Plan your own vacation with these 10 simple tips

Planning your own trip could seem like an exhausting and time-consuming task. What with figuring out the best flight prices, selecting from a plethora of accommodation options available, countless internet searches that lead to fragmented bits of information, self-planning sure as hell appears daunting. 

This crazy process does make group tours look enticing. However, if you are somebody, who craves total freedom and flexibility while traveling – self-planning is the way to go!

To help you get a head start, here is a checklist that might come in handy in planning your next dream vacay. We have also tried to narrow down a few websites for booking flights and stays that will help you save those big travel bucks.

Step 1:  Pick your destination

Want to chill by the beach sipping margaritas or go on a challenging hike up north Are you thrilled by the idea of exploring the culture and cuisine of a particular place or simply need a break from a dull routine? Only you can know what you expect out of travel experience and nobody else should decide it for you.

 So it boils down to one question – where is it that you want to go? What are the activities that you want to indulge in that make the whole trip, not just another vacay but also an experience of a lifetime for you?

     

Pick a destination based on your interests. While you are at it take some time to scour the internet and figure out an approximate budget for the trip. If you want to travel overseas but do not have the budget, try finding unexplored locations within your country. Fix on a budget and then start planning accordingly

Step 2: Decide on the duration of your trip

Do you want packed days with huge amounts of activity or do you prefer slow travel? Do you have just a week at hand or a whole month? The duration of a trip is certainly not a one-size-fits-all.

It depends on how much of the place you want to explore, how much travel time is involved. If the place is within 8 hrs of travel, you can possibly plan a weekend getaway. If the place is far off, you might want to take a flight. Leave a buffer day to accommodate for flight/train delays, weather holdups, and other unforeseen circumstances. The duration of your trip also affects the trip cost. Keep all these factors in mind and fix the travel duration.

When to travel?

A few searches on the web would tell what’s the ideal time to visit the destination of your choice. Check weather forecasts for the place to make your vacation more pleasant. Try traveling during shoulder-seasons to get cheaper flight and accommodation deals. As much as you can, avoid traveling during peak seasons when the prices skyrocket. Besides, big crowds can be much of a buzzkill.

Who is your travel partner?

Are you going on a solo trip or with your family, friends, or spouse? If you are traveling with other people, make sure to involve them in the planning process. Leave room for adjustments in your travel plans according to their interests.

Step 3:  Booking your flights

Flights make for a major chunk of your travel expenses. Booking well in advance can help you make some big saves. Compare flight prices on sites like Skyscanner.com. Flight prices keep on fluctuating across sites, so keep an eye out for best offers. Make sure to check the airline website as well, which might offer you a better deal.

Use credit cards that give you discounts and flyer miles for money spent on flight bookings. If your plans are subject to changes, make sure to book refundable tickets. Don’t book during peak seasons, to avoid higher prices

Step 4: Book your accommodation

Are you backpacking or do you prefer luxury travel? Choose stays that suit your travel style and budget. Our pick would be, stays that offer the best value for money. Although, a little over expenditure for comfort doesn’t hurt. If you have some stays on your bucket-list like a treehouse or beachside resort, I would suggest you do not settle for less. We rely on Airbnb for all of our stays. They have some really affordable and beautiful accommodation options available for all price brackets.

 If you are someone who wants to witness the beauty of a place like a local, I suggest you go for home-stays.  Live like the locals, enjoy authentic home-cooked meals native to the place and witness a different culture by staying at home-stays with local families that treat you like their own.

If you are someone on a shoestring budget, opt for hostels. Sites like hostelworld.com offer some affordable stays. Not to forget, hostels help you interact with people from all parts of the world adding to your travel experience. If you are a frequent traveler with budget constraints, you can give Couch-Surfing a try!!  

 One thing to keep in mind is the connectivity of your stay to the places you want to visit. Do check out the distance of the stay from the airport and all major tourist points. Again, explore your options and settle for the one that fits your needs and budget.

We stayed at this home-stay in Bhutan. The hosts were very warm and welcoming. We gorged on some authentic Bhutanese delicacies prepared by them and spent our time listening to their stories.

Step 5: Prepare a rough itinerary

 Decide what you want to do when you reach your destination. Spread out activities across your stay duration depending on travel time and how packed a schedule you are willing to have. Look for sample itineraries on the internet. 

Going through credible travel blogs or sites, that curate travel content can help you plan better. To get a rough idea, you can also go through travel itineraries of tour companies and borrow some of their ideas. Talk to your friends who have been to the place you are planning to visit and get some tips from them.

If you are all for cultural experiences you might want to check out when local festivals are celebrated. If you are a big-time foodie you might want to make a list of the food you want to try and look for restaurant suggestions. If you are an aquaphile traveling to Australia, make time to deep dive.

After all, it's all about having your best experience. 

We wanted to witness the annual festival of Bhutan - Thimphu Tsechu and so we planned our trip according to the festival dates.

Choose your preferred mode of transport

Do thorough research about the travel options available for commuting within the country or city. Do you need rental services, Is public transport readily available or can you get by easily on foot? Never leave for a vacation without having an answer to these questions. If long travel times are involved, prefer to travel at night to save time. Intra-city travel is a big cost-cutting opportunity. Therefore, the next time you are traveling solo and the only mode of transport available is hired taxis (which can be expensive for one person), you might try finding people to share a cab with you. Settle for affordable public transport options if available. Or get a bike on rent and travel on your own through the town

Step 6:  Passport, Visa and other documents

If you are traveling overseas, check the visa and passport requirements. At least 6 weeks is required to get a passport. If you have a passport make sure it is valid for 6 months from your travel date. Visa requirements vary from country to country. Check out the embassy’s site for credible information. Obtaining a visa can take up a significant amount of time, so make sure to have this sorted well in advance.

Keep a hard copy of the following documents to avoid confusion:

·         Passport

·         Visa

·         Hotel reservations

·         Flight/ Train tickets

·         Any other bookings you have made

Save confirmation emails as soft copy on your phone and if traveling with someone make sure, you both carry hard copies because you might not always have access to the internet.

Step 7: Pack sensibly

Moving around can be tough if you have oversized luggage. Not to forget, additional luggage charges at airports. Pack according to the weather of the place you are visiting. If you have certain activities planned, for instance, trekking, pack clothes accordingly. Keep a small handbag for items that you might need to access frequently. Carry portable charging devices for your phone. 

Carry over-the-counter drugs just in case of emergencies. If you are traveling to a country that doesn’t allow purchasing medicines over the counter, carry prescriptions from your doctor.

We suggest making a checklist of all the things (including documents and meds) you might want to pack so that you don’t miss out anything important.

Step 8: Money

Never travel abroad with only one type of travel money. Opt for a combination of debit cards, credit cards, and cash. Find out if you can use can use your debit card overseas. Look for debit/credit cards that charge no overseas card fee or currency exchange fee. Call your bank and find out if your PIN will work at the destination, else change it before the trip. Carry some amount of cash or traveler’s check to be on the safe side. Running out of money is the worst thing that can happen to you.

Step 9:  Travel Insurance

What happens if you have to cancel your trip due to some unexpected circumstances? What happens if you fall sick on a vacation? What happens if you lose your luggage? Travel insurance is designed to cover such expenses. It is a little investment that goes a long way. Browse through various plans and pick the right company depending on your needs.

 Step 10: The D- Day

Confirm your flight timings and transport to the airport a day in advance. Always try checking in online. It can be a huge pain to run from counter to counter at the airport and the security checks only make the process more tedious. So try to reach well in advance to avoid last-minute stress.

   Here you go! The breakdown planning process in these simple steps and tick those destinations off your bucket list! At the same time leave room for adjustments, don’t be rigid and make the most of the place while you are there. After all, traveling is supposed to be an experience.