Travel Planning Extravaganza
Disclosure: I have not been compensated or sponsored in any way for any mentions in this post. I just f*ing love them.
“Strong and content, I travel the open road.”
Is there anything quite as satisfying as planning out your ultimate dream trip? It’s like a DOPAMINE DELUGE!
It’s like a day dream that you can then work on to make reality. *sigh*. BLISS.
For those of you who do NOT enjoy planning quite as much as myself, it’s also a practical skill— especially with international travel. PLAN PLAN PLAN. International travel requires more than a trip around town.
The complexity of the trip directly correlates with the planning required. But, for planning nerds like myself, the planning experience can be as simple or as complicated as you like.
STEP 1: Where are you going? Important first step Friends. Where you are going determines what you might need and therefore, what makes it into your plan.
If you are traveling internationally, you will need to research visa requirements, any travel restrictions or testing needed prior to travel, and make yourself aware of any safety hazards/current issues at your destination. The place I always start is the official governmental website.
If you are traveling locally, the requirements may be less complicated. Checking out the destination official website is always a good idea. You may find an upcoming event that will determine your travel dates!
STEP 2: When are you going? Another vital component to your travel plans. What season is it at your destination?
Winter: pack those layers gang. Summer: light weight clothing and sunscreen.
Knowing your travel dates allows you to book your transportation and being flexible on those dates/times if possible can really make things a lot easier. The other thing to keep in mind is any time change from your starting point to your dream destination. I don’t know if I’m the only one that struggles with it, but I find it helpful to have a visual calendar to help organize the transportation through time changes.
STEP 3: How are you getting there? Trains, planes, or automobiles! Public transit is an option in many locations and It can give you a local flavor that renting a vehicle does not. Navigating the public metro in a city you’re visiting can instill a sense of pride in your ability to learn new things, navigate like a local, and be self sufficient. It also saves you the headache of traffic jams (usually).
If your trip includes multiple locations across the country (or many countries), driving a rental vehicle may be an option. You will need to check for driving license regulations, insurance, etc. It can be it’s own kind of adventure (see our Ireland trip). I have had success in bringing a GPS with the maps already downloaded to make driving in unfamiliar terrain a bit safer. No one wants to have to look at a map while driving on the opposite side of the car!
Subway Yard, NYC 2013. ©2022ClaraConnell
STEP 4: Where are you going to stay? This is also determined by what your overall plan is. Are you traveling day trips from a central location? Are you road tripping and need to stay at new locations each day or every couple days? I have done both and can say that each have their pros and cons.
Staying Put: Pros: You only have to unpack once and have a chance to become familiar with the local scenery. You can find a favorite morning coffee shop and see sites more than once if it strikes your fancy. Cons: You also only see what’s in a day’s radius and if you are traveling to a more remote location, that can decrease the number of sights to see.
Nomadic Trip: Pros: You see something new everyday—decreased chance of boredom for sure. Cons: the constant packing/unpacking.
Either way, there should be some scheduled down time no matter what your housing plans are. This was a lesson I learned the hard way. Rest is best.
Teach Ceann Tuí, Adara, Ireland 2013. ©2022ClaraConnell
STEP 5: Do you know the language? Are there cultural mores (customs) to be aware of? One of the major joys of traveling is learning and experiencing different cultures! No matter where you are from, there is an opportunity to expand your world view and to do so respectfully. A little research beforehand can save a lot of awkward moments later.
STEP 6: What sights do you want to see? Major attractions may have major lines. There are some services and passes available ahead of time in order to decrease your time in lines depending on where you are going. Paris offers a “Paris Pass” that helps bypass general admission at many famous locations. Other countries have similar opportunities. Planning is the name of the game.
STEP 7: THE ITINERARY. *sigh* Organizational bliss. An itinerary is the physical manifestation of all your dreams and your hard work. You can make it as simple or as complicated as you like. Digital or Old School paper, stickers or no stickers. It’s all up to you. I prefer to have both a digital and a paper copy with me. Paper to refer to as needed, digital if my paper copy gets lost.
As I am a very visual thinker, I organize my itinerary to look similar to a planner/calendar. It helps me think about logistics for each day and I am not missing any overnight plans (once forgot an evening place to stay—>adventurous car camping ensued). I divide the day into meal planning chunks. Food is essential to all living beings and I get hangry which is a damper for any trip. Breakfast, where you at?!
Being a passionate planner, I have learned lessons the hard way. Time is not under my control and expectations should be realistic. The only time I now plan a specific mealtime is if we have dinner reservations. The other meals that day will be an approximate time/location and very flexible. Flexibility is key when traveling.
In addition to the daily itinerary (both digital and paper), I keep an online record of the booking numbers, contact numbers, etc in case I need them. I have not had any issues with bookings going astray, but it’s better to keep that information readily available without taking up much room in your belongings.
Calendar template pulled from WinCalendar website 2013. Image of original.
STEP 8: THE PACKING. I have seen a lot of packing information and watched umpteen videos on the “correct way to pack”. What I have concluded is: the less you take with you, the more room you have for souvenirs. Unless you are going to a remote place in Antartica (go you!), necessities are likely available at your destination. As a traveler, no one will know if you repeat an outfit (if that might bother you).
Where you travel and when are the biggest determinators of what you will be packing. Look up the weather a week or so before to give you an idea on what temperatures you will be exposed to. You can never go wrong with layers.
STEP 9: Photography. I feel like this is my ultimate souvenir. The images I collect on travels is more poignant to me than figurines or magnets (bonus: no dusting). And with the advances in smartphones, amazing photographs are so much more accessible!
STEP 10: Safety. Check the news from your destination. What are current events looking like? Is it a good time to travel?
Are there scams you need to be aware of (pickpockets, survey scams, etc)?
Who does your travel party consist of and are there safety issues related to that?
Check the CDC travel medicine website to see if there are any prevalent illnesses that you need to pretreat/be aware of/watch for.
This was a pretty long post and I hope it covered the issues that are helpful.
I’m always looking for new ways to plan, so if you have any suggestions, please let me know.
Where are you planning to go?
Cheers.
Clara