Planning a trip does not have to be difficult and confusing. In fact, it can to really fun (we get weird endorphins from it, to be honest!) There are also benefits to it, like saving money by not hiring a travel agent and comparing prices for yourself. It also means YOU are in charge of where you go, how you get there, where you stay, and what you’ll be doing.
For some people, it can be quite overwhelming if you don’t know where to start when it comes to travel planning. That’s where we come in. We have years of experience in trip planning and we are here to make it easier on you! We have a system down, and if you’re one of those people who would like to plan your own travel but just find this stuff overwhelming and confusing – we’re here to help. Let’s get planning!
1. Decide where you want to go!
This might seem obvious, but it can be the hardest part of the trip planning process. There are many questions to ask yourself to narrow down the best location to visit right now. Luckily we’ve compiled them in a blog post that you can read to get started. Check out our 7 Questions to Help Answer: Where to Take Your Next Trip?
2. Plan out a rough itinerary.
When will you go? How long will you go? Do you want to go to more than one city? More than one country? Once you have an idea of when you’ll go and how many days you have there, you can decide on all of the places you’d like to hit. Then, you’re able to sit down and map out the best route.
3. Plan out how you’ll get from place to place.
Once you’ve planned out which countries/cities you will hit, you can begin to plan the travel from place to place. This is where a bit of research starts to come into play quite a bit. What’s the best route? A train? A plane? Renting a car? What’s the cheapest? Is there a famous route that may be a bit more expensive and take a bit longer but will give you the experience of a lifetime? Do you hate flying? Could you take a boat instead? You have options here and by planning for yourself you can look at all the options and decide which is best for YOU.
4. Book the transportation.
In our opinion, this is the most exciting part! After you’ve done your research above and made some decisions, you can book your travel. Whether it’s a plane ticket, a cruise, or a car rental. You’re really committed to going when you reach this step.
5. Find + book accommodations.
This is probably the most straight forward and this one really depends on your budget. We love Airbnb or VRBO for more unique stays, but sometimes hotels are more affordable! It just depends on your personal preference.
6. Figure out the logistical things.
This is the nitty-gritty, and many times can be saved until just before the trip. This could include questions such as: Will you need a visa? Do you need any immunizations? Should you purchase travel insurance? Are there any particular attractions or places you want to see while you’re there? Should you buy tickets in advance?
7. Figure out what you want to do in each place!
*cough cough* That’s what we are here for! Wild Bum guides make this step SO EASY! Just purchase one of our guides for your location and you’ve got everything you need for an amazing experience in your location.
8. Get packing!
It helps to do a little research on the types of clothing to bring for the particular places you’ll be visiting and any special things you might need from home that aren’t available there. *Note: make sure you look at the baggage allowance for every flight/mode of transport you’ll be taking during your travels.*
9. Final steps…
These are usually done right before leaving and can include: doctor appointments, printing documents, sorting out your phone plan, or writing down contact info for the places you’ll be staying. Don’t forget to get someone to watch the dog, too! 😉
10. GO!
By now you’ll be itching to get to your location. You’ve put in the work to plan this trip for yourself… now go enjoy it!
These are the 10 steps we take when planning any travel – whether it’s going on a trip for a couple weeks or a couple months. This system has worked for us and we hope it’ll be of help to you when getting ready for your next trip.
Happy planning!
