Are you getting ready for your next vacation? Traveling is fun, especially when you’ve taken the time to plan a great vacation. Failing to make arrangements can quickly ruin a trip.

To be fair, it takes a lot to plan a great vacation. There is so much overwhelming information out there, and the process is stressful if you don’t know where to start. It is worse if you’ve never done it before or if you’re short on time. Thankfully, we know the best methods to help you stay organized and enjoy your itinerary. 

Importance Of Planning A Vacation In Advance 

Have you heard the quote, “an hour of planning can save you 10 hours of doing?” Every stride starts with a well-thought-out plan and planning a great vacation is no different. Travel does not look like much. As a result, most people put off organizing it until the last moment. But individuals that do this tend to skip minor details and pay dearly for them later.

Planning your vacation does the following: 

• Makes it more affordable. 
• Allows you to pick the perfect dates and destination. 
• Lets you get to know the destination and decide on activities to embark on. 
• Saves time and energy. 

Planning is the key to a stress-free visit. We recommend you clear the schedule in advance to free the dates. If you are traveling with students and they have an essay due for submission, use Papersowl and pay someone to write their essay. This will leave them with more time to help with the planning.

10 Tips To Plan A Great Vacation

1. Choose The Destination 

The first step is to decide where you want to visit. Do you want to tour outside or inside your country? Will you tour alone or with friends? Do you want a relaxing adventure on the beaches or a road trip through the city?

Research where, when, and whom to get a sense of the type of activities and sights you can try. We recommend you use research websites, guidebooks, and magazines to learn more about the preferred destination. Alternatively, talk to friends and families who have visited to know what to expect. 

2. Create a Budget 

One of the mistakes travelers make is not determining how much they want to spend. As a result, they often overspend and regret many financial decisions they make on the visit. Hence, create a budget that includes the cost of transportation, booking, food, souvenirs, etc.

This is a key step when you plan a great vacation.

3. Book Tickets 

The destination and your budget determine the type of transportation. Regardless of the medium, book tickets beforehand. Look for the cheapest options by speaking directly to agencies instead of going through third-party services. Also, be on the lookout for discounts and special offerings. 

4. Workout the Accommodations

There are different types of accommodations, depending on your budget. You could sleep alone for more comfort or together with other people in a hostel to save money.

Unlike transportation, choose lodging that offers good value for money and is not necessarily the cheapest option. Research hotels, Airbnb, or other places, and find the one that best suits your taste and pocket. 

Having the perfect place to come back to after a day of seeing the sights should always be part making a plan for a great vacation.

5. Decide How to Get Around 

How do you want to get around the destination? Do you want to rent a car or try Uber? Research the means of transportation at your destination and how to use them to save time. Book a rental car beforehand or choose between a tourist bus, a guide, or biking. 

You will definitely be happy you made this part of your plan for a great vacation when you aren’t scrambling to figure out how you will get around.

6. Schedule Your Activities 

When you plan a great vacation, pay attention to the activities you want to do and places to visit. Take a pen and list things to do, parks or famous attractions, and routes. Print a planner and pen and look through blogs for inspiration.

Select up to 5 places you want to visit. Then, plan your daily schedule, including breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Fix activities between them and schedule breaks. 

7. Workout a Meal Schedule

Food is part of the perks of traveling. When you plan a great vacation, scheduling regular meals is a must.

If you’re exploring a new culture, get to know the cafes, bars, and restaurants locals visit. Of course, bear in mind your cash balance, and don’t get carried away by sumptuous local dishes. 

8. Gather Your Vital Documents 

Check the passports, documents, and required paperwork for the country you’re visiting. For example, do you require vaccination or not? After determining the requirements, make copies instead of traveling with the original prints. The common documents you need are: 

• Passports and visas 
• Airplane or bus tickets
• Hotel reservations and other reservations 
• Itineraries 
• Driver’s license, etc.

9. Create A Checklist of Items

Create a checklist of essential items to pack on the tour. Cross an item off the list after packing, and don’t leave anything to chance. The top things to make the checklist include: 

• Electronics (Smartphones, chargers, flashlights);
• Documents (Flight tickets, insurance, ID card);
• Aids (Maps and directions, locks, suitcases);
• Money (Foreign currency, emergency money, cards);
• Clothes (Underwear, shoes, scarves);
• Toiletries (Deodorant, toothbrush, towels);
• Health (Medication, first aid kit, disinfectant).

If a paper list is not your thing, try our Pack This app. It is a dedicated place and system to orchestrate the what-to-bring chaos in a neat and tidy checklist.

10. Buy Travel Insurance  

The last thing is to buy travel insurance to protect yourself in case something goes wrong. Most insurances cover unexpected medical emergencies, theft, and damage to the property. 

Conclusion

The best and most-kept secret of traveling is to start preparing early. Thankfully, there are different resources to use to make the process easier. Use Google Maps and blogs, and leverage referrals from social media. Also, keep in mind all of the points we have mentioned, as it will make your trip well-thought and organized.

So what do you think? Did we cover all of the bases? Is there a key vacation planning tip that we’ve left off our list? Comment below if you think we’ve missed one.