Your Ultimate Guide to Plan a Trip

Planning a trip is one of the most exciting parts of travelling. There’s a lot to think about and for some people, it can be very overwhelming. It can be stressful, time-consuming and induce anxiety. We’ve put together our simple steps to plan a trip!

Have a budget in mind

The very first thing you want to do is have a clear idea of how much money you want to spend. Knowing what you’re able to afford or save towards helps make planning a trip so much easier.

If your budget is extremely tight, this doesn’t have to limit your options. Knowing how much you can spend means you can start to think creatively about what you’re going to do and where you go. Selecting more affordable destinations means you can stretch your budget further. Alternatively, by shortening your stay in a more expensive place means you can focus your budget accordingly.

Choose a destination

Once you have your total budget planned out, it’s all about choosing where you want to go. The world is a huge place with all kinds of experiences and adventures to be had. Ask yourself:

• Do you want adventure or relaxation?
• Do you prefer the city or countryside?
• Are you taking a break or staying productive?

When Leeli and I are plan a trip, we decide what kind of travel we want to do. For our honeymoon we wanted relaxation. When we want to explore history or culture in beautiful locations, we look for city breaks with museums and exhibitions.

It’s good to plan your trip with these questions in mind. Some places offer multiple options so bear that in mind.

Adventure

If you’re looking for an adventure, then you want to choose a destination that has plenty of outdoor activities and gorgeous landscapes. Rock-climbing, kayaking, jungle trekking, surfing, snowboarding, diving and other adrenaline-fuelled activities are some of the biggest decision-makers for when travellers plan a trip.

Relaxation

Do you see yourself on a warm beach surrounded by the ocean and white sands? If you want to unwind and take the time to just be you, then a relaxation holiday is perfect for you. We’d highly recommend checking our trip to Maldives or Santorini.

Culture

We love learning and wherever we go, we always come back learning something new. City breaks across Europe are an easy-win here but don’t forget that there’s a whole world out there with a rich and well-preserved history and traditions.

Food

If you enjoy a particular type of food, this could be the perfect opportunity to plan a trip around just that. Food is such a huge part of human culture and experiencing authentic flavours in their native lands is unlike any other.

What time of year are you travelling?

When you travel makes a huge difference as to where you go. If you’ve already booked time off work, then you’ll want to make sure that you take into account the season and what’s best for you at that time of year.

• Make sure to research high and low seasons to find out how expensive it is for flights and accommodation. On Fly Anywhere Couple, we make sure to include high and low season information into our destination hubs so you know what time of the year is best for you.
• Check the yearly weather patterns. Around South-East Asia, for example, you get monsoon seasons and typhoons at certain times of the year.
• Consider why you’re visiting a country. If you’re visiting Japan for cherry blossom season, visiting doing the autumn/winter season is not going to work for you.
• Understand when the local festivals are. If you’re visiting a location to take part in a festival or celebration, make sure to plan around potential disruptions and price hikes.

Visas

It’s important to check the visa requirements for entering another country. In some cases, specific travel documents will be required. You can check out our friends at iVisa for all the information you’re looking for.

Location Search

Research is key when planning a trip, especially if you plan to travel around a country. Use the following resources to do your research:

Other Resources

• You can use TripAdvisor to discover suggestions for places to visit and activities to engage in, as well as options for accommodation and dining.
• Google Maps also provides useful recommendations for dining and sightseeing, similar to TripAdvisor.
• When planning your trip, it’s worthwhile to inquire about the experiences of individuals who have traveled to your destination. Consider asking about their itinerary or preferred route.
• Once you have arrived, it’s a good idea to approach locals for recommendations on attractions to visit.

Plan your itinerary

With your research complete, it’s time to piece together a comprehensive day-to-day travel itinerary. To do so, you can use Google Maps to map out the locations you’ve identified and gain a clear understanding of the distances between them.

When creating your itinerary, be mindful of the following considerations:

• Distance: Utilize Google Maps to calculate the distance between various tourist attractions, which will help you decide how many sights you can feasibly see in a day.
• Flexibility: Remember to incorporate flexibility into your plans, as unforeseen events are bound to occur. By leaving some wiggle room in your itinerary, you can accommodate changes in your schedule, such as deciding to extend your stay in a particular location or missing your transportation.
• Relaxation: Incorporate relaxation days into your travel plan to ensure you have time to recharge and unwind during your trip.
• Transportation: Whenever possible, it’s advisable to book your transportation in advance to avoid any missed opportunities. Researching the costs of transportation options on forums like TripAdvisor can also prove helpful.
• Operating hours: Verify the operating hours of the attractions on your itinerary to prevent missing out on any must-see sights.

Booking your trip

Excitingly, it’s time to book the trip you’ve been planning for! Here are some tips for booking your transportation and accommodation:

Plan your arrival

When you arrive at your destination, it can be overwhelming, especially if you’re unfamiliar with the place. To make your trip stress-free, keep the following things in mind when planning:

• Purchase a local sim card at the airport to use Google Maps, Uber, translation apps, or to contact your hotel.
• Plan ahead on how to get to your accommodation and keep the contact details handy in case you get lost.
• Download an offline map of your first destination on Google Maps, including the locations you’ve marked.
• Exchange money in advance to ensure you always have cash on hand.
• Learn some basic phrases in the local language. If you’re visiting a country with a different language, it’s useful to learn simple phrases like ‘how much does that cost?’ or ‘please and thank you.’ The Babbel app is an excellent tool for learning a new language.

Organize important paperwork

When planning a trip, it is important to organize and keep track of important paperwork. Here are some tips:

• If you need a visa, apply for one online or at your local embassy, and make sure to have the necessary documents and fees ready. Some countries also require passport photos for visa on arrival.
• Purchase travel insurance for your trip to ensure that you are covered in case of emergencies. You can find the best travel insurance options online.
• Check if you need any vaccinations for the country you are visiting and buy the necessary medication. This is especially important if you are traveling to high-risk areas.
• Consider ordering a travel card like the Wise travel card that does not charge any fees to withdraw money abroad and provides additional security in case of theft.
• Keep a copy of your important documents such as your passport and travel insurance in your hand luggage and consider bringing extra passport photos if you are a long-term traveler.