I LOVE planning and researching, especially for fun things like travel and planning the perfect trip. It’s always come naturally to me and it’s an incredibly fun process for me.
If you can relate, great! I’d love to hear your thoughts on my process and some of YOUR top tips in the comments!
If you can’t relate, that’s what I’m here for! This right here is a complete step-by-step guide on how to plan the perfect trip.
If you don’t know me yet, I’m Ami, and I’ve lived in the U.S., Japan, and the U.K., and traveled to 12 countries (so far), with more flights than I can even count. Along the way, I’ve picked up a lot of practical travel and lifestyle knowledge – especially when it comes to staying organized, comfortable, and healthy.
Let’s get right into it!
This is going to be a follow-along and plan type of guide, so take out a piece of paper or open a document on your laptop and go through this list with me!
📝 For each step, bullet point what you and your travel buddies want for the trip.
Step 1: Figure out the basics
First things first, the basics – who, what, when, where (we’ll get to the “how” later)
Who
- Is this going to be you and a few friends or will this be a family trip?
- How many people will be going?
- Is this a solo trip maybe?
- What is the age range?
What – I like to think of this as the purpose or reason for the trip.
- Is this for a specific occasion (birthday, anniversary, holiday)?
- Do you want it to be more adventurous or relaxing?
- Exploring the city or going camping?
There are so many options here, so I would narrow it down to 1-2 specifics to get your started.
When
- Think about what dates fit your (and whoever you’re traveling with) schedule, the best season for your destination and purpose, and how long you want to be there.
- You might also want to take into account your PTO days, any obligations or commitments you’ve made, when your other travel plans are, etc.
Where
Probably the most important decision to make to plan the perfect trip! With the first three in mind, choose a destination that fits what you and your group want. This might take some time, but for now, either jot down a few ideas or if you’ve already decided – amazing!
Step 2: Set a budget
Setting a budget is going to be really helpful when figuring out the logistics as well as the itinerary – it’s a big part of planning the perfect trip, no matter your travel style. If you keep track of your monthly expenses and savings, this is going to be super simple for you.
If not, think about this:
- How much do you have in your savings and how much of that are you willing to put aside for travel?
- How much do you earn a month and how much time do you have until the trip to save?
- How does what you want to do compare to how much you have in the bank?
Make sure you talk about this with everyone you’re traveling with! You don’t want to be on the trip and realize that you’re expected to either spend more than you intended or can’t do something or go to certain restaurants because it wasn’t in your friends’ budget.
If you don’t have a specific number, that’s ok!
📝 Just have a range or maximum amount you can spend as a guide.
Step 3: Logistics
With the budget in mind, let’s look at the logistics (this is where the “how” comes into play). The first thing I always do is to look at points and miles to see how I can get the best deals.
Since this portion is probably going to be the most costly, it’s important to look at all of your options!
Because I travel so often, I have multiple credit cards that help me earn points. I can use these points strategically to turn it into miles or hotel points or even free nights! This is THE BEST way to travel at a low cost or free without any effort.
My favorite is the Chase Sapphire Credit Card. This has a $95 annual fee (which is only $7.90 per month), but you get 3x points when dining out plus points every time you shop. I’ve stayed at 4-star Hyatt Hotels and booked flights JUST with points, which to me makes up for the annual fee (one night at a nice hotel is way more than $95!) . It’s super easy to apply! Click here to get started:
Flights/transportation
I like to look on Expedia first to see how much it is on average. You can also use sites like Chase Travel or Amex Travel (if you have those credit cards) to get flights for even cheaper AND earn a lot more points that you can use on your next trip!
Some things to consider:
- What time do you want to leave and arrive?
- How are you going to get to and from the airport (which would affect what time you’d want to leave/arrive)?
- Are you looking for a flight that’s cheap or something a little more comfortable?
Make sure you book your flights before anything else!
📝 Jot down any flight options that look good and when you need to book it by.
Accommodation
There are so many options out there, it can get overwhelming and confusing. In order to narrow it down, think about some of your non-negotiables before you even start looking. Some examples might be:
- A certain hotel company (Hyatt, Marriott Bonvoy, IHG, etc.) – I usually look at what points I can use first, and then look at the options from there to narrow it down.
- For example, with the Chase Sapphire Preferred card, Hyatt hotels tend to have the best card points to hotel points ratio, so I would specifically look for Hyatt hotels.
- How many people per room? If you’re traveling with a big group, do you want to get a suite or an Airbnb to fit everyone, or get a few smaller rooms?
- What is your budget per night?
Next, look through Expedia, Google, and whatever else you use to look at what accommodation options fit your needs.
📝 Make a list of your top 3 and list out the price, pros and cons for each to determine the best option.
Visas & Other Important Things
Depending on where you’re going, you’ll want to research visa and entry requirements at this stage, just in case it takes time to process. If you’re traveling internationally, also make sure your passport is up to date. For domestic travelers, make sure you have the updated Real ID or a current passport!
Step 4: Itinerary
Now that you have your basics set, let’s talk about what you’re actually going to do while you’re on your trip. Because let’s face it, you can’t plan the perfect trip without a fun itinerary!
Look back at Step 1 and check what your purpose of this trip is. If you want to relax, think about 1 thing per day that you want to do. If you’re going to explore, make a list of the places you want to visit and things you want to do. If there are activities or tours that need to be booked, start there and build your itinerary around that.
I personally took a yoga class on a rooftop in Florence, Italy and it was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had! You can read more about my experience here: Solo Travel in Your 20s – How It Can Empower You and Change Your Perspective on Life
I like to create a spreadsheet with the general timeline of my flights, what city I’ll be in and booked activities so nothing gets lost.
The key here is to be prepared with at least something to do everyday (making sure that your top priorities are set), and not overplan. You want to leave some space to be spontaneous in case you find something cool or make new friends along the way!
Aside from the booked activities, I just like to block out some time for meals, ideas for what I can do in between and pencil it in as a suggestion.
In summary,
- Check purpose and list out what you want to do including: yours, activities that need to be reserved in advance, & places to visit
- Create a general timeline with flights and booked activities
- Block out meals
- Pencil in suggested activities
You can create a spreadsheet using Google Sheets and share it with your group so everyone is on the same page!
Step 5: Pin places on Google maps
As I get closer to the trip, I like taking some time to research and pin restaurants, cafes, etc. to have as options for when I’m there. Unless there’s a specific restaurant I want to go to and make a reservation for, I usually like deciding on the day depending on where we end up.
By pinning options on Google Maps, you can look at what’s around you that you’ve already researched and liked instead of starting from scratch and taking an hour to decide which direction you’re going.
A lot of people don’t do this step, but I’ve found from experience how helpful this is. It doesn’t take a lot of time but it could save you so much energy later on!
Step 6: Pack
You’re almost there! Packing can feel like a hassle sometimes but it doesn’t have to be!
I like to use my go-to T.R.I.P.S. packing formula so I don’t forget anything, but if you have your own process for packing, go for it!
Don’t forget the important three: phone, wallet, passport 🙂
And some of the travel essentials that will be SUPER helpful!
Step 7: Get on the road!
Now that you have everything you need, breathe, and have fun!
A FEW TIPS
Before I sign off, let me give you a few friendly tips that I mentioned, put plainly:
1. Don’t overplan, but have ideas
2. Use credit cards and use points to book flights and hotels
3. Research a little about the culture of your destination
Planning a trip doesn’t have to be stressful or time consuming. By following this guide to plan, your experience will be unforgettable and enjoyable, and I can personally say that it has helped me travel by myself to new countries and not be insanely anxious!
If you liked any of these tips, let me know in the comments!
Happy traveling!
Leave a Reply