Overview:
When it comes to planning a trip, there are a few crucial things to consider before making your bookings. Everyone’s needs and wants (and budgets) are unique, and in order to maximize the benefits and reduce the stress, it’s important to think about the plans in detail in advance.
Step 1: What are you looking for?
What are your hopes (and the hopes of your family members or other travel companions) for this vacation? Is the goal to find somewhere warm, somewhere new, somewhere to relax, a new adventure, etc.? Once you know WHAT you’re looking for, you can started thinking about the WHERE and the WHEN!
Step 2: What are the most important factors?
Think about your “deal breakers”. These are individual to each one of us. Maybe you want a location that has guaranteed hot weather in February. Maybe you want a location that is under a 4-hour plane ride. Maybe you want somewhere that speaks the same language as you, or has similar foods that you’re used to. Maybe you want an all-inclusive resort that has children’s programs. Maybe you have a certain activity you want to try, or a specific budget requirement you need to stick with. Whatever it is, figure out what your wishlist is and what your must-haves are, and then start looking!
Step 3: Options and Research
There are so many great opportunities out there for travel assistance, including a number of blogs to read through that will give you a real example of what your time in that location could look like.
Determine the country you want to visit, as well as the area you’re thinking of. Look at photos online and reviews of the accommodations.
Step 4: Planning
Now comes the fun part! You’ve done your research and you know what you are looking for and what your options are. When it comes to planning and details it helps to keep a digital or print itinerary with all of your confirmed travel plans, including flight information, contact numbers, directions and maps, booking confirmation numbers, etc.
Financial planning: Setting a realistic budget for your trip is key. Here are a few items to take into consideration.
| Transportation: Flights, trains, ferries, car rentals, airport parking, car insurances, taxis, shuttles, gas. |
| Documentation: Passports, travel visas, travel insurance. |
| Medical: Immunizations, medical insurance. |
| Entertainment: Excursions, shopping, gifts. |
| Food: Restaurants, groceries. |
| Other: Tips and gratuities, pet care, house sitter, etc. |
Packing Lists:
| Documentation: Tickets, itineraries, confirmations, passports, health cards, insurance information, bank cards, driver’s licenses, immunization records, travel visas, cash in all currencies. |
| Clothing: Coats, footwear, hats, sunglasses, glasses, pants, shorts, socks, underwear, bathing suits, shirts, sweaters, backpacks, purses, pajamas. |
| Kids: Baby monitors, toys, books, stuffed animals. |
| Travel Items: plane activities, journal, video game, music, headphones, batteries, chargers, phones, books, cameras, games, go-pro, etc. |
| Food/Drink: water bottles, snacks, etc. |
| Toiletries: Toothbrush, toothpaste, face wash, shampoo, conditioner, lotion, make-up, soap, bug spray, sun tan lotion, razor, hair brush. |
| Medical: Bandaids, first-aid kit, pain relief, stomach relief, inhalers, anti-inflamatories, epi-pens, allergy relief, vitamins, supplements. |
| Location specifics: beach items, ski items, adventure items, etc. |
Tips:
- When choosing a location or accommodation, you can often search the name of the place in your Facebook and it will show you all of your contacts who have visited the area in the past. This is a great way to start asking questions specifically when looking at a new spot.
- For more ideas on family trip planning that is outside of the box check out our Facebook group for locations and ideas to consider: Off The Beaten Path – Family Vacations
