have everything you need for a comfortable and enjoyable trip. Here’s how to pack efficiently:

1. Make a packing list: Create a comprehensive packing list to ensure you don’t forget any essentials. Include clothing, toiletries, travel documents, electronics, and any other items you may need.

2. Check the weather: Research the weather conditions of your destination during the time of your visit. Pack appropriate clothing and accessories, such as jackets, hats, or sunscreen, to suit the climate.

3. Pack versatile clothing: Opt for clothing items that can be mixed and matched easily. Choose neutral colors and versatile pieces that can be dressed up or down to maximize outfit options while minimizing luggage weight.

4. Consider local customs: Take into account the cultural or dress norms of your destination. Pack appropriate clothing that respects local customs, especially if you plan to visit religious sites or conservative areas.

5. Pack travel-sized toiletries: To save space and comply with carry-on restrictions, transfer your toiletries into travel-sized containers. Remember to adhere to airline regulations regarding liquid quantities.

6. Organize your belongings: Use packing cubes or separate bags to categorize and organize your clothes and belongings. This will not only keep your suitcase tidy but also make it easier to find what you need during your trip.

7. Keep important documents together: Gather all your travel documents, including passports, tickets, accommodation reservations, and any necessary visas. Keep them in a secure and easily accessible place.

8. Pack essential electronics: Bring along the necessary electronics for your trip, such as smartphones, cameras, chargers, and adapters. Consider the voltage requirements of your destination and pack the appropriate adapters.

9. Don’t forget medication and first aid: If you take any prescription medications, ensure that you have an ample supply for the duration of your trip. Pack a basic first aid kit with essentials like band-aids, pain relievers, and any necessary medications.

10. Travel with essential valuables: Keep your valuable items, such as cash, credit cards, and jewelry, in a secure bag or pouch that you can carry with you at all times. Consider using a money belt or a hidden travel wallet for added security.

Remember to pack light and avoid overpacking, as it can be cumbersome and may incur additional luggage fees. Consider doing a trial pack beforehand to ensure that everything fits and that your luggage is within weight restrictions.

By following these packing tips, you’ll be well-prepared for your trip, ensuring that you have everything you need while avoiding the stress of overpacking. So, pack smart and travel with convenience and peace of mind.

Step 9: Plan your meals and dining options

Planning your meals and dining options is an important step in travel planning, especially if you’re a food lover or have specific dietary requirements. Here’s how to make the most of your culinary experiences during your trip:

1. Research local cuisine: Familiarize yourself with the local cuisine of your destination. Look for signature dishes, traditional specialties, and popular food markets or street food scenes. Researching local cuisine beforehand allows you to anticipate and embrace the flavors of your chosen destination.

2. Make a dining wish list: Create a list of restaurants, cafes, or food stalls that you’re interested in trying. Read reviews, consult travel guides, or seek recommendations from locals and fellow travelers. Prioritize your list based on your preferences and budget.

3. Consider dietary restrictions: If you have specific dietary restrictions or allergies, research restaurants or eateries that cater to your needs. Look for places with gluten-free, vegetarian, or vegan options, and ensure that you communicate your dietary requirements clearly when ordering.

4. Explore local markets: Visit local markets or supermarkets to immerse yourself in the food culture of your destination. Purchase fresh ingredients, local produce, or unique snacks to enjoy during your trip. It’s a great way to experience the local lifestyle and culinary offerings.

5. Learn basic phrases: If you’re traveling to a destination with a different language, learn basic phrases related to dining, such as “hello,” “thank you,” and “menu.” This will help you communicate your preferences and dietary needs to restaurant staff.

6. Embrace street food: Street food can offer some of the most authentic and delicious culinary experiences. Research popular street food markets or vendors in your destination. Follow local recommendations and observe cleanliness and hygiene practices when selecting street food options.

7. Be open to culinary adventures: Don’t be afraid to try new dishes or flavors. Push yourself outside your comfort zone and embrace new culinary experiences. You may discover unexpected favorites and create memorable food memories.

8. Consider meal timings: Take into account local dining customs and meal timings. Some cultures have specific meal times, such as a siesta or late-night dining. Adjust your plans accordingly to ensure you don’t miss out on local dining experiences.

9. Allow for spontaneity: While it’s good to have a plan, allow room for spontaneous dining experiences. Leave a few empty meal slots or explore local recommendations from friendly locals or fellow travelers you meet along the way.

10. Stay hydrated and practice food safety: Drink plenty of water, especially in warmer climates, and be mindful of food safety practices. Wash your hands regularly, opt for bottled water in areas with unsafe tap water, and choose restaurants or street food vendors with a good reputation for cleanliness.

By planning your meals and dining options in advance, you can truly savor the flavors and culinary delights of your destination. So, research, embrace, and indulge in the local food scene during your trip.

Step 10: Prepare necessary travel documents

Preparing the necessary travel documents is a crucial step in ensuring a smooth and hassle-free trip. Here’s what you need to do:

1. Check your passport: Ensure that your passport is valid for at least six months beyond your planned travel dates. If it’s expiring soon, renew it well in advance to avoid any last-minute complications.

2. Apply for visas: Research the visa requirements of your destination country. Check if you need a visa and apply for it early to allow sufficient processing time. Follow the instructions provided by the consulate or embassy and submit all required documents.

3. Organize travel insurance: Travel insurance provides crucial coverage in case of medical emergencies, trip cancellations, or lost belongings. Research and purchase a travel insurance policy that suits your needs and provides adequate coverage for the duration of your trip.

4. Make copies of important documents: Make photocopies or take pictures of your passport, visa, travel insurance, and other important documents. Leave copies with a trusted person at home and keep digital copies accessible while traveling.

5. Check entry requirements: Research and familiarize yourself with the entry requirements of your destination. Check if you need to present return tickets, proof of accommodation, or other supporting documents upon arrival.

6. Research health and vaccination requirements: Check if there are any specific health requirements or vaccination recommendations for your destination. Consult your healthcare provider or a travel clinic to ensure that you are up to date on any necessary vaccinations.

7. Register with your embassy: Consider registering with your home country’s embassy or consulate at your destination. This allows them to provide assistance or contact you in case of emergencies or unexpected situations.

8. Check travel advisories: Stay updated with any travel advisories or warnings issued by your government for your destination. Adjust your travel plans accordingly and be aware of any safety or security concerns.

9. Prepare a travel wallet: Organize all your travel documents in a secure travel wallet or folder. This makes it easy to access them when needed and helps keep them safe and organized throughout your journey.

10. Share your itinerary: Inform a trusted family member or friend about your travel plans. Share your itinerary, contact details, and any important information with them. In case of emergencies, they will know how to reach you and provide necessary assistance.

By preparing and ensuring that you have all the necessary travel documents in order, you can travel with peace of mind and avoid any potential complications or delays. So, take the time to check and organize your travel documents prior to your departure.

Step 11: Make necessary reservations and bookings

Making necessary reservations and bookings is an important step in travel planning to secure accommodations, activities, and transportation during your trip. Here’s what you need to do:

1. Book accommodations: Based on your research and preferences, make reservations for your accommodations in advance. Consider factors such as location, amenities, and budget. Popular accommodations can fill up quickly, so ensure you book early to secure your desired options.

2. Reserve transportation: If you plan to use public transportation or rent a car at your destination, make any necessary reservations in advance. Look for deals or discounts and ensure your transportation arrangements align with your itinerary.

3. Purchase attraction tickets: For popular attractions, consider purchasing tickets in advance to skip the long lines and secure your entry. Many attractions offer timed entry or online ticket options that allow for a more seamless experience.

4. Arrange for guided tours: If you’re interested in guided tours or activities, book them in advance to secure your spot. This allows you to plan your itinerary more effectively and ensures availability for popular tours or experiences.

5. Reserve dining options: If you have specific restaurants or dining experiences in mind, make reservations ahead of time, especially for popular or highly sought-after establishments. Booking in advance guarantees you a table and avoids disappointment.

6. Consider transportation between locations: If you plan to visit multiple destinations during your trip, book transportation tickets or passes between locations. This could include flights, train tickets, or intercity bus passes.

7. Research and book special experiences: If you’re interested in unique experiences such as cooking classes, adventure activities, or cultural performances, research and make the necessary bookings in advance. These experiences often have limited availability.

8. Check cancellation policies: Before finalizing any bookings, make sure to review the cancellation policies. Life is unpredictable, and having flexibility in your reservations can be beneficial in case of any unforeseen changes in your travel plans.

9. Stay organized: Keep a record of all your reservations, confirmations, and receipts in a centralized place for easy reference. This helps ensure a smooth travel experience and allows you to stay organized throughout your trip.

10. Double-check details: Before your departure, double-check all your reservations and bookings to ensure accuracy. Confirm dates, times, and any specific instructions provided by the service providers.

By making necessary reservations and bookings in advance, you’ll have peace of mind knowing that your important travel components are secured, allowing you to focus on enjoying your trip to the fullest.

So take the time to plan and make your necessary reservations, ensuring a well-prepared and smooth travel experience.

Step 12: Plan for transportation at your destination

Planning for transportation at your destination is an important step in travel planning to ensure smooth and convenient travel within the area. Here’s how to navigate transportation options effectively:

1. Research transportation options: Familiarize yourself with the available transportation options at your destination. This may include public transportation systems such as buses, trains, or trams, as well as taxi services, ridesharing apps, or bike-sharing programs.

2. Learn about local public transportation: Understand the local public transportation system, including routes, schedules, and fares. Study maps of subway or bus routes and identify key stops or interchanges that will be relevant to your itinerary.

3. Consider purchasing travel passes or cards: Depending on your length of stay and anticipated usage, determine if it’s worth purchasing travel passes or cards that offer unlimited or discounted rides on public transportation. These passes can save you time and money.

4. Plan for airport transfers: If you’re arriving at an airport, research and decide on the most convenient mode of transportation to your accommodation. Options may include airport shuttles, public transit, or pre-arranged private transfers.

5. Check for ridesharing or taxi services: If you prefer more flexibility or convenience, look into ridesharing apps or taxi services available at your destination. Check if they are widely used and reliable for getting around.

6. Consider walking or cycling: Depending on the location and infrastructure, walking or cycling may be a feasible and enjoyable mode of transportation for shorter distances. Research pedestrian-friendly areas and bike rental options if applicable.

7. Navigate driving regulations: If you plan to rent a car at your destination, familiarize yourself with local driving regulations, including license requirements, traffic rules, and parking availability. Research and book car rentals in advance to secure the best rates.

8. Stay informed about disruptions or closures: Check for any planned closures or disruptions to public transportation routes or services during your travel dates. Stay updated through official transport authority websites or mobile apps to avoid any inconvenience.

9. Embrace local culture and etiquette: Be respectful of the local culture and etiquette when using public transportation. Familiarize yourself with any unwritten rules, such as offering seats to elderly or pregnant passengers, and follow local customs for purchasing tickets or validating passes.

10. Stay safe and be aware of scams: Use trusted transportation services and be cautious of potential scams. Avoid unlicensed taxis, be mindful of your belongings, and stay vigilant while using public transportation, especially in crowded areas.

By planning for transportation at your destination, you’ll be able to navigate the area efficiently and maximize your time exploring the attractions. So, research your options, consider convenience and cost-effectiveness, and choose the transportation modes that best suit your needs.

Step 13: Research local customs and etiquette

Researching the local customs and etiquette of your destination is an important step in travel planning. Understanding and respecting the cultural norms of the place you’re visiting can enhance your travel experience and help you connect with the local community. Here’s what you should do:

1. Learn basic greetings: Familiarize yourself with common greetings and phrases in the local language. Learning to say “hello,” “thank you,” and “excuse me” shows respect and can help break the ice in your interactions with locals.

2. Dress appropriately: Respect the local dress code and customs. In some cultures, modest attire is expected, especially when visiting religious sites or conservative areas. Research the clothing norms and pack accordingly to avoid any unintended cultural offense.

3. Respect religious customs: If your destination has religious traditions, familiarize yourself with the customs and practices related to them. Follow any dress codes or guidelines when visiting religious sites, and be mindful of appropriate behavior and photography restrictions.

4. Observe local customs and traditions: Familiarize yourself with local customs and traditions, such as greetings, gestures, or table manners. Understanding and respecting these cultural nuances can enrich your interactions with locals and demonstrate your appreciation for their way of life.

5. Be aware of gestures and body language: Gestures and body language can vary across cultures and may have different meanings or interpretations. Research common gestures to avoid any unintentional misunderstandings or offense. When in doubt, observe and follow the lead of locals.

6. Respect personal space: Different countries and cultures have varying concepts of personal space. Be mindful of personal boundaries and avoid unnecessary physical contact unless it’s customary or welcomed in the local culture.

7. Follow local dining etiquette: If you plan to dine at local restaurants or with locals, be aware of proper dining etiquette. Pay attention to table manners, serving customs, and any specific traditions, such as tasting a dish before adding seasoning.

8. Know appropriate tipping practices: Research the tipping customs of your destination. In some countries, tipping is expected, while in others, it may not be common practice. Understand the appropriate amount and the preferred method of giving tips.

9. Respect local customs and traditions: Be mindful of and respect local customs, festivals, and traditions. Familiarize yourself with any practices or events happening during your visit, and observe them respectfully, even if you don’t fully understand them.

10. Smile and be polite: A friendly demeanor, a smile, and basic politeness can go a long way in any culture. Approach interactions with locals with an open and respectful attitude, and be open to learning from their customs and traditions.

By researching and embracing the local customs and etiquette, you can show respect for the local culture, connect with the community, and create meaningful experiences during your trip.

So take the time to learn and appreciate the customs of your destination, and enjoy your journey with cultural sensitivity and understanding.

Step 14: Make a checklist of essentials to bring

Making a checklist of essentials to bring is a crucial step in travel planning to ensure you have everything you need for a comfortable and stress-free trip. Here’s how to create a comprehensive checklist:

1. Travel documents: Include your passport, visa, travel insurance documents, identification cards, and any necessary permits or licenses for your destination.

2. Money and cards: Bring sufficient cash in the local currency and consider carrying a mix of payment options, such as credit cards, debit cards, or a travel money card. Don’t forget to notify your bank and credit card companies of your travel plans to avoid any issues with your cards.

3. Medications and prescriptions: Pack any necessary medications, along with copies of prescriptions or doctor’s notes. If you have specific medical conditions, consider wearing a medical ID bracelet or carrying relevant medical information in case of emergencies.

4. First aid kit: Include a basic first aid kit with items such as adhesive bandages, antiseptic wipes, pain relievers, antihistamines, and any special prescriptions or medical supplies you may need.

5. Clothing and accessories: Pack clothing suitable for the climate and activities at your destination. Include underwear, socks, comfortable shoes, weather-appropriate attire, swimwear, and any specialized gear required for activities such as hiking or skiing.

6. Toiletries and personal care items: Bring travel-sized toiletries, including toothbrush and toothpaste, shampoo and conditioner, soap or body wash, moisturizer, sunscreen, and any essential personal care items you use on a daily basis.

7. Electronics and chargers: Don’t forget your essential electronics, such as phone, laptop or tablet, camera, chargers, adapters, and power banks. Consider bringing a portable Wi-Fi device or SIM card if you need internet access on the go.

8. Travel accessories: Include a travel adapter, travel pillow, lightweight towel, reusable water bottle, earplugs, eye mask, and any other accessories that enhance your comfort during the journey.

9. Entertainment and reading materials: Pack books, magazines, or e-readers to keep you entertained during travel or downtime. Don’t forget to bring headphones or earphones for listening to music or watching movies.

10. Miscellaneous items: Consider items such as a travel lock, a universal sink plug, a portable umbrella, a reusable shopping bag, a pen and notepad, and any other personal items that you find essential or useful in your day-to-day routine.

Remember to tailor your checklist based on your specific needs, the nature of your trip, and the destination you’re visiting. Keep in mind any restrictions or guidelines in place for carry-on luggage or liquids when packing.

By using a checklist, you can ensure that you have all the essentials you need for a comfortable and organized trip. So take the time to create a comprehensive checklist, double-check it before departure, and enjoy a worry-free journey.

Step 15: Ensure travel safety and security

Ensuring travel safety and security is a vital step in travel planning to protect yourself and your belongings during your trip. Here’s what you should do:

1. Research the destination: Familiarize yourself with local safety and security conditions of your destination. Check travel advisories or warnings issued by your government, stay updated on current events, and be aware of any potential risks or concerns.

2. Secure your accommodations: Choose accommodations in safe areas and research their security measures. Consider factors such as secure locks, in-room safes, and 24/7 reception or security staff.

3. Protect your belongings: Take precautions to protect your belongings from theft or loss. Use luggage locks, carry a theft-proof bag, and be mindful of your surroundings. Avoid displaying expensive items and keep your valuables secured in a hotel safe or a hidden travel wallet.

4. Use reliable transportation: Opt for licensed transportation services and be cautious when using public transportation, especially in unfamiliar areas. Research reputable taxi companies or use ridesharing apps that have a reliable track record.

5. Stay connected: Ensure you have a way to stay connected with family, friends, or emergency contacts during your trip. Share your itinerary with a trusted person and keep them updated about your whereabouts.

6. Register with your embassy: Consider registering with your home country’s embassy or consulate at your destination. By doing so, they can provide you with important updates or assistance in case of emergencies or unexpected situations.

7. Practice caution with strangers: Be cautious when interacting with strangers and avoid sharing personal information or details about your travel plans. Use common sense and trust your instincts when approached by unfamiliar individuals.

8. Use secure Wi-Fi connections: Be cautious when using public Wi-Fi networks, especially for accessing personal accounts or making financial transactions. Whenever possible, connect to secure and password-protected networks or use a trusted virtual private network (VPN) for added security.

9. Stay informed about local laws: Research and familiarize yourself with the local laws and regulations of your destination. Be respectful of local customs, traditions, and social norms to avoid unintentional offenses or legal issues.

10. Purchase travel insurance: Travel insurance is essential for protecting yourself against unforeseen events or emergencies. Make sure your insurance policy provides coverage for medical expenses, trip cancellations, and lost or stolen belongings.

Always prioritize your personal safety and security during your travels. Stay alert, be aware of your surroundings, and take necessary precautions to mitigate risks. Remember, being proactive and prepared can greatly contribute to a safe and enjoyable travel experience.

So, take the time to ensure travel safety and security, and embark on your journey with confidence and peace of mind.

Step 16: Enjoy your trip!

After all the planning and preparations, it’s finally time to embark on your much-awaited trip! Here are some tips to help you make the most of your travel experience:

1. Embrace the adventure: Approach your trip with an open mind and a spirit of adventure. Embrace new experiences, try local cuisine, and immerse yourself in the local culture.

2. Stay flexible: Despite careful planning, unexpected situations may arise. Stay flexible and adapt to any changes or detours that come your way. Sometimes, the most memorable experiences happen when plans change.

3. Engage with the locals: Interact with the locals and learn about their customs, traditions, and way of life. Engaging with the local community can provide unique insights and create meaningful connections.

4. Seek off-the-beaten-path experiences: While popular tourist attractions are worth visiting, don’t be afraid to explore lesser-known places or hidden gems. You may stumble upon hidden treasures and have a more authentic experience.

5. Take breaks and relax: Travel can be exhilarating but also exhausting. Allow yourself time to rest and relax. Take breaks from sightseeing, enjoy leisurely meals, and recharge to fully appreciate your journey.

6. Capture memories: Take photos, keep a travel journal, or create videos to capture the memories of your trip. These mementos will allow you to relive your experiences and share them with others.

7. Try new activities: Step out of your comfort zone and try new activities that are unique to your destination. Whether it’s learning to surf, taking a cooking class, or going on a thrilling adventure, these experiences can create lifelong memories.

8. Stay mindful and respectful: Remember to be respectful of the local customs, traditions, and environment. Practice responsible tourism, minimize your impact on the environment, and leave a positive impression wherever you go.

9. Stay present in the moment: Put away your devices and take time to fully experience your surroundings. Be present in the moment, savor the sights, sounds, and flavors around you, and create meaningful connections with the places you visit.

10. Embrace the unexpected: Travel is full of surprises and the unexpected. Embrace and appreciate the unexpected moments or detours that come your way, as these can often lead to the most incredible and memorable experiences.

Remember, the purpose of your trip is to enjoy, relax, and create lifelong memories. So, be open to new experiences, embrace the unknown, and allow yourself to fully enjoy the journey.

Wishing you a fantastic trip filled with exploration, adventure, and unforgettable moments!

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Travel Planning – How to Plan a Perfect Trip

planning a trip

Are you about to plan a trip? This can seem like a challenging and overwhelming task.

Maybe you donโ€™t know where to start, or maybe you wonder how proper travel planning can make the most of your trip.

Whatever the case may be, planning a trip doesnโ€™t have to be difficult at all !

Traveling has been an important part of my life for as long as I can remember. From planning short weekend getaways to trips to remote destinations that lasted many months.

I love travel planning and the anticipation of going somewhere new.

In this article I want to help you with your travel planning. No matter where you are going, who with, or for how long, this guide will share the tips I use when I plan a trip.

How to Plan a Trip

1. choose your destination.

choosing a destination on a map

Logically, this is the first part of travel planning. It all starts here.

If you haven’t decided on the exact destination(s) of your next trip, let’s plan this out first.

Ask yourself: what kind of trip do I want to go on? Do I want to go to a sunny destination? Discover new cultures? Backpack? Stay in luxury hotels? Travel on a budget? Learn a new skill? How long do I want to travel?

Take a look at your finances and decide how much money you want to spend on this trip. Once you know your budget and how many days you have, research the average cost per day in your favorite destinations.

When youโ€™ve got all of that clear, it will be a lot easier to choose your destination.

  • Bucket List Destinations for a Once in a Lifetime Trip
  • The Best Caribbean Islands to Visit & Why
  • The Most Beautiful Cities in the USA

2. Find the Best Flights and Dates

a sea plane flight in the Maldives

When weโ€™re planning a trip, we want to find the best deals, right?

Youโ€™ve probably heard hundreds of different tips and tricks, but the ones that really work are: traveling off-season, being flexible with your dates, and doing a lot of research.

Iโ€™ve found the best and cheapest flights on Skyscanner.com . You can search for multiple destinations at the same time or set your destination to everywhere (this might come in handy if you haven’t made up your mind yet), youโ€™ll then get an overview of all the cheap flights around the world.

If you do know your destination but your dates are flexible, select โ€œwhole monthโ€ and then โ€œcheapest monthโ€ to check the best time to travel.

Of course most of the time when you plan a trip you both know your destination and your exact dates. Then as well Skyscanner is my go-to website because it compares prices for almost all airlines anywhere in the world.

I go into much more detail about finding flights in this article: How to Find the Cheapest and Best Flights .

Traveling by Bus, Train, or Car Instead?

If you’re going on a road trip with your own car, please check your car before leaving. The last thing you want is to end up with car trouble during your trip!

And if you decide to plan a trip by train or bus, make sure you book your tickets early. Depending on where you are going, I’ve seen train and bus tickets for longer distances book out weeks or even months in advance.

It might also be worth signing up for the newsletter of the train or bus company you plan to use, as they will often email special discounts.

3. Choose Suitable Accommodation

a Kerala houseboat

So you’ve chosen your destination and youโ€™ve found a good flight or other modes of transport. Whatโ€™s next? Booking a place to stay.

Whether youโ€™re planning to go on a short or a long trip, youโ€™ll need to choose suitable accommodation, at least for the first few nights.

A few questions to ask yourself here:

  • Do you prefer to stay in a hotel or would you rather have your own kitchen and more space?
  • Are you on a limited budget or are you looking for some luxury for this trip?
  • Is a good location the most important or is a unique or beautiful property more important for this trip?

Once you know what type of accommodation you’d like to book itโ€™s time to search the web again.

These are my go-to websites whenever Iโ€™m looking for accommodation:

  • Booking.com . This is the first place I look for hotels, anywhere in the world. And these days they also offer apartments and houses for rent, plus a number of hostels and smaller guesthouses.
  • Hotels.com . Although Booking.com is my go-to website, I often use Hotels.com to compare their options. Sometimes they have a good deal or offer a few different hotels.
  • Airbnb and VRBO . If you know you want to rent an apartment, house, or just a room, then these websites are the best option. And if you are looking for a unique place to stay, a treehouse or a stay on a boat for example, these websites can offer some great options.
  • Hostelworld . If you are traveling on a budget or just like the social aspect of hostels, Hostelworld is the best website to find a hostel anywhere in the world.
  • Pros & Cons of Staying in a Hostel
  • Important Things to Look For When Booking a Hotel
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  • Where to Stay in Valencia, Spain
  • The Best Hotels in St Maarten, Caribbean

4. Find Out How to Get to Your Accommodation

metro in Valencia

Some airports offer great public transport, others do not.

And even if they do, public transport might not take you anywhere close to the place you are staying.

After a flight, while lugging around your bag or suitcase, the last thing you want is having to figure out how to get to your destination.

So, don’t forget to make this part of your travel planning!

Find out how exactly you will get to your accommodation.

Check Google Maps first. In most places Google Maps will show you the different ways you can travel from the airport.

Second, ask your hotel/hostel/Airbnb what modes of transport they recommend and if they perhaps offer any transportation themselves.

It’s a small thing, but knowing how to get to your accommodation will make the start of your trip a lot more stress-free.

Tip: if you plan to rent a car, book it online long before you arrive. Prices often go up close to the travel date and if you wait too long there might not be any cars available anymore.

5. Explore Your Transportation Options

Toronto's bike share system

How will you get around during your trip?

It’s nice to know what your options are before you arrive.

You could research the following things:

  • Is there good public transportation? If so, whatโ€™s the best option, and how does it work?
  • Is it possible to walk most places or rent a bicycle? More and more cities have bike share systems these days.
  • Would it be better to rent a car and can you do so online?
  • Can you easily find a taxi or Uber? Some countries have a local version of it โ€“ for example, when traveling to Spain , Cabify and Blablacar are popular options.

Google Maps is a good tool to figure out whatโ€™s available at your chosen destination. And a simple Google search for ‘how to get around in [your destination]’ will also generally answer all your questions.

If you’re traveling in Asia, 12go.asia is the best website to find out how to get around and book bus, train, and ferry tickets, plus some flights.

Also Read: Tips for Driving Abroad for the First Time

6. Plan Your Activities

Scuba diving in Aruba

Now that youโ€™ve planned the logistics of your trip, itโ€™s time for some fun!

But where do you start? What are the best things to do?

If you want to plan and book tours and activities, Iโ€™d recommend you to use the following websites, they’re all really useful:

  • Get Your Guide . This is generally the first website I check for activities in any place I visit because of their wide offer.
  • Viator . I find Viator slightly better in the USA so if I travel in the US I check Viator before Get Your Guide. But, Viator also offers activities all over the world.
  • Klook . Klook is expanding quickly. I used them a lot for activities in Asia, and they would still be my first choice there. But these days they also offer activities in many other parts of the world so it might be worth having a look no matter where you travel to. And in some places they offer nice hotel deals as well.

7. Find Places to Eat & Drink

Brick & Bell in La Jolla

Unless you’ve booked an all-inclusive stay you’ll have to find places to eat.

And if you’re anything like me, trying local food, local restaurants and popular cafรฉs is one of the things that makes traveling great.

To find out about local favorites I love asking my Airbnb host or the hotel staff for their tips.

But reviews on Google Maps are also very helpful. And before I travel I often read other blogs about the best places to eat, hidden gems, and, a personal favorite when I travel to cities, nice rooftop bars with views of the city.

  • The Best Rooftop Bars in San Diego, California
  • The Best Rooftop Bars in Medellin, Colombia
  • Paella Restaurants in Valencia for an Authentic Paella Experience
  • Where to Eat in Vilnius, Lithuania
  • The Best Cafes to Work From in Amsterdam

8. Get Travel Insurance

What to look for in travel insurance

This is definitely one of the least fun aspects of travel planning, but please don’t skip it.

Of course we’re gonna assume nothing will go wrong, but it does happen. I’ve lost my luggage, had my laptop stolen and even ended up in an Indonesian hospital with dengue fever .

Believe me, when anything like that happens you’ll be happy you have travel insurance!

I’ve written a separate article about what to look for in travel insurance , because it depends on how you travel, where you are going to and even where you are coming from.

9. Find Out if You Need a Visa & Check Travel Advice

passport with a valid visa

Do you need a visa to travel to your destination?

Depending on your passport, there are many countries that will allow you to visit without a visa. But, not all.

If you arenโ€™t sure whether or not you need a visa, check it directly with the embassy in your home country . And do so long before you travel , because if you do need to apply for a visa it might take time.

An embarrassing personal story about that: a few weeks ago I traveled to Canada . I don’t know why, but I just assumed I could fly there on a European passport without a visa. It wasn’t until I was checking in for my flight online, 24 hours before the flight, that I found out I did need a visa! Thankfully Canada’s visa process is very quick, but that was stressful!

Apart from checking if you need a visa, I’d also recommend you visit your government’s website for more information about the country you are visiting. This would be information on security, local laws, natural disasters, mandatory and recommended vaccinations, and how to find help once youโ€™re abroad.

Keep in mind that if your government gives out negative travel advice, your travel insurance might not cover you.

  • Things to Know Before Traveling to Europe as an American
  • Things to Know Before Traveling to New Zealand
  • 12 Things to Know Before Traveling to Colombia
  • Important Travel Tips for Mexico

10. Make Sure Your Passport Is Valid

3 valid passports

Sometimes weโ€™ve been so busy planning our trip and focusing on other things, that we totally forget to check our passports. If you’re traveling abroad, do double-check if your passport is still valid!

And, more annoyingly, some countries want your passport to be valid for at least another six months. If your passport isn’t then make sure this won’t cause issues when entering the country you are visiting.

11. Decide What to Pack

packing for a short trip

This can be a challenge in itself, donโ€™t we all know it?

Luckily, there are lots of useful packing lists for different destinations online. Although I hardly ever stick to everything these packing lists suggest, they are a great help. Simply Googling ”what to pack for [your destination or type of trip]” should give you plenty of good results.

Tip: whether you travel with a suitcase or a backpack, use travel cubes ! I’ve only recently started using them and they’ve made it SO MUCH easier to organize things and to keep them organized during the trip.

And remember: donโ€™t pack too much! You always need less than you think.

Also Read: Essential Things to Pack for a Trip to Europe

12. Enjoy and Leave Some Room to Get Lost

a man getting lost

As much as I believe planning a trip is important, a big part of the fun is leaving some room to get lost.

If you plan every minute of your trip you risk trying to fit in too much and will end up stressed and annoyed when things don’t go according to plan.

Relax, take in your surroundings, enjoy spontaneous encounters, and dive into the unknown!

Travel Planning – Conclusions

Travel planning doesnโ€™t have to be difficult, boring, or challenging โ€“ in fact, itโ€™s all about the joy of anticipation.

I hope this guide helped you find ease in planning your perfect trip. And wherever your next trip is taking you, have a great time!

  • 5 Practical Tips to Make Travel Planning Easier
  • Things to Do Before Traveling – Checklist of Things to Do Before Any Trip
  • Tips for Traveling Alone – Planning a Solo Trip
  • How to Stay Safe While Traveling
  • How to Meet People While Traveling
  • How to Take Good Travel Photos
  • The Benefits of Traveling With Family

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How to plan a trip

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Travel Tips: The Best 99 Travel Tips You’ll Ever Need

Photo of author

August 30, 2023

Traveling is something that you can only learn with experience. The more you travel, the more you experience and learn.

If you are new to traveling, you are most likely to make a whole lot of mistakes at first and thatโ€™s okay.

With time, youโ€™ll know all the things to do and all the things to avoid when planning a trip somewhere or visiting a foreign land.

There are a ton of mistakes you can make as a first-time traveler. These include being reckless, being culturally offensive, missing buses, etc.

You have to think about traveling as you did your first time in a new school. It will take some time but eventually you will get used to how things work.

Meanwhile, here are my 99 travel tips to get you started as a traveler.

The journey might be long and bumpy so hold on tight and brace yourself;

1. Find Photogenic Places & Spots Using Instagram

2. learn common phrases of the local language, 3. read a history book about the place you are visiting, 4. get to know local customs before you go, 5. donโ€™t be afraid to take your kids with you, 6. get vaccinated, 7. let your family and friends at home know your plans, 8. if you plan to visit someone/staying with someone, during your trip, then get them a present, 9. donโ€™t go into debt for travel, donโ€™t spend beyond your means, 10. research your destination, 11. be flexible and donโ€™t over-plan, 12. book early for cheap flights, 13. use points and miles for discounts and even free travel, 14. use a vpn to potentially get a discount on flights, 15. avoid expensive hotels and accommodations, spend your money on experiences not on sleeping, 16. write down your hotel address and phone number.

  • 17. Get a VPN for Travel to Protect Your Internet Connection While Abroad (I Personally Recommend ProtonVPN and NordVPN)

18. Take Cash with You and Extra Credit/debit Card

19. let your bank know youโ€™re traveling, 20. pack light, 21. but take extra underwear and socks, 22. pack a pair of sneakers, 23. carry a first-aid kit, 24. always get a compeed for your feet โ€“ thank me later, 25. bring your normal clothes youโ€™re comfortable in with you, 26. wear comfortable shoes you already broke into, 27. donโ€™t bring clothes that need ironing, 28. always pack a hat and a sarong/scarf, 29. mark your luggage and write your name and contact information on them, 30. take pictures of your luggage and clothes, 31. take a photo and make copies of your passport and important documents, 32. get your phone unlocked before you leave, 33. invest in a good travel camera, 34. bring an extra camera battery, 35. bring a powerful power bank, 36. put electronics, medications, and extra clothes in your carry-on, 37. go to the airport early, 38. go to the bathroom right before boarding on a plane or taking a bus, 39. get a window seat so you can lean against the wall when you sleep, 40. get the closest seat possible from the doors on the plane, this will save a huge time going through customs, 41. stay hydrated on the plane and on the road, 42. get a water filter bottle and drink tap water whenever you can., 43. donโ€™t change your currency at the airport, 44. track your spending, 45. donโ€™t be afraid to pay to get your laundry done, itโ€™s totally worth it, 46. wake up early, 47. try to exercise during your trip, 48. eat local food frequently, 49. donโ€™t be ashamed to buy souvenirs, 50. visit famous and touristy places, 51. but donโ€™t hesitate to get off the beaten path, 52. also, donโ€™t eat at restaurants in touristy places, 53. wear sunscreen, 54. always have snacks with you, 55. put down your cellphone and enjoy the moment, 56. visit historical places at lunchtime, they are usually less crowded between 12:30 and 13:30, 57. go to local markets, 58. try new food, even if you think you wonโ€™t like it, 59. go on free walking tours, 60. make friends with locals, 61. make friends with other travelers, 62. break out of your comfort zone, 63. get lost on purpose, 64. do something that scares you, 65. be spontaneous. say yes to interesting opportunities and donโ€™t stick blindly to your plans, 66. experience traveling alone from time to time, 67. go somewhere new every year, 68. if it feels wrong, itโ€™s probably wrong. donโ€™t take unnecessary risks, 69. abc: always be charging charge your power-bank and your devices whenever you have the chance, 70. get a local sim card with internet data for your phone, 71. always take your camera with you, always, 72. donโ€™t forget to take epic photos of what youโ€™re seeing, 73. take plenty of photos at sunrise and sunsets., 74. cloudy days are actually excellent for portrait photos, 75. take more photos of yourself in those places, 76. take more photos of and with locals, 77. save memories, donโ€™t fake memories. your photos are meant to remind you of good times, not for showing off to others., 78. donโ€™t wear your purse on one shoulder. rather, wear it around your body, 79. never carry your wallet in your back pocket., 80. be aware of pickpockets and scams, 81. use public transportation in big cities, 82. if you need a car then rent it. itโ€™s cheaper than hiring a driver or taking taxis every time, 83. if you hired a driver, take pictures of the car, the license plate, and relevant details about the car and the driver. just in case, 84. never leave any valuables in your car, ever, 85. check if you forgot something in your hotel room before leaving, 86. donโ€™t throw trash on the street, 87. be eco-friendly and minimize your trash, 88. also donโ€™t buy anything made of animal parts, 89. donโ€™t take your trip too seriously., 90. expect everything to go wrong, 91. donโ€™t lose your temper when it does, 92. be kind with your travel partner. try to understand each other and avoid getting into an argument or a fight., 93. also, a fight doesnโ€™t mean the end of your relationship/friendship. donโ€™t be too proud to apologize, 94. compromise, compromise, compromise, 95. slow down to enjoy your vacation and never let yourself be in a rush, 96. keep an open mind and donโ€™t judge other cultures, 97. donโ€™t assume that you know more about a country or a culture than the people who actually live there, 98. be polite, smile often, and be friendly, 99. always, always, be respectful., i- travel tips before you go.

use instagram to find great places to travel to or to visit during your trips

Instagram is one of the most popular social media applications you can resort to if you want to stay updated with the best places in town to visit.

Before you plan a trip to any destination, make sure to check Instagram for all the most scenic places you must visit in that particular town and city.

Each city in every country has certain must-see tourist spots, including places of worship, museums, or even landscapes full of natural beauty that you must visit. Instagram can be pretty useful as a starting point for pinning down which places you should necessarily add to your itinerary.

Visiting a new place will always be easier if you have some knowledge of the local language.

This doesnโ€™t mean that you have to spend weeks picking up the new language. It simply means that you can take out a few hours each week before your trip to learn some common phrases in the local language that will help you when in the foreign land.

Such phrases include โ€œIโ€™m sorryโ€ , โ€œhelloโ€ , โ€œthank youโ€ and anything else that you feel is necessary to get you through your trip.

As an example I wrote an article that compiles the must-known phrases when visiting Japan . Check it out.

More knowledge never hurt anyone. Itโ€™s only human to be curious about a place before you visit it. For the sake of both your curiosity and for efficiency purposes, try to grab a hold of a history book about wherever you plan on visiting.

Anywhere you decide to travel will most likely have a rich history and heritage and it only makes sense to read up on some of this so that you enjoy your trip even more.

Read our guide on the best travel books to read that give intense wanderlust.

The one mistake you want to avoid as much as you can when in a new place is to be culturally insensitive or offensive in some way to the locals.

If you are unaware of their culture entirely, you are quite likely to make this mistake. This is why it makes sense to read up a little on the traditions and customs of a place before you visit so that you understand them better and donโ€™t risk acting in an insensitive manner.

Some people are afraid of traveling with their children, especially if their children are pretty young. Although traveling with toddlers or even infants can be exhausting and even terrifying at times, this is no reason to avoid it altogether.

In fact, traveling helps increase knowledge and if a child is made to travel from a younger age, they develop cultural awareness from that tender age and this shapes them up to be informed, educated, and sensitive adults.

Some countries have strict travel policies and will not allow you to enter their land until you are properly vaccinated. The reasoning behind this is simple โ€“ they wish to prevent the spread of diseases from one country to another.

Even if it is not required of you by the country according to its travel policies, it is always a good idea to get yourself vaccinated before boarding the plane to another country. Why risk passing on some sort of infection or disease to another land when you can easily avoid it altogether?

This is perhaps the simplest of all travel tips and is understood even without mentioning. Unless, of course, you have absolutely no friends or family that you are in contact with, itโ€™s always a good idea to inform your close relatives and friends about your travel plans.

This is important because visiting a new place is always risky, and itโ€™s good to know that someone knows exactly where you are in case you need any help or encounter some sort of an emergency.

This shouldnโ€™t be too hard to understand. Itโ€™s only common decency that if you plan on living with someone during your travels, or even just visiting them, you should buy them a present in advance of your trip.

Itโ€™s best to not leave this till the last minute when you will be chaotic and in a rush. Buy these presents at least two weeks before your intended date of travel to avoid any last minute anxieties.

Traveling can be pretty expensive. The actual costs that you will incur depend on where you are traveling, for how long, and whether or not you opt for any travel packages.

It is never a good idea to spend so much that you are in debt after your trip. If you canโ€™t afford to stay in luxury hotels then donโ€™t include them in your itinerary.

As fun as traveling can be, it wonโ€™t be much fun if you canโ€™t afford basic necessities for months after your trip.

II- Travel Planning Tips

tips for travel planning

Before you begin packing your bags and booking your flights, itโ€™s important to do some research on your destination. This will help you better understand the culture, customs, and norms of the place you are visiting, and ensure that you are prepared for what to expect.

Some things you might want to research include the climate and weather, local laws and regulations, the cost of living and common expenses, and any potential health or safety concerns.

This will help you plan and pack appropriately, and also give you a sense of what activities or sights you might want to see while you are there.

Traveling anywhere requires at least a certain degree of flexibility. It is a basic rule of life that everything is more fun when you donโ€™t plan it down to every little detail.

While it is important to be organized and responsible when visiting a new place, you should always be open to spontaneity.

If things donโ€™t go exactly as you planned, donโ€™t be too disappointed because this will most likely ruin the rest of your trip.

Once you have made up your mind about where you are traveling, it only makes sense to book your flights as soon as you can.

You can hire a travel agent, book a package, or even plan the entire trip by yourself, but whatever you choose to do, make sure to get a head start on the process.

No point paying extra when you can get much lower prices by just being responsible enough to book the flights well in advance.

Once you become a frequent flier, you are likely to receive flying points and miles. The more points and miles you gather, the more likely you are to get a discount on your flights. Sometimes, once you have accumulated enough points, itโ€™s even possible for you to travel completely free of cost!

Generally speaking, travel websites tend to track your IP address and the prices that they offer you are based on where you are browsing from.

Using a VPN for travel , you can hide your IP address and consequently, you might be able to benefit from lower flight prices. For example, if you were to set your IP address to a lower income country, you may be able to book a flight at a lower price.

Similarly, you may be able to set your IP address to the country from which that particular airline operates, and thereby save on flight costs.

Yes, traveling is expensive; but it doesnโ€™t always have to be! There are countless ways you can save money during your travels using hacks such as choosing budget-friendly hotels as opposed to luxury, five-star hotels if you canโ€™t afford it.

Remember that the whole point of traveling is to gain new experiences. If you want to sleep comfortably, you can do that in your own home. Make sure that when you do travel, spend on exploring and discovering new places, rather than on comfort.

In fact, the whole point of traveling is to step outside your comfort zone!

Before you set out for your travels, it is pertinent to do some research well in advance. You need to know exactly which hotels you will be staying at, and the smart thing to do is to write down the contact number and address of wherever you will be staying.

This information is important to keep for yourself, as well as for giving it to a close family member or friend lest they have to contact you in case of an emergency.

17. Get a VPN for Travel to Protect Your Internet Connection While Abroad (I Personally Recommend ProtonVPN and NordVPN )

A VPN protects the privacy of your internet connection when youโ€™re away from your home country. When in a new country, it makes sense to install a VPN well in advance of your travel for the sake of internet privacy.

There are certain websites that you are accustomed to using that may even be blocked in the country you are traveling to. A VPN can make sure that you can access your favorite sites regardless of where you are.

ProtonVPN and NordVPN are two reliable VPNs you can install before your travel dates.

Remember that when traveling, itโ€™s always good to be prepared for the worst. Anything can happen during your travels, things can go wrong and you must be prepared.

As such, always make sure to travel with your debit and credit cards, along with cash. Itโ€™s important to have both options in hand because depending on where you are traveling, one option might work while another might not.

For example, if you are in a particular city, some areas such as large malls and restaurants might accept a card while marketplaces and bazaars etc. might only accept cash.

Never make the mistake of limiting your options to only one of the two.

Itโ€™s always a good idea to inform your bank that you will be traveling and give them your travel dates. This is important because itโ€™s possible that your ATM card or debit card might not work in a foreign country unless your bank allows it.

You might get into a very sticky situation if you somehow run out of cash sooner than you expect and your debit card refuses to work. So make sure to get these technical processes sorted out well in advance of your trip to avoid any inconveniences during the trip.

III- Packing Tips for Travel

Packing Travel Tips

He who travels happily must travel light. Antoine de Saint-Exupery โ€“ One of the best travel quotes out there

When going on a trip, it makes sense to pack as light as you possibly can. The more things you carry with you, the more inconvenient things are likely to be for you.

Letโ€™s say your trip comprises of visits to a number of different cities or even countries. The fewer things you carry with yourself, the easier it will be for you to maneuver and move around.

Additionally, the fewer things you carry, the less likely you are to lose things.

It doesnโ€™t take a genius to understand why this is so important. Remember that no matter how much you pre-plan, it isnโ€™t possible to think of almost every possible thing that can go wrong in the trip.

You also donโ€™t know if your plan might somewhat change along the way. For example, letโ€™s say you decide to extend your trip by a few days.

The smart thing to do is to avoid all these problems and simply pack a few extra pairs of socks and some extra underwear.

The most important thing to keep in mind while packing is that your comfort must be your first consideration.

If you arenโ€™t comfortable with the clothes you have packed or the things you have kept with you, your entire trip might get ruined.

You also generally have to walk a lot during trips as you go about exploring and discovering new cities and towns.

This is why itโ€™s always a good idea to pack at least one pair of sneakers with you, wherever you go. Sneakers are comfortable, durable, and perfect for walking long distances.

Whether you are traveling alone or with a group of people, you alone are responsible for your health along the way.

It is possible for you to encounter any number of accidents or incidents on your trip. You could get a small injury like a broken nail or stubbed toe, or a bigger injury, such as a fracture.

In any case, having a first aid box with you at all times of your travel is absolutely essential.

Compeed dressings are meant to relieve you of the pain of blisters on the feet. When traveling, there are usually such large distances to cover that you can get blisters very easily.

Blisters are naturally painful and uncomfortable and can potentially make the rest of your trip not as much fun for you.

So do remember to keep some compeed with you at all times during your travels.

No matter where you are traveling to, you arenโ€™t likely to have too great a time if you arenโ€™t comfortable.

While fashion is important, the first rule of fashion is that you must be comfortable in what you wear. So make sure to at least bring two to three outfits that you know you are 100% comfortable in.

Itโ€™s common knowledge that new shoes can be pretty uncomfortable the first few times you wear them. This is why itโ€™s never a good idea to take new shoes that you havenโ€™t worn too often along with you on a trip.

Itโ€™s possible that the new shoes start to dig into your toes, or hurt the back of your heel.

Old is gold, so stick to whatโ€™s comfortable!

While it is possible for you to take a steam iron along with you on your travels, it will just be an added inconvenience.

Ironing also takes up a whole lot of time you could have spent exploring the new land you are in.

The solution is simple โ€“ simply make sure to take clothes that you know for a fact wonโ€™t require ironing.

There are certain accessories that prove to be very useful during traveling. A hat or a cap is one such accessory. Hats can protect you from the sun, particularly if you are heading out towards a tropical climate. Hats also look stylish.

A scarf can also serve multiple purposes. If you are going to a country where you are required to dress โ€˜modestlyโ€™, a scarf can be pretty useful. Scarves can also sometimes look very fashionable.

Similarly, if you are going to a beach location, a sarong is a necessary item to pack.

If you have ever traveled on a plane before, you will realize just why this is so important. Flights nowadays are often booked. Among so many passengers, itโ€™s very easily to lose some or your entire luggage along the way.

This can easily be avoided. All you have to do is make sure that all pieces of your luggage have your name and proper contact information on them.

This way, even if you do lose your luggage, you can be assured that it will always make your way back to you.

This is purely a precautionary measure. Just writing your name and contact information on all pieces of your luggage sometimes isnโ€™t enough.

Itโ€™s also a good idea to take pictures of all pieces of your luggage and clothing just in case something goes wrong.

This is one of the most important pre-travel steps you need to take.

Itโ€™s always a good idea to have copies of each of your important travel documents including your passport, your tickets, hotel bookings, and any other crucial pieces of information or documents you need to travel.

IV- Travel Tips for Packing Tech

Packing tech gear for travel

Make sure that your phone is unlocked before you leave for any trip. You donโ€™t want to face any complications accessing your phone when in a completely foreign land.

There is little point of traveling if you arenโ€™t going to make a whole lot of memories and make sure that at least some of those memories are caught on camera and preserved for you to keep for years and years.

This is why it is always worth investing in a decent travel camera well in advance of your trip. The Canon G5X M2 is one camera certainly worth investing in before your travels.

Cameras usually come with batteries.

Itโ€™s possible for those batteries to run out or for something else to go wrong with those batteries.

As such, always make sure that you carry extra camera batteries with you each time you travel.

A power bank is a device that can help you charge your phone when on the go. This device is particularly useful during traveling because even if you do take your phone charger with you, a number of things could go wrong.

Itโ€™s possible that the charger begins to malfunction or that you are on some cruise or on an exotic island where there is no way for you to charge your phone.

Thatโ€™s why I actually have 3 or 4 myself ๐Ÿ˜€

A carry-on bag serves many purposes during traveling. This bag is where you store all of the extra things that are very useful to you such as necessary medications, electronic items such as your laptop and laptop charger, power bank etc.

You might even want to put a few pairs of extra clothing inside your carry on, just in case you need to freshen up during the journey.

Opening the main suitcase mid journey is impossible, so all of the important things that you might need should be stored in your carry on.

V- Travel Tips While on the Road

Travel tips at the airport

This is perhaps the number one rule of traveling โ€“ you must get to the airport well in advance of your flight.

Itโ€™s always better to be early rather than late. So quit being lazy. On the day that you have to travel, wake up extra early, have a good breakfast, make sure all your stuff is with you and is sorted out, then head on over to the airport!

One of the most uncomfortable aspects of traveling is not having access to oneโ€™s own bathroom. Since traveling is all about stepping outside your comfort zone, you must not mind this too much.

In order to avoid having to go to the bathroom while traveling, make sure you use the bathroom right before boarding a plane, a ship, a bus, or any other vehicle where it might be difficult to use the washroom.

Although this isnโ€™t necessary, the window seat is always a good seat to select, when on a bus or plane.

Not only is this a more comfortable seat because you can lean against the window and fall asleep, the window seat also offers the best views, especially from an airplane.

If possible, make sure to get a seat as near to the doors of the plane as you possibly can.

The nearer you are to the exit of the plane, the earlier you can exit the plane, and the sooner you can get clearance from customs.

This is particularly important if you have to take a connecting flight because you cannot afford to get late for it.

When traveling, itโ€™s sometimes impossible to remember to drink enough water.

Always make sure that whether you are flying or on the road, you have water with you.

Traveling to another country is scary enough, especially for first timers. You donโ€™t need the added stress of encountering any health problems when in a foreign land.

So drink as much water as you can!

It may not be possible for you to find mineral or bottled water easily when on the go.

The easiest thing to do is to simply carry around a water bottle (with an included filter) with you and fill it up with tap water wherever you may find it.

VI- Travel Tips when Arriving at Your Destination

Travel tips at destination

If you are a frequent traveler, you may have realized that it is never a good idea to get your currency exchanged for the foreign currency when at the airport.

This is because the airport often tends to overcharge and give you a rate higher than what you would get from anywhere outside.

Each time you travel, you will have a fixed amount of money with you. As such, you need to spend it wisely.

Make sure you keep a track of all the money you are spending on internal commute, food etc.

Carry a small notebook in your handbag, or use a dedicated budgeting app, and make a note of each time you spend money so that you donโ€™t go overboard or run out of cash.

Whichever hotels you choose to stay at will most likely have a laundry service. You may be unwilling to use the service because of the money you will have to pay for it.

Itโ€™s best to however pay that money and get your clothes laundered because you will be saved from a whole lot of inconvenience later.

Fresh, clean clothes are definitely a blessing, especially when youโ€™re in a foreign land.

VII- Travel Tips During Your Trip

Travel tips during your stay

The whole purpose of travel is to explore and discover new places. As such, you want to make the best of your time in the foreign land.

Make sure that you plan out activities for each day of the trip in advance and during the trip, wake up bright and early each day so as not to waste any precious trip time.

Remember, you can always sleep once youโ€™re back home!

Because traveling can be so chaotic in itself, you may forget to care about your physical and mental health. A little bit of exercise goes a long way in this regard.

You can wake up early and do some morning stretches and yoga before starting your day. Alternatively, you can even use an application to keep a track of the number of steps you walk each day. Set a target number of steps and make it your goal to meet your target each day.

There is little point visiting strange new lands if you arenโ€™t willing to step outside your comfort zone. When in a new place, make sure to try out all the local delicacies instead of sticking with food that is readily available.

It can be tempting to buy souvenirs such as bells, magnets, decorative items, or T-Shirts when in a new place.

Itโ€™s always a good gesture to buy such things for your family and friends back home or even just for yourself so that you remember this trip for a long time to come.

As obvious as this sounds, some people visit a place and miss out on some of the most famous places to visit because they arenโ€™t aware of them.

Do your research in advance or talk to local tour guides and make sure you visit all the must-see places when in a new place.

While touristy spots are always a delight to visit, sometimes, there are places that no one talks about or visits about are pretty charming. In fact, if you want to get an authentic vibe of the place, its best to sometimes visit places that arenโ€™t particularly famous among tourists.

The problem with only sticking to spots and restaurants that are โ€˜touristyโ€™ is that these places often tend to get pretty crowded. You also wonโ€™t get a feel of the local culture and cuisine if you only stick to restaurants specifically designed to cater to tourists.

This is particularly relevant if you are visiting a tropical region or island. The rays of the sun tend to be pretty strong in these places so make sure to apply sunscreen on all parts of your body that will be exposed to the sun.

Traveling tends to make you pretty hungry, especially when your trip involves a whole lot of adventure an if youโ€™re constantly on the move. Because you canโ€™t always stop at restaurants itโ€™s best to keep some snacks with you on hand in case you get hungry.

The one mistake you should never make when on a trip is to be constantly using your phone. In fact, you should try to avoid social media as much as you can when on vacation. Put your cell phone away, talk to those around you, and enjoy each little moment to the fullest!

If you are in a town or city that is home to a number of historical landmarks that are open for tourists to visit, make sure you plan your visit around lunchtime. This is the time when these landmarks are least crowded and you can even manage to get decent photographs.

Local markets everywhere have a charm of their own. No matter where you are, make sure to visit the night markets and day markets because these can both be pretty interesting in their own ways.

Some places even have floating markets โ€“ markets built over flowing water. If you come across any of these, make sure to explore well.

There is little to no point in traveling if youโ€™re only going to stick to whatโ€™s considered โ€˜safeโ€™. Each place you visit will have certain local culinary delicacies that you should at least try out, even if you think you might not like them. Traveling is about collecting new experiences after all!

If the city or town you are visiting has the option of availing free walking tours, make sure you go for these. These walking tours generally tend to be guided and can tell you a lot about the history and culture of the place you are visiting. Itโ€™s always good to learn!

Making friends with the locals has a whole lot of advantages of its own. For starters, you can learn some of the local language. More importantly, the locals can guide you on the best places to visit in town and perhaps tell you where you can get the best local food.

Itโ€™s always a good idea to befriend those you are traveling with. Not only does this give you a certain support system when in a new land, you can also explore and discover new parts of the city with the other travelers. Itโ€™s always more fun when there are more people.

You can even get to know more about the travelersโ€™ home county and this in itself is a learning experience.

VIII- Travel Tips to Live Unforgettable Experiences

Travel tips do what scares you

The number one rule of traveling is that you step outside your comfort zone and are willing to have all sorts of new experiences.

During your travels, you might sometimes face situations that are entirely unfamiliar and where you may feel where you are uncomfortable and that is perfectly okay.

Strange as it sounds, sometimes, the best way to discover yourself is to get lost deliberately. When in a new, strange land, try to be as adventurous as you can, and whatโ€™s more adventurous then getting lost?

So shut your phone and aimlessly walk the streets of a foreign city until you donโ€™t know where you are.

At home, itโ€™s okay to stay away from the things that tend to scare you, but not while you are traveling. During your travels, make sure to do things you were otherwise too scared to do. For example, if thereโ€™s something you always wanted to try but never got around to it, make sure you go for it when youโ€™re on your trip.

The only thing you need to ask yourself is, whatโ€™s the worst that can happen?

Life is supposed to be an adventure, more so when you are traveling. During your travels, make sure to be as spontaneous as you can.

While itโ€™s important to plan out your activities for each day, itโ€™s equally important to take life as it comes to you and not be too stringent if things donโ€™t work out exactly how you plan them.

While itโ€™s always fun to travel in groups, itโ€™s also sometimes fun to travel by yourself. Traveling by yourself can sometimes help you gain a whole new perspective on life. It can also be enriching for your soul to travel alone.

Being by yourself and discovering new places is fulfilling in itself.

While traveling anywhere is a learning experience, the more places you discover, the more you are likely to learn. As such, make it a point to visit a whole new place each year.

The more places you travel, the more you learn about different cultures, histories and traditions, the more foods you discover and the more lifestyles you experience.

Remember that are instincts are almost always right. If you are in a new place or situation that doesnโ€™t feel right to you, get out of those situations as soon as you possibly can. Taking risks is important but taking unnecessary risks is stupid.

Remember that if you mess up, no one can come to your rescue so far away from home. So be smart and careful whenever required.

IX- Travel Tips for Photography & Tech

Travel photography tips

You want to make sure that you donโ€™t run out of charge in your phone or any of the other essential devices you need to carry with yourself. The easiest thing you can do is charge your phone and power bank overnight each day of the trip. You donโ€™t want your phone to be off when you are out and about taking pictures!

This will be useful in case you need to contact friends and family back home. Remember, anything can happen when you are on a trip, far away from all that is familiar. This is also particularly important if you are traveling alone.

Furthermore, data is important even just to access GPS settings on your phone. Imagine that you are in a new place and get lost only because you cannot access maps on your phone.

Make sure that wherever you go, you carry your camera with you and that your camera is fully charged. You might not realize the importance of a camera today, but someday, years from now, when you want to look back at the memories from the trip and you have only the photographs you took, you will realize just how important a camera is.

Photographs will be the only memories of your trip for years to come. Even when you are old and wrinkly, photographs remind you of the places you have visited and the people you have seen,

So make sure that whichever photographs you do end up taking are memorable and epic!

Sunrises and sunsets are two of natureโ€™s most incredible phenomena. Some of the best pictures you can capture are those of the sun rising and setting because this is when the sky is in stunning shades of orange and pink. So make sure to get plenty of these if and where possible!

Many people believe that only sunny day pictures turn out decent and avoid taking pictures when the sky is overcast.

Contrary to popular belief however, cloudy days actually make for excellent backgrounds for photographs, particular portrait photographs .

So next time the sky is cloudy, there is no need to shy away from pictures!

Remember, itโ€™s not all about landscape photography. Itโ€™s also somewhat about taking pictures of yourself in whichever place you are visiting.

Years from now, you will want to remember the time you were visiting that place. So make sure to get great shots of yourself with the most popular landmarks of that city.

These are important because years from now, these will make for excellent memories. Make sure that each town or city you are visiting, you get at least a few shots of and with the locals.

Locals everywhere are different from each other. They may for example have a unique style of dressing that you want to capture, for memoryโ€™s sake.

Remember that the purpose of taking pictures on a trip is to preserve the memories from the trip, for your own sake, and no one else.

If you spend most of your trip going around taking โ€˜aestheticโ€™ or โ€˜Insta-worthyโ€™ pictures then you might as well not go.

X- Travel Tips for Security & Transportation

Be aware of the pickpockets in the metro and on the streets

This is a safety precaution. While traveling, as you go about exploring and discovering a new town or city, it is common that your things may get stolen or misplaced.

As a result, itโ€™s always best to make sure that your stuff is tightly strung across your body. That way, you can keep an eye on your valuables at all times.

If you are visiting a town or city where theft or pick pocketing is common, you donโ€™t want to risk your things getting stolen. As a result, you must take all necessary safety precautions.

Keeping your wallet in your back pocket is never a good idea because a thief may easily steal it, so avoid this as much as possible.

In some countries and cities, street crime and theft is pretty common. If you are visiting any such city, you must be sure to be as careful as you possibly can. Always be on the lookout for pick pockets and donโ€™t trust anyone blindly when in a foreign land.

If you are visiting any of the major cities of the world such as Tokyo, Paris, London, or new York, itโ€™s always best to stick to public means of transportation such as buses.

Public transport generally tends to be much safer than private taxi services.

If for some reason, public transportation isnโ€™t an option for you and you would much rather travel by car, make sure you rent out a car. Renting a car is much more practical and affordable option than taking taxis all the time. Taxis can sometimes be really expensive and even unsafe in certain situations.

When in a completely new land, there arenโ€™t a lot of people you can trust. Anything can go wrong and you always need to be on your guard. When traveling by taxi, make sure you have pictures of the driver, the car and the license plate, just in case.

While you can afford to be reckless when youโ€™re at home surrounded by friends and family who love you, you must always be extra careful during your travels.

Never forget any of your valuables in a public place.

You most likely wonโ€™t get them back.

XI- Common Sense

planet-earth-first-travel-eco-friendly

It doesnโ€™t take a genius to understand why this is so important.

Itโ€™s possible that you may not gather all your things before leaving and forget some things in the hotel room, so always double check.

You wouldnโ€™t like it if someone came to your country or city and littered the streets. Littering is extremely disrespectful and ill-mannered so make sure to avoid it.

Each place you visit is likely to have dustbins where you can throw your trash, so follow rules and be on your best behavior.

Itโ€™s never too late to start thinking about your planet. During the course of your trip, try to minimize your trash in as many ways as you possibly can. A good start would be to carry around a single water bottle with you instead of buying plastic water bottles all the time.

Caring about animals goes hand in hand with caring about the planet.

Avoid at all cost buying anything that is made up of animal parts. Such as handbags made from crocodile leather, lined with tiger fur, or anything made from giraffe parts, for example.

Purchasing souvenirs made from animal skin to bring home with you is ill-advised, just DONโ€™T do it.

Remember that the primary purpose of your trip is to have a ball. Stop trying to take each aspect of the trip too seriously. Let loose, have fun, and treat everything as an adventure.

If you get lost on your way back to your hotel, stay calm, enjoy the moment while it lasts. You will find your way back eventually!

Itโ€™s always best to be prepared for the worst. Remember, any number of things can go wrong during your trip, from the time you board your flight till you come back. Mishaps are simply a part of life. Take them as you come and try to enjoy the journey regardless.

When things donโ€™t seem to be going your way, remember to stay calm. Have faith that everything will work itself out eventually.

There is no need to get wound up about things that are beyond your control and the least productive thing you can do is get angry or lash out on others when things donโ€™t go your way.

During traveling, itโ€™s fairly common for people to get irritable with those they are traveling with. Itโ€™s possible that the people you travel with have personality differences to you.

Donโ€™t let this ruin your trip however. Be understanding of everyoneโ€™s wishes.

Checkout this wonderful video of the Flying The Nest channel where 4 couples share their best advice about How to travel better as a couple:

Even if you do end up having a fight or two with your travel partners, this is perfectly okay. It doesnโ€™t have to imply the end of your friendship or relationship. It is a fight and you will get over it.

A squabble or two are common when traveling with people. Just remember to not take it to heart or let it ruin your trip, or even worse, your relationship.

The key to a successful trip is to compromise as much as you can with those you are traveling with. Remember, they may have preferences you have to take into account.

This is particularly relevant when you are traveling with your partner our with a group of friends. Each person may have a different place they may want to visit, and you may sometimes have to give up some of the places on your โ€˜must visitโ€™ list for them, even when you donโ€™t want to.

While you do have to cover a lot of places and activities during you travels, make sure to take things slow at times and enjoy yourself thoroughly.

It does make sense to plan out your itinerary well in advance, but you donโ€™t always have to be on the move. Allow enough time for yourself to soak in each moment so that you enjoy to the fullest.

Simply running from one tourist attraction to the next isnโ€™t always important. Whatโ€™s important is to make sure to enjoy yourself, wherever you are in that moment.

A lot of tourists make the mistake of being judgemental and insensitive when visiting a new place.

If you want people to welcome you to their country, you need to be sensitive towards their culture, heritage, religion, and traditions.

Avoid doing anything that might be offensive. For example, do not visit a mosque or temple with light clothes as this may be considered disrespectful.

No one can know more about a place than its inhabitants. Be very careful to not act arrogant when visiting a new place.

Locals will consider this to be tactless and disrespectful.

Remember, you are only a tourist, not a resident. You should be open to learning new things, but always remember, you know less than them. It is their country after all!

This is a good idea regardless of where you are traveling. Always appear a friendly as you possibly can.

You must be friendly to the locals as well as to your fellow travelers. People always love to be around friendly people and the more kind and outgoing you are, the more you are likely to enjoy your trip!

This is something you must always remember, regardless of where you are traveling. Make sure you are respectful at all times during your travels. Each place you visit has a unique culture, heritage and traditions. In order to learn about these, you must first and foremost be respectful of these differences.

If someone welcomes you with open arms into their country, you donโ€™t want them to think that you are being offensive to their history, culture or traditions.

For more articles on Travelness check out:

About the author

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Travel Reporter & Editorial Director

Ph.D. in Geography, Travel Photographer, and Software Engineer. Been on 4 continents and loved them all.

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The Vacationer โ€ข Travel Guides โ€ข Travel Tips

49 Best Travel Tips to Save Time, Money, & Stress in 2024

Best Travel Tips

Traveling locally, across the country, or to another continent is an exciting way to form memories and experience other cultures. But an awry trip can usher in unnecessary stress, expenses, and potential regrets.

These travel tips can help you have a successful trip from the initial planning stages, as you pack your bags, and once you reach your destination. 

Table of Contents

Best Travel Tips While Preparing for a Trip

This collection of tips covers just about everything you should consider when traveling and before you go. You are most likely practicing some of them, making them a good reminder, and others can help prevent uncommon travel surprises.

1. Book At Least Six Weeks in Advance

Instead of carving time out of your schedule to book your trip at a specific date or time (such as Tuesdays at 3 a.m. using a private browsing session to find discounted fares), a more effective strategy is researching travel options at least four to six weeks in advance.

You can still find cheap flights and ideal flight times at least six weeks before departure. Getting on the hunt two or three months before major holidays is also good.  

Last-minute travel savings are possible but you may be unable to get a desired departure time, layover window, or destination. Waiting until the final days can be worth it if you have a flexible schedule and are open-minded about where you travel to.

Learn More: Best Days and Times to Book Flights

2. Travel in the Off-Season or Shoulder Season

Avoiding the peak travel season is one of the easiest ways to pay less for flights and lodging. You also will enjoy smaller crowds and the weather can still be decent for your intended activities.

For example, visiting Spain is delightful in March and April but travel prices are elevated during Semana Santa (Holy Week) when most cities have processions that virtually shut down the city.

Another example is visiting a beach town during the shoulder season. The shoulder season is the time between the peak and the offseason. So you could take a trip to Cape May, NJ from the middle of May to the end of June instead of during the July/August peak. The weather is still good enough during the shoulder season to enjoy most peak-season activities.

3. Compare Multiple Booking Sites

Comparing prices from several travel booking sites can help you find the best rate within minutes. Airlines, hotels, and rental cars offer several slots to third-party booking sites and you can pay less than booking directly from the carrier.

Itโ€™s worth your time to check prices directly from the carrier website but also from one or more third-party booking sites (online travel agencies or OTAs) like Hotels.com , Kayak , or Google Flights .

The Vacationer Tip

Along with looking for the best flight schedule and prices, you can use our guide to help find the best seats on the plane and book them for cheap or for free.

4. Book Directly from the Travel Provider

While you can find discounted prices through online travel agencies and third-party booking sites, booking directly from the airline, hotel, or rental car agency provides more protection if you must cancel or reschedule. This is especially important for flights and the 24-hour cancellation rule .

With third-party reservations, you may be locked into a particular itinerary that could be non-refundable or non-changeable. You will need to call the booking site to determine what your alternatives are. If youโ€™re eligible for a refund, it can take longer to receive your funds.

5. Stay at a Hostel to Save Money

Hostels are a common and safe way to secure affordable lodging in Europe and Asia. If youโ€™re traveling solo or in a group and okay with not having as much privacy, a hostel helps keep your travel costs down. 

Despite many misconceptions, most establishments are well-run with clean bathrooms and bedding. You may also be able to get a basic breakfast at some. With that said, be sure to research your options and consider paying a little more to get more luxurious accommodations.

Related: Everything You Need to Know About Staying in a Hostel

6. Consider Vacation Rentals for Extended Stays

Vacation rental websites like Airbnb and VRBO have become immensely more popular since the pandemic as people yearned for privacy. While hotels are usually better for shorter stays as you avoid expensive cleaning fees and service fees, a vacation home or villa can be more cost-effective for extended stays.

At a minimum, a rental or an extended-stay hotel is more likely to offer a full kitchen suite that allows you to cook full meals instead of relying on packaged snacks or what fits inside the hotel mini-fridge. 

Vacation rentals can also be cheaper per square foot if traveling as a family. Instead of squeezing into a hotel suite or booking multiple rooms, you have spacious accommodations. If you have small children, the extra space can keep you from losing your mind on rainy days.

The Vacationerโ€™s Tip: While many people focus on spending less for flights, hotels and vacation rentals can have variable pricing. Here is how to find and book cheap hotels to enjoy clean and spacious lodging on a budget.

7. Buy Travel Insurance for Expensive or International Trips

Travel insurance is inexpensive on most itineraries and can save you thousands of dollars if your non-refundable travel is canceled or delayed for qualifying reasons. 

Obtaining coverage is a good option for expensive trips. Picking up a policy can also be worth it when traveling outside the United States as you can have medical coverage and emergency evacuation benefits that your ordinary health insurance may not provide outside the country.

You should also consider booking your trips using credit cards with travel insurance coverage . These benefits are sufficient for low-cost excursions and can activate before your standalone travel insurance policy can. They can also provide complimentary rental car coverage .

The Chase Sapphire Reserveยฎ offers the best credit card travel insurance benefits. Namely, you can be eligible for trip interruption and cancellation coverage of up to $10,000 per person ($20,000 per trip), primary auto rental collision damage waiver, up to $500 per ticket in trip delay reimbursement, and up to $100,000 in emergency evacuation ย Learn How to Apply Here

8. Consider Annual Travel Insurance Plans

If you travel regularly, an annual travel insurance policy covers multiple trips at a lower premium than buying a new policy for each trip. This is an excellent option for frequent leisure travelers and business travelers.

9. Review Airline and Hotel Cancellation Policies

Your travel plans may change unexpectedly for personal or work reasons. Before you book, take the time to review the cancellation and modification policies just to make sure they are reasonable.

You want to make sure you have a strong possibility of getting a refund or a travel credit to redeem later. Being locked into a non-refundable itinerary may not be worth the savings unless youโ€™re booking right before you go or your travel insurance may issue a refund.

In addition to researching the cancellation policy, be sure to review an airlineโ€™s seating and carry-on policy to avoid add-on fees and restrictions. 

10. Choose Early Flights

Early morning flights are the best time to fly for several reasons. First, these departures are less likely to be delayed as itโ€™s a new travel day with rested crews and minimal weather-related interruptions. 

Additionally, these flights can be cheaper as you need to arrive at the airport a little earlier. Routes popular with business travel can be an exception to this rule, but you can anticipate paying less than for a mid-day sortie.

Learn More: How to Avoid Flight Delays and Cancellations

11. Arrive at the Airport Early

Best Travel Tips - Arrive at the Airport Early

Photo: Pixabay

Getting to the airport at least an hour before departure for domestic flights at small airports or when youโ€™re not checking luggage. Plan on arriving at least two hours for domestic flights at busy airports, if youโ€™re checking a bag, or traveling with small children.

What about international flights? Plan on arriving at least three hours before departure to allow additional time for a potentially longer check-in time.

Learn More: How Early Should I Get to the Airport?

12. Qualify for Expedited Airport Security 

If you fly several times a year, obtaining expedited airport security credentials can help you avoid long airport security lines. 

The first step is applying for a federally-administered Trusted Traveler Program, such as:

  • TSA PreCheck : Enjoy expedited security at domestic airports only.  
  • Global Entry : Get expedited processing at customs lines on international flights plus TSA PreCheck benefits. 
  • NEXUS : Ideal for travel between the U.S. and Canada. It also includes Global Entry and TSA PreCheck benefits. 

Several rewards credit cards are offering free Global Entry and TSA PreCheck application fee credits to save a few dollars.

In addition to Trusted Traveler programs, you can also shave a few minutes off security wait times with CLEAR at select major airports and stadiums. Where available, this pre-security program can help you reach the expedited TSA security lines sooner. 

Getting a Redress Number can help those who frequently have boarding pass issues, are subject to additional security screenings (including having SSSS on their boarding pass ), and those who experience delayed or denied boardings.

Learn More: How to Get Through TSA Airport Security Faster

13. Relax at an Airport Lounge

If you have a long layover or arrive at the airport several hours later, visiting an airport lounge (like a Centurion Lounge ) can help you grab a complimentary meal and drink, and recharge your devices. You can also have a comfortable place to sit and the luxury lounges offer spa treatment, sleeping rooms, and shower suites to clean up.

Single-day passes are pricey but there are several credit cards with lounge access . Most lounges allow entry for the primary cardholder and up to two guests complimentary up to three hours before your next flightโ€™s departure.

Airport lounge access is just one way to reduce air travel stress . Check out our article for additional suggestions.ย 

14. Check Your Passport Expiration Date

Some countries and airlines wonโ€™t let you travel if your passport expires within six months. If youโ€™re planning a trip, see if your passport is expiring soon to prevent delaying your trip.

Consider renewing your passport early if youโ€™re approaching the six-month expiration window as the passport processing times can take up to 13 weeks to receive your new document. You can pay extra for expedited processing but the process can still take several weeks.

After submitting your renewal request, you can check your passport application status online .

Finally, use our How to Take Your Own Passport Photo guide to simplify things when applying or renewing.

15. Donโ€™t Go Into Debt for Vacation

As much as youโ€™re earning to get away on a dream trip, itโ€™s probably not worth going into debt for. Whether your bank is offering a vacation loan or you intend on carrying a credit card balance (even with a 0% APR), borrowing money to travel can backfire.

Instead, look for the best options within your spending power. Consider setting aside money each month and delaying your trip if necessary.

In addition to saving up for travel in a dedicated savings account, you can use travel rewards credit cards to redeem points to defray purchases. Some cards offer annual statement credits that reimburse eligible travel bookings. 

Additionally, airline credit cards and hotel credit cards also offer complimentary benefits to spend less.  

Making a travel budget can help you plan for travel expenses so youโ€™re not nervous about running out of cash while you travel or having regrets once you return home.

16. Exercise and Stretch

Once you depart for your trip, be sure to stretch and perform basic exercises as time and space permit. It can be as basic as stationary stretches while sitting in your seat to walking the airport terminal. If driving, stay outside for a few extra minutes at the gas station or rest area.

Stretching and being active once you arrive is also beneficial and can help you sleep better.

Best Travel Tips for Packing

17. only bring a carry-on.

When possible, only bring a carry-on to avoid lost or missing checked luggage. You can also avoid checked baggage fees and excessive weight charges if you overpack. Using the best carry-on can help you find the perfect soft or hard-sided luggage to fit your travel gear.

If you need to check a bag, it most likely wonโ€™t get lost but could get delayed. Hereโ€™s our helpful guide on what to do during baggage delays .

18. Pack as Light as Possible

Packing is stressful; Many people overpack to ease their anxiety, which sometimes means bringing extra suitcases or paying to check a bag. Write down everything you think you need on your packing list. After it’s complete, cut it down to the bare minimum.

Pack underwear and socks for the number of showers you expect to take; Add an emergency pair for every five or so days of your trip. Shirts and pants can usually be worn multiple days in a row. If your accommodation has a washing machine, you can pack even less.

19. Carry-On Overnight Travel Essentials

You never know when a flight delay will turn into spending the night in the terminal or at a nearby hotel. While the airline may provide meal vouchers, you should pack these travel essentials to freshen up:

  • A change of clothes, especially extra underwear and socks
  • Powerbank (they cost about $20 and have several phone/tablet recharges)
  • Travel charger

Even if youโ€™re not stuck somewhere overnight, these small and compact items can also help you rest while on the road:

  • Earplugs (great for plane rides and noisy hotels)
  • Noise-canceling earbuds or headphones
  • Travel blanket
  • Travel pillow (see the best travel neck pillows )

Adding these carry-on essentials to your packing list can prepare you for nearly any change of plans and to weather a long layover or flight.ย 

20. Donโ€™t Forget a Power Adapter

A power adapter is essential in most foreign destinations to charge your devices. Traveling to Canada or Mexico is an exception as the standard voltage is 120v and these countries have the same outlet design as the United States. Check to see the adapter requirements for the country you are visiting before leaving.

The Vacationer’s Phil Dengler recently visited South Africa and needed a Type M adapter. He purchased this Ceptics International Power Plug Adapter Travel Set , which includes 13 adapters for just about every foreign country.

21. Use Packing Cubes

There are a couple of ways to organize your travel luggage to squeeze everything in. Your bag may include built-in storage compartments or you might roll up clothing and put them in packing cubes or vacuum storage bags. If youโ€™re on a budget, rubber bands or plastic bags can also do the job. I recommend the following packing cubes: Veken 6 Set of Various Colored Packing Cubes .

Packing for a vacation can feel like a fine art at times, even as a seasoned traveler. Our travel packing list can cover everything you need to bring so you donโ€™t forget and have to buy something along the way.

22. Bring an Empty Water Bottle

For over 20 years, itโ€™s become ingrained for air travelers to pack liquids in containers containing no more than three ounces. This security rule means you canโ€™t bring a filled water bottle through airport security, but you can bring an empty one.

Most airports have filtered water dispensers in the post-security terminal that you can fill up your bottle with and avoid paying big bucks for bottled water. You also wonโ€™t struggle to stay hydrated during your journey.

If youโ€™re driving, consider bringing a travel water filter or a portable filter that you can use in your hotel room to pay pennies for filtered water.

23. Dress Comfortably for the Flight

You should dress comfortably for the plane ride. Dressing in layers with a light jacket or a travel blanket can help you stay warm if the cabin is cool. Bringing travel slippers or slip-on shoes on long-haul flights is another overlooked comfort hack. Wear sweatpants instead of jeans.

24. Bring Duplicate Travel Documents

Take a few minutes to photocopy your critical travel documents such as your government-issued IDs and passport. Be sure to keep these papers separate from your originals in case one set gets lost.

Once you arrive at your destination, you may decide to go out in public with your duplicates and keep your originals plus at least one payment card in the room safe. That way, a pickpocket doesnโ€™t run off with the more valuable set and you still have a way to make purchases. 

Taking it a step further, write down your credit card numbers and the emergency contact number if you need to call and cancel if your plastic goes missing. If you donโ€™t have a phone number, you can also look for a pay phone that should have a toll-free number to contact Visa or Mastercard to cancel your card.

25. Keep Valuables at Home and Bring a Lock

Unless itโ€™s necessary to bring them along for a business function or a personal event, leave your valuables at home. The hassle of keeping them secure and the risk of losing them may not be worth the replacement cost. 

This includes your fine jewelry, watches, and high-end electronics that are nice to use but optional for this trip. Additionally, these items can make you a target for thieves.

The Vacationer’s Phil Dengler also recommends bringing a luggage lock or a standard combination lock.

Best Travel Tips Luggage Lock & Tracker

26. Install a Luggage Tracking Device

Bluetooth tracking devices like the Apple AirTag are a small and easy way to see where your carry-on and checked luggage are at all times. A single piece is about the size of a coin and costs $30 or less.

27. Bring Comfy Walking Shoes

Most of the world walks more steps than we do daily. Therefore, itโ€™s essential to pack at least one pair of comfortable shoes or sandals to stroll the streets of your destination. Comfortable footwear is also a must-have if youโ€™re staying stateside.

28. Keep a Travel Journal

Consider packing a notebook or diary into your carry-on. Handwriting your favorite travel memories in a journal is an easy way to remember the intricacies that you may struggle to remember years later when you reflect. 

For example, you can write down what you did each day along with exciting facts. Having everybody share their favorite activity for the day is another way to use this journal.

Best Travel Tips for Once You Arrive

29. learn the local customs.

Words and expressions can have different meanings where youโ€™re traveling to. Itโ€™s also a good idea to know some of the common phrases and customs the locals practice so you can have a basic conversation.

You can research these details online or in a guidebook.

Best Travel Tips Local Customs

30. Dress As a Local

Blending in with the crowd can help prevent unwanted attention from panhandlers and pickpockets. For example, donโ€™t wear revealing clothing when the culture favors pants or long dresses. Researching fashion advice for your destination is your best option.

31. Be Wary of Local Scams

Brushing up on the latest tourist scams can help you avoid bad situations. A recent travel guidebook is a reliable way to find the most common tactics for your destination. Two to look out for are unofficial taxis and fake wifi hotspots. 

32. Consider Wearing a Money Belt

Long-time travelers have a love-hate relationship with money belts as they point you out as a tourist if youโ€™re constantly reaching for it in public. Additionally, wearing the belt all day can be a nuisance as it’s an extra layer of fabric youโ€™re not used to.

At the same time, itโ€™s harder to steal a money belt than to grab something from your pockets or purse. They are also inexpensive to buy on Amazon and donโ€™t take up a lot of suitcase space if you decide not to use it.

33. Download Travel Apps

Smartphones make international travel substantially easier as you can download various apps before leaving home so you can hit the ground running.

Some types of apps you may consider downloading for these purposes:

  • Offline Maps: Many consider Maps.me to be the best offline maps app and more user-friendly than Apple Maps or Google Maps. You may still try getting paper maps from a local tourism office or bookstore once you arrive though.
  • Translation: A translator app for traveling can be pre-loaded with basic phrases with offline access. It may also be able to interpret voice recordings and photographs.
  • Jet Lag: Flying to the other side of the world takes a toll on your body and sleep cycle. Timeshifter can help you conquer jet lag quicker while traveling and upon returning home.   

Downloading apps for your airline, hotel, and travel booking sites will help you access your digital reservation information and receive itinerary updates. Some travelers also enjoy downloading tourism apps like Tripadvisor or Yelp to quickly access ratings for attractions.

34. Get an International Sim Card or Phone Plan

Your stateside phone carrier may offer an international plan that you can upgrade to while youโ€™re out of the country. Contract carriers and prepaid providers offer this overseas coverage.

Alternatively, an international sim card can be a budget-friendly and reliable option if you visit multiple countries. Just make sure your device is unlocked and GSM-compatible.  

35. Avoid Eating in Touristy Areas  

Youโ€™re likely to pay more and potentially get lower-quality food when eating in touristy areas. This isnโ€™t always the case. For example, dining within sight of Romeโ€™s Pantheon is an exception as there are well-rated restaurants for a memorable ambiance.

However, going a few streets over or to an adjacent community can be the ticket to finding authentic food. Asking your hotel or trustworthy locals can help you find a good spot in addition to researching places to eat online.

36. Lunch Can Be Cheaper than Supper

If youโ€™re only planning on eating out one meal per day, your mid-day meal can be more affordable than in the evening. 

Depending on the restaurant, there can be separate menus for the bar and dining room. Staying in the bar can be more affordable and your meal options can be similar.

37. Use American Chains for Public Restrooms and Wifi

Finding a public bathroom can be challenging in foreign destinations. American restaurants like McDonaldโ€™s, Starbucks, and Taco Bell are more likely to offer public access to restrooms and wifi, although you may need to make a small purchase.

38. Look for Free Walking Tours

Free walking tours are common in popular tourist destinations both stateside and internationally. These tours can last a couple of hours and hit the cultural and historical points of interest. They can provide an idea of what you want to spend more time exploring later.  

While these tours donโ€™t have an entry fee, nothing in life is genuinely 100% free ,and leaving a tip is expected in most situations. You may decide to tip more if the guide is knowledgeable and engaging.

39. A Paid Tour Can Be Better Than a Free Tour

Best Travel Tips for Tours

You should also compare the free tours to private, guided tours. A paid tour can provide more hands-on support and access to more landmarks. 

In addition to researching the traditional tour providers, the experiences section in Airbnb can also provide curated opportunities to see the sights, enjoy culinary delights, or do physical activities like paddleboarding or folk dancing. 

Further Reading: Best Websites for Booking Cheap Tickets, Tours, & Activities

40. Look for Discounted Sightseeing Passes

Museums and entertainment attractions offer discounted and priority admission with sightseeing pass companies. So, instead of buying tickets directly from the tourist attractions you wish to visit, purchasing a city attraction card in advance can save money and means you wonโ€™t need to wait for hours (potentially) to buy a ticket at the door.

For domestic trips, CityPASSยฎ offers discounted packages in approximately 15 major U.S. cities. Entertainment.com can also help you save on experiences in the United States and Canada.

If youโ€™re flying to the โ€œEternal Cityโ€ of Rome, Italy, the Roma Tourist Card is worth the upfront cost as you can enjoy these benefits:   

  • Skip-the-line access at the Roman Colosseum
  • Guided tour of St. Peterโ€™s Basilica
  • Access to the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel
  • Audio guides for the Pantheon and Rome
  • Free return transfer to or from Romeโ€™s international airports (Ciampino and Fiumicino)
  • 10% discount on other attractions, museums, and tours

Depending on the program, you may need to book your pass weeks in advance.

41. Get an Interrail Pass for a Eurotrip

If youโ€™re backpacking Europe or touring several countries, an Interrail Pass from Eurail can make it easier to finalize your transportation plan using an interactive map. This platform lets you visit up to 33 countries by rail with a single pass. 

42. Have a Flexible Travel Schedule

Mapping out an initial plan for each day can help you seize the day and optimize your time of playing tourist. Meanwhile, remaining flexible is pivotal as several variables can alter your itinerary such as:

  • A change in the weather
  • Accomplishing more than you originally scheduled 
  • Making friends with other travelers and having dinner with them
  • Realizing a planned activity isnโ€™t as appealing once you arrive 

Another related suggestion is to get out and explore the city and the immediate area on your arrival date (time permitting) so you have a better idea of what to do the next day.

43. Wear Sunscreen Early and Often For Beach & Outdoor Trips

There is nothing worse than getting a bad sunburn at the beginning of a trip. Find a good facial sunscreen and buy a travel-sized container. Apply it to your face and neck a few times per day. For beach trips, either cover up with a hat and clothing or apply strong sunscreen to your body multiple times per day. While it may be annoying, it is much better than dealing with painful and peeling sunburn.

Sunscreen is usually marked up at typical tourist spots. If you check a bag, consider buying what you need before leaving and packing it.

44. Use an ATM Instead of a Currency Exchange Booth

Instead of heading directly to the currency exchange booth at the airport or train terminal, look for an ATM instead. Several should be in the public terminals or you can look for a local bank branch to find a secure location.

Why? ATMs provide better currency exchange ratios than the money exchange booth. Even if you pay foreign transaction fees and non-network ATM fees, you will most likely come out ahead financially speaking.

45. Use a Credit Card With No Foreign Transaction Fees

Many travel-focused credit cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred , the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card , and The Platinum Card from American Express do not have foreign transaction fees. Use cards like those when traveling internationally to avoid potentially expensive fees.

46. Bring at Least One Backup Credit Card

Getting stuck on vacation with no access to money (besides cash) is not something you want to experience; Your main credit card could get lost or stolen. Carry at least one backup credit card (ideally with no foreign transaction fees if overseas) on all trips.

Phil Dengler’s Favorite Travel Tips

Here are a few of Phil’s favorite travel tips.

47. Be Very Flexible – Pick Your Travel Dates Based on the Cheapest Days to Fly

Flights are usually the most costly part of a vacation. I recommend using Google Flights calendar view to find the cheapest days to fly to and from your destination. After identifying those days, book your airfare. You must be flexible, but it can save you hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars planning a vacation this way.

Further Reading: How to Find Cheap Flights and How to Use Google Flights

48. Book the Aisle and Window Seats When Traveling in Pairs

I always book the aisle and window seats when flying with my girlfriend or a friend. No one wants to sit in the middle seat, so people rarely select it. Doing this usually gives us the entire row to ourselves.

It does not work on full flights, however. The good news is people are usually willing to trade their middle seat. Simply offer them your aisle or window seat and you still get to sit next to your significant other or friend.

Further Reading: Can You (and Should You) Change Airplane Seats With Someone Else on a Flight?

49. Follow Proper Airline Etiquette

Knowing how to properly act on a plane can better your flying experience. See our following guides for more information.

  • Airplane Seat Reclining Etiquette
  • Overhead Bin Space Etiquette โ€“ Who Does it Belong To and How to Avoid Fights

The Vacationerโ€™s Final Thoughts

Taking the time to plan for a vacation, whether itโ€™s the annual beach trip or youโ€™re trying some new place, lets you practice these travel tips and not stress before or during your expedition. 

The best part is that you donโ€™t need to be a travel pro to successfully implement these suggestions. If youโ€™re a beginner, try adopting several more each time you leave home.

Josh Patoka The Vacationer Bio

By Josh Patoka

Josh Patoka writes about maximizing travel rewards for The Vacationer. As well, he contributes to several personal finance sites specializing in making money, paying off debt, and investing.

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26 Best Trip-Planning Hacks Straight From Travel Agents

Posted: September 14, 2023 | Last updated: September 14, 2023

<p>If you've ever had to plan a vacation, you know the responsibilityโ€”and pressureโ€”of the task. There's browsing endlessly for <a rel="noopener noreferrer external nofollow" href="https://bestlifeonline.com/the-best-day-to-book-flights-for-your-next-getaway/">affordable airfare</a> (that seems to fluctuate every hour), finding a central hotel with all the amenities, and spending hours booking restaurant reservations. Thankfully, travel agents are here to help. Below, we've compiled their best trip-planning hacks, so your next getaway will be seamless.</p><p><p><strong>RELATED: <a rel="noopener noreferrer external nofollow" href="https://bestlifeonline.com/news-airport-security-secrets-tsa/">8 Airport Security Secrets TSA Doesn't Want You to Know</a>.</strong></p></p>

If you've ever had to plan a vacation, you know the responsibilityโ€”and pressureโ€”of the task. There's browsing endlessly for affordable airfare (that seems to fluctuate every hour), finding a central hotel with all the amenities, and spending hours booking restaurant reservations. Thankfully, travel agents are here to help. Below, we've compiled their best trip-planning hacks, so your next getaway will be seamless.

RELATED: 8 Airport Security Secrets TSA Doesn't Want You to Know .

<p>Once you've found your dream hotel, be sure to read the fine print. From booking fees to daily hotel resort fees to cancellation fees, there are many hidden costs that can leave you paying more than you bargained for.</p><p>"These hidden hotel resort fees are designed to confuse consumers and distort the actual price," says <strong>Erika Richter</strong>, spokeswoman for the <a rel="noopener noreferrer external nofollow" href="http://www.asta.org">American Society of Travel Advisors</a> (ASTA). "Sometimes they're called 'facility fees;' make sure you ask before you book."</p>

1 Look at the hotel's fine print.

Once you've found your dream hotel, be sure to read the fine print. From booking fees to daily hotel resort fees to cancellation fees, there are many hidden costs that can leave you paying more than you bargained for.

"These hidden hotel resort fees are designed to confuse consumers and distort the actual price," says Erika Richter , spokeswoman for the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA). "Sometimes they're called 'facility fees;' make sure you ask before you book."

<p>Nothing is worse than arriving at your destination and feeling overwhelmed by all the things to do and places to see. So, <strong>James Ian</strong>, travel expert and founder of the online travel publications <a rel="noopener noreferrer external nofollow" href="https://travelcollecting.com/">Travel Collecting</a> and <a rel="noopener noreferrer external nofollow" href="https://parkscollecting.com/">Parks Collecting</a>, recommends making a detailed itinerary.</p><p>"When creating an itinerary, I always create a Google Doc that I can share with my travel companion(s). I create a table/ calendar with the dates of travel," he shares. "Then I research all the things to doโ€ฆ noting opening hours and days, travel times, locations, websites with links, etc."</p><p>"I then move these activities and places into the calendar. I cross reference locations so that I'm not jumping around the city or country, but instead am spending each day in the same area," he adds. "This has an additional advantage that I can access it on my phone during the trip if necessary."</p><p>Another way to figure out which stops make sense for which days is to pin the locations on Google Maps, suggests <strong>Kelsea O'Donnell</strong>, co-owner and chief travel planner of <a rel="noopener noreferrer external nofollow" href="https://outofofficemindset.com/">Out of Office Mindset</a>. Then, you can see them all in one place to easily know distances.</p>

2 Create a detailed itinerary.

Nothing is worse than arriving at your destination and feeling overwhelmed by all the things to do and places to see. So, James Ian , travel expert and founder of the online travel publications Travel Collecting and Parks Collecting , recommends making a detailed itinerary.

"When creating an itinerary, I always create a Google Doc that I can share with my travel companion(s). I create a table/ calendar with the dates of travel," he shares. "Then I research all the things to doโ€ฆ noting opening hours and days, travel times, locations, websites with links, etc."

"I then move these activities and places into the calendar. I cross reference locations so that I'm not jumping around the city or country, but instead am spending each day in the same area," he adds. "This has an additional advantage that I can access it on my phone during the trip if necessary."

Another way to figure out which stops make sense for which days is to pin the locations on Google Maps, suggests Kelsea O'Donnell , co-owner and chief travel planner of Out of Office Mindset . Then, you can see them all in one place to easily know distances.

<p>Itineraries are great, but there's only so much we can account for in advance, which is why you'll want to leave at least a little bit of room to readjust.</p><p>"As a Type-A person myself, I find that I always want to have everything planned out to the minute, but over the years I've learned that this just isn't the way to go with trip-planning," shares <strong>Brittany Mendez</strong>,ย <a rel="noopener noreferrer external nofollow" href="https://floridapanhandle.com/">travel expert</a>ย and chief marketing officer of FloridaPanhandle.com.</p><p>"You never know when something is going to happen that will throw a wrench in your plansโ€”maybe a sudden storm will appear, you'll wake up with a migraine one morning, a location you'd planned on visiting is temporarily closed for a few hours, etc.," she points out. "And if you haven't allowed any wiggle-room in your plans, that will throw everything off."</p>

3 But also leave yourself some wiggle room.

Itineraries are great, but there's only so much we can account for in advance, which is why you'll want to leave at least a little bit of room to readjust.

"As a Type-A person myself, I find that I always want to have everything planned out to the minute, but over the years I've learned that this just isn't the way to go with trip-planning," shares Brittany Mendez ,ย  travel expert ย and chief marketing officer of FloridaPanhandle.com.

"You never know when something is going to happen that will throw a wrench in your plansโ€”maybe a sudden storm will appear, you'll wake up with a migraine one morning, a location you'd planned on visiting is temporarily closed for a few hours, etc.," she points out. "And if you haven't allowed any wiggle-room in your plans, that will throw everything off."

<p>If you're checking luggage, be sure to pack a change of clothes or a versatile outfit in your carry-on (including undergarments and socks). "If your luggage gets lost and takes a while to get to you, you'll be so grateful that you've got a change of clothes ready to go," says <a rel="noopener noreferrer external nofollow" href="https://girlgonelondon.com/">travel agent</a> <strong>Kalyn Franke</strong>.</p>

4 Bring a spare outfit in your carry-on.

If you're checking luggage, be sure to pack a change of clothes or a versatile outfit in your carry-on (including undergarments and socks). "If your luggage gets lost and takes a while to get to you, you'll be so grateful that you've got a change of clothes ready to go," says travel agent Kalyn Franke .

<p>Whether it's an amenity pair from a previous hotel stay or a cheap pair from the drugstore, <strong>Betsy Ball</strong>, co-founder of <a rel="noopener noreferrer external nofollow" href="http://www.eurotravelcoach.com">Euro Travel Coach</a>, recommends wearing slippers on the plane for comfort and sanitation.</p><p>"If your feet swell during the flight, you'll still be comfortable, and you can walk down the aisle of the plane with something on your feet," she says.</p>

5 Keep a pair of slippers in your carry-on.

Whether it's an amenity pair from a previous hotel stay or a cheap pair from the drugstore, Betsy Ball , co-founder of Euro Travel Coach , recommends wearing slippers on the plane for comfort and sanitation.

"If your feet swell during the flight, you'll still be comfortable, and you can walk down the aisle of the plane with something on your feet," she says.

<p>On the topic of lost luggage<em>โ€”</em>no one ever thinks it will happen to them. But even if you don't have a tight connection, a number of factors can cause your bag to get delayed. This is whyย <strong>Amina Dearmon</strong>, owner and travel advisor at <a rel="noopener noreferrer external nofollow" href="http://www.perspectivestravel.com">Perspectives Travel</a>, suggests printing a copy of your itinerary and packing it on top of your checked luggage, so airlines can easily return it to you.</p><p>"If you're only in your first destination for a day or two, the airline will know where you're headed next and [send] your bag to your new location," says Dearmon.</p>

6 Save a copy of your itinerary in your checked bag.

On the topic of lost luggage โ€” no one ever thinks it will happen to them. But even if you don't have a tight connection, a number of factors can cause your bag to get delayed. This is whyย  Amina Dearmon , owner and travel advisor at Perspectives Travel , suggests printing a copy of your itinerary and packing it on top of your checked luggage, so airlines can easily return it to you.

"If you're only in your first destination for a day or two, the airline will know where you're headed next and [send] your bag to your new location," says Dearmon.

<p><strong>Kim Parizek</strong> of <a rel="noopener noreferrer external nofollow" href="http://www.travelbta.com/">Boutique Travel Advisors</a> suggests getting "a very colorful and flat passport holder that is easy to find in a flash." She personallyย carries a pink one, which allows her to spot the passport in her carry-on amidst the chaos of customs or security.</p>

7 Buy a colorful passport cover.

Kim Parizek of Boutique Travel Advisors suggests getting "a very colorful and flat passport holder that is easy to find in a flash." She personallyย carries a pink one, which allows her to spot the passport in her carry-on amidst the chaos of customs or security.

<p>Besides being <a rel="noopener noreferrer external nofollow" href="https://bestlifeonline.com/hardworking-zodiac-sign-news/">dedicated worker bees</a>, Capricorns value family above anything else. They aren't aggressive, but they'll cut you down with words if you get in the way of their success or come for those closest to them.</p><p>"They take the safety and security of their loved ones very seriously, often assuming the role of the protector in their relationships, says Rodriguez.</p><p>This is the same reason they often find themselves in leadership roles at the workplace. They ensure that everyone is well provided for and won't run away in difficult times.</p>

8 Know when to book flights.

It's long been a commonly held belief that Tuesday is the cheapest day of the week to book flights. Ivan Saprov , founder and CEO of flight-booking site Voyagu , says this is true, but he adds that there are other hacks, too.

"Booking a flight in the middle of the night could also save you money," he shares. "According to our experience, airlines release better seat availability at 4-5 a.m., when there is less activity in the market. This is because airlines use a revenue management system to control how they distribute seats, and they release cheap seats during off-peak hours to attract customers."

"Also consider flying midweek for better rates, as there's a huge demand to travel out early in the week and return on Saturday or Sunday," he adds.

<p><strong>Mercedes Zach</strong>, a travel expert at <a rel="noopener noreferrer external nofollow" href="https://www.asaptickets.com/">ASAP Tickets</a>, says you can also potentially save money on flights by being flexible with what airports you fly out of and into. For example, she suggests looking into "open-jaw tickets," or tickets where you don't arrive and depart from the same airport.</p><p>"If a direct flight is too expensive, look into connecting flights and, where possible, check out pricing for flights to secondary airports," she notes.</p>

9 And be flexible with your airports.

Mercedes Zach , a travel expert at ASAP Tickets , says you can also potentially save money on flights by being flexible with what airports you fly out of and into. For example, she suggests looking into "open-jaw tickets," or tickets where you don't arrive and depart from the same airport.

"If a direct flight is too expensive, look into connecting flights and, where possible, check out pricing for flights to secondary airports," she notes.

<p>After booking flights, hotels, and excursions, check that your name on all the reservations and tickets correctly matches your ID or passport. "Make sure it is spelled exactly the same!" says Ball. A misspelled name on a reservation can cause delays and even cancellations depending on the airline or hotel policy.</p>

10 Double- and triple-check your name details.

After booking flights, hotels, and excursions, check that your name on all the reservations and tickets correctly matches your ID or passport. "Make sure it is spelled exactly the same!" says Ball. A misspelled name on a reservation can cause delays and even cancellations depending on the airline or hotel policy.

<p>"After you settle on a destination, make sure you find out when it's peak season and plan your trip before or after that time," says Richter.</p><p>Peak travel times are typically predictable, like spring break, holidays, and summer months. The influx of visitors forces prices to increase during these times, thus traveling in the shoulder season allows for a cheaper and less-crowded getaway.</p>

11 Travel on shoulder season.

"After you settle on a destination, make sure you find out when it's peak season and plan your trip before or after that time," says Richter.

Peak travel times are typically predictable, like spring break, holidays, and summer months. The influx of visitors forces prices to increase during these times, thus traveling in the shoulder season allows for a cheaper and less-crowded getaway.

<p>If peak travel times are your only option, you can also consider visiting a less "popular" destination, says <strong>Sarah-Leigh Shenton</strong>, director of marketing at luxury travel company <a rel="noopener noreferrer external nofollow" href="https://www.redsavannah.com/">Red Savannah</a>.</p><p>"Instead of Barcelona, for example, consider San Sebastian, a beautiful Catalan town on Spain's Bay of Biscay coast, noted for its delicious food scene," she suggests. "The Amalfi Coast gets horribly crowded in the peak summer months and the coastal road becomes more stressful than scenicโ€”head instead to the more tranquil region of Puglia where you'll discover fine beaches and fascinating villages."</p>

12 Or travel to lesser-visited destinations.

If peak travel times are your only option, you can also consider visiting a less "popular" destination, says Sarah-Leigh Shenton , director of marketing at luxury travel company Red Savannah .

"Instead of Barcelona, for example, consider San Sebastian, a beautiful Catalan town on Spain's Bay of Biscay coast, noted for its delicious food scene," she suggests. "The Amalfi Coast gets horribly crowded in the peak summer months and the coastal road becomes more stressful than scenicโ€”head instead to the more tranquil region of Puglia where you'll discover fine beaches and fascinating villages."

<p>It's a no-brainer to research attractions in advance, but don't forget to look at the timing, including holiday hours.</p><p>"Take special note of days when museums are closed. Don't plan to be in a city for only one day to see a special exhibit and find out later that it is closed that day," says Ball.</p><p>She learned this the hard way when she was in Prague. "The only day we had was a Saturday," she shares. "What I really wanted to see were the Jewish sites, and they are closed on Saturday, their holy day."</p>

13 Research holidays and open hours.

It's a no-brainer to research attractions in advance, but don't forget to look at the timing, including holiday hours.

"Take special note of days when museums are closed. Don't plan to be in a city for only one day to see a special exhibit and find out later that it is closed that day," says Ball.

She learned this the hard way when she was in Prague. "The only day we had was a Saturday," she shares. "What I really wanted to see were the Jewish sites, and they are closed on Saturday, their holy day."

<p>Parizek advises paying for museum tickets in advance, particularly for any experiences that offer a 'skip-the-line' fee.</p><p>"The crowds can be overwhelming as over-tourism becomes an issue in most popular destinations. Your time is valuable and waiting in line for two hours to see the Louvre is not a good use of it," she notes.</p>

14 Book online to skip admission lines.

Parizek advises paying for museum tickets in advance, particularly for any experiences that offer a 'skip-the-line' fee.

"The crowds can be overwhelming as over-tourism becomes an issue in most popular destinations. Your time is valuable and waiting in line for two hours to see the Louvre is not a good use of it," she notes.

<p>Camel and black, blush and burgundy, navy and goldโ€”these are all classic combos that always work. But stylists say there are plenty of surprising color combinations that, although less obvious, <a rel="noopener noreferrer external nofollow" href="https://bestlifeonline.com/slimming-colors-that-arent-black/">still look great together</a>.</p><p><strong>Ra'el Cohen</strong>, a <a rel="noopener noreferrer external nofollow" href="https://www.thirdlove.com/pages/rael-cohen">fashion design expert</a>ย and co-founder/chief creative officer at Third Love, says the easiest way to find stylish color combos is to think about the color wheel. Hues that are on opposite ends are considered complementary. Because these colors provide maximum contrast, they make for extra striking combinations.</p><p>"The most important thing is to have fun with color and experiment until you find a combination that you love!" adds Cohen. "There are no hard and fast rules, so have fun and let your creativity shine through."</p><p>With all that in mind, here are a few unexpected pairings to consider next time you're picking out an outfitโ€”for any occasion.</p><p><p><strong>RELATED: <a rel="noopener noreferrer external nofollow" href="https://bestlifeonline.com/colors-you-should-never-wear-together/">5 Colors You Should Never Wear Together, Stylists Say</a>.</strong></p></p>

15 Make those restaurant reservations.

There was always a good chance that highly sought-after restaurants required reservations well in advance. But after the pandemic, even more restaurants are reservation-only.

This is especially true in Europe, says Shenton: "Remember that many book several months in advanceโ€”Brett Graham's The Ledbury in London, The Waterside Inn in Bray, and Gigi Paris, with its Eiffel Tower views all require bookings well ahead."

<p>"There is nothing worse than arriving from a long flight and having to deal with taxis and being ripped off," says <strong>Tina Dahmen</strong>, a <a rel="noopener noreferrer external nofollow" href="http://www.luxurybalitours.com">luxury travel advisor</a> in Bali.</p><p>Ask your hotel concierge to book a car if there's no shuttle available, or ask your Airbnb host how they recommend getting to the apartment.</p>

16 Arrange airport transportation in advance.

"There is nothing worse than arriving from a long flight and having to deal with taxis and being ripped off," says Tina Dahmen , a luxury travel advisor in Bali.

Ask your hotel concierge to book a car if there's no shuttle available, or ask your Airbnb host how they recommend getting to the apartment.

<p>This may seem self-explanatory, but the more you travel, the more you realize you don't always need everything you pack. Browse your itinerary and check the weather a week before you travel. Then make a list of essentials and outfits you can easily mix and match.</p><p>"Packing light is always a good idea to avoid last-minute, stressful stuffing situations," says <strong>Georgina Blasco</strong> of <a rel="noopener noreferrer external nofollow" href="http://freetour.com/">Freetour</a>.</p><p>She adds that this also ensures you'll have extra space to bring home keepsakes: "One of my favorite parts of taking a trip is buying souvenirs for my family and friends. That is what I take into account when packing."</p>

17 Pack less.

This may seem self-explanatory, but the more you travel, the more you realize you don't always need everything you pack. Browse your itinerary and check the weather a week before you travel. Then make a list of essentials and outfits you can easily mix and match.

"Packing light is always a good idea to avoid last-minute, stressful stuffing situations," says Georgina Blasco of Freetour .

She adds that this also ensures you'll have extra space to bring home keepsakes: "One of my favorite parts of taking a trip is buying souvenirs for my family and friends. That is what I take into account when packing."

<p>One of the best organizing and space-saving techniques is to use packing cubes.</p><p>"If you are on a tour and moving from hotel to hotel daily, it is key to have your items packed in cubes so you're not looking for socks while mulling through sweaters, shirts, and underwear," Parizek says.</p>

18 Use travel cubes.

One of the best organizing and space-saving techniques is to use packing cubes.

"If you are on a tour and moving from hotel to hotel daily, it is key to have your items packed in cubes so you're not looking for socks while mulling through sweaters, shirts, and underwear," Parizek says.

<p>Make two copies of your important ID documents. Then, put your actual passport in the hotel safe, carry one copy with you at all times, and give the other to a friend or family member you're traveling with.</p><p>"You may need them at the most unexpected places to prove your credentials," says <strong>Saurabh Jindal</strong> of the <a rel="noopener noreferrer external nofollow" href="https://talktravelapp.com/">Talk Travel App</a>.</p>

19 Bring copies of your important documents.

Make two copies of your important ID documents. Then, put your actual passport in the hotel safe, carry one copy with you at all times, and give the other to a friend or family member you're traveling with.

"You may need them at the most unexpected places to prove your credentials," says Saurabh Jindal of the Talk Travel App .

<p>It goes without saying that guidebooks and travel blogs are an easy way to learn about a destination. But Shenton has other creative recommendations that might "add some deeper appreciation."</p><p>"Perhaps a novel set thereโ€”<strong>Elizabeth Gilbert's</strong> portrayal of Italy, Bali, and India in <em>Eat, Pray, Love</em> is compellingโ€”a documentary or historical perspectiveโ€”<strong>Mary Beard's</strong> <em>SPQR</em> stands outโ€”or a biography of a well-known residentโ€”<em>Chanel in Paris</em>, for example.</p>

20 Make a reading list.

It goes without saying that guidebooks and travel blogs are an easy way to learn about a destination. But Shenton has other creative recommendations that might "add some deeper appreciation."

"Perhaps a novel set thereโ€” Elizabeth Gilbert's portrayal of Italy, Bali, and India in Eat, Pray, Love is compellingโ€”a documentary or historical perspectiveโ€” Mary Beard's SPQR stands outโ€”or a biography of a well-known residentโ€” Chanel in Paris , for example.

<p>If you're coming off a long-haul international flight, you want to adjust to the time zone both physically and mentally. This means taking a light stroll in the sunlight and not booking any strenuous activities for the first day.</p><p>"Ease into your plans so you have more flexibility in the beginning and more tightly scheduled activities at the middle or end of your trip," says Franke.</p>

21 Take jet lag into account.

If you're coming off a long-haul international flight, you want to adjust to the time zone both physically and mentally. This means taking a light stroll in the sunlight and not booking any strenuous activities for the first day.

"Ease into your plans so you have more flexibility in the beginning and more tightly scheduled activities at the middle or end of your trip," says Franke.

<p>While you may pick up more expenses through the years, it's still important to have an idea of what you'll be spending after you retire. That means retirement shouldn't be on the table yet if you haven't created a budget for your future, according to <strong>Raymond Quisumbing</strong>, MBA, registered <a rel="noopener noreferrer external nofollow" href="https://www.bizreport.com">financial planner</a> at BizReport.</p><p>"Now would be a good time to startย projecting a realistic budget to ensure that your retirement fund canย handle all your expenses," he advises.</p>

22 Set a travel budget.

Stressing over finances can completely derail a trip, which is why Zachย suggests setting a budget ahead of time.

"Whether you decide how much you want to spend daily or come up with the total costs you can allocate for the trip, that will help you feel less stressed about spending too much or not experiencing everything you wanted," she says. "Also, knowing at least an approximate amount of money you need on top of the flight and accommodation costs allows you to save it up in advance so that you don't end up using all your current savings."

If you're traveling to a major city or another country, it's also important to take into account how prices differ. "That is especially important when going to more expensive places where even a bottle of water can cost five times more than you are used to," Zach adds.

<p>To ensure you pay credit where credit is due, exchange smaller denominations and set that aside for tipping. Do this prior to arriving, Parizek recommends: "I can't tell you how many times at arrival, I am having to explain that I have no small currency for luggage porters and drivers."</p><p>If you aren't able to exchange small denominations of cash prior to your trip or from the local ATM, Jindal says supermarket self-service machines and cashiers can usually break large currency notes that small vendors typically don't accept.</p>

23 Have small cash for tipping.

To ensure you pay credit where credit is due, exchange smaller denominations and set that aside for tipping. Do this prior to arriving, Parizek recommends: "I can't tell you how many times at arrival, I am having to explain that I have no small currency for luggage porters and drivers."

If you aren't able to exchange small denominations of cash prior to your trip or from the local ATM, Jindal says supermarket self-service machines and cashiers can usually break large currency notes that small vendors typically don't accept.

<p>Credit cards do have the benefit of earning back rewards, even if you're just using them on essential purchases and monthly bills. However, experts warn you might be missing out on them if you're not signed up for the right ones.</p><p>"While using a cash back card is great, you want to make sure it works harder for you by rewarding you for the types of purchases you make the most or stores you shop at the most," says consumer savings and <a rel="noopener noreferrer external nofollow" href="http://www.andreaworoch.com/">smart shopping expert</a> <strong>Andrea Woroch</strong>. "So look at your spending over the last several months to determine where you spend the most and find a cash back card that gives you more back in that spending category."</p><p>According to Rossman, this also goes for how much it costs to keep the card open yearly. "Annual fees could be worth it, depending on how you use the cardโ€”including valuable perks such as airport lounge access, free hotel stays, better rewards, and credits for rideshares, food delivery, and retail memberships. But paying an annual fee for a card would be a mistake when you're not taking advantage of enough of the perks to justify it."<p><strong>READ THIS NEXT: <a rel="noopener noreferrer external nofollow" href="https://bestlifeonline.com/always-pay-for-with-cash-news/">Always Use Cash for These 5 Purchases, Financial Experts Say</a>.</strong></p></p>

24 Get a credit card with no foreign transaction fees.

Outside of small bills for tipping, it's not wise to carry around a lot of cash when traveling. But swiping your credit card over and over can incur tons of foreign transaction feesโ€”which is why Kimberlee Evans , luxury travel advisor and owner of An Extraordinary Traveler , says it's so important to get a card without them.

<p>Evans says she always recommends her clients purchase travel insurance, even if they're traveling domestically.</p><p>"Travel is still not quite what it was pre-Covid. There are flight cancellations and delays every single day. It's best to protect your investment," she explains. "So, although most travelers think of insurance from a medical perspective, there are so many other reasons to be protected. Baggage loss is sadly a BIG reason in today's travel climate."</p>

25 Consider travel insurance.

Evans says she always recommends her clients purchase travel insurance, even if they're traveling domestically.

"Travel is still not quite what it was pre-Covid. There are flight cancellations and delays every single day. It's best to protect your investment," she explains. "So, although most travelers think of insurance from a medical perspective, there are so many other reasons to be protected. Baggage loss is sadly a BIG reason in today's travel climate."

<p>To save time and money and to gain access to exclusive experiences, this is the number one trip-planning tip from agents across the board.</p><p>"Consider working with a trusted travel advisor to book your hotelโ€ฆ it may lead to some free amenities," suggests <strong>Jessica Copquin</strong>, a luxury travel advisor at <a rel="noopener noreferrer external nofollow" href="https://tzell.travelleaders.com/home.aspx">Tzell Travel Group</a>. "As an advisor, we send a note to the hotel as soon as a reservation gets booked to VIP our travelers. This is another benefit of working with an advisor as you get stellar treatment while on vacation."</p><p>Read the original article on <em><a rel="noopener noreferrer external nofollow" href="https://bestlifeonline.com/trip-planning-tips-from-travel-agents/">Best Life</a></em>.</p>

26 Hire a travel advisor.

To save time and money and to gain access to exclusive experiences, this is the number one trip-planning tip from agents across the board.

"Consider working with a trusted travel advisor to book your hotelโ€ฆ it may lead to some free amenities," suggests Jessica Copquin , a luxury travel advisor at Tzell Travel Group . "As an advisor, we send a note to the hotel as soon as a reservation gets booked to VIP our travelers. This is another benefit of working with an advisor as you get stellar treatment while on vacation."

Read the original article on Best Life .

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Travel Advisers: When to Let a Professional Plan Your Trip

An illustration of a person sitting on a folded-out map with books, papers and coffee laid out around the area. That person is inside the head of a beige-colored person wearing a teal telephone headset, and drawings of the Eiffel Tower, a compass, a signpost, a jet plane, mountains and other travel imagery are all around the head.

By Julie Weed

Decades ago, your vacation most likely began with a visit to a travel agent, who relied on a combination of expertise and connections to find the best deals on plane tickets, hotels, tours and more. Since then, the internet has turned most of us into our own travel agents, and artificial intelligence software is making research and self-booking even easier. But for some trips, that special insider knowledge can still make a big difference.

So when should you hire a professional, and how does it all work? Here are some tips.

Why should I consider a travel adviser?

Itโ€™s easy for a traveler to do the research for a standard trip, said Chris Anderson, a professor at the Cornell University School of Hotel Administration, โ€œso they should look for a specialist for the type of tour they are looking for, say a bike trip in Ireland, who can really add value.โ€

The insider knowledge offered by a travel adviser can add the most value to trips that have multicity itineraries, involve a wide age range of travelers , are very significant (like an anniversary vacation) or are to destinations you are unfamiliar with, said Gary R. Johnson, who has run the travel agency Woodside Travel in Seattle for nearly 30 years. An adviser could help you decide, for instance, in which order to visit European cities based on local events and transportation options.

What can an adviser give me that a booking site canโ€™t?

Travel advisers can help you research the best destinations, lodging, or activities for your particular group and travel goals, offering up specific advice that might be hard or time-consuming to find yourself. Those specializing in cruises might know which cabin to choose if you are prone to seasickness, while a safari planner could help you decide which park would be best for bird-watching or seeing specific animals, like rhinos.

Travel advisers typically have relationships with tour companies, hotels and cruise lines, sometimes through networks. Those connections can allow advisers to offer extra perks such as late checkout, free breakfast, airport transfers, a welcome basket or a credit to spend on a cruise ship.

โ€œA good travel agent will be a better steward of your travel budget than you are,โ€ said Guy Rubin, managing director of Imperial Tours , which arranges travel in China.

When bad weather or other circumstances disrupt your itinerary, travel advisers often have direct lines of communication with providers and can do the work of rebooking and changing plans, saving you time and stress.

OK, letโ€™s say I need help. How do I find an adviser?

Networks like the American Society of Travel Advisors and Travel Leaders have websites that can help you start your search for a travel adviser by answering a few questions about your desired trip. Once you have a handful to choose from, get on the phone with them to talk about what they might do for you, how they charge and the level of service you can expect. Special trips can cost thousands of dollars, so itโ€™s worth investing time up front, Mr. Rubin said.

Make sure to read over the travel agentโ€™s reviews and any user-generated social content that mentions them, Dr. Anderson said. โ€œIf there is no external validation, thatโ€™s a red flag.โ€

How do advisers get paid, and how much will it cost me?

Advisers receive commission from suppliers, typically 10 to 15 percent of the price, when selling cruises, lodging and tours. They also sometimes charge travelers a planning fee, from a few hundred dollars, which may be credited to the final bill if the booking is completed, all the way up to tens of thousands of dollars annually for a luxury concierge travel planner they can call on all year. Mr. Johnson said that he charges a planning fee the first time he works with customers. If they return for other trips, he waives the fee.

Advisers may be tempted to sell you something that will earn them a higher commission, Dr. Anderson said. But, he points out, the same is true for the large online services, which promote hotels that pay them larger commissions. Travelers can ask advisers about specific commissions they receive or how they are affiliated with the products they are recommending, he said.

Sometimes a local tour company will package transportation, lodging and experiences for an adviser, who tacks on a percentage before passing it along to a client. But a bill that is not itemized can make it harder to make trade-offs โ€” between a more expensive hotel and a special experience, for example. If pricing transparency is important to you, discuss it with the adviser up front.

How are A.I. and other technologies affecting travel advisers?

While new technologies are allowing do-it-yourselfers to create their own itineraries online based on individual preferences, and to type questions directly into travel websites, advisers are also taking advantage of those technologies to improve their services. Joan Roca, chief executive of the upscale travel planning company Essentialist said his team โ€œuses technology to enhance the human touch,โ€ employing artificial intelligence to choose options from a database of travel offerings selected by a human team. If a couple wants to take an after-dinner stroll, for example, Essentialistโ€™s app will offer up ideas of where to go, based on what part of the city the travelers are in and conversations theyโ€™ve had with their travel adviser.

Open Up Your World

Considering a trip, or just some armchair traveling here are some ideas..

Italy : ย Spend 36 hours in Florence , seeking out its lesser-known pockets.

Southern California :ย  Skip the freeways to explore the back roads between Los Angeles and Los Olivos , a 100-mile route that meanders through mountains, canyons and star-studded enclaves.

Mongolia :ย Some young people, searching for less curated travel experiences, are flocking to the open spaces of this East Asian nation .

Romania : ย Timisoaraย  may be the most noteworthy city youโ€™ve probably never heard of , offering just enough for visitors to fill two or three days.

India: Aย writer fulfilled a lifelong dream of visiting Darjeeling, in the Himalayan foothills , taking in the tea gardens and riding a train through the hills.

52 Places: ย Why do we travel? For food, culture, adventure, natural beauty? Our 2024 list has all those elements, and more .

More From Forbes

How to travel alone without feeling lonely.

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Therapists say it's normal to have pangs of loneliness while traveling alone.

Even the most enthusiastic solo travelers know that loneliness can sneak up on you while traveling the world. While your initial reaction may be to avoid those feelings, therapists say it helps to embrace the emotion.

โ€œJust like youโ€™re choosing to travel to experience new things, give yourself permission to feel different things throughout your journey,โ€ says Samantha Bender , LCSW-S, a therapist at Octave based in Texas. โ€œSo often, the most exploring you do when you travel is within yourself.โ€

Her first suggestion is to ask yourself what you want to get out of your travel experience. Are you traveling solo because you want peace and quiet, and a feeling of independence? Or are you traveling solo so that you have the freedom to meet a lot of different people? Perhaps itโ€™s a bit of both.

While you could tailor a trip to spend most of your solo travel adventure alone, thereโ€™s also group trips led by tour companies like Kensington Tours and Abercrombie & Kent that give you an opportunity to meet other travelers with similar interests.

Why Do You Feel Lonely When Traveling Solo?

When we experience amazing moments in our lives, like travel, we want to share it with others, explains Colleen Marshall, MA, LMFT, and Vice President of Clinical Care at Two Chairs .

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โ€œThere is even research from the positive psychology world that when we do share something we are savoring or enjoying with others it increases our experience of happiness and sense of joy,โ€ Marshall says. โ€œWhen we are traveling, solo sharing is harder to do because those we care about are not readily available to share with or talk with.โ€

Solo travelers can come up with a plan before their trip for how they'll handle loneliness.

Her advice?

Think about how you will share your travel or experiences with others ahead of time.

โ€œMaybe set up a video call with a loved one during a meal or end your day with sharing what you enjoyed,โ€ Marshall says.

7 Ways To Avoid Feeling Lonely When Traveling Solo

While itโ€™s normal to feel pangs of loneliness while solo traveling, you donโ€™t want the feeling to overshadow your trip entirely. With that in mind, therapists and seasoned solo travelers share their top tips to avoid feeling lonely while traveling.

1. Before Your Trip, Come Up With A Plan To Handle Your Loneliness

Some tactics, Bender says, that can be part of your plan include:

  • Bring some journaling prompts
  • Download your favorite podcasts or songs for a mood lift
  • Start a travel journal where you can collect mementos and photos

As part of your plan for preparation, create a plan for when you return home. Schedule an appointment with your therapist where you can share new revelations or insights that you gathered while on your trip.

2. Write Postcards While On Your Trip

Writing can be very therapeutic especially if youโ€™re feeling lonely or dissociated, Bender says.

โ€œWhen we write, it helps us feel present in our reality,โ€ she says. โ€œTry writing a letter or sending a postcard to a loved one while youโ€™re on your trip. You can even send a note of gratitude to yourself so that you have something waiting for you in the mail to remind you of your experience.โ€

3. Consider Low-Energy And High-Energy Options To Address Feelings Of Loneliness

If you find yourself lonely on a trip, consider your energy level, and go over different high-energy and low-energy options you have, Bender recommends. This practice is applicable for daily life, but even more important when youโ€™re traveling because it can be so tiring.

A high-energy option would be signing up for a group activity, such as a guided tour or a cooking class, she says. That is a structured way to introduce yourself to others while learning a new skill, and both can be healthy distractions or preventions for loneliness.

Taking a cooking class is a great way to meet people when you are traveling alone.

People-watching is a low-energy thing you can do to feel less lonely while you travel, she says. Embrace that time to people-watch as a way to connect to the world and the people around you.

4. Look For Opportunities To Connect With Others

While traveling, look for activities where you can connect with other travelers or locals, Marshall suggests. For example, rather than going through the museum alone, join a tour guided experience.

โ€œConnection is all around us, we just need to join in,โ€ she says.

Some other ways to meet people organically while traveling solo is to go to local cafes, markets, community events and learn about their culture, says Reen B. Patel , a Licensed Educational Board Certified Behavior Analyst. Participate in group excursions like day trips and tours, she suggests.

5. Co-Work in A New Place

Try checking out a co-working space in a new city.

Ahead of your travels, check out your LinkedIn to see if you have any connections in the destination that youโ€™re traveling to, suggests Katya Varbanova , says CEO of Viral Marketing Stars. If youโ€™re a digital nomad or traveling for bleisure (business plus leisure), rent a desk at a coworking space and meet some fellow travelers or locals. Another option is being a part of a memberโ€™s club like Soho House, she points out. The โ€œEvery Houseโ€ membership unlocks access to the houses all around the world, including their amenities, like spas, screening rooms and events.

6. Book an Airbnb Experience

Musician Alissa Musto has taken dozens of solo trips over the past few years and recommends booking an Airbnb experience, which are hosted by locals and are popular among solo travelers who you can connect with over shared interests. These types of experience range from city tours to the ins and outs of beekeeping to learning the art of origami.

7. Volunteer With Other Travelers

Volunteering while traveling is a great way to meet like-minded people.

Another idea? Give back to the place youโ€™re visiting. The Hawaiian islands, for example, started the Mฤlama Hawai'i program to better connect tourists with Hawaiian land and culture.

โ€œIโ€™ve also found that volunteering is a great way to be part of a community for a day, and do something good with your time and talent,โ€ Musto says. โ€œIโ€™ve met several interesting people from all over the world as a volunteer and theyโ€™re always happy to have additional help and meet new friends.โ€

Good Destinations For Solo But Social Travel

Surprisingly, Iโ€™ve found that some of the best places for solo travelers to socialize are not big cities at all, but less popular tourist destinations and national parks, Musto says.

โ€œBig tourist destinations and cities often attract groups of friends traveling together, couples or families that are more into doing their own thing,โ€ she says.

Paddling the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon.

On the flipside, quieter, outdoors-centric destinations attract many solo travelers trying to enjoy nature, but open to socializing with other-like minded individuals and people tend to be welcoming, inviting and happy to strike up a conversation or share a meal.

Brittany Anas

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Tips for a safe & fun road trip in countries that drive on the left

tips for travel planning

Renting a car on vacation usually leads to wonderful discoveries and is often a highlight of any trip. However, there are some concerns when driving abroad. According to surveys, many US drivers worry when visiting countries that drive on the left.

Which countries have left-hand traffic and what do you need to think about behind the wheel in these destinations? Read my guide with many useful tips when you visit countries that drive on the left.

In this post

General facts about countries that drive on the left

Which countries drive on the left today, is it difficult to drive in a country with left-hand traffic, challenges for travelers in countries that drive on the left, tips when driving in left-hand traffic, last advice before visiting countries that drive on the left.

Throughout history, places where many people and vehicles converge have required rules and regulations for obvious practical reasons. If enough vehicles (or horse-drawn carriages back in the day) meet and go in different directions without those rules, traffic jams or worse can occur and in the end, no one can move.

A red car driving down a road through a vast countryside with mountains in the distance.

Left-hand traffic is a fascinating aspect of global traffic systems (at least for those coming from a country with right-hand traffic like the US). In countries with left-hand traffic, driving takes place on the left while the driver sits on the right side of the car. This can be confusing for travelers from countries with right-hand traffic. It is important to remember that this traffic rule affects not only car drivers but also pedestrians and cyclists.

In addition, the vehicles in these countries are designed with left-hand traffic in mind , further adding to the complexity for visitors from countries that drive on the right side.

The concept is easy enough, right? Unfortunately, driving on the left is just a bit tricky to navigate if you previously only drove in countries with right-hand traffic!

Why do some countries drive on the left?

There is much to be said for the nice, polite, and often funny English people. And while they do drive in miles per hour (though they adhere to the metric system for almost everything else) they were the ones who started the business of left-hand driving.

A man's hand confidently on the car gear, ready to take control and drive the car.

When you look at a world map to see the countries that drive on the left, it coincides almost exactly with the former British Commonwealth . In other words, all the countries that were British colonies at the beginning of the 20th century. That said, left-hand traffic exists in a few additional exceptions, such as in Japan.

To understand why Great Britain didn’t even think about doing it like the rest of the world and introduce right-hand traffic, one has to understand what a strong and dominating world power the British Commonwealth was. It used to be said that the sun never set on England during Queen Victoria's reign and that was somewhat true. The British Empire was for a time synonymous with the whole world , or at least with a very large part of the world. So when many countries began switching to right-hand traffic just a few decades after this pinnacle of empire-building, the British couldn’t find a reason to do the same. What one did on the periphery of the world, as the other countries were seen by Great Britain, was considered pretty unimportant.

Therefore, left-hand traffic is still prevalent today in those countries that at the beginning of the 20th century belonged to or were closely connected with Great Britain.

The countries that transitioned from left to right traffic

Close-up of people's feet as they cross the pedestrian.

Almost for the entire 20th century, there has been a slow transition from left-hand traffic to right-hand traffic in Europe. Portugal switched in 1928 and many other countries followed suit. Countries such as Austria and Hungary introduced right-hand traffic when they were occupied by Nazi Germany just before and during World War II.

Iceland switched to right-hand traffic in 1968. Sweden first started with right-hand traffic in 1718, changed to left-hand traffic for over two centuries afterward, and went back to right-hand traffic in 1967.

In the US it was the state of New York that officially introduced right-hand traffic in 1804. Over the next decades, the other states followed. Interestingly enough the first cars came with a driver’s seat on the right, copying where most carriage or wagon drivers would sit. It was only in 1908 that Ford introduced the first model with a left-side driver’s seat.

A car travels along a grassy cliffside with expansive ocean views.

As we have seen, left-hand traffic today generally still relates to Great Britain and its former colonies. Only four countries in Europe have left-hand traffic these days. These are Great Britain, Ireland, Malta and Cyprus. All of those countries lack fixed road connections with right-hand traffic countries. The car tunnel under the English Channel is one of the few exceptions.

For practical reasons, you drive on the right in the small British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar. This is because the only land connection is to Spain, where you drive on the right.

Outside Europe, left-hand traffic occurs more often. In Asia, the following countries drive on the left: Bhutan, Brunei, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Macao, Malaysia, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Bangladesh, and East Timor. Japan drives on the left because British engineers designed the country's first railway and introduced left-hand traffic.

In Africa, you have left-hand traffic in Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, St. Helena, Seychelles, Swaziland, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Kenya, and Zimbabwe.

Australia, New Zealand, and some island nations in the Pacific also drive on the left side.

In the Caribbean, Jamaica, Trinidad-Tobago, Grenada, Cayman Islands, Bahamas, Barbados, Dominica, Saint Kitts & Nevis, and Saint Vincent & the Grenadines have left-hand traffic, as do Suriname and the Falkland Islands in South America.

A smiling, dark-skinned man coming out of his blue four-wheel vehicle.

The power of habit is great. When you drive a car, you use mostly trained movements that are done semi-unconsciously . To drive as well as you would at home in right-hand traffic, you need to practice quite a bit, not unlike what you once did when you got your license.

However, I don’t want to exaggerate the scale of the challenge either. Most people I ask say the same thing: the period of getting used to left-hand traffic is quite short. Most things will come naturally after a while. In the beginning, you may look extra hard at how the car in front behaves and you study all the signs attentively, but then your instincts kick in and you can once again rely on practiced skills.

Remember that you will not be alone with the unfamiliar feeling of driving on the left. A high percentage of all tourists that drive in a country with left-hand traffic are more used to driving on the right. Many countries with left-hand traffic are well aware of this and adapt conditions accordingly.

For example, when you book a car rental in Ireland, the vehicle may be equipped with handy stickers on the window that remind you which side to drive on. At many Irish intersections, there are arrows next to the road indicating which lane applies and generally, there is a good system of signs to help the inexperienced left-hand driver.

There are countries with left-hand traffic though where I would absolutely advise against renting a car and driving yourself. One such country is India. However, this has nothing to do with left-hand traffic per se, but much more with the chaotic Indian traffic situation in general. Especially in the big cities, many Indian drivers seem to decide for themselves whether to drive on the left or right side of the road.

Of course, you should pause and think before getting into a car in a country that has left-hand traffic. Especially when you drive your first few miles on the left side of the road. The first feeling is usually: “Oh no, this is wrong! I am going to crash". It takes a while to get used to the fact that the lane on the right, the one that still feels like the "right" one, is either the passing lane or the oncoming lane. This will depend on whether you're on a highway, a country road or in the city.

The car needs to be on the left side of the road, something your brain initially resists.

Sooner or later you will have to go through a traffic circle or take an exit. Unlike right-hand traffic, you go around a traffic circle clockwise and the exits will be on the left instead of the right.

Two friends having fun during a car ride.

Sure, initially it can be scary to drive on the left. Therefore it is good to remember that getting used to it usually only takes a couple of hours. Then it will feel quite normal and most of the new movements and driving routines will come automatically.

Make a mental map before you get in the car. Think about how you drive at intersections and traffic circles and how you change gears. You can try to actually draw a couple of traffic situations on a piece of paper, for example how a traffic circle works in left-hand traffic. It helps the brain prepare for unfamiliar situations.

A really easy way to start is getting into the correct side of the car. The driver's seat is on the right side of the vehicle, where the passenger would sit when driving in the US.

Then go through the car's various levers. The throttle and clutch are in the same place as they are in a right-hand drive car. But the indicators and windshield wipers may work the other way around (though this also depends on the make of the car) and you shift with your left hand instead of your right. It usually takes a while to get used to that movement.

Of course, it is easiest if you get a rental car with automatic transmission . This way, you won’t have to worry about shifting gears , one of the most difficult things to practice when switching to the other side of the road.

An important tip when crossing other roads: remember to always look right-left-right . This applies when you are driving and when crossing a street as a pedestrian.

Do you find it difficult to get the turns? Try wearing a bracelet on your left arm that reminds you which side should be on when coming out of an intersection or traffic circle.

The last and most important piece of advice: take it easy. Don't let drivers behind you stress you out - we all start somewhere when driving on the other side of the road, whether that is left or right.

Doing a road trip in a new country is often the best part of any vacation. Cars provide freedom and advantages when traveling that few other means of transport can match. You really shouldn’t miss out on this experience just because the destination in question has left-hand traffic.

Getting used to driving on the left is a passing problem for everyone and easy enough to manage with a bit of practice. In any case, I strongly recommend getting an automatic car. This way, you have one less thing to worry about when driving on the left side of the road. Sit back, drive calmly, and you will have an amazing road trip!

If you want to learn more about rental cars, read our guide on renting a car for a road trip .

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  • Per Diem Lookup

Frequently asked questions, per diem

What is per diem?

How do I find the per diem rate for (city/county, state)?

What is the difference between non-standard areas (NSA) and standard CONUS locations?

How are the CONUS per diem rates set for NSAs?

How does GSA set boundary lines for where per diem rates apply?

How can a CONUS non-standard area (NSA) receive a special review?

How can I request the establishment of a new NSA?

What if a city is not listed on the CONUS Per Diem website?

Can hotels refuse to honor the per diem rate to federal government employees and federal government contractors?

Is the hotelโ€™s GOV rate the same as the federal per diem rate?

Are lodging taxes included in the CONUS per diem rate?

Are taxes and gratuity (tips) included in the Meals and Incidental (M&IE) expense rate?

What is considered an incidental expense?

How often is a study conducted on the M&IE expense rates?

What is the M&IE reimbursement rate during the first and last travel day?

Can I combine the lodging and M&IE per diem rates ("mix and match") in order to get a nicer hotel room or spend more on meals?

Do I need to provide receipts?

What do I do if there are no hotels available at per diem?

Do I receive a meal reimbursement for day travel away from my regular duty station?

How much per diem can I pay a contractor?

How much can a trucker deduct for meals per day?

Per diem is an allowance for lodging, meals, and incidental expenses. The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) establishes the per diem reimbursement rates that federal agencies use to reimburse their employees for subsistence expenses incurred while on official travel within the continental U.S. (CONUS), which includes the 48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia. The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) establishes rates for travel in non-foreign areas outside of CONUS, which includes Alaska, Hawaii, and U.S. territories and possessions. The U.S. Department of State establishes rates for travel in foreign areas. For more information on rates established by DOD and the State Department visit travel.dod.mil and aoprals.state.gov .

Please visit www.gsa.gov/perdiem  to find the rates. Click on a state on the map to view that state's rates or enter the location in the search box. Even though some cities are listed for your lookup convenience, not all cities can or will be listed. To look up the county a destination is located in, visit the Census Geocoder . If neither the city nor county you are looking for is listed on the GSA per diem rate page, then the standard CONUS rate applies.

Non-standard areas (NSAs) are frequently traveled by the federal community and are reviewed on an annual basis. Standard CONUS locations are less frequently traveled by the federal community and are not specifically listed on our website.

Per diem rates are set based upon contractor-provided average daily rate (ADR) data of local lodging properties. The properties must be fire-safe and have a FEMA ID number. The ADR is a travel industry metric that divides room sales rental revenue by the number of rooms sold. All rates are evaluated to ensure that they are fair and equitable in the GSA and Office of Management and Budget approval process. For more detailed information, visit the Factors Influencing Lodging Rates page.

5 U.S.C ยง 5702 gives the Administrator of the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) the authority to establish the system of reimbursing Federal employees for the subsistence expenses (lodging, meals, and incidentals) of official travel. The law governs how GSA sets rates today, and allows the GSA Administrator to establish locality-based allowances for these expenses with a reporting requirement back to Congress. The law was established to protect Federal employees by fairly reimbursing them for travel expenses. In addition, if a Federal employee cannot find a room within the established per diem rates, the travel policy allows the agency to reimburse the actual hotel charges up to 300 percent of the established per diem rates.

The per diem program has several standards that it follows in its systematic structured per diem methodology. The first level is having a "standard rate" that applies to approximately 85 percent of counties in the continental United States.

It is GSA's policy that, if and when a Federal agency, on behalf of its employees, requests that the standard rate is not adequate in a specific area to cover costs of travel as intended by the law, GSA will study the locality to determine whether the locality under study should become a "non-standard area." If the study recommends a change, a change will be implemented as deemed appropriate. GSA has implemented a process to review and update both the standard and non-standard areas annually.

The standard "boundary line" for where non-standard areas apply is generally one county. This is the case for approximately 85 percent of the non-standard rates that GSA sets. However, in some cases, agencies have requested that the rate apply to an area larger than one county, such as a metropolitan area. In a very small number of cases, an agency can and has requested that a rate apply to just a city and not the entire county. In some rural areas, a rate sometimes applies to more than one county due to lack of an adequate data sample to set a rate otherwise.

GSA uses the Federal Information Processing Series (FIPS) code standard for its apply areas. While GSA often uses ZIP codes to select hotel data samples, the apply area is coded by a FIPS code, unless a Federal agency only wants the rate to apply to certain ZIP codes. These codes are managed by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) to ensure uniform identification of geographic entities through all federal government agencies.

In order for GSA to conduct a "special" review of a non-standard area (NSA) during the current fiscal year, a Federal Agency Travel Manager or an equivalent individual in grade or title must submit a signed letter on agency letterhead or stationery stating that the present per diem rate is inadequate. The request should contain the following information:

  • The geographical areas you want us to study, especially ZIP codes.
  • The property names (including addresses, ZIP codes, and rates) where your federal travelers stay while on temporary duty travel and those properties (including addresses, ZIP codes, and rates) that will not honor the federal lodging per diem rate.
  • The number of times actual expenses were used and/or federal travelers had to use another lodging facility to stay within the maximum allowable lodging per diem rate, which resulted in additional transportation expenses (rental car, taxi) being incurred.

All valid requests postmarked no later than 12/31 will be eligible for this review. All valid requests received after 12/31, but before 4/1 will be evaluated during the following fiscal year's annual review cycle. After all the requirements are submitted, GSA will obtain updated data from our contractor to determine whether a per diem rate should be increased, decreased or remain unchanged. We will conduct no more than one "special" review for a particular NSA annually.

Letters should be sent to: General Services Administration, Office of Government-wide Policy, 1800 F St. NW., Washington, DC 20405. For more direct service, please also scan and email your request (a signed letter on agency letterhead must be attached) to [email protected] .

The procedure and the request deadline are the same as FAQ #6. However, requests received after 3/31 will not be included in the following fiscal year's annual review cycle because the annual review will have already begun.

If a city is not listed, check to ensure that the county within which it is located is also not listed. Visit the Census Geocoder to determine the county a destination is located in. If the city is not listed, but the county is, then the per diem rate is the rate for that entire county. If the city and the county are not listed, then that area receives the standard CONUS location rate.

Hotels are not required to honor the federal per diem rates. It is each propertyโ€™s business decision whether or not to offer the rate. Hotels also may or may not choose to extend the rate to other individuals, such as government contractors.

Hotels sometimes offer a "GOV" rate, which might be different than the federal per diem rate. If it is higher, you need to receive approval for actual expense prior to travel in order to receive full reimbursement. It is the travelerโ€™s responsibility to know the federal per diem reimbursement rates, and should not assume a GOV rate is the same as the federal per diem rate. See the FTR Chapter 301, Subpart D-Actual Expense and follow your agency's guidelines.

Lodging taxes are not included in the CONUS per diem rate. The Federal Travel Regulation 301-11.27 states that in CONUS, lodging taxes paid by the federal traveler are reimbursable as a miscellaneous travel expense limited to the taxes on reimbursable lodging costs. For foreign areas, lodging taxes have not been removed from the foreign per diem rates established by the Department of State. Separate claims for lodging taxes incurred in foreign areas not allowed. Some states and local governments may exempt federal travelers from the payment of taxes. For more information regarding tax exempt status, travelers should visit the State Tax Forms page.

Yes, the meals and incidental expense (M&IE) rate does include taxes and tips in the rate, so travelers will not be reimbursed separately for those items.

The Federal Travel Regulation Chapter 300, Part 300-3 , under Per Diem Allowance, describes incidental expenses as: Fees and tips given to porters, baggage carriers, hotel staff, and staff on ships.

An M&IE study has traditionally been conducted every three to five years. Based upon the recommendations of the Governmentwide Travel Advisory Committee, GSA began reviewing rates every three years starting with rates for FY 2016.

On the first and last travel day, Federal employees are only eligible for 75 percent of the total M&IE rate for their temporary duty travel location (not the official duty station location). For your convenience, the M&IE breakdown page has a table showing the calculated amount for the "First and Last Day of Travel."

For federal employees, the Federal Travel Regulation (FTR) does not make a provision for "mixing and matching" reimbursement rates. The lodging per diem rates are a maximum amount; the traveler only receives actual lodging costs up to that maximum rate. Therefore, there is no "extra" lodging per diem to add to the M&IE rate. Likewise, the M&IE per diem cannot be given up or transferred to lodging costs. See FTR 301-11.100 and 301-11.101 for more information.

For any official temporary travel destination, you must provide a receipt to substantiate your claimed travel expenses for lodging and receipts for any authorized expenses incurred costing over $75, or a reason acceptable to your agency explaining why you are unable to provide the necessary receipt (see Federal Travel Regulation 301-11.25 ).

You may ask your agency to authorize the actual expense allowance provision. The Federal Travel Regulation (FTR) 301-11.300 through 306 notes that if lodging is not available at your temporary duty location, your agency may authorize or approve the maximum per diem rate of up to 300% of per diem for the location where lodging is obtained. You should also ensure you have checked www.fedrooms.com to confirm there are no rooms available at per diem in the area where you need to travel.

According to the Federal Travel Regulation (FTR), travelers are entitled to 75% of the prescribed meals and incidental expenses for one day travel away from your official station if it is longer than 12 hours. Please see FTR 301-11.101 .

GSA establishes per diem rates and related policies for federal travelers on official travel only, and cannot address specific inquiries concerning the payment of contractors. If the contractor is on a federal contract, check with the contracting officer to see what is stated in their contract. Contractors should also check the travel regulations of their company.

GSA establishes per diem rates, along with its policies for federal employees on official travel only. Truck-related questions should be addressed either to the Department of Transportation ( www.dot.gov ) or the Internal Revenue Service ( www.irs.gov ).

PER DIEM LOOK-UP

1 choose a location.

Error, The Per Diem API is not responding. Please try again later.

No results could be found for the location you've entered.

Rates for Alaska, Hawaii, U.S. Territories and Possessions are set by the Department of Defense .

Rates for foreign countries are set by the State Department .

2 Choose a date

Rates are available between 10/1/2021 and 09/30/2024.

The End Date of your trip can not occur before the Start Date.

Traveler reimbursement is based on the location of the work activities and not the accommodations, unless lodging is not available at the work activity, then the agency may authorize the rate where lodging is obtained.

Unless otherwise specified, the per diem locality is defined as "all locations within, or entirely surrounded by, the corporate limits of the key city, including independent entities located within those boundaries."

Per diem localities with county definitions shall include "all locations within, or entirely surrounded by, the corporate limits of the key city as well as the boundaries of the listed counties, including independent entities located within the boundaries of the key city and the listed counties (unless otherwise listed separately)."

When a military installation or Government - related facility(whether or not specifically named) is located partially within more than one city or county boundary, the applicable per diem rate for the entire installation or facility is the higher of the rates which apply to the cities and / or counties, even though part(s) of such activities may be located outside the defined per diem locality.

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    1. Determine which credit card (s) you plan to use. Ideally, choose the one (s) that offers the lowest, or zero, foreign transaction fees. 2. If you use a mobile hands-free payment like Apple Pay, ensure your default credit card linked to your mobile payment account is the card with the lowest foreign transaction fees.

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    Step 2: Decide When & How Long You Plan to Travel - decide when you want to travel based on the season and events at your chosen destination- and when you can get time for travel. Step 3: Decide on a Travel Budget - work out how you're going to make this trip happen (more tips below). Step 4: Plan an Itinerary (Or Keep it Flexible) - start ...

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    Example: You will need more money to finance a 4 month trip when compared to 2 months. It sounds obvious, but the point is to ensure you get the balance right between time and travel funds. Once you establish the amount of time and any specific dates you have to play with, move onto the next planning steps. 2.

  16. 33 Expert Travel Planning Tips From Adventurous Travel Bloggers

    Ferry Around Large Bodies of Water. Mary Rowland provides tips for travelers moving around large bodies of water. For example, traveling across Lake Michigan between Michigan and Wisconsin via a high-speed 2-1/2 hours car ferry is less stressful, especially from central Michigan to central Wisconsin.

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    2. DECIDE YOUR TIME-FRAME. If you're planning a big trip you will most likely have limited time available. It's important to keep in mind how much time you'll have to see a place when you're planning your itinerary. There is no use in planning a big trip when you only have a few days so set up your itinerary wisely. 3.

  18. How To Plan A Trip: An Easy Travel Planning Guide

    Determine your budget: Set a budget for your accommodation. Consider how much you are willing to spend per night and allocate a portion of your overall trip budget to accommodations. 2. Research the options: Use online travel platforms and booking websites to explore various types of accommodations.

  19. Travel Planning

    Travel Planning - Conclusions. Travel planning doesn't have to be difficult, boring, or challenging - in fact, it's all about the joy of anticipation. I hope this guide helped you find ease in planning your perfect trip. And wherever your next trip is taking you, have a great time! Also Read: 5 Practical Tips to Make Travel Planning Easier

  20. Travel Tips: The Best 99 Travel Tips You'll Ever Need

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  21. 49 Best Travel Tips to Save Time, Money, & Stress in 2024

    1. Book At Least Six Weeks in Advance. Instead of carving time out of your schedule to book your trip at a specific date or time (such as Tuesdays at 3 a.m. using a private browsing session to find discounted fares), a more effective strategy is researching travel options at least four to six weeks in advance.

  22. Wanderlog: best free travel itinerary & road trip planner app for your

    Use Wanderlog to share your itinerary with tripmates, friends, and families and collaborate in real time, so everyone stays in the loop. Plan your road trip or vacation with the best itinerary and trip planner. Wanderlog travel planner allows you to create itineraries with friends, mark routes, and optimize maps โ€” on web or mobile app.

  23. 15 Tips for Planning The Perfect Trip To Anywhere (step-by-step ...

    In this guide, I have shared the best travel websites to use when planning a vacation, either for booking flights, hotels, tours, and attractions, or simply researching.

  24. 26 Best Trip-Planning Hacks Straight From Travel Agents

    Another way to figure out which stops make sense for which days is to pin the locations on Google Maps, suggests Kelsea O'Donnell, co-owner and chief travel planner of Out of Office Mindset. Then ...

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  27. Spring Break Travel Tips for U.S. Citizens Heading Abroad

    International travel is an opportunity for education, relaxation, and immersion in foreign cultures. As spring break approaches, the Department of State recommends U.S. citizens planning international itineraries take advantage of our resources for a safe and enjoyable trip. Whether you're jetting off to a tropical paradise or exploring historic landmarks overseas, it is important to [โ€ฆ]

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    Read my guide with many useful tips when you visit countries that drive on the left. Find a rental car. In this post. ... Experience and research have something to do with it. I have worked as a travel journalist for over 20 years and have published guidebooks and articles from over 100 countries. Traveling and discovering new places is ...

  29. Frequently asked questions, per diem

    The Federal Travel Regulation 301-11.27 states that in CONUS, lodging taxes paid by the federal traveler are reimbursable as a miscellaneous travel expense limited to the taxes on reimbursable lodging costs. For foreign areas, lodging taxes have not been removed from the foreign per diem rates established by the Department of State.

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