Travel planning can be a daunting task. Where do you start? What is the first step? What is the second step? What is the third step? It’s easy to feel overwhelmed, especially if you’ve never done it before.
In an ongoing effort to help you get out and into the world, I’ve created this step-by-step guide to planning a trip. It works for any type of trip and no matter how long! Just follow this checklist and you will be off in no time!
Travel Planning Step 1: Choose which airline you want to travel with
There are a lot of options to choose from and you should decide the budget you are willing to spend on a flight ticket. If your budget will stretch, you might even want to book a private jet – how much does it cost to own a private jet, you ask? A lot… which is why Jettly offer the opportunity to hire a private jet instead, making them so much more affordable! But if you’d rather keep the flight as cheap as possible (although, remember, this generally means less comfortable too), then stick to a budget airline. You could go through all of them but luckily for you there are platforms such as Opodo that compares all the price for you, the only thing left to do is choose!
Travel Planning Step 2: Decide where you want to go
Defining where you want to go defines a goal that you want to achieve. Many people talk vaguely about traveling. They never say where they are going, only that they just go. Choosing a destination is extremely important because it gives you a specific goal. It’s much easier to be mentally get behind “I’m going to Paris” than “I’m going to Europe” or “I’m going somewhere”. Not only will your journey become more concrete for you and easier to do, but it will also make planning easier … because you know what to work towards. It will also help you to prepare for activities that you wish to complete while there. For example, if you were to visit Iceland, then getting in touch with a camper van rental company like Rent.is could be a great way to navigate the volcanoes, glaciers, and everything else that the country has to offer. By deciding this in plenty of time before you go, you’ll be able to prepare for details such as this.
It’ll be much easier to decide on destinations if you start reading up about different places that can offer you what you want. For example, if you want a beach side vacation, then look for places like Tampa, FL or others like it, and make sure to do lots of research.
Travel Planning, Step 3: Determine the duration of your trip
How much does it cost to travel? No idea! Not knowing how long you will be away. You cannot know how much you need to save if you have not decided how long you will stay in your destination. After saying “I’m going to Paris”, add “for 10 days”.
Now you have a concrete plan to work. “I am going to Paris for 10 days” is a journey that you can plan for.
Travel Planning Step 4: Study your costs
So you know where you are going and how long you will stay there. However, to determine the amount you need, you’ll need to determine the cost of your destination, depending on your travel style. Would you like to do a backpack or stay in a luxury hotel? How much are hostels, hotels, restaurants and attractions cost? With knowledge, you can estimate the amount you need for your trip.
Travel Planning Step 5: Start saving money
Write down your current spending so you can determine where to spend and how to reduce it. Every day, people bleed a lot of money and make small purchases: that bottle of water, the dollar of that snack, that extra coffee. All this adds up and creates this breakdown where you know where to cut and save.
Travel Planning Step 6: Buy travel insurance
While many people think, “I’m in good health, I do not need travel insurance, I will not get sick,” travel insurance is more than just medical care, a family member or close relation dies and you have to return home or if something gets stolen.
