How to Plan a Trip for Beginners and Travel Like a Pro

Going on a trip can be so exciting, especially if you’re doing so with friends. But, when you think about all the planning for a successful journey, it can be pretty overwhelming.

If this is your first time travel planning, you probably have the planning jitters. You know, you wonder if you’ve what it takes to plan your trip smoothly. There’s no need to be so nervous. I promise you that planning a fabulous trip is easier than you think. Once you know the proper steps to take, everything falls into place.

With some preparation and a few pointers from me, you can plan a trip that would rival the stars. The key is to keep things simple and go with the flow. Knowing the correct vacation packing list is an excellent place to start. 

Want to know how you can plan the perfect trip? I’ll show you tips on how to get started!

How Do I Plan My First Trip?

Choose a Destination

First things first, where do you want to go? The number 1 thing to consider when planning a trip is to decide on your destination. 

Have you thought about all your options? Think about the colorful city of Cancun, Mexico, or the tropical wonders of Bali, Indonesia. 

Now, onto the exciting and maybe conflicting part. As you go through pictures of breathtaking places across different countries, you could get torn in deciding which one to visit first. 

They’re all so magical... you wish you could visit them all at once! If you’re indecisive about where to go, you can get some inspiration on budget travel destinations to see.

Here are some tips on how to narrow down your search:

• Make a list of all your preferred destinations. Check out the best time to visit them. Sometimes, the best time to go to a sunny beach in one country may be different from the tropicals of another.
• Some places are more luxurious than others, consider your budget and pick a destination that fits into it.
• Safety should never be overlooked, especially if you’re traveling solo.
• Consider the ease of accessibility or lack of to or in the destinations.
  

Decide How Long Your Trip Should Be

How much time do you intend to spend on your trip? A week? 2 weeks? This is one of the essential factors to consider when planning a vacation for the first time.

Look at the length of time you have to travel. Factor in the days it would take to get to your destination and back.

For instance, imagine you want to travel to Europe from the US with only a week to spend. Do you want to spend 4 days in transit and have only 3 for your vacation? 

Instead, plan your trip around a holiday or a weekend for extended vacation time. Or arrange a trip closer to home so you can have more days to yourself? 

Maybe you’re planning a camping trip in a beautiful city only a few hours from home. This may take less time to prepare, giving you more time to enjoy your vacation. Also, the longer your trip, the more money you’re likely to spend. So keep that in mind when choosing the duration of your trip.

Create a Budget

By now, you should have your dream destination chosen and know how long you intend to stay there. The next step to take when vacation planning is to create a budget and build it around your destination costs and other expenses.

How do you set your travel budget? You need to know how much you can spend comfortably and tailor your expenses around that budget. Having a financial plan is vital, especially if you’re planning your trip on a budget. 

For example, imagine you’ve got $5000 to spend, excluding transportation costs, and want to travel for 10 days. You know that you have $500 per day on food, accommodations, other activities, etc. 

Having a vacation budget can give you a clear path to plan your activities. However, suppose you’ve no restrictions on how much you want to spend. In that case, you can create a little financial wiggle room for any surprising activity that awaits you in your desired destination.

Book a Ticket and Reserve Accommodation

How do you intend to get to your destination? Is it by plane, bus, or train?

Booking a ticket in advance is essential when planning the perfect trip. Of course, there are a few hacks to finding cheap flights anywhere. 

The prices of flight, bus, train tickets, and even hotel rooms often fluctuate, sometimes depending on availability. You may be sorely disappointed if you push bookings to the day before your trip.

Getting the bookings done weeks or even months in advance will prepare you for any surprise and help you avoid additional costs.

Here are a few tips to note before booking a ticket:

• Book your tickets based on certainty. You can book cheaper non-refundable tickets if you’re sure of your trip. If not, I’ll advise that you book refundable tickets, especially when booking in advance.
• Use Booking.com to keep an eye out for promotions, ticket reservation deals, and other exciting offers. 
• Make reservations in advance. I can’t stress this enough. This eliminates the chances of unavailability.
  

Pack Carefully

After your bookings are made, the next step in your travel plans is packing your things. At this point, remember to pack only what you need. I’ve discovered that when I prepare for trips, I pack things I never need during my vacation.

To prevent that, you should carefully consider what travel essentials to bring with you.

What Are the Most Important Things to Take on a Trip?

• A carry-on that meets airport regulations (if you’re going by air)
• Packing cubes to organize your luggage
• Travel adapter and charger
• Change of clothes and a travel towel

You can refine this list but remember only to take what you need.

Packing Mistakes to Avoid When Planning a Trip 

Packing for a trip as a first-timer can be nerve-wracking, and there are so many things you want to bring along! Most people have made a traveling mistake at some point or another.

Hopefully, these tips will prevent you, my dear reader, from making the same mistakes I once made.

• Overpacking: To avoid this, lay out everything you need. Then only pack half of that. This trick has helped me a lot.
• The 100ml/3oz rule for liquids: Adhering to this rule is essential when traveling. The security check didn’t let me travel with some of my favorite cosmetics. That broke my heart.
• Leaky toiletries: I’ve had shampoos bursting inside my bag. The horror! Put the bottles in a zip-loc bag or get a toiletries travel kit for extra protection.
• Packing appropriately: Don’t make the mistake of not packing appropriate clothing for the weather, be it for winter or sunny California.
• Packing valuables in your checked bag: Anything of value, don’t put it in your checked bag. It could go missing or, worse, stolen.
• Extra clothes in your carry-on: This is so that you’ll have something to wear in case there’s a delay with the rest of your luggage.
  

Plan Your Trip With Pilot!

Now that you know what it takes to plan a trip for the first time, it’s time to make your daydreams a reality. Plan your trip with confidence! The type of confidence that only Pilot, a trip planner, can give you.