Steps to planning a trip
I always get super excited when comes time to plan a trip. I love the process of starting from scratch and build an itinerary that I love and am even more excited to actually see it come to life once at my destination. There are multiple steps to get there though. Keep reading to get the exact steps to planning a trip.
Decide where to go
The first step is quite obvious in planning your trip. Deciding where to go. I always choose two or three destinations I would like to go to at the moment of planning. The reason is simple. Depending on my budget, I might choose a certain destination over the other.
Length of your trip
This will also have an impact on your final destination. Why? Because if you only have a four-day vacation from your job, you might not be going to Australia for example. I usually plan a trip that I have to go farther when I have a longer vacation so I can make the most of it. The same goes for a shorter vacation. I will still enjoy myself as much but I might book a trip closer to home so I don’t lose too much time traveling there.
Budget
Another important point to consider, when choosing my destination, is the overall budget. Backpacking versus a luxury vacation will not cost the same. It’s important to look at the budget you have planned and the average daily expenses you would have in this country. Otherwise, you might go over budget once you are there and have to deal with it once you get back home.
Start saving money
Once you have decided on your destination and you have your budget laid out, it’s time to start saving money for the big departure. I always try to put money aside every week to save up the whole amount for when I leave. If I have some extra, I put it aside every week as well so I have a safety cushion if something happens.
Get a travel rewards credit card
Collecting points on your daily purchases to use towards travels is a great option to save on the cost of your trip. I just started using the RBC Avion. Unfortunately, covid-19 happened and everything is now on standby so I haven’t used it yet. The idea behind the travel points is to be able to use them towards some expenses and thus lower the costs of your trip. I plan to use them for a plane ticket which is most likely the biggest expense on your trip.
Check the last minute deals
For some trips, it can be worth waiting for some last-minute deals. Sometimes, you can save big! When researching the destination, check out some reviews. They can give you great insight if it is worth the wait for last-minute deals.
Book you flights
If the destination you are going to isn’t worth waiting for a last-minute deal, take a look at flight prices once in a while to spot a price that would be in your price range. In 2019, we took a trip to Scotland. We decided at the end of June that we were going end of September. Every other day, we looked at the prices and the stopovers as well. (Make sure to erase your history on Internet so the websites don’t give you higher prices because they see the same IP address) I think we booked around the end of July because we found the price we were looking for.
Book you accommodations
Once the flights are booked, you have the exact dates you will be flying there. You can now book the accommodations you would like to stay in for the duration of your trip.
Plan your activities
Once you have a better idea of the itinerary you are doing, it is time to plan the activities and visits you would like to do. If you are planning to do some visits that are in high demand, make sure to book them in advance so you don’t get there and it is fully booked already. At this stage, I love to research what I would like to see over there.
Automate your bills
I usually do this about a week before leaving. That way, I have a better idea of what has to be paid and when but mostly because I won’t have to think about paying bills while I’m out and about having some fun on my vacation. This way, I can be as stress-free as possible.
Tell your card companies that you are going abroad
Even though some card companies tell you it isn’t necessary to call them beforehand, I never take any chances. I just want to make sure that they won’t block my card on my trip because they think it’s a fraudulent transaction…
Pack your bags
At this point, the trip is only days away! My boyfriend always laughs at me when we get to this stage. I like to be organized and prepared so I pack a couple of days in advance. That way, if I have to go to the store to buy something, I still have time to do so.
Buy travel insurance
Probably the most important thing other than your passport. Travel insurance is really important because you never know what could happen. You could hurt yourself over there, flights could be canceled, your luggage lost, and so on… I hope your trip goes smoothly but better safe than sorry on this stuff!
I love planning for a trip as much as I enjoy the trip itself. I feel very inspired because I see so many things that I would love to visit and I can create a wonderful itinerary that suits our needs and our budget.
What steps do you take when planning a trip? Anything I have missed out on? Share them in the comments!
Your trip is all planned out and you are ready to pack?
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Make sure you don’t forget anything with these packing guides to help you out!
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