10 Essential Travel Planning Tips For A Comfortable Journey
Planning Tips For A Comfortable Journey
While planning our holidays, we wish our travels to be fast, comfortable and safe, right? Well, my friend, that does not happen just like that, because you have been lucky before or because your friends in need are friends indeed and bail you out when you are in deep trouble.
You know what they say how planning is everything? They are right, indeed. Proper preparation leads the way to fruitful travels. Here is how you should begin:
1. The Purpose
Establish your travel purpose, decide the where and how. If you are planning to meet someone, you will have to consider this for any extra preparation (if required). So, always remember to plan for the 'who' if you are meeting anyone. One is fun, but many may be with your friends are even more fun.
2. Book Online
Book your flights and accommodation online; this saves you time and money on phone calls or nerves racking by talking to secretaries who just don’t know why they are there in the first place. Moreover, you get excellent travel deals online. Don’t forget to print itineraries, tickets or registration numbers!
3. Organize
Things to do, this is important. Make a list of things that you plan to do on your trip. You do not want to reach your destination and be lost on where to go or what to do first. Trust me; this todo list is a real time saver.
You will never realize the amount of time wasted without a proper list in place. Keep your program lax – if you are late for something, the chances are more that you may blow the other 30 things to do per day on your list.
To create this todo list is easier than you think. You can download a free to-do app like Wunderlist or Todoist on your mobile and get planning. The free version of these apps is more than sufficient for most travel plans. Next:
4. Make a packing list.
Decide what to take with you, of course, you do not need to make space for all that stuff, so try to get rid of the things you do not really use.
Remember, there are enough shops where you are going! The chances are that you will shop and buy things during your travel, so consider leaving some space for your new purchases.
Less luggage more comfort.
Organize your documents; your ID, passport, driving license, travel insurance should always be with you. It is a good idea to keep a copy of relevant travel documents in another bag. So, if by any chance you lose the originals, you have a way to reach home.
5. Watch your wallet
Think of an estimated budget. The budget also depends on the destination, purpose of travel. If you have plans to shop, be sure you have sufficient funds. Two things to check:
- Check with your bank or card issuer that your credit cards can work abroad.
- Check the amount of cash you can carry, in dollars as well as the local currency.
During travels and holidays, we usually spend money on meals, massages, crazy parties and pools with champagne and more. The chances are you will often spend more money than you planned.
So, keep an eye on your budget. Also, remember to keep your funds in several different places just to be safe.
6. Be culturally sensitive
It will be beneficial to learn a few words in the local language, always see yourself as a guest, not just a tourist. Emerge in the new culture, way of life, fantastic new dishes, and customs.
Be respectful, show some interest and empathy and try looking sincerely enthusiastic: people will feel your good heart beyond language barriers!
7. Traveling tools
Download essential travel tool such as to-do apps, maps, travel guides, dictionaries and pin your travel! Do not forget your camera and the music collections.
A travel planning app such as Google Trips - Travel Planner might come handy.
8. Insurance
Ensure you have valid travel insurance. There are several kinds of travel insurance, like trip cancellation insurance, flight cancellation insurance or medical insurance.
Do check if your medical insurance is valid overseas.
9. Local transportation.
When in Rome, do not take cabs – they are expensive, too fast on your stomach and the drivers talk too much. You will not need a car rental or cab, in bike-friendly places like Amsterdam, for example. In London, do not even think of a sightseeing tour in a cab!
With London's convenient underground Tube and a day pass depending on the zone where you travel, you will get fast and easy wherever you want. To avoid the zone confusions, you can buy a day travel card, they offer unlimited travel in all zones and are handy.
You can travel on buses, trains, DLR's, underground tubes. Please note that these travel cards are invalid outside the London zones, so make sure to check where the zone ends. London Oyster cards are another convenient payment method.
The problem is most travelers do not use all the money they use to top up the Oyster card. Most people forget to claim the remaining amount in Oyster card, once you finish your travel, you can return your card and request any unused money back.
If you plan to go outside the city of London, a car rental is your best bet. For example, if you are traveling to places such as the Irish or the Scottish countryside which does not have access to trains or flights.
Also, if you are driving, be careful about the road lanes, they drive on the other side of the road!.
10. Worry less, enjoy more!
The ‘what if’s’: what if I lose all my money/passport, the hotel is awful, the flight is delayed. Consider such things but do not everything and let these thought dominate your journey.
Do what you can to minimize these negative thoughts – you’ll solve problems if and when they appear. Just forget about it and enjoy! As advised above, always book online, read real user reviews about your accommodation on sites like TripAdvisor or booking.com.
These sites will help you decide the right accommodation. The time you spent in planning will certainly be worth. Remember: even if you try to plan for the most intricate detail, life will always surprise you bringing fantastic people, happy events and outstanding scenery to the spiritual beauty and richness you already have!
Remember that all that you do will become sweet memories in your special travel box!