Traveling is so much fun but the stress in the trip planning process can often take away this pleasure. Also, an unplanned trip or a poorly planned trip can leave you more distressed and tired, contrary to it being fun and relaxing! With an overwhelmingly huge chunk of information these days in Blogs and Social media, it has never been so challenging to plan a trip. Are you confused as to what to consider when you plan a trip? Hopefully, this guide will save you your time, money, and your peace of mind!! With real-time problems of people on vacations and trips and the most feasible solutions to them discussed here, this step-by-step blog about how to plan a trip might come to your rescue! Be it a solo trip or a family vacation, you rightfully deserve a stress-free trip to create beautiful memories and enjoy your time inside out!!
1. Decide on your travel budget
The most important step, generally overlooked, is planning and sticking to a travel budget. Even before deciding on our travel destination,we need to be be sure about the amount we can spend on the trip. We can then refer to this allocated budget to decide the best destination because we aim to enjoy the trip and not spend the whole vacation time worrying about money.Two of my friends were very keen on visiting Ladakh. They worked out a budget around it and set out for the trip. What they failed to consider was the uncertainty of terrain and weather conditions there. Breaking down of their vehicle more than twice and having to extend their trip shot up their budget.Had they decided on their budget first and then worked on the destination, they would have probably decided on a trip elsewhere and would have enjoyed it much better.
2. Choose a destination smartly as per the available time and budget
With a decided budget in hand, you can now choose the best destination the budget would offer, however, you will need to look into the time available for you to spend on the Trip. With just a week or fewer days on hand, it’s better not to plan a trip that requires a lot of traveling. You would exhaust yourself more. Under such circumstances, you can plan a trip nearby where you can chill and relax!! With more days on hand, you can make extensive travels involving hiking and trekking as per your interest.
3. Decide on what experiences/Activities you would want and make bookings for the same
Research thoroughly on what activities are available at the place of your choice. This way you can allot your time to activities you are passionate about and will not miss anything. If you are traveling to the hills, you can allocate time for sightseeing and enjoying the weather there. You can also organize your tickets to theme parks, zoos, concerts etc. if you are visiting big cities. I was talking to someone highly enthusiastic about scuba diving and banana boat rides and she said, “ When I planned my trip to Andaman, I researched in advance about my preferred activities and therefore had an amazing experience there”.
4. Research well on the types of food available at your place of destination
This might seem frivolous at first but it is of utmost importance if you plan a trip with kids and the elderly, if you are a vegetarian or have some specific food requirements. Travel is fun as we can try new food and explore new places. During my trips, I prefer to walk around to discover new cafes and restaurants that serve local delicacies. A friend recently took a trip to the hills with his family, including parents, spouse and child. He had less knowledge about the food there so was surprised to encounter only fast food joints frequently on the route which caused a lot of discomfort to his family..
5. Make hard copies of important documents
Consider carrying as well as leaving extra copies of important travel documents at home with a trusted person so that if the need arises, they can scan them and mail you. If you are traveling with a partner, each can carry copies.
6. Make a Checklist
The best way to not forget important things when you plan a trip is to make a checklist. For ease, you can make two checklists: a general one and then one with regards to the destination. A general checklist can contain: 1. Printed copies of documents like passports, visas, hotel reservations etc. They will come handy when you won’t have access to the internet. 2. Sometimes we don’t use half the things we pack. So pack only essential items and travel light. 3. Carry travel aids like an itinerary, a language guide, travel snacks etc. 4. Toiletries, medicines, chargers, adaptors etc. Destination checklist: 1. Any specific documents you need to carry for that particular destination. 2. Specific types of clothes as per the weather of the place. 3. Special shoes or equipment if you plan to trek or hike.
7. Stay prepared for Emergency scenarios or unexpected situations
Certain conscious preparations beforehand can help overcome unexpected situations during travel.Pack medications like anti-allergy pills, analgesics or pain killers, some approved antibiotics and antacids. Carry emergency cash as there might be situations where your credit cards might not be accepted or sometimes you might lose it somewhere. I planned my trip to Nepal and had very little cash to move forward. Many places there did not accept cards and that put me in trouble.
8. Get a Travel Insurance
Safety is of utmost importance, whether traveling abroad or within your own country. Therefore, to keep yourself protected, always travel with travel insurance. These insurances are very simple to use and provide coverage for everyone worldwide.
9. For better experience, learn basic terminologies of the local language
If you learn to greet people in their local language, your travel experience is going to be entirely different. Respect for local culture and traditions is always appreciated and the locals will be more open in recommending good places for food, shopping etc. and helping during an emergency. My visit to Assam turned magically beautiful when I stopped by a local garment store to buy Mekhlas for my wife. My wife earned a lovely dress and I made good local friends.
10. Enjoy but don’t lose your guard
Stay aware of your surroundings. You can enjoy your travel but protecting yourself and your family against anything unexpected is equally important. Keep a list of emergency contacts that will be helpful if you get into medical or financial problems. Also, if you are traveling abroad, save your destination’s local emergency numbers. During my visit to North East India, I witnessed many accidents, especially while river rafting and it demanded medical and financial assistance. So, keep yourself prepared.
