How to plan your trip
Planning in the traveling experience is “ZE STEP” you can’t do without. Unless you are from the wealthiest and can allow yourself to wake up and travel as you wish and splurge in luxury or a backpacker looking for unexpected suspense and adventures… everything mentioned below would be helpful.
Look up as much info as you can about the country/ the city
A.
Don’t visit a country just for the hype or because everyone has been there or goes there. Does the country has any sort of interest to you? (culture? fashion? history etc). Does the country has activities you would like to do? In what mood are you? (lazy, baecation, beach, party, demanding physical activities)? Is it the right time to visit?... etc. Those are the types of questions you should ask yourself. Remember, good holidays also match with money well spent, so be wise on how you choose your destination
Check visa and health requirements
B.
Once you have your mind set up and are sure you want to visit that country, check visa requirements and prices. They are sometimes very easy and inexpensive, whereas others are a real hassle.
#Tip:While choosing your destination, if you want to avoid the visa hassle, look up a destination for which you don’t need a visa or where getting a visa would be a piece of cake for you.
You need to make sure you meet health requirements for the country you want to visit. For instance, If they require you to have a yellow fever certificate please do. Unless you want to pay for a shot when you get to their airport (which I don't recommend).
C .
Check tickets' prices
This step will determine whether or not you will start planning your trip. Generally, tickets are the most expensive part of a trip and their prices can sometimes discourage you. However, take your time while flight shopping, don't rush. Be aware of high seasons and off-peak seasons. I will give more tips in a coming article but for now here is what you need to know.
#Tip: Book as early as possible, and subscribe to flight alerts; Consider alternative landing airports and compare prices; Use different flight websites to compare prices; Make different flights combinations (multi-city ticket, one way to a place and separate return ticket to have a cheaper price); Be flexible with your dates, and don't be afraid of low cost companies, big names are not always worth it.
PS: If you live in a country where you need to go through a travel agent to book, ask people living abroad to do it for you, it will save you a LOT of money
If despite all this, you still can't afford a plane ticket, broaden your options: a cruise? a road trip? exploring the city you live in? There are always options
D.
Look up, choose and plan activities
Look up, On this, Google is your friend! You could type anything and still find something. Find activities that match your interests. If you have been traveling a lot and have already done most of the activities offered to you, try something new. If nothing excites you, you might want to change your destination choice if you really want something challenging. In order to find things to do, type for example "* chosen country*things to do". Another way is to browse organized tours' websites such as Viator or GetYourGuide (my fav.) etc. to have an idea of what you can do.
#Tip: My favorite way is to ask people who have been there or live there through Twitter or Instagram! #YASS. Be bold and ask them politely how did they like the country, would they recommend anything to do there or if it's worth going to such and such place etc.
Being friendly and social opens doors and it starts at a distance. This also allows you to establish relations with locals so you are not that lost when you get there. People are really friendly don’t worry
Choose, How do you choose? How do you know those activities are worth it and the companies trustful?
First of, if they match your interests the activities will always be worth it to you. Secondly, it is really up to you to carefully and intensively read reviews found on TripAdvisor or any other travel blog; pay attention to when last those reviews were written ( if too old, look for something else, the same for accommodation) and on which aspect the reviews focus on. For instance, if they complain about the price whereas price isn't a big issue for you, this review might not really help you. Read more and look up other reviews elsewhere.
#Tip: For now, just choose and put the prices down to prepare your budget . Also, always include a special extraordinary experience
Plan activities
Once you find out what you want to do, dispatch the chosen activities per day by creating a word or pdf file that you will print afterward. Put the prices, hours, things you need, how to get there, and a square box next to it. Cross the box when something is done or completed. (At the end of the article, I put apps and websites that can help you organize your trip for those who don't like traditional ways)
Ex : Tuesday 25th => Kiteboard, 9AM => 55$
To bring: Sunscreen, wetsuit etc..
To do: Book taxi for 8:30 => 20$
Be mindful of putting the activities you are dying to do in the first days so that even if you don't get to do anything, you did what you have been dying to do. For a longer trip (1 week+), I strongly advise you to plan as such:
Activity - REST DAY - Activity- REST DAY
Resting doesn’t necessarily mean staying at your hotel/hostel and sleep. It could also be a shopping day, a relaxing spa/cultural workshop day. Staying idle is not bad but the longer you stay idle, the harder it will be to get back on the “active traveler track”
IF TRAVELING WITH PEOPLE, make sure everyone’s interest, financial and physical ability is taken into consideration and also talked about. #Compromises#Communication
I understand that all of this requires personal work and research and you might not want to do this. In that case, InspiRock is your life savior. It helps you plan a trip from A to Z to a country for the duration you choose, and it's FREE. Although I never exactly follow what they suggest, I love this website.
E .
Choose your accommodations according to...
The chosen activities. You don't want to be too far from things you plan to do, so finding a location close by is the best. If you don't mind being far, this broadens your options, which is very good. This will also impact your transportation budget. For instance, if you are close to bars, restaurants, street food, touristic places etc., your budget will maybe be cut per half since everything is at a walkable distance.
The lifestyle and experience you want to have. You won't stay in a hostel if you want to be pampered and live the 5-star experience with a majordome (butler), and you won't stay in a 5-star if you want a more vibrant and laid-back community where you can meet people and turn up with strangers until 6 AM. Though, keep in mind that one doesn't exclude the other. You can have both. I rarely stay in the same hotel more than 3 or 4 nights. I like to experience different atmospheres and hotel chains so if you do this, you will have a fulfilling experience (which could be disappointing at times so it's all a bet)
#Tip: When booking your accommodation, check directly their website to see if there are any differences with Third parties booking websites. Indeed, those 3rd parties sometimes have additional charges and also don’t explicitly mention the additional charges the government or the hotel may charge. Thus, you will end up paying more than expected.
F.
Money Talk
CAN YOU AFFORD YOUR VACATION?
At this stage, with everything mentioned above, you almost have an idea of how much your trip could cost.
People usually do their budget first, but I do it last to see what I can leave out of my trip, what I thought I couldn't afford but that I can add. Moreover, this allows me to know how much extra money I will need depending on my accommodation (which impacts transportation and food budget) and my shopping desires.
If you find out that you can afford your vacation, make a budget for everything from food to transportation, from shopping to EMERGENCY money etc.
If you don't know how much you should have for this, those websites give you an idea of how expensive life is in different countries compared to where you are coming from: Expatistan or Numbeo. If you are still not satisfied, try to look up restaurant menus in the city you will be in to have an idea of the average price for a meal. Same for transportation, check Uber or taxi fares from a distance X to Y.
Finally, If you are a backpacker or a free traveler, honestly, you just have to find a place to stay, have your credit card, passport, and some cash and live day by day. things will eventually come to you.