Whether we’re talking about a short weekend getaway or a year-long holiday around the world, you need to do a bit of planning ahead if you want it to be successful. This will help you put together the trip’s itinerary to make sure you really took advantage of all the time spent exploring new territories.
Some will say that creating the perfect itinerary is a lost art, especially if it involves a small time frame. Being able to please everyone involved in the trip and optimize the time you have is a skill that only a few possess. The rest of us are left trying to create an itinerary that makes sense and is easy to follow for everyone that’s coming along.
Although planning an itinerary can be exhausting and time-consuming at times, when done well, you’ll be rewarded as soon as you get on the road. From the beginning to the end of your trip, all that will be left for you to worry about is enjoying your time and taking in the beauty of the world around you.
There are so many things to plan, consider, and arrange when making a vacation itinerary that it may seem overwhelming at first. With our step-by-step planning guide, however, building a travel itinerary will be a breeze.
The steps below represent the foolproof guide to creating a travel itinerary that will help you make the most out of your trip hassle-free.
Start by creating a wish list
Making a list of all the things you want to see and do is an excellent approach to preparing your perfect trip. In your trip notebook, note down all you know about the destination, including activities you want to try and sights you want to see.
This list does not have to contain just easily accessible locations or highlights that every tourist should see. Make a list of anything that you believe could be of interest to you or those involved in the trip. Later on, you’ll need to determine whether or not your list of must-see locations is feasible and, if so, how.
If you have a certain activity in mind or an event you’d like to attend, organize your vacation around it. This will become the focal point of your plans, and you can adapt the rest of your itinerary to fit with the event’s date.
Decide on the budget
Whether you choose to stay in hostels or 5-star all-inclusive hotels, hitchhike or fly first class, cook in the hostel kitchen or eat out at fine restaurants, settling on a budget can help you remain on track. Thinking about your budget can also help you decide which destinations you can afford to visit and how you will get there.
The most important thing is to make your budget as realistic as possible. Do your research about the cost of living there and make some estimates. It’s usually a good idea to budget a little extra than you think you’ll need in case of unanticipated circumstances.
When both of you know the financial limit, you can avoid arguments with your partner, or if you travel with a group of friends, you can agree on a specific amount of money you are prepared to spend on accommodation, food, or certain activities.
This isn’t to say you can’t spend a little more money on a wild activity you’ve always wanted to do or treat yourself to a nice dinner. However, keeping your day-to-day costs in check might help you avoid stress.
Do your research
There has never been a more convenient time to gather all of the information you need about your dream location than right now when you can accomplish nearly everything from the comfort of your own home. Here, the internet is your best friend, and with its little help, you can do great things.
Researching a new place might be intimidating since there is so much information to go through and analyze, but your efforts will be rewarded once you arrive.
While you can access the internet practically everywhere, starting to gather information after you’ve checked into your hotel will most likely be a stressful experience, not to mention a waste of precious vacation time, so it’s better to do it before you arrive.
Check for national holidays, too, since they may have an impact on business hours and transportation.
Involve everyone
Get your partner, family, or friends involved if you’re going on a trip with them. Share your thoughts and wants with the group, and encourage others to do the same.
If you try to arrange everything on your own, you’ll most likely include only the things that interest you, and when you get to your destination, you may discover that your companions have different ideas about what to do. Surely not everyone will want to visit those ancient ruins you’ve been planning to see or lay by the beach, in the sun, all day.
One great idea is to ask everyone to be responsible for one day or one part of the itinerary. You can then merge everything together in a PDF document by using the free tool you can find here and send everyone a copy.
Working on this itinerary project as a group is the quickest and most effective method to complete it, as no one will feel left out, and the chances of overlooking or forgetting something crucial are reduced.
Allow for flexibility
We didn’t mean to put you off right away, but the truth is, there is no such thing as a flawless itinerary. Due to whatever reason, your flight may be delayed, your rental car may break down, or the greatest restaurant in town may be closed.
When planning your next vacation, make sure you leave enough time to modify your plans in case something unexpected happens. You may need to add an extra day or reduce activities, or, in the worst-case situation, completely alter your plans, but at least you will know what to expect.
Feature Photo by Francesca Tirico on Unsplash
