It’s important to do research before going on your next trip. Keep reading for 7 essential tips for planning your next trip.
Americans spent about $782.4 billion on leisure trips in 2019. Before heading out on your next trip, you need to consider where you’re going, where you’re staying, and how you’re getting around! Without planning ahead of time, however, you might end up overspending and stress out.
Instead, keep the stress down to a minimum with these seven essential vacationing tips.
Regardless of where you’re going, you’ll want to make the most of your voyage. Relax, unwind, and enjoy the journey with this “planning a vacation” checklist today!
1. Choose Your Destination
First, figure out where you’re going!
If you’re traveling with friends or family members, you might need to collaborate during this step. Where does everyone want to go? What destinations fit your interests and your budget?
For example, maybe you want to:
Relax at a spa or resort
Go on an adventure
Sprawl out on a beach
Ride out on a road trip
Shopping
Luxury experiences
Exploring new cities or countrysides
Think about how you enjoy a day off. Do you want to sit and relax by the pool or go out on a nature hike?
Determine whether you’re traveling overseas or staying in the country. Then, make sure you have enough time to travel and enjoy the destination.
How long is the duration of your trip? You might need to confirm your travel days based on your work schedule. Make sure everyone is on the same page about the dates for your trip.
If you plan on traveling with others, take the time to host a short meeting. Sit down and discuss everyone’s travel preferences. What location will fit everyone’s wishes?
You might have to compromise or take turns choosing a new destination every year.
Once you choose the destination for your next trip, you can use these vacationing tips accordingly.
2. Time It Right
Choosing when you’re heading out on your trip can alter your plans. Do you want to go during a high traffic season or low season? Do you prefer to go during the winter or summer months?
Try to avoid peak travel times if you can.
Otherwise, make sure to plan your trip and packing around the season. You might find there are some events only available during the summer months. If you have your heart set on a certain event, plan your next trip around that time frame.
3. Plan the Experience
Once you choose where you’re going and when you can decide what you’ll see and do! Make sure to dedicate plenty of time for this step on your planning a vacation checklist.
If you’re visiting a city, think about the tourist attractions you don’t want to miss. Do you plan on taking a guided tour? In that case, you’ll want to book your trip in advance.
Make a list of the popular attractions you want to visit. If you need tickets for theme parks, concerts, or other events, make sure to plan accordingly. For trips that involve a group, get your final headcount well ahead of time.
As you plan your experience, think about:
Free things to do
Places where you can walk around
City tours
Day trips
Theme parks
Classes
Shows and events
Restaurants
The key to learning how to plan an international trip is to cover all your bases. You can find additional resources in guide books, tourism board websites, and travel blogs. Consider asking friends and family members about their travels, too.
They might recommend a tourist spot, attraction, or hotel you might not have considered otherwise.
4. Set a Budget
Before you start booking accommodations, make sure to set a budget for yourself. After all, you don’t want to book your flight, hotel, and entertainment plans only to realize you’ve gone over budget!
People spend almost $2,000 annually on summer vacations. Make sure to set your own budget, which can determine:
How and when you travel
Where you’ll stay
Which events you’ll attend
How you’ll get around
Where you’ll eat
Make sure to set a budget before you head out on your next trip. If you’re worried about overspending, give yourself a daily budget. Then, only use cash.
Using cash will allow you to see how much you’re spending each day. Once you’re out of money, that’s it!
5. Book Travel and Accommodations
Now that you know where you’re going and when it’s time to start booking your trip.
First, make sure to book your flights. It’s important to book your flights early on to get cheap prices. Otherwise, you might find the flight itself eats away at most of your budget.
If this is your dream vacation, consider paying a little extra to fly direct or for premium flight accommodations.
Next, you’ll need to book your hotel. Do you plan on spending the bulk of your trip at a hotel or resort? If not, you don’t need to pay for overpriced accommodations.
Instead, consider getting a hotel that’s outside of the main city. These hotels are usually cheaper.
You can check out Makkah Hotels to explore your options!
Once you choose your hotel, make sure to consider how you’ll get around. For example, if you’re staying in San Francisco, you can always use a cable car. If you’re visiting New York, you might want to have an Uber or Lyft app downloaded.
6. Get Packing
Now that you know where you’re going, you can pack accordingly.
First, maximize your suitcase space by rolling your clothes up. Make sure to choose light, stretchy fabrics, too. You can also maximize space in your bag by using a packing cube.
Consider packing an extra tote for all your souvenirs. That way, you don’t overpack your suitcase for the return trip.
Make sure to organize your liquids in any easily removable bag for security, too.
7. Confirm Everything
Once your accommodations are booked and you’re all packed, double-check everything.
Are you going overseas? Make sure you apply for your passport at least six weeks before you leave. Check the visa requirements for where you’re visiting, too.
If you want to remain safe and healthy, talk to your doctor about immunizations.
Otherwise, make second copies of all your documents, including reservations, itineraries, and flight tickets. Keep these copies with someone you trust at home. Having second copies will give you peace of mind if something gets lost.
Your Next Trip Awaits: 7 Essential Vacation Tips for Perfect Planning
What adventures await you? Try plotting your course, setting a budget, and planning the experience ahead of time first. Then, use this guide to make the most of your next trip!
Searching for more helpful tips? Explore the Holidays section of our blog today.
