Ready to give yourself a much-needed and well-deserved break? We sure hope so. We know how overwhelming planning a vacation can be, so here is a quick checklist to help you start! If you haven’t planned a trip before, the thought of where to begin may be more overwhelming than the actual planning itself. So take a deep breath—we got you. Begin with the following, and the rest will come.
1. Determine what type of vacation you want
Type of vacation: Beach getaway, all-inclusive resort, cultural immersion, hiking/trekking, skiing, etc.
Travel style: Solo travel, family adventure, group trip, retreat?
Activity level: Adventurous, relaxing, somewhere in between?
2. Decide where you would like to go
Domestic: Which part of the country? Which state? Which neighborhood?
International: Which continent? Country and region?
Blogs, vlogs, and TikTok are great ways to search for inspiration.
3. Choose a date or a season
Weather: Are you looking for a beach getaway? Make sure the date you are traveling to your destination is in season for the specific weather you want.
Destination: If you know the place you want to go and are flexible with the dates, you can let the season determine when you visit.
For example, if you want to go to Thailand during the peak summer season, ideally plan around its dry season instead of picking a random date that could lead you to visiting during the wet rainy months. Conversely, if you can only travel in May/June and want summer weather, consider booking a trip to a place like Europe for the best chance of sunny days and warm weather.
4. Determine your budget
If a budget is not something you need to consider, then great! Please include us in your itinerary! We promise to be the best travel companion.
Budget range: Create an “ideal budget” and a “max budget.” Plan to stick with the ideal budget but give yourself a bit of room if things don’t go as planned.
Budget list: Flights, transportation, accommodation, food, activities, etc. Having these will give you an idea of how much of a budget you need and how much to allocate to each.
Resources: We like to use Google Sheets or Excel Spreadsheet during our planning process to stay organized. We also track our current daily expenses on the Travel Spend App.
5. Check for required documents
Passport: Most countries require at least 6 months left of validity prior to departure.
Visas: Double check if you need a visitor or transit visa for where you are going.
Vaccination requirements: Check for recommended versus required for entry.
Other documents: Look up any additional documents needed for your destination.
Now that you have an idea of where and when you will be traveling, the documents you will need, and a base amount of how much you are willing to spend, continue with the following steps:
6. Search for flights
Search engines: Google flights, Sky scanner, Hopper, Booking.com
Track flights: Monitor flight prices for a while to get the best deal. A lot of search engines allow you to select the track flights options and alert you if there is a price change.
Flexible dates: If your dates are flexible, you may be able to get better flight times and prices. If so, search for multiple days until you find a combination that works best for you.
VPN: It is always recommended to search on a private window and/or using a VPN.
Click here to see the VPN we use!
7. Look for accommodations
Preferred search engines: Booking.com, Airbnb, WhatsApp & Facebook groups.
Reviews: Look up the reviews for the accommodations you are considering and make sure they fall within your expectations.
(We find a lot of suggestions on things to do around the location and methods of transportation to and from the hotel on their reviews).
Location: Determine if you want an accommodation close specific tourist attractions, neighborhoods, or remote locations and search based on what is available in that specific area.
Though our choice and standards of accommodation differ based on the type of trip we are taking (a two week luxurious vacation versus a low budget backpacking trip) we only select a place after looking at the reviews and location.
8. Research your destination
With so much information available, searching can be a bit overwhelming. We recommend you start with one search engine and build up your research from there.
Explore resources: Pinterest, Vlogs, TikTok’s, Reel’s, and Facebook groups.
Blog posts: Great places to find more detailed information.
Travel books: Though this is not something we use; it is still a popular utilized method by many who travel and can be more detailed than the others.
9. Determine transportation
Research what is the best method of transportation for the destination you are traveling to. In some parts of the world, public transport is extremely efficient and safe, while in others, not so much.
Public transport: Train, Metro, Bus.
Car rentals: Recommended to book in advance to “guarantee” a reservation is available for you.
Private drivers/shuttles: Easily booked through your hotel ahead of time or upon arrival at the airport.
Taxis: Still widely available world wide; however can be hectic and overpriced depending on the location. If you plan on using this method, ask your hotel ahead of time what the average cost is for the transport.
Ride share apps like Uber: Most popular and efficient options, but are not available or legal everywhere; some countries have their own version or require you to use traditional taxis. Check ahead of time if you plan on using this method of transport and keep in mind it requires you having wifi/data.
10. Create an itinerary
Type of vacation: Your itinerary will depend on the kind of vacation you choose. If you want an easy getaway, an all-inclusive resort may be ideal. In this case your itinerary may be minimal. If you want to explore multiple places, having a detailed itinerary can be helpful – especially if your time is limited.
Catergories to include: Date, flights, transport, accommodation, activities/excursions, etc.
Stay flexible: Be prepared to adapt if plans change.
Resources: Google Sheets or Excel Spreadsheet. These can help you stay organized and easily share your itinerary with others.
Bonus: Learn to let go of expectations before your trip
Enjoy the moment: The most beautiful place online can turn out to be quite underwhelming in person. While the most unexpected places can end up being your dream version of paradise. Keep your expectations realistic, stay excited about your destination, but remain open to surprises.
Lastly, though we recommend having a plan, creating a budget, and itinerary, we also enjoy traveling with almost no plan and letting the experiences we have in each place dictate what comes next. If this is the style of travel you prefer, know that it is possible; however, it requires extreme flexibility.
Hope this list is as helpful for you as it is for us. Though it may not include all things required to fully plan a trip, it is a great place to start. Keep in mind that the list can be used in different orders and with various methods to best suit your needs.
