planning a vacation

Planning a vacation can be a difficult and often stressful process, especially if you haven’t planned many before. However, it can be as much fun as the trip itself because it builds anticipation for everything you’re going to do and it can be incredibly fulfilling. Here are a few tips to help empower you through the planning process with minimal stress and plenty of excitement.

Step 1: Choose Your Destination

Start this process by taking the time to think about what kind of vacation you want. Are you in desperate need to get away from other people? Maybe you’re looking for a big party, or a chance to get out and see nature. Maybe you want to take in culture and learn something. No matter what kind of vacation you want, there’s a destination for you. If you don’t already have some locations in mind, look at websites like Pinterest, Instagram, and Skyscanner’s “everywhere” option.. These can help you find inspiration and lead you to destinations you may not expect. Once you’ve decided if you’re going to Europe, heading for the wilderness, or seeking warm beaches, you’ll need to make sure you have some viable options. You’ll need to see if the potential destinations need a passport, what vaccines are necessary, check travel alerts, and of course, you need to keep your budget in mind.

Step 2: Choose the Time of the Year

Depending on your job and family situation, you may be constrained as to what times of year you are able to take vacations. Before you book anything, narrow down what time of year you can potentially travel and look up the average temperature and precipitation so you know what to expect on arrival. Look up the standard tourist season at your destination. For some places, going off-season is more affordable and you still get to experience the same things for a lower price and fewer crowds. In other places, the things you wanted to see may be closed for the season.

Step 3: Decide What to Do & See There

Once you’ve picked your destination and when you plan to visit, research what kind of activities you want to do while you’re there. Are you comfortable spending all your time in one city or would you like to pick one starting location and tour some of the surrounding areas as well? Write out all the destinations and activities you’d like to check out. If you’re not sure where to start, a simple Google search should do the trick! If there’s something you know you want to do when you get there, double-check to see what you’ll need to do it. You may need to book tickets or passes in advance.

Step 4: Create a Rough Itinerary

Start creating an itinerary for your trip. See what attractions are near each other and research how long it takes to move between destinations so you can account for that while putting together a detailed plan. You may need to consider what you can comfortably afford for transportation. Do you plan to rent a car, rely on public transportation, or walk everywhere? This will give you a good idea of how many days you’ll need for your trip.

Step 5: Book Your Flights

Set a travel alert on your location so you can be in the loop about price changes for different airlines. Flights can be the largest expense for your trip, so you’ll want to get the best deal you can find. Some people say you should book six months out or longer, but others say you should book two months out or less to get the best deals. Some airlines get more expensive the closer the flight is, but others do not. After booking your flight, always read the cancelation or exchange policy in case something comes up and you aren’t able to make that flight. Keep in mind, some discount airlines make it impossible to change your flight after booking.

Step 6: Book Your Room

The further out from your trip, the lower the prices on accommodations will be, so the earlier you do this step, the better. Check out a map of the area to see what hotels are around and how far away from the locations you want to see and what public transportation they are near. You’ll want to make sure you’re staying in a safe area that’s welcoming to tourists of all types so you can feel safe on your trip. Some people don’t mind paying less for their hotel because they don’t plan on spending much time there, while others love a luxury place to stay. Decide what you’re interested in doing and make your reservations. Some things you should consider about your hotel choice should be whether or not they accept your credit card, and whether they have free WiFi. Is there a kitchen? Do they offer free breakfast or are they located near breakfast locations, and, of course, are you able to cancel your reservation if something comes up?

Step 7: Make a Budget

Plan how much money you’ll have available to spend on the trip. Make sure it will cover all your meals, gift shopping, and emergencies. Some credit cards have foreign transaction fees which will make all your purchases cost extra. Some foreign locations may not take credit cards and are cash only, which may limit your finances. You may also be limited by where you can find ATMs. In some places, it’s nearly impossible to find an ATM or you need to exchange all your cash for your destination’s currency before you get to the final destination.

The most important aspect of preparing your finances for your vacation is to let your bank know where you’ll be. The last thing you want is for them to see surprise charges from another country and lock the card so you can’t access any of your money. Calling them beforehand and letting them know about your trip location and dates is essential.

Step 8: Solidify Itinerary Details

Since you’ve already created a practice itinerary, you’ve already got a general idea of what you want to do and when you’ll do it. Once you’ve made all your reservations, this is a good time to solidify those details and research all the places you want to visit to see if you’ll need reservations, get an idea of entrance fees, operating hours, excursion costs, and where you can depart. You should have enough stuff on your itinerary that you won’t worry about being bored, but don’t plan your trip down to the minute, leave yourself room to try things you find on the way. Discovery is the best part of every vacation!

Step 9: Start Shopping for Supplies

Depending on what kind of trip you’re planning, you may need to purchase new clothes or gear. For example, you may want to get mosquito repellent, a waterproof phone case, a good winter coat, trekking poles, or an underwater camera! Anything you think would be beneficial to your health, safety, and trip that doesn’t break the bank is a good purchase. Make sure you order these items early enough that you won’t have to worry about anything arriving after you’ve already left for vacation; get it out of the way as early as possible. If you need to, you should set a phone alarm or calendar note about a month before your trip and order it at that point.

Step 10: Do You Need Travel Insurance?

You may not need insurance if you’re going somewhere nearby or less expensive, but if you’re going somewhere you don’t know well, it could be beneficial to add it to your travel budget. Travel insurance is especially important for locations that are politically tumultuous, activities that might need savings, places where you’re more likely to get sick, and anywhere that would be absurdly expensive to get an emergency flight back home. Insurance also covers you if you need to cancel your trips. Sometimes the worst happens, and travel is no longer possible. Don’t lose all the money you’ve already invested into your trip.

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