Top 11 Travel Planning Tips
- Adriana Daoust Mariette
- Feb 28, 2018
- 7 min read
In the mood for a vacation? (Of course you are) Before you set out on your adventure, we all know there is some work to put in. It can be overwhelming handling all the logistics, but don't let it ruin your vacation before it even starts. Utilize these tips to ensure your trip is exactly what you want with minimal mishaps. Here, are my Top 11 Travel Planning Tips.
1. Research on social media platforms
Pinterest Boards. I find Pinterest more useful than Google, and it has so many entertaining visuals! Who doesn’t love pictures? I create a board with the name of the city I am visiting and pin helpful posts.
YouTube videos. Get a mini, virtual tour of the highlights you could see where you’re going.
Check geo-tags, hashtags, and travel accounts on Instagram. There are a plethora of travel bloggers with helpful sites and tips paired with artful photos. It only takes one good photo to make me want to travel somewhere! Follow accounts that supply useful information about the city you’re interested in.
2. Find the cheapest flights through Google Flights or Skyscanner
Both Google flights and Skyscanner offer a system that promises to find you the best deal. If your dates are flexible, that's even better! These sites can show you the cheapest days to fly. My favorite feature is exploring the map of all the potential destinations. All the possibilities will have you daydreaming.
3. How to find the best places to stay
Hostels - Use hostelworld.com. Through this site you can easily find the best-priced hostel for your needs. Always browse with the map view. It is important to see the location and proximity to the city center or popular sights. Before you book on hostelworld.com, check the hostel’s site. Often, some amenities will be included if you book through them directly. I have missed out on free breakfasts and towels because I had booked through a third party.
Airbnb - If you’re not interested in the hostel experience, Airbnb has repeatedly proved to be cheaper than most hotels. They offer unique, living spaces; and you get introduced to a local who is likely happy to give you advice for visiting their city.
Hotels - Voted the best site to find hotels is Booking.com. Hotels offer the typical traveling experience. You can search for hotels by budget, amenities, facilities, and even neighborhood. It offers thorough information for each location.
Workaway - Workaway.info This one is a truly unique experience. In exchange for volunteer help, you get a free place to stay and often other amenities included. Workaway connects people who need a service: babysitting, language lessons, house work, farm work, renovations, ect; with people who want to travel and stay with locals. I taught an adult intensive English course for a week in the Czech Republic and my room and meals were completely free. I really wish I could have taken advantage of more of these opportunities. Most want volunteers to stay a month or longer which is where it gets hard for most to commit; but if this sounds like the experience you want, search the site. You never know what you will find.
4. Study your transportation options
After your flight, what is your transportation situation? This is so so important. I have been naively caught a couple of times lost at the airport trying to figure out how to get where I am staying *doh*. Airports, unfortunately, are often far outside the heart of the city.
Car rental. Find out where the car rental office is in relation to the airport. It is not always apparent. If you are renting a car internationally, research basic driving rules in the respective country. There may be crucial differences to observe. Be sure that your driver’s license is accepted, too. If you are in the US, AAA can supply you with an International driver’s license if you need it.
Public transit. Research the names of the public transit options where you are going, since every city/country gives their transits funny names. Even if you don’t speak the language, if you can say the name of the tram, bus, or train that you are looking for, pointing and gestures can get you the rest of the way. Note which lines run by the place you are staying and your points of interest.
Uber/Lyft/Taxi. These are the best options if you want direct, quick transportation. Uber and Lyft have built-in price monitors, so they are often a better choice than taxis who may take advantage of tourists who don’t know local prices.
Walking/Biking. Always have a map, a physical one. Yes, this is super old school, but what if your phone dies, you can't use data or find WiFi? *gasp* You will at least want to know how to get back to your place.
5. Utilize markers on Google maps
Speaking of maps, utilize Google Maps to mark sights you want to see and places you want to eat. The most popular sights are often already highlighted for you. Find your thing; whether it's museums, local markets, and shopping, or historical sites. This process will also help you get acquainted with the layout of the city.
6. Make a prioritized list of sights and activities
You will likely find more things than you can manage to fit into your trip, so you will need to prioritize them.
Especially for museums and historic sites, find out the cost for admittance (if any) and if you need to purchase tickets in advance (I missed seeing the inside of La Sagrada Familia because I didn't get tickets ahead of time).
Be sure you also know the hours and days your places of interest are open. (I missed seeing a cat boat in Amsterdam because I was 15min too late! *sobs*)
Consider how much time each activity will need, and how to fit it into your itinerary. Of course, things will change when you arrive. But having a basic plan will help you get the most out of your time there.
7. Check and double-check essential documents
Check the expiration dates on everything! Passports, visas, credit/debit cards, licenses. Have an accessible copy, either physical or electronic, of these essential documents.
To be extra safe, I recommend travel insurance. I had a great experience with World Nomads who covered the expenses I paid to recover data on my laptop that had coffee spilled on it. (If I had known the damage was so extensive, I would have made the kid who spilled the coffee at the hostel pay for it…) Good thing I had insurance! You never know what will happen.
8. Physical check-up
You may need to schedule a visit with your doctor depending on where you are going. Some countries require specific vaccines (have a copy of your records if you do). This would be a good time to ask for a refill of any prescriptions you need, too.
Maybe you’re entering a different climate that your body is not accustomed to. Do you need motion sickness pills for an airplane, bus, or boat ride? Will you be in a drastically higher altitude where you could be prone to altitude sickness? Will you need to protect against pests with bug spray? What level of sun protection will you need? Get your over-the-counter medications and creams in advance so you don't pay twice the price if you need them in a pinch. Or, it could be worse if you can't find them at all.
Have an honest physical review with yourself. Are you planning an active vacation? Whether you will be walking, hiking, swimming, biking, surfing ect., evaluate if your body is ready. Plan what you can do beforehand to help avoid injury and enjoy your vacation more.
9. Do you have the right kind of shoes for your trip?
Shoes are especially important since we all know that one tiny blister can ruin a whole week. Buying new shoes that you haven't thoroughly tested out before a trip is a bad idea. If you need new shoes for the trip, get them at least a month before to break them in.
10. Notify important people in advance
Obviously, you will be talking about your vacation as you eagerly anticipate its arrival, but be sure that you don’t forget to personally announce it to crucial players who will make your time away easier.
Your Bank. Banks, nowadays, have automated systems that can detect abnormal spending activity and block transactions to avoid theft. This is often exercised when there is a sudden purchase in a different city/country. Don’t get caught having to call your bank to explain everything is ok. No one wants a frozen bank account when they are trying to buy their Starbucks collector mug. So, remember to announce your travel destinations and dates. Many banks have easy, online forms for this. If you’re traveling internationally, check if they charge foreign transaction fees while you’re at it. Consider applying for a travel-friendly credit card if you don’t have one already.
Phone company. Will your traveling affect your phone bill? Don’t let unexpected charges ruin your trip. Study up on exactly what your phone plan covers. You may want to look into other plans if you discover you won’t be able to use your phone how you want.
Sitters. Who is going to watch over your cozy home, precious plants, or furry children while you are gone? Out of courtesy, these people ought to be notified with plenty of notice.
11. Study your currency exchange rates. Sometimes this can be really confusing. How will you know if you are spending too much for something? Google has an easy currency converter I highly suggest. I was caught off guard when travelling through Europe when I arrived in the Czech Republic and Hungary (they didn't use the Euro that I was used to). I went my first day there having no idea what I was spending! Since doing the math in your head at a noisy market is not ideal, memorize simple increments. Example: $5 = ____ , $10 = _____ , $15 = ______ ect.
Thank you for reading my Top 11 Travel Planning Tips. I hope this list will help you be well prepared for your next adventure! What do you always do before you leave on a trip?
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