The idea of planning a trip can be a daunting one. Some might say even boring. In fact, wouldn't it be more exciting just to "wing it"? Jump on that plane, go and you'll figure out the rest of the adventure. This might be true for some trips. But for the majority it makes sense to at least spent some time planning basic details. Especially when the trip is involving other people.
I am sure you had the feeling before, that you were on a trip and felt stressed figuring out what to do or just spending valuable time doing the research there, instead of exploring.
That's why in the following we listed a few key elements which you should have a look at before going on your trip.
Here is what we will cover:
- Define the purpose/intention of your trip
- The basic Framework
- Don't fear the overwhelm
- Timing your trip
- Legal topics to consider?
5 reasons to approach your next trip with a Plan
#1 Define the purpose/intention of your trip
Before you even start, you should think about the purpose of you're trip. What do you want to achieve and do? Is it that you just want to relax from your busy life during day time and go bar hopping at night? Or maybe you want to explore the history of the location and learn all about it.
Whatever your intention for the trip is, you must think about it beforehand. This will help you check the main boxes.
Getting clear about the purpose is especially important when traveling with a group. You might have your to-do/-see list but that does not mean the rest have the same expectations. After all, expectations often lead to frustration. So be sure to sit down with your travel buddies beforehand and align on the goal/theme of the trip.
#2 The basic Framework
Once you know what the intention of your trip is, the next step is to define a basic framework. This doesn't have to be hard. You can start by sketching on a piece of paper, in your digital notes, or whatever app you'd like to use.
Create a day-by-day plan for the days you're going to be there. It can be in days of the week (Mon, Tue, etc.) or dates (Nov 1st, Nov 2nd., etc.). Mark your flight date & times, as well as the accommodations you've booked. You might already have some musts in the back of your head of things you want to see or do. Start with scheduling those things first. Once you've done this you can focus on the remainder of the days.
To get more ideas of what do to, a quick google search helps a lot. You can also check out things like TripAdvisor or the local website of your destination. Or you can look at social media, check out the stories of your destination, and see what other people are doing there.
The best is even if you have a friend who's from there or has been there for an extended period of time. In this case, you can probably get the majority of your planning right there. Keep in mind if you plan to visit any major attractions you might have to book your tickets well in advance and may not be able to buy those on the day of.
No matter if you want to explore the history of a city, eat your way through the culinary side of things or like to do outdoor adventures. An important aspect to be clear about is your budget. Nothing worse than coming back from a trip and being deep in the red. So beforehand think about your budget for the trip and set yourself also a daily budget. If you have already things in mind, that you want to do, you probably can lookup the price online to see if your dreams match your wallet and there's still some change left for food 😉If you're traveling with a group and switching to pay for things it is smart to use an app like Splitwise to keep track of who paid what and who owes what.
#3 Don't fear the overwhelm
Setting a basic agenda for your trip can sound overwhelming. But it doesn't have to be. Just imagine you get there after the stress of travel and you already have a basic plan in place. In fact, planning can be fun. Sit down on your dining table or in a comfy chair, with a nice drink, and do some basic research. In the end nobody will tell you what to do, so you can pick the things you and your fellow travelers like.
You can even make this a fun evening with friends and share experiences.
One important thing to keep in mind. Don't plan every single hour of your day. We believe that traveling is similar to work - Don't plan more than 60% of your day, and leave some room for the unexpected. That might be the local festival you just heard about or a unique recommendation by the waiter at lunch.
#4 Timing your trip
You have your destination already in mind and know what you want to do and see, so now just book the flight, right? Well, not quite. It is also very important that you think about the right time when you want to go. In addition to keeping in mind the season & the climate of the year, you should also do a quick check, if there are some major events during your planned dates there. This can be in your favor and you might get lucky to attend an Ed Sheeran concert. On the other hand, if there is a big convention during that time it might inflate the hotel/Airbnb prices a lot or even lead to almost no rooms being available. So do a quick google search "Events in "location" on date/in month". This should help you to make sure that you get an affordable place to stay, even if this might mean you have to shift the dates of your trip.
#5 Legal topics to consider?
If your destination is located in another country keep in mind the entry requirements. You might need a Visa or something similar to enter. For example, we used to travel a lot from the US to Canada by car, where there is nothing special required other than your passport. Then one time we flew to Canada and were caught by surprise when the gate agent ask us for our Visa. We had to learn, that the requirements were different between traveling by car and by air. So you can imagine that we had some nervous minutes waiting there at the checking counter. We applied for the Visa right there online and waited for the approval so we can check in and still catch the flight. Luckily it all worked out in the end. But quick research can avoid a lot of stress.
It is also important to keep in mind if there are any restrictions or special requirements at your destination.
These are just some examples. We are in a changing world, and there will be always new things but google is your friend.
Conclusion
Creating an itinerary and planning details of your trip doesn't sound as sexy as just booking that ticket and going on that adventure. But we hope we gave you some insights into why a basic planning session makes sense and what are some of the key areas to look at. And as it is with every plan. It is there to be changed and not set in stone. So keep an open ear and eye when you're on the ground to modify your agenda based on the things you discover there. We hope to take some stress off of you so you can enjoy your trip fully. Make it fun. Start to draft your plan and don't overthink.
With that, we wish you safe and exciting travels. Snap some pics, since memories are what counts the most, and just enjoy every moment. If you are curious about upcoming blog posts and travel plans, feel free to sign up for our emailing list, and we will keep you updated.
Until then - Worry less & wander more.
Your Wanderlusty Germans
