Are you sick of being stuck at home, but can’t travel yet?
Whether it’s due to COVID restrictions or simply that you are low on funds right now, one of my favorite ways to honor my traveler’s spirit is to PLAN MY NEXT TRIP!
No I don’t mean “ooo hey let’s go to the beach.” I mean choosing dates, booking rooms, and researching local attractions for wherever you are daydreaming over while netflixing at home.
Here are some of top tips for planning your next overseas vacation or trip:
1. Pick your destination.
This one is easy I know, but if you’re like me it actually required a jar with slips of paper to choose where you should go next. Seriously, I couldn’t decide and this is one of my favorite tricks.
2. Pick your dates.
This one may require a little research. Your goal here is going to be to find the most enjoyable time to go. ie. Not during high tourist season, but still close to the best time of year to visit whichever country you’re planning to visit.
3. Research time!
Pinterest and Trello are going to be your friend in this arena (or at least those are my go to ways for sorting through all the things). I use Pinterest for research and Trello or planning and laying out where all I actually want to go.
Option A: For those of you with limited time this is going to be where you want to start. Pick how many days you want to stay and divi up your trip by each town or location you want to visit and then dive into local recommendations on pinterest or in facebook groups. (Pro Tip #1: don’t forget to ask your travel groups on facebook – I’ve found many hidden treasures this way!)
Option B: For those that don’t know exactly how long you want to go for. Make a list of all the things you want to do and see in order estimate how many days you’ll want to be there. Next, compile a list of how many days you want to be in each place, then plan your route on how you’re going to navigate from place to place. (Pro Tip #2: keep a map handy here, don’t just take people’s word for it, you don’t want to be zigging and zagging all over, or you’ll spend more time on trains and buses than necessary)
4. Where are you going to stay?
Now that you know when and for how long you’re wanting to stay in each city, it’s time to start finding places to sleep.
Everyone’s travel preferences differ, some of you may love to crash at hostels the whole way, others may want to 5-star it and have a month long luxury vacation. If you’re like me, I love finding apartments because I usually work a little along the way and need good wifi and a space to get work done, plus I always enjoy cooking in for breakfast or lunch and dine out for dinner most of the nights.
Whatever your preference is, do your research here are some factors you may want to consider:
What part of town do you want to stay in or be close to?
Are you renting a car or walking?
How safe is the area?
Are you willing to pay the tourist premium or ok being further away for a good deal?
How are you going to be able to check in?
Pro Tip #3: Pay for everything in advance that you can, this way you don’t have to carry as much cash or worry about your card randomly not working right when you need it most. If no deposit is required, book it, but pay for it a month before you fly out!
Interested in how much your trip is going to actually end up being? Download my free Trip Calculator where you can easily account for and convert your $ to the local currency, plus see what your rooms, food, spending, airfare, excursions, and transportation will cost!
Pro Tip #4: This is my google doc I use for any trip I plan, period!
Personal Note: Even if you plan accordingly there will be things you want to do that you simply won’t be able to squeeze in or side track you. So remember to go with the flow and enjoy the things you can experience during your time there!
Happy Travels,
Allison
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