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Category: Travel Tips

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6 Ways to Save Money While Traveling

Let’s face it, most of us don’t have an unlimited supply of money, so we use a budget to plan the things we want to do. And for me, I want to travel, so if that means I eat pb&j sandwiches a few times to have one more day of vacation, I’ll do it! There are things you can do to save money when planning a trip, but there are also a lot of ways to save money while traveling too.

Below I have listed six of the ways I save money while traveling. I use these options for all my travels. Whether it’s a trip to Disneyworld, Maui or Europe, these tips work for all travel destinations. And the great thing is they save you not only money, but also time, and that’s the best kind of savings you can get!

1) Save on Breakfast

Free Breakfast

An easy way to save money while traveling is to book a hotel that includes free breakfast. This will save you time and money in the morning as you won’t need to search for a breakfast spot before starting your day.

Pack it From Home

Another great way to save money while traveling is to pack your own breakfast. I like to pack oatmeal packets from home. Most hotels or Air BnBs will have either a tea kettle or a coffee maker that you can use to heat the water for the oatmeal. This is so quick, easy, and cheap!

Go to the Grocery Store

If you are staying in one place for at least a few days, buy some groceries. Bread with peanut butter and jam, gives you toast for breakfast and sandwiches for lunch later in the day. A carton of eggs or milk and cereal also make great options depending on what kitchen equipment you have in your room.

Make Coffee in Your Room

And of course, don’t forget your coffee. Pack instant coffee, or bring ground coffee from home. I often pack a French Press from home. This saves me time and money. I can always have another coffee when I’m out sightseeing, but this allows me to enjoy a cup of coffee in my room before I head out. Plus most hotels and BnBs offer a coffee maker. Buy your coffee local and sample some new roasts.

I pack these instant oatmeal packets and this single-serve French Press.

2) Pack a Lunch

Get Easy to Go Options & Make in Your Room

As I mentioned above, a fantastic way to save money while traveling is to buy some groceries at the local grocery store. Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are so easy to make and to pack. I love having these as a go-to meal, whether it’s a long day at Disneyworld or a hike in the Swiss Alps. They are not only adult-friendly but kid-approved too!

Pack Snacks

Fruit, nuts, and jerky. These three combinations can make for a quick snack or a meal. Buy some apples, bananas, or try a new local fruit. On a recent trip to Thailand, I tried mangosteen, and it became an instant favorite of mine! Nuts and jerky offer portable protein options that can quickly be eaten on the go. Carrying snacks can also give you the energy boost you need to keep going. Typically our blood sugar drops, and we feel a slump in energy, this makes us tired, and often a little cranky. A well-timed snack can eliminate this problem.

3) Book the Right Hotel or Air BnB

Get a Room with Kitchen Amenities

Since I’ve mentioned ways to save money by packing snacks and food, getting the right hotel goes along with this. Book a hotel that has some kitchen amenities in your room. Whether this is just a microwave and small refrigerator or a fully stocked kitchenette, you can save so much money if you can eat some meals in your room as well as prep and store meals to take on the go.

Location. Location. Location.

Research the location of your accommodations. Often it is worth spending just a little more per night to get a room that is within walking distance to your sights or at least one that is close to public transportation. Although you might be spending a little more upfront, you will save money on travel costs at your destination.

Do Your Laundry

Another great way to save money while traveling is booking accommodations with laundry facilities. I know, doing laundry while traveling does not sound fun, however, if you pack light, you can save money on checked baggage fees and you’ll save time spent waiting for your bags at the luggage carousel. You might be surprised just how quickly baggage fees can add up!

4) Walk or Use Public Transportation

Walk Away the Pounds

Okay, in my case, I’m walking away the latest macaron or local baked good I’ve just eaten. I see walking while traveling as an added health benefit, as well as a great way to see the sights. Instead of spending your money on taxis or even car rentals, try walking to the sights. If you plan ahead and book a hotel near the tourist attractions, you will save money on taxis and car rentals, and it is a wonderful way to explore the city you’re in.

Public Transportation

Use public transportation whenever walking is not possible, or perhaps it’s just too far, or you’re too tired. Buses, subways, and trains are great ways to save money when traveling. The good news is that if you’re traveling outside the US, it is often more convenient to use public transportation than driving.

Discount Passes

Often there are additional money saving options provided to tourists, like rail passes and tourist transit passes. I purchased the Eurail Pass before a recent trip to Europe, and it saved me so much money on train tickets. The same went for my trip to Japan. They have a special Japan Rail pass only purchasable by tourists, and it’s an incredible saving! In Lisbon, they had city passes that also included all forms of transportation around the city. Make sure to research in advance, and also ask about any discount passes available at the local tourism center or your hotel.

Walking across this bridge in Budapest gave me views I wouldn’t have seen from a car.

5) Research Free Activities

The Best Things in Life are Free

Research free activities, such as free museums, farmer’s markets, hiking trails, snorkeling, local parks, free walking tours, etc. Include a couple of “must-see” sights that cost money, but mix in other free activities so that you’re not spending money on every activity, every day. And I think you’ll discover that some of the free things will turn out to be your favorite experiences.

Discount Cards

Look for coupons and discount activity cards. Some cities offer multi-day passes, like these City Passes, that includes all of the major tourist attractions for a discount. These can be a great way to save money when you have a lot of major tourist attractions that you want to see, but they all cost money.

For all of these types of discount cards, you will first want to make a list of the places you want to see, then calculate the individual ticket costs and compare with the price of the discount card to determine if it will save you money or not. In some cases, it does not make sense, and you are better off paying the individual ticket prices.

6) Talk to the Locals

Where Do They Eat

One of the best ways to save money while traveling is by reducing your food costs. A great way to do this is to find out where the locals eat. Go off the beaten path and look for restaurants where the menu isn’t in English, or restaurants filled with locals. This usually means the food is good, and it is more reasonably priced.

What Are Their Favorite Activities

Ask locals what their favorite activities are, what hikes or parks they might recommend. You will not only get some great advice on seeing their city, but you will also have a chance to learn more about the local culture, and perhaps even make a friend. And that is one of the most valuable things you can get from traveling.

I hope this list helps you save money and stick within your budget. Sometimes, it’s the little things that add up to significant savings. It can make the difference in more time or provide the money for those special experiences you couldn’t afford otherwise.

For more ways to save, check out Book Your Flight & Find the Best Deals. And as always I’d love to hear from you in the comments below or send me an email if you have any questions or comments you’d like to share.

Happy Saving & Happy Travels!

July 18, 2019
What I Learned on my First Trip to Thailand
I had a lot of questions before my first trip to Thailand. Would it be challenging to get around? How much of the Thai language would I need to know? Would I get tired of the food? Is it cheap to travel to Thailand? So here is a quick rundown of all the things I learned after my first trip to Thailand. I hope it will help you prepare and perhaps help relieve some of your concerns.

Airline Luggage Requirements

Our international flight to Thailand was on EVA Air. We also used both Air Asia & Bangkok Airways for domestic flights within Thailand. We had a 15lb weight limit for our combined personal item & carry-on luggage for two of the flights. Our plane to Sukhothai was the most limiting with a weight limit of 11lbs. However, everyone checked their bags as the aircraft wasn’t large enough to store luggage on board.

So, as you can see, you are very limited to how large your luggage can be as well as the weight limits. We found that even with our backpacks, we had to check our luggage due to their severe weight restrictions.

And since you need to check your luggage, why not plan by packing full-size sunscreen, and bug spray. You will be so glad you did! Sunscreen is quite expensive in Thailand and this way you will make sure you have the brand you prefer. Just make sure to put your liquids inside a sealed bag, to avoid any possible leaks from ruining your clothes. I also carry extra ziplock bags just in case!

Recommended Luggage

Packing lighter is freeing, you aren’t burdened down with a bunch of stuff that you won’t need or extra weight that you will inevitably regret carrying. When I first started traveling, I made the mistake of overpacking. Thankfully I have learned along the way that I don’t need a pair of jeans for every day or 4 pairs of shoes. Try packing light, and I think you will discover just how freeing it can be!

I use the Osprey Porter 46 backpack. During a 2 1/2 month trip to Europe, I traveled on Ryanair, Easyjet, AirFrance Hop! & Norwegian Air and never had any issues bringing it on board as a carry-on. And in Thailand, I highly recommend you have a backpack. Having a backpack will come in very handy when disembarking long tail boats and boarding the ferries that will take you from island to island.

The Language

You can get by just knowing your basic greetings and thank you words in Thai. They speak English everywhere we traveled, and they even spoke other languages, thanks in part to the large tourist population from around the world. Spanish, French, Russian, and Chinese were all languages in addition to English that I heard Thai people speak. I was so concerned about not knowing the language, but after my visit to Thailand, I discovered I was worried for no reason.

Thai Words to memorize:

If you are a man, you will end each phrase by saying, “khrap.” And if you are a woman, you will complete each sentence by adding “kha” to the end.
- Hello: Sawasdee (sounds like sah wah dee) So for example, if you are a man, you will say: Sawasdee khrap, and if you are a woman, you will say Sawasdee kha. Sometimes the “r” in khrap isn’t pronounced.
- How are you?: sabai dee mai? (sounds like suhbye dee my) You can respond with Sabai dee (good) if asked this.
- Thank you: khap khun (sounds like cop coon), then add khrap or kha (male/female ending)
- I don’t understand: mai khao jai (sounds like my cow jai)
One final custom you will observe is the wai. Thai’s use the wai to show respect and as a way of saying thank you. You press your palms together in front of you with your fingers pointing up to the chin and then dip your head in a bow, lowering your eyes. Then return looking forward and smile.

There are different levels of wai’s depending on whether someone is considered of “lower status” than you or “higher” or for monks, but I wouldn’t worry too much about it. Always try to return a wai. Your smile and attempt to respect their local customs will be appreciated, even if you don’t get it exactly right.

Getting Around
Grab Taxi is Thailand’s form of Uber, and it is a convenient way to get around. Download the app before your trip to Thailand, and you can use it to get from the airport to your hotel. We used it in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Phuket. A lot of the smaller areas do not use it though. In Chiang Mai, the red taxi trucks (songthaew) are also very cheap and an easy way to get around.

The drivers ask you where you want to go and as long as your stop is along their current route, they will take you. If not just ask another one until you find a driver going your way. We used Grab most of the time as it allows you to pay with your credit card via the app, thus eliminating the need to use cash.

Thai Culture
- Thais appreciate cleanliness. One custom is to take your shoes off before entering a home (or hotel room for that matter). Why track the dirt and grime from the streets into your house?
- Thai royalty is revered, and you must always be respectful around any monuments to their royalty or any discussion of their royalty. I think most people would do this intuitively, but I read about travelers getting fined for rude remarks regarding the King. So obviously for some, it needs to be spelled out.
- Smile. Thailand is called the land of smiles. They smile because they are friendly, and they also smile to help put others at ease and “save face.” You should do the same. Smile when bartering a deal with the local tuk-tuk driver or roadside vendor. Smile when you can’t understand the language, or you forget how to say thank you in Thai. It is incredible how trans-formative a smile can be.
Food

The food is great! Let’s face it, that’s a big reason why people travel to Thailand, it’s one of the reason’s we did for sure! So the fact that Thai food is fantastic is not what I learned when visiting Thailand. What I learned, is that if you need a break from Thai food (I know hard to believe) that they have lots of other options! Options will, of course, depend on where you are staying.

The cities will have the most variety. We had Mexican in Bangkok, Korean, and delicious burgers in Chiang Mai, and we had American style bacon at almost every hotel breakfast! Plus for those of you who prefer fast food, there are lots of options for that too.

Cash or Credit Card

One quick note regarding payments. You will want to withdraw enough money from an ATM to cover expenses for a week or so and reduce the ATM fees you might need to pay. ATM’s in Thailand, typically charge around $7 per transaction. So unless your credit card refunds you the withdrawal fees, this can add up. And cash is the most widely used form of payment throughout Thailand. Most places do not accept credit cards, so be prepared to pay in cash.

Costs
- Food: There were just two of us, and we would each have one dish, plus dessert and drinks, and it still would only cost around $10 – and we were stuffed full! One person could quickly get a meal for around $3.
- Transportation: Grab rides usually cost $2-$10 each way. Taxis are similar in price.
- Accommodations: You have many choices ranging from hostels to luxury hotels. Prices range $8 and up depending on where you stay. At our hostel in Bangkok, we had a private room with a private bathroom and a balcony, and it was about $20.
- Attractions: The price of each attraction will vary. In Bangkok, for example, you might spend $17 for a ticket to the Golden Palace or around $5 for visiting Wat Arun. Then you have more expensive attractions, like watching a Muay Thai match that will cost about $150. In Chiang Mai, you might take a tour to an elephant nature park which can cost $200-$300.
There are many options, no matter what your budget. And you can’t beat free–like lounging in a hammock by the beach or taking a hike like this Chiang Mai hike. Even on a tight budget, you will have a fantastic time in Thailand.

Conclusion

If you’re considering a trip to Thailand, but worried about not speaking the language, or about how you’ll get around or even about what to eat, don’t worry! Thailand has you covered!

The only thing stopping you now is booking your flight! If you need help with that too, please feel free to contact me or check out this article on how to book your flight. And to help you plan out your itinerary, check out this three week Thailand itinerary.

See for yourself why everyone who visits Thailand falls in love with it!
May 20, 2019
How to Avoid Jet Lag & Enjoy Your Trip

Jet lag. That annoying feeling of drowsiness that you can’t seem to shake even though you’re so excited to start your adventure. It feels like you need to sleep for hours even though it’s the middle of the day. No one wants to deal with jet lag when they travel. So here are some tips to avoid jet lag and start enjoying your trip right away!

Preparing For Your Trip

I am rarely able to sleep on a plane, no matter how tired I am. So making sure to get a good nights’ rest before my departure ensures that I will have a more enjoyable flight and feel better when I arrive at my destination.

Some people try to slowly adjust their sleep schedule a week in advance, by either going to bed an hour later or getting up an hour earlier. However, I feel like this is not a reasonable solution for most people. Instead, I find that I feel better if I maintain a consistent sleep schedule and get plenty of rest before my trip.

Also, when booking your flight, I would recommend you book a flight that coincides with your regular sleeping hours. So for example, a flight that leaves between 6-10 p.m. This way you can eat dinner and then try to sleep during the long flight over. Then when you arrive, you will be ready to go out and explore as it will coincide with your regular schedule back home.

Another option I like to choose when booking my flight is a window seat. It gives me something to lean against for sleeping, and it also means I won’t be disturbed by my seat partner whenever they need to get up to use the restroom.

During the flight

Eat as little as possible. I like to pack some nuts and apple slices for my flights. Once I’m past security, I purchase a bottle of water or bring a refillable water bottle and fill it up before boarding my flight. Research has shown that if you can avoid eating on the plane and instead start eating when you reach your destination, that this will help you avoid the effects of jet lag. So for example, you eat at your regular time before your flight, but then during the flight, skip the meals and instead eat some light, healthy snacks and drink plenty of water.

Upon Arrival

Then upon arriving at your destination, you will eat according to the local time zone (if you land in the morning: eat breakfast, afternoon: eat lunch). If you land in the evening, even if it is later than your usual dinner time, go ahead and eat dinner and then you can head to bed. Eating tells your body to set its clock to the current destination. Adjusting your internal clock is key to avoiding jet lag.

In addition to eating after you land, I recommend you drop your luggage off and immediately head out even if it is only for 1-2 hours (more if it’s an earlier arrival). The best thing you can do to avoid jet lag is to adjust to the local time zone as quickly as possible. I know that this seems hard, especially if you haven’t slept on the long flight over, but it pays off during your trip. Plus it is exciting being in a new place, and going out, even just for a short time, really sets the mood for the rest of your trip.

Sleep Aids

I pack ZzzQuil; it is a non-habit forming sleep aid that helps you fall asleep. I have also used melatonin, and it works the same way. So if you have a hard time switching off your brain and falling asleep, you may want to consider a mild sleep aid.

If you have any concerns about sleeping or flying and any medications you might need, please talk to your doctor ahead of time, they can also give you some tips for adjusting to the new location and avoiding jet lag. I tend to experience the phenomenon where I am utterly exhausted and yet wide awake. It can be frustrating, but usually taking some melatonin or listening to some relaxing music helps me drift off to sleep.

And speaking of music, make sure you pack headphones. These are useful on the plane too. You can use them to help block out noise as well as listen to music or watch movies during the flight.

And then finally I would recommend you pack an eye mask. I like the Alaska Bear eye mask. It is comfortable and adjustable and great for blocking out light and eliminating distractions.

Final Tips to Avoid Jet Lag

Make sure your first day isn’t packed too full since you will still be adjusting to the new time zone. I like to pack it full enough to keep me busy from morning until dinner, with small breaks in between. Then I won’t be so exhausted that I can’t enjoy the sights. I also won’t be tempted to come back and sleep at the hotel during the day.

When you are traveling, you have a limited amount of time to see the sights, and you certainly don’t want to spend your whole vacation trying to adjust your sleep schedule. So whatever you can do to avoid jet lag and sync to the local time zone the better!

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or need any further advice.

Read Trip Planning 101 to get you on your way to that next adventure! Or if you’ve already decided where you want to go, make sure to check out How to Book Your Flight & Get the Best Deals.

Here’s to traveling while you’re awake!

May 17, 2019
How to Book Your Flight and Find the Best Deals
So you’ve decided you’re going to go travel somewhere. Now what? Time to book your flight!

I have friends and family who shared with me that they aren’t sure how to find the best flight deals or even how to go about booking their flights. So I’m sharing my method and I hope it helps you in booking your next adventure.

I like to start with booking my flight. It gets me locked in and committed and gives me something to look forward to. It’s exciting when you book your flight, there is a sense of anticipation. You feel like “hey I’m really doing this!” It’s a good feeling.

Usually, you want to book your flight about one to two months in advance. However, this depends on where you are going. I recently booked a trip to Europe and learned that it was better to book my flights well over 90 days in advance. In fact, I booked our flights about 5 months in advance and found that the prices only continued to go up from there.

Another example is during my research on Thailand, according to my online research I discovered that if you go during peak season you should book up to 1 year in advance!

It really does vary, but usually, you want 1-2 months minimum for most destinations, more is going to give you greater flexibility and pricing options. So if you are able to plan ahead, I’d start your airfare search earlier rather than later.

Easy Steps to Book Your Flight and Get the Best Deal!
1. Go to Skyscanner.com to find cheapest dates to fly
2. Check Expedia.com to see if bundling will save you even more money
3. Book your flight!
STEP ONE: Finding the Best Dates to fly using Skyscanner.com

Skyscanner.com is a great source for finding the cheapest flight. You can search to see which destinations are cheapest to fly into. You can search by month to see what dates are the cheapest to travel on. Additionally, you can set up a saved search for your trip that will alert you of any change in the price of your flight.

Searching for cheap flights to “Everywhere!”

This tool is great if you don’t know where you want to go, but since we are at the “book your flight” step, I’m going to assume you do know where you want to go. Even so, this tool can still be useful for you at this step in the process.

For example, I just recently booked tickets for a trip to Europe. I knew I wanted to go to Europe, but it didn’t matter to me which country I started out in, my goal was just to get the cheapest flight possible. So I used this search “Everywhere” tool to find out which country was the cheapest for me to fly to. I discovered that I could get the best deal by flying into London. This saved me almost $200 one-way on flights to any other country within Europe.

Searching by Month

Probably a more useful tool might be the ability to search for the cheapest tickets to your destination by month. You may know that you want your trip to be in October, but this allows you to now search and find out the cheapest days in October to travel for your trip.

Skyscanner Saved Searches

You can create a saved search for where and when you want to travel and then you will be alerted if/when the price drops. This allows you to start planning in advance and if you’re like me you want to check every day to try to find the best deal on airfare, this tool saves you so much time! You no longer have to worry that you’re going to miss the best deal, because when the price changes you will get an email, thus saving yourself hours of time searching.

To do this, you just enter in your starting/ending destinations and dates and click search. On the following screen, you will see a link to click for “Get Price Alerts.”

STEP TWO: Bundling with Expedia

So now that you’ve used Skyscanner to help you find the cheapest airfare and dates to travel, I recommend that you go to Expedia.com and see whether or not bundling your airfare with your hotel (and car if renting one) will save you money vs just purchasing the airfare by itself.

I found if you are flying in and out of the same destination that you can often save a good amount with bundling. Even if you only stay at the initial hotel for part of your trip.

For example, on a trip to Japan, I saved money by bundling our flight with our first hotel in Tokyo and then I booked the rest of our hotels throughout Japan separately. It was cheaper to do this than it was to book my flight and Tokyo hotel individually.

Final Tips:

It is important to have a budget in mind prior to booking any part of your trip and a price point you’re willing to pay for your airfare. That way when you find the price you want, just book it and be done with it. Don’t keep looking to see if you could have gotten a better deal. That will drive you mad! (I happen to know something about this.)

As long as you found the price you were willing to pay, your time is better spent elsewhere rather than spending hours upon hours trying to save a few more dollars on your airfare.

STEP THREE: Book Your Flight

Let’s recap: Use Skyscanner to find the cheapest dates to travel, then see if bundling thru Expedia can give you further savings & finally, book your flight!

So there you go! It’s as easy as that.

Now take some time to relax and begin thinking about the adventure you’re about to go on. To get started booking go to Expedia & Skyscanner. And for more in this beginning travel series check out Choosing Your Destination & Trip Planning For Beginners.

Happy Planning!
January 12, 2019
Choosing Your Travel Destination: A Beginner’s Guide

I think most people have a bucket list of places they’d like to visit and this is usually the starting point when planning their next vacation. Budget is also a deciding factor when choosing where to go. And the last factor is time. The amount of time you have for your vacation and the time of year that you plan to travel. So let’s review these three factors when choosing your travel destination.

Bucket List Destinations:

For some people, this is Hawaii, Disneyland or even Alaska — the last frontier! For me, I want to go everywhere! But I do have specific places that I want to visit that I have prioritized over other destinations.

My husband also has places that he is more interested in seeing than others, and so we usually start going over these destinations together when trying to decide where we will go on vacation next. We try to come up with our top 5 destinations that each of us would choose to go to next. So for example maybe it would be Thailand, Tahiti, Iceland, Alaska, Norway. Then we start looking at the other factors of budget and time.

Budget:

As much as we’d all love to have bottomless budgets for which to plan our vacations, most of us do not, and I find that budget is one of the most significant factors for deciding where to go.

I plan for years where I go on smaller trips locally or in the U.S. and save up to go on “bigger” trips every few years. There are places like Tahiti, which are on my bucket list that has been pushed down the list as I know that it will be one of the most expensive destinations on my list, so it is a destination that gets saved for a later time, perhaps for a special anniversary or milestone celebration.

Timing:

My husband and I have wanted to visit Thailand for years, and from my research, I read that the best time to visit is November thru March, as the rest of the time is during their rainy and hot season.

So if we planned to take two weeks off in August, we probably choose to travel somewhere other than Thailand. As it’s unlikely we’d want to visit Thailand in the absolute hottest, rainiest and most humid time of the year. Now if for some reason that was our only time to travel and that was “the” place we absolutely wanted to go, then we would go, and we would make the most of it.

So do your research and plan accordingly, and if you feel you “must” go to a place and you don’t want to wait for a better time of year, or maybe it’s just not possible for you to go any other time, I say go! Just know what you’re going to be dealing with, pack accordingly and don’t forget to bring your adventurous attitude.

There are benefits to off-season travel, fewer crowds, and lower costs being the two biggest benefits. So it’s always worth considering that option.

Length of Vacation:

If you only have seven days for your vacation, then you will probably not want to spend 40 hrs round trip flying to say, Thailand. You will most likely want to spend less than 10 hours total in flight time, 20 hours would probably be the max most people would spend with that short period of time.

The traveling portion of a journey takes up usually two days of the trip, one day getting to your destination and one day returning home. So if you had seven days total and you are flying somewhere, then you only have 5 full days in that destination.

Typically if I will have 20+ hours round trip of flight time I prefer to have at least ten days at my destination.

Consider all the things you want to see and do and whether or not you will have enough time to really make it worth the trip.

A couple of other things to consider:

You will want to factor in whether or not you’ll need a visa or passport to travel to your intended destination, and if so, determine how long it will take you to get the necessary documents. If you are making last minute travel plans, this may play a big role when choosing your travel destination.

The more time you have to plan, the better you will be able to research what to do and the best deals. Some destinations require more research and planning than others.

Some Final Thoughts on Choosing Your Travel Destination

It is essential to know who you are.

If you know you’re the type of person who hates the heat and only wants to go outside when it’s fair weather, then be honest with yourself and your traveling partner(s) and plan to avoid traveling in conditions where you are likely to only huddle inside your hotel room.

You can never plan for “everything.”

You can plan and prepare extensively, but life has a way of throwing us curve balls and sometimes things don’t go as we want them to, so you have to roll with the punches when this happens and choose to have a good time no matter what. Remind yourself: “I could be sitting in a cubicle right now.” “I could be cleaning my bathroom” “I could be ____” You fill in the blank, but rarely are things so bad on a trip that you can’t find the positive and still enjoy your adventure.

Always keeping in mind that things can change unexpedtedly and happiness is a choice no matter where we are.

Hopefully, this helps you think through your options when choosing a travel destination. For more on how to start planning a trip, check out Trip Planning 101.

Or check out this article on Booking Your Flight.

Happy Planning!

September 23, 2018
Trip Planning 101: A Beginner’s Guide
This post is the beginning of a series of articles that I will write tailored towards the beginner traveler. I have friends and family who are new to trip planning. Many have never planned a trip that involved booking a flight or planning an international trip. In the beginning, this may seem scary and a little overwhelming. But rest assured, it is not as hard as it might seem.

Here are the 5 questions to ask yourself as you begin your trip planning.
1. Why are you going?
2. Where do you want to go?
3. When do you want to go?
4. How long will you be gone?
5. What do you want to see?
Why are you going?

Ok, so you should never need a “why” to travel. You travel because in the words of Hans Christian Andersen: “To Travel is to Live.”

For many people, they are traveling to fulfill a dream, to take their family to Disney World or to celebrate a milestone. Traveling creates those lifelong memories, the moments we look fondly back on, the ones that inspire us to do more and also give us the satisfaction of a dream fulfilled. So take the time to figure out what you want to get out of it so that you can make the most of your adventure.

Where do you want to go?

With any trip, you must first decide where you want to go. If you’ve got a bucket list, I’d say choose based on where you want to go most first. Or if you’re restricted to a specific time of the year, I’d choose based on which destination has the best weather or best deals during that time. Or you could toss a bunch of places written down into a hat, and randomly pick one out and go with that! Most people don’t choose this option, but it doesn’t mean you can’t!

I am currently planning a two month trip through Europe where I will be traveling to different countries. I will plan each one as a trip in and of itself. So for my “where” in this example, I will choose France.

When do you want to go?

My friend Moe and I decided to leave in September. That was when we went on our very first trip together as teenagers, and so it is fitting for us to leave again at the same time. Plus, it works out best for our schedules and our budget. Leaving in September will be a little cheaper, and as we move into the shoulder season, our costs should go down significantly from what it would be to travel during the summer or peak season.

You will need to decide “when” based on your own needs. Traveling in the shoulder season or off season can be much more cost effective, but you may need to contend with colder or rainier weather and certain attractions not being open. If you are okay with that, then I recommend you look at that as an option for deciding your “when.”

For example, I traveled to Italy in February, and there were a lot fewer crowds, and yet once you get down to Rome and further South, I didn’t even need a coat most days to go out, just a sweater or light jacket.

How long will you be gone?

This is often decided based on your work schedule and how much vacation time you have to take. Just know that whatever amount of time you have, you can always plan another trip. So soak in everything you can on this one, but don’t despair if you don’t have the amount of time you would wish to spend. You can’t see it all in one visit.

What do you want to see?

Okay, so we’ve got the when, where, how long and now onto the fun part, what to see, and do!

This is where you’ll want to start your must-see list. For example, I’m planning a trip to France, and I know that my must-see list includes: Paris, Normandy, Loire Valley & Lyon. I know that in Paris I want to see the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, The Louvre and so on.

There’s a good chance you already have a bucket list of places you want to see for your intended destination. However, if you don’t, the next step will help create your list of must-sees.

Research your destination.

Do a search online and also pick out some books thru your library (and yes books are still useful), our library system has a vast assortment of Ebooks as well as printed. I like to use both internet resources as well as printed books.

I will generally start by doing an online search of “France Itinerary.” Then I will begin combing through the results to see what inspires me and sounds like a place I’d like to visit.

You want places that make you smile just thinking about them. Those should be on your must-see list.

So for my trip, I know the following:
- Why: To fulfill a bucket list dream and celebrate a lifelong friendship
- Where: France
- When: October
- How long: 10 days
- What to see: Paris, Normandy, Loire Valley & Lyon
It is just as easy as deciding where you want to go, when and for how long, then you make your list of what to see and you edit to fit your trip length.
Trip Editing

If you’ve only got three days in France, then plan on staying in Paris and maybe a day trip just outside the city. But you’re not going to have time to travel to the Loire Valley or Normandy and give Paris any reasonable amount of time in only three days. This would be true of any major metropolitan area.

The same principle applies whether it’s one week, two weeks, or two months. You will always need to edit and make some hard decisions on what is important to you for this trip and what you will need to wait to see until your next trip.

This makes it especially troublesome when you only have one vacation per year, or you’re only able to do one major trip every five years and so on. So I understand the need to make the most of every trip. I also know that trying to cram in too much can leave you exhausted and frustrated.

This is an adventure, a dream come true, and it should be enjoyed and always remembered fondly. So accept the limitations of each trip and then make the most of the time you have.

For more on how to choose where to travel next check out Choosing Your Travel Destination. Or if you already know where you want to go next, check out the post: Booking Your Flight. Feel free to ask any questions in the comments below or send me an email. I’d love to hear from you!

Happy planning!
July 11, 2018