Planning your next journey can be a challenging task. There's a lot of questions: Where to go? What to do? For how long? How to get there? How much will it cost? and the list goes on...
When? Where? Why? How Much?
You probably already have some ideas which country or city you want to visit. If not, get inspired from social media, travel blogs, travel agents, etc. As you start planning, you want to decide the purpose of your travel. A quick weekend getaway to the mountains or a relaxing week on a tropical island? Adventurous backpacking for months or a week in a luxurious hotel? When will you travel? Set a budget as well - this can influence your options.
What can you do there?
Usually, the first thing I do is to find out a little bit of the country. Are there mostly mountains or beaches? What are the bigger cities and the main attractions? Are there any national holidays or big events at that time? Festivals and celebrations attract both locals and tourists. Major events and the peak season will affect the availability and cost of accommodation and flights. Researching the destination will help you decide what places you would like to visit, what kind of activities and events can you participate in and also give you a general vibe of the country and the culture.
Map out the sights and activities you are interested in. Are the sights far from each other or within walking distance? Will the activity take 2-3 hours or a whole day? Check the locations of the sights and the duration of the activities to see what you can fit in your budget and time. Plan your day to focus on a neighbourhood or area to save money and time on getting around.
Planning out your holiday doesn't necessary mean that you plan every minute of your day and run around to keep up with the schedule. It is important to keep some free time for yourself to relax and just enjoy your time there. I like to select 1 or 2 "must see/do" sights or activities for a day and have a few "backup" options to choose from if I have time.
How to get there and around?
After I know my main destinations and a rough plan about what I want to do and see there, look for the transportation options. How to get there and how to get from one city to another? How to get from one activity to another? Flying to a smaller airport can be cheaper but you may spend extra money on local transport. Look around for different transportation options like buses, trains, ferries or consider renting cars/mopeds. Car share (like Uber) can be an option too but be aware of tourist scams in some countries. Walking around is also a great opportunity to discover authentic local places, talk to residents or just get a feel of the place.
Where to stay?
For accommodation, there are plenty of options everywhere from the cheapest hostels with shared rooms to the glamourous 5-star hotel suits. Guest reviews are very useful when you look for a place to stay. Hostels are popular with backpackers are they are the cheapest and a good way to meet fellow travelers. Opt for homestays for a more authentic experience and insider information on the city. Also, do not forget that Airbnb is highly regulated in some countries.
What else should you know?
I think it is also essential to learn about the cultural aspect of the destination. Will you need a visa? What language do they speak? What are the traditional dishes? What side of the road do they drive on? What currency do they use? Cash or card? What about the internet? What religion do they follow? Some religion has strict regulations for visitors, especially women. Not just useful to know but you may avoid penalties. What a lot of people forget is checking the socket and voltage of the country. Arriving to the hotel where you cannot charge your electronic devices can be an unpleasant surprise. So pack a universal adapter to avoid any stress.
Always check the climate, as the weather is a very important part of the planning. You don't want to spend your whole holiday in your room because of a monsoon is raging outside or spend money on warm clothes since you didn't pack any.
Health & safety
And last but not least don't forget about your health and safety! Get a health insurance and look up whether you'll need additional vaccines. Putting a small first aid kit in your bag won't hurt either. Also be aware there are lot of tourist scams and muggers targeting tourists so be careful and take care of your belongings!
One last thing - don't forget to check if your passport is up to date! Some countries do not permit entry if your passport is valid for less than 6 months.
Here are some of my favourite sites, these may help you with the planning.
Accommodation
If you have a specific accommodation in mind, check out their website for special deals.
Hotels Combined for comparison
Hostel World for cheap hostels
Glamping Hub for glamorous camping
Flights
SeatGuru for choosing the best seat
Transportation
Budget
Expakistan for cost of living
City Guides
Lonely Planet (check out the guide books too!)
Good luck and have fun with the planning!
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