Looking to plan a trip but unsure of where to start? Here’s five tips to help you plan an amazing international vacation!
- #1 Decide on your itinerary, but be flexible. Think about what you want to get out of this vacation. Do you want adventure? Relaxation? Things like this will have a bearing on where you want to go and how long you want to stay. You may want to see many points of interest but also want to have time to relax. We try to “build” rest days into longer trips to avoid burn out. This might include days by a pool or beach or days where we plan to just explore the city or local area (without a timetable) after we’ve had a day or two to visit the main points of interest (see #2), etc.
- #2 Research the areas: Knowing the climate can help you determine the best time to travel and what type of clothing you’ll need to pack. Researching points of interest is important in knowing how many days would be needed to see what you want to see in each location. What about currency? Do you need to take any safety measures before or during your trip? What about the language? Is it easy to find people who communicate in your native language or another language you know? What is transportation like? How you travel between each destination may have a bearing on which destinations you ultimately decide on. At times, we’ve had to adjust our itinerary because some places may prove very difficult or expensive to get to. Don’t forget too to consider how you’re going to get around within each town or city – Will you need a rental car? Are taxis or public transportation like metros or busses easily accessible?
- #3 After you’ve done all the research, you should be able to determine a reasonable budget. You should always budget for a bit more than you plan to spend in the event of unforeseen events. (A missed flight or any other unexpected expenses can really put a damper on an otherwise fantastic trip; Planning ahead for incidents like these can help you to avoid added financial stress and can allow to move on and enjoy your vacation.)
- #4 Now its time to book! Book your flights and transportation first (usually around 6 months in advanced), then accommodations. Finally, at about 4-6 weeks prior, you can reserve any specific tours or sights that require advanced booking.
- #5 Get packing! With the weather in mind, try to get an idea of what types of attire you will need about a month before, in case you want to purchase anything like outwear or shoes specific to your trip. Then, in the weeks before the trip, start to set aside clothes you won’t be wearing at home that you know you’ll want to bring. Good packing preparation is especially necessary if you plan to do a 2-3 week trip with only a carry on and a personal bag. For more tips on packing light, check out our blog post!
Hope you guys enjoyed some of our travel tips! If you have any more tips you’d like to share, we’d love to hear from you in the comments!
K and C Travel 