Trip Planning 101: How To Plan Your Next Vacation

I get so excited when I start thinking about planning a trip! I’m definitely the planner and organizer in the family. Planning a trip can become overwhelming at times; however, it doesn’t have to be if you go in with a strategy.

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Planning a trip should be FUN

There are so many ways to plan and organize your bucket list trip from using lists, spreadsheets, mental planning, etc. I’m a big spreadsheet planner. This way of organization isn’t for everyone. Josh is more of that “mental planner.” I just execute it all on paper!

Trip planning does not mean you have to come up with a strict itinerary. These itineraries can be guidelines that allow you to have a great time, while spending less time wondering what to do on your vacation!

I used to do all of my planning in Microsoft word (pages for Macbook). I have slowly been transitioning to google docs. This allows me to access my trips from anywhere with just my e-mail account and internet access.

As you can see, I like to start “big picture” with the itinerary and let the trip evolve from there. This also helps me budget the trip, while accounting for all those miscellaneous expenses.

Where to start with planning?

Follow this step by step guide to planning your next vacation

Step 1: Decide on a budget

Before embarking on planning your next trip, it’s important to take a look at your finances and how much you feel comfortable spending. I recommend sticking with a budget that you would be okay with if you were to spend a little more. Because if we are honest, don’t we all spend a little extra on vacay? 😉

Step 2: Choose a destination

I know this sounds simple, but narrowing down a place can actually get complicated when multiple parties are involved. Don’t limit yourself. Look at Instagram for inspiration. Check out other trusted travel bloggers or even pull out a handy map…. the digital kind works too!

Do some research before deciding on you final destination!

When is peak tourism?

• High season: Will it be hard to book a hotel because of all the tourists? How will the wait times and lines be, whether it is for restaurants or for amusement rides?

• Low season: Will businesses be open or will some have closed early for the season? Will closures limit your ability to see everything that you want to see?

Josh and I traveled to Disney World in early December. Best decision ever. Although crowds were still present (I mean, it is Disney!), we had limited wait times and had the time of our lives!

What will the weather be like?

• Will it be hot or cold?

• Is it the wet or dry season?

These are questions to consider when planning a trip. Also decide on what kind of atmosphere you are wanting. Just educate yourself and be informed.

When I was young, we traveled to Pompeii, Italy in the middle of Summer. It was the hottest day ever. i remember the trip, but also remember tourists trying to buy the fan I brought from home. The heat was brutal. 🥵

What are visa requirements?

Research if a visa is required for the country or countries in which you will be traveling. Investigate how you need to obtain that visa, if one is required. Can it be acquired online vs on arrival?

Step 3: Book hotels

When deciding on the time of year, remember that traveling off-season/shoulder season can help reduce costs, if that is a factor. If you are struggling to find a way to travel to that nice, luxurious destination on a tight budget, we’ve got you covered here!

Step 4: Book flights

Flight Watch

Do you want the best price on airfare? I know I do! Airfare prices are known to fluctuate throughout the day and week. One way to address the price fluctuations is to set a flight alert. This lets you track prices so you can get the best deal. This can be done via Google Flights, Kayak, or Skyscanner (to name a few).

*** You can search for both cheap airfare and hotel deals all in one place >>> here ***

Earn Frequent Flyer Miles

By signing up with airline carriers to be a part of their frequent flyer program, you can earn points that can be used towards future trips. In order to earn enough points that can be used in return, it is recommended to focus on just a couple of airlines. For instance having 100,000 points with one airline is far better than having 10,000 points with multiple different airlines!

Also, keep in mind that some miles may expire if your account is left inactive for a certain period of time. This is another reason it’s beneficial to keep the accounts at a manageable level so the points can stay active.

Use Credit Card Reward Points

Another way to fly using points is through the use of credit card reward points. Research the best travel credit card/reward cards and use it for all your purchases. Make sure to pay it off each month!

Step 5: Research things to do

My favorite thing to do is to research activities and excursions in the area. In general, I love more personalized, intimate excursions that are not in a large crowd of people. Start your activity search ….

Step 6: Consider travel insurance

Many credit cards offer some sort of travel protection. Depending on what your needs are and the extent of your vacation, you may want something with more coverage than your specific credit card offers.

Step 7: Pack!

What’s The Weather Like?

Make sure to look ahead at the weather for where you are going. I know it’s hard to dress for a different season, but it’s the worst when you get to your destination and don’t have the right clothes. I guess it could give you a reason to go shopping 😉

For cooler weather, it’s always a good idea to layer. When in doubt, put in a bathing suit too. You never know when you’ll have the opportunity to dip your toes in a hot tub or come across some natural hot springs. Unless you want to go skinny dipping, you may want to have a swimsuit. But hey, I’m not gonna judge!

Is Laundry An Option?

No one wants to do laundry on vacay, but sometimes it can be helpful for minimizing packing space. Sometimes laundry is an option, other times it is not. If you are tight on packing space, you may want to see if you can do laundry sometime during your trip.

Step 8: Last minute prep work

But again, there is no one size fits all approach. Find what works best for you and get to planning. We are planning for 2023 now because of COVID-19. Never to early to dream 😊

And please do me a little favor and share this article with others, for there’s a good chance that it will help them with their travels!